Semua Bab Silent Secrets Burning Love: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Joan’s POV.I can't believe this man. After I had given him clear-cut instructions earlier not to disturb me on my trip, he still had the guts to put someone to spy on me.I fumed as I ended the call, my fingers gripping the edge of the table. Mark, sitting across from me with his usual smug grin, raised an eyebrow. He leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink as though nothing in the world could bother him."Who was that?" he asked casually, his eyes narrowing slightly.I let out an exasperated sigh. "Lucas."Mark chuckled, a low, almost mocking sound. “You're still playing the devoted wife, aren't you?"I shot him a glare. "You think this is a joke? He put someone on me, Mark! He showed me pictures of us together."Mark shrugged, entirely unbothered. "So what? Let him find out. It’s not like he can do anything about it."I shook my head, lowering my voice. "It’s not time yet. I need him to trust me long enough to make my move."Mark leaned forward, his smirk fading. "How long is t

Bella’s POV.My legs gave out the moment he left.The door had barely closed before the silence crushed me.One week? I pressed my palms against the desk, trying to steady my breathing, but my chest felt too tight—like the air had been sucked out of the room.How did he find out?That was the only thought looping in my mind.I had been careful. So careful just for him to find out so quickly. Six years of hiding, protecting, running and now it had all unraveled in days.Shared custody.The words echoed like a threat.*******A week passed in strained silence.No matter how hard I tried to steady myself, the image of his face—furious, betrayed, unyielding, it refused to leave my mind. Everything had unraveled too quickly. One moment I was trying to rebuild my life, the next I was standing across from him, defending a secret I had spent six years protecting.How had he found out?That question haunted me more than his accusations. I had been careful. I had made sure there were no traces

Bella’s POV.I sat on the couch, hands folded tightly on my lap, my mind still buzzing from the café incident. Derek hadn’t come home yet, it was past midnight and the house felt oppressively quiet.I have called him more than thirty times but it went straight to voicemail.I had just finished putting Henry to bed and was seated, trying to steady my racing thoughts.When the door finally swung open, my stomach sank. Derek stumbled in, the sharp smell of alcohol hitting me immediately. His steps were unsteady, his eyes dark and stormy, his movements unpredictable.“Derek…” My voice was tentative. “Where have you been? You’re barely standing.”“None of your business,” he slurred, voice thick and uneven. His gaze landed on me, and suddenly it wasn’t just anger—it was something heavier, something dangerous.I instinctively leaned back, keeping my distance. “Please… put the bottle down. Let’s just talk.”He ignored me, taking a slow step forward. “Talk?” His hand reached for me. “Talk? Afte

Bella’s POV.Henry refused to let go of Lucas’s hand.“Please stay,” he pleaded, his fingers tightening, his small body leaning forward like he could anchor Lucas in place by sheer hope alone. “Just for lunch.”I felt my spine stiffen.I opened my mouth, already prepared to step in, to soften the moment, to remind Henry that adults had plans and boundaries. But Lucas spoke before I could.“Alright,” he said quietly. “Lunch is fine.”The relief on Henry’s face was instant and radiant. He let out a happy gasp and tugged Lucas toward the living room, already rambling about his toys, his games, his favorite cartoon characters.Jason followed behind them, glancing at me once with a polite smile before disappearing into the house.I stood frozen on the porch for a moment, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure Lucas could hear it.This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.Good thing Derek wasn’t home, he hasn’t been staying home since that night.I didn’t know where he was, and for the first t

Bella’s POV.The only sound that filled the hospital ward was the steady beep of the ECG machine. I sat by Lucas’s side, watching and waiting for any sign of movement from his body, but he remained still. The tube connected to his mouth didn't shift, either. I gently ran my fingers through his hair, and each time my hand brushed his scalp, they felt warm. For a fleeting moment, I couldn't reconcile the feeling of compassion I had for him. This was the same man I had once sworn to seek revenge on. All the anger and resentment I had carried with me seemed insignificant now. In this moment, all I wanted was for him to survive. It had taken hours for the doctors to stabilise and resuscitate him. The alcohol in his system, a result of his drunken state before the accident, had made it even harder for them to save him.The door opened, and the nurse stepped inside. She was here to administer another dose of medication, but when she saw me still by Lucas's bedside in the same position I had