MasukBELLE For the first time in months, I didn't sleep or wake up in Jordan's room. After last night, I have come to realize how unfair my actions must have been on Jamie. She lost her brother and her best friend and I wouldn't stop reminding her about it every time.I woke up earlier than usual to make breakfast for Jamie and I also think it was about time that I returned back to the office. My personal assistant has been handling everything since Jordan's death and even though it still hurts, I guess I'd have to learn how to live with it after all, a child's death is not something a parent could ever forget.“What is that smell?” Jamie's sleepy voice snapped me out of my trance. I turned back to see that she was still rubbing the sleep away from her eyes and a smile tugged my lips.“Mommy? You're the one cooking?” She sounded surprised to see me in the kitchen.“Good morning, sweetheart,” I kissed her cheeks and she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.“I missed you so much,
ZALDEN Today marks exactly three months since Jordan passed and I thought it would be best to take the day off and spend some time with Jamie.We have grown quite close over the months, and as much as I knew it was impossible to make up for the time lost, I didn't want to miss out on any more moments in her life, because nothing is promised.I still blame myself for not trying to be their father earlier. The occasional what-ifs still crossed my mind but there was nothing I could do to change the past now. All I can do is focus on Jamie and be the best father she could possibly wish for.“Hello sir,” a maid greeted me with a polite smile as I stepped into the penthouse. My eyes darted to Jamie who was sitting alone at the dining table with a frown on her face.“Sweetheart, are you okay?” I handed the paper bag in my hand to the maid as I approached Jamie.“Daddy,” she called dryly, still not paying me any attention.“What is going on dear? Where is your mommy? And why do you look so s
BELLE Gone. Gone where? I stared at Zalden's mouth but whatever he was saying after that didn't reach me. His words replayed in my ear over and over again until they began to hurt.What did he mean Jordan was gone? My boy is lying right here, sleeping peacefully. He was just cold and needed a blanket.My stomach churned as I shot the nurse a look. “Aren't you supposed to be a professional? Do something! We can't allow my son to remain this cold.”I held his cold hands in mine, rubbing them between my palms to keep him warm when Kara broke down in tears. “If you're going to cry then get out of here!” I snapped. “Jordan is sleeping and we cannot wake him up.”“Belle…” Zalden stepped closer to me and I swear if he mentioned anything about Jordan again, I'd kick him out and make sure he never set his eyes on my children ever again.“My son is sleeping,” I said through gritted teeth, wiping his face with the sleeve of my shirt.“They need to take him… away,” Zalden’s throat bobbed as he
BELLE Zalden didn't meet my gaze. His eyes darted to Jordan who was fast asleep on the hospital bed, then to the machine beside him and finally anywhere else in the room that wasn't me.My jaw clenched as I studied his face. His eyes were bloodshot as if he had been crying even though he seemed pretty much composed, his hair was rough like he had run his hand in it at least a thousand times but what seemed to gain my attention was his clenched fist. His knuckles were white from how tightly he was clenching them as I shook my head. “Tell me it's not what I'm thinking,” I gasped, staggering backwards, but he held me before I could trip.I slapped his hands away from my body as tears stung my vision. “Say something, Zalden. My baby is going to be fine, right?” My lips quivered as I searched his eyes for at least a glimmer of hope. Something I could hold onto to reassure me that I'm not losing my son anytime soon.“Right?” A lump formed in my throat but Zalden still wouldn't meet my eye
ZALDENBelle’s legs buckled and if it weren’t for my support, she’d have crashed onto the floor. Her body was trembling so badly that I could see how broken she was with just a glance. My chest tightened but I refused to welcome any negative thought until the doctor told me exactly what was going on with our son.“Speak at once,” I said through gritted teeth. “What do you mean he was brought in too late? Jordan will be fine, right? He has to be. That is my son we’re talking about,” I forced my voice to be steady despite the chills that ran down my spine.Belle’s nails dug into my skin, pinching me hard and I didn’t think she was even aware of what she was doing.“I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do to help him,” the doctor shook his head as he avoided my gaze. “We ran the scans, and... the collapse was caused by a tumor in his brainstem. It’s called DIPG. It’s really aggressive, and because of where it’s located, we can't operate.”I swallowed the lumps that formed in my throat a
BELLE“You can't have it all, Zalden. I'll give you a chance to be in our children's lives, but that is it. Don't expect too much from me.”Disappointment settled in his face, but he didn't argue with me. I called my secretary to cancel my plans for the rest of the day, while Zalden drove me home.We were going to tell the kids the truth. My heart skipped a beat as he pulled up in my driveway, and for a split second, I wanted to change my mind.Jamie and Jordan are all I have. If Zalden were to come into their lives now, everything would change. I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted, but I had been selfish for far too long, I needed to make things right.I pushed the door open, and my body froze. Jamie choked on her sob as she sighted me, and the maids rushed down the stairs in panic.“Jamie?” I rushed to her side in panic. “What is going on? Where is your brother”Tears streamed down her cheeks and Zalden bent to her level, patting her back to help her relax. “Take a deep breath,”
BELLE I don’t remember walking out of his office. All I remember was how his words clung to my skin like frostbite.“She looks like someone who'd sleep around to climb the social ladder.” My chest tightened. It felt like a part of me was being ripped apart.As if that wasn't enough, my brain kept
ZALDEN And just like that, my weekend was ruined. I am probably the busiest man alive, but I can’t even focus on anything aside from her. The tension between us. It felt surreal. It wasn't supposed to be there. Shouldn't exist, but the moment she's next to me, I lose my damn mind, and all I wante
BELLE “Mommy, you promised to take us to the park today,” Jordan whined.“Yes Mommy! I want ice cream,” Jamie added with a pout, and I knew there was no way I'd win against these kids.“Fine!” I laughed softly. “But promise Mommy you'll stay put and be the good kids I raised.”“We promise!” They s
Zalden's POVAndrew called at the last minute to bail on today's meeting. As if that wasn't enough, he asked Belle to come in his stead.“Why didn't you tell me earlier?” I hissed for the hundred time on the phone. I have been trying to get her out of my head for the last few days, and he just had







