Chapter 4: Breaking The News

Eric's POV

No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to forget Bella. It had been seven months since she left me. Seven months since I signed away the best thing that had ever walked into my life. Whenever I closed my eyes, all I could see was her. I rubbed my temple, trying to shake the memory of her, when the soft click of my office door diverted my attention.

"Mr. Damon?" my secretary, Clara, peeked her head inside. "There's someone here who insists on seeing you. He doesn't have an appointment, and I tried to reschedule, but he said it's urgent."

I frowned. "Who is it?"

"A Dr. Leonard Hale," she replied, checking her notepad.

The name struck a chord immediately. Dr. Hale. The fertility specialist. I hadn't seen the man in months, not since before the divorce. I had gone secretly to him for checkups, endless tests, and consultations that had yielded nothing but disappointment.

I sat back in my chair, instantly masking the sudden urge of unease. "Send him in."

Clara nodded and disappeared.

A few seconds later, the door fully opened, and there he was. Dr. Leonard Hale. He was slightly grayer than I remembered, but with the same eyes.

"Eric," he greeted warmly as he extended a hand as though no time had passed.

"Dr. Hale," I said, rising to shake his hand. "This is a surprise. Please, have a seat."

He lowered himself into the chair opposite my desk, folding his hands together. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

I stared at him. "It's been months. What brings you here? You look... troubled."

He chuckled lightly. "Troubled is one way to put it. More like... complicated."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hmm, please. Go on."

He shifted in his seat. "Before I begin, I need to ask something personal."

"Sure, go ahead."

"Are you and Bella... officially divorced?"

That question was unexpected, even after our divorce was very private and only a few people knew about it. "How did you know about that?"

"Just answer, it'll all make sense soon."

"Hmm," I sighed. "Yes," I said flatly. "Seven months ago. Why?"

He exhaled as if he was confirming something. "I see. Well... that makes what I'm about to say even more delicate."

My stomach tightened. "Just say it, Hale."

He hesitated for a second. "Your ex-wife, Bella, was admitted into my hospital a few days ago. Apparently, she fainted at her wedding."

My jaw tightened. "Wedding?"

"Yes. She married a man named Cole Warren. Does that name ring a bell?"

I clenched my fists under the desk. Cole Warren. Of course, I knew the name. CEO of Warren Capital Holdings and one of my biggest rivals in the financial world. And now, he was Bella's husband.

The thought of someone as powerful as Cole being Bella's husband burned my chest like as if someone spilled acid on it. "Go on," I forced myself to speak.

Dr. Hale cleared his throat. "As part of our standard procedure, we ran some tests. We discovered that she's seven months pregnant."

Pregnant? Bella? My Bella?

I could hardly breathe. "What... did you just say?"

He repeated the words carefully. "She's seven months pregnant."

I shook my head slowly. The feeling of disbelief clawed through me. "That's impossible."

"On the contrary," he said softly. "The timeline checks out. She fainted from fatigue and stress, but the baby is fine. It's a healthy pregnancy."

My thoughts wandered. I did my maths automatically, my mind racing back to when we were still together. The last weeks we spent together as husband and wife. Seven months. It lined up perfectly.

Dr. Hale leaned back. "Forgive me for being blunt, Eric, but... considering the divorce, one might assume she conceived outside the marriage. With someone else."

I snapped my head up, eyes darkened from instant anger. "Don't you dare."

He blinked, startled by the fury in my voice.

"Don't you ever suggest Bella was unfaithful to me," I growled. "She was loyal to the very end. In fact, she was too loyal, even when I didn't deserve it."

Dr. Hale raised his palms in surrender. "My apologies. I only meant that, given the timing, others might draw their own conclusions."

I sat forward. "There is no other conclusion. That baby she's carrying is mine. That child is mine."

I could feel my pulse hammering in my ears as the room became silent. But I was also feeling something else, something I hadn't felt in months. Pure, unrelenting hope.

For years, Bella had carried the shame and humiliation of being barren, meanwhile, it was I who was the problem. Dr. Hale himself had delivered that verdict. My sperm was weak, my chances were slim. I'd lived under that shame, knowing that Bella wanted children, and knowing I couldn't give them to her. It had eaten away at me, destroyed the foundation of our marriage as I allowed my mother's poison to seep into everything.

But yet, against all odds. Bella was pregnant. And with my child.

I stood up abruptly, pacing to the window as I was unable to contain the storm raging inside me. "Are you sure?" I asked, demanding an answer, but my voice trembled with urgency.

Dr. Hale nodded. "Yes. The dates align precisely with the final months of your marriage. There is no mistaking it. Congratulations, Eric. You're going to be a father."

Being called a father nearly buckled my knees. I pressed a hand to the glass, staring out at the city below. This news was everything.

Behind me, Dr. Hale stood as well. "I thought you deserved to know. I'll leave you to process this. But Eric..." He hesitated, then added. "She's married now. That complicates things, so be careful."

I turned, my eyes glassy. "It changes nothing. That's my wife. That's my child. And now... I finally have the chance to set everything right."

Dr. Hale gave me a confused look. "Just be careful. Don't make an unfixable mistake."

I barely heard him cause my mind was already racing ahead.

I walked him to the door, shaking his hand firmly. "Thank you. Hale. More than you know."

When the door shut behind him, I leaned against it for a few seconds, breathing hard. Then I straightened, laughter bubbling up. I had lost Bella once. But now? Now I had the one thing that could bring her back. I spread my arms wide.

"She's still mine," I whispered. "And now, with our baby, I can finally get her back."