Bella’s POV
Following our plan, we settled into the living room with drinks in hand. Derek dominated most of the conversation, detailing aspects of the recent mission.
"A woman with your beauty and intelligence possesses a rare kind of magnetism," Grandma remarked, offering what seed like genuine praise.
I managed only a faint smile in response.
"Though it’s unfortunate how achievent sotis brings unwanted complications," she added, and I felt my smile dissolve completely.
I understood exactly what she ant. Even her subtle reference to those damning video clips made my chest constrict and my self-assurance crumble.
"Forgive for overstepping, but the public won’t tolerate this. Alpha Derek, you have a wife. Bella, you’re a mother. Both of you need to exercise better judgnt," Lady Norma stated bluntly, forcing to stare down at my hands.
The atmosphere beca suffocating. Naturally, I should have anticipated she would address this directly. Anyone in her position would.
"Grandma, this really isn’t our concern," Jack interjected on my behalf, gently touching her arm.
"Nothing inappropriate occurred. I had just shifted back and was experiencing severe pain. As for Bella, she had recently confronted that despicable man. Her dress was covered in mud from the struggle," Derek said, mounting our defense.
"Yet there’s footage showing what appears to be a kiss," the elderly woman persisted.
I had seen this coming. Her reputation for moral rigidity was well-established, particularly regarding betrayals between mates.
Clearly, she was championing Serena’s interests as Derek’s legitimate wife.
"Derek was suffering from intense transformation pain and couldn’t think straight. He mistook Bella for Serena. Had they arrived monts sooner, they would have heard him calling her by Serena’s na," Parker improvised quickly, his explanation remarkably believable.
I raised my head and began nodding in agreent, observing how Jack and his grandmother shared a aningful glance before visibly relaxing.
"There, Grandma, exactly as I said. Just an enormous misunderstanding," Jack declared with obvious relief.
I stole a look at Derek, whose expression suggested displeasure with this particular explanation.
"Regardless, I’m genuinely pleased you visited tonight. You young people can continue socializing, but I must retire. These old bones can’t handle late nights anymore," Grandma announced with self-deprecating laughter.
"We should leave as well," I responded, and the others seed to concur.
However, before departing, I felt compelled to visit the backyard—the sa location where these alphas had once trapped in their sches.
While Alpha Jack assisted his grandmother inside, I stepped into the crisp evening air, seeking ntal clarity and perhaps triggering so buried mories.
The three alphas quickly followed outside.
"This is where everything began," Derek murmured from behind .
I surveyed the familiar space and inhaled deeply.
Briefly, I genuinely believed I had reverted to that forr version of myself—the helpless Bella who waited for their decisions, who hoped one of them would accept responsibility for the children.
But that woman no longer existed. I had evolved beyond recognition. I possessed the strength to defend myself now.
I had learned self-reliance.
"Actually, Derek, this is where everything concluded," I corrected, pivoting to face him while keeping the other two in my peripheral vision.
"Had circumstances been different then, you would have discovered that I never would have abandoned you," Derek insisted, his voice thick with emotion.
The night air was still, yet I sensed a tempest raging within each of our hearts.
They might claim legitimate reasons for their past behavior—Derek certainly did—but that didn’t erase the nurous opportunities he had to reveal the truth.
After blocking from his life, he simply erased from his mory.
Even acknowledging his own suffering couldn’t diminish the fact that my pain had been far worse.
When Derek voiced his feelings again, Parker shifted restlessly, releasing a harsh laugh designed to capture both Derek’s and my attention.
Hugo appeared equally disturbed, his jaw rigidly set as he observed our exchange.
"I fail to understand why he deserves such proximity to you," Parker declared, advancing toward while rehashing the sa grievance.
"What exactly is your issue with this, Parker?" Derek snapped back.
Hugo remained silent, hands buried in his pockets as usual. But I recognized that contemplative expression.
"According to Derek’s own admission, he harbors romantic feelings for Bella," Hugo finally revealed, exposing Derek’s confession to a stunned Parker.
"What? How can he justify declaring love for her when he’s married?" Parker demanded, echoing my earlier words to Derek.
Past events were irrelevant now.
Reality was that we had all progressed beyond that Chapter.
I had invested so much energy despising all three of them that I couldn’t simply resurrect those old feelings.
It had been infatuation anyway, not genuine love.
"What’s driving you, Parker? Why are you creating all this drama? Didn’t you claim to want nothing to do with Tara?" Derek countered, and I saw Parker bristle at the reminder of his own contradictions.
"I was manipulated by both of you. Perhaps you’ve forgotten that Hugo persuaded to distance myself from Bella," Parker shot back.
His words made focus sharply on Hugo, whose lips curved into that familiar, disturbing smirk.
Parker spoke truthfully. This did bear Hugo’s calculated fingerprints.
But Parker wasn’t so innocent victim. Obviously, he was using Hugo as a scapegoat for his own cowardice.
"Parker, if you plan to whine about my marital status, rember that you’re equally married with children. You’re not in so superior position. Why are you even here? Why are you behaving as if Bella belongs to you?" Derek exploded.
"For your information, my marriage exists solely for the children’s sake, and my wife understands this arrangent," Parker snarled, turning toward . "It’s the truth. Moon knows everything. We’ve never shared any emotional connection. We haven’t been intimate since the wedding. I explicitly told her she’s rely the mother of my children."
His revelation struck like a physical blow.
"Yet you did sleep with her," Hugo taunted from behind us, arms crossed and wearing that insufferably arrogant expression I knew so well.
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