The Billionaire Secret Baby After Divorce Free Preview

Bella's POV

They say every love story begins with hope. But mine began with fire.

I can still see the way Eric looked at me the night of the charity ball. He looked at me like I was the only woman in the room, though we were surrounded by hundreds. I was just a nobody then. A server at the event. Outside that, I was a quiet girl tucked at the corner, working on my small designs and dreaming of someday being seen of the greatest perfumers. But Eric saw me.

"Dance with me," he'd said as he walked over to me. He removed the tray from my hand and pulled me closer to him.

I laughed nervously. "I don't even know you."

But he smirked. Looking at me confidently as though rejection never existed to him. "Then consider this the first step. I'm Eric Damon."

That was how it started. The billionaire CEO who could have had anyone chose me. Me, Bella Hayes. I thought it was fate. I thought it was love. He chased me with flowers, midnight calls, and promises of heaven and earth. He loved me hard and fast. With a certainty that swept me off my feet.

Our wedding was a dream. I wore a lace dress with a white rose bouquet in my hands. I believed in the forever he promised. But forever was shorter than I imagined. Cause the Eric I married allowed himself to be covered by someone's shadow. His mother's.

Grace Damon. The woman who reminded me, day after day, that I was an intruder in her son's life. She reminded me of my shortcomings. Watched my womb, and when it stayed empty, she condemned me. "Three years and nothing? My son married a barren woman."

And Eric let her. That's the part that broke my heart. And to make things worse, Grace introduced another girl at the family dinner table and said, "This is who should have been my daughter-in-law." And Eric was silent. He had an affair with her. And so, tonight. I will choose myself.

The next morning. I stood in Eric's office. He sat at his desk, as there were papers spread before him. His head was bent over numbers and business deals like always.

My hands shook slightly as I pulled the folder from my bag. It was divorce papers.

"Eric," I called. My voice cracked, but it managed to get his attention.

He looked up, his dark eyes softening as they landed on me. "Bella. My darling. I didn't hear you come in."

I stepped closer, the papers pressed against my chest. "We need to talk."

He frowned. "What is it?"

I placed the folder on his desk. He barely looked at it at first, but then his eyes widened, and his hand froze mid-motion.

"Bella..." he called as he opened the folder, skimmed the top page, and his breath caught. "Divorce?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He pushed the chair back and stood up. The veins in his hand tightened around the paper. "No. No, Bella. This... this is a mistake."

He looked between me and the papers as though he was trying to find hidden cameras for the prank he was falling for. "Why now? After everything. Bella, we can fix this. Whatever it is, I'll fix it."

A hollow laugh slipped out of my mouth. "Three years, Eric. Three years, and nothing has changed. It's too late now. Nothing will change."

"Don't say that," he snapped. "I know I've made mistakes—"

"Mistakes?" I cut in, the anger in me was boiling. "You let your mother run our marriage into the ground. You stood there, silent, and watched her as she tore me apart piece by piece. You let her bring another woman into our home, and you fucked this woman on our matrimonial bed, Eric. Do you even realize how humiliating that was?"

His face went pale as shame flickered in his eyes. "Bella, I didn't mean—"

"You didn't mean what?" I spat. "You never mean anything. But you always allow. Were you drugged when you were deep into that lady's pussy, fucking her like you've never fucked anyone else before?"

He raked a hand through his hair, pacing around like a caged animal. "I can change. I'll tell my mom to stop. I'll—"

"You won't," I cut in again. "You've had three good years to prove you could. And you didn't."

The room became silent. Eric's lips parted, ready to plead again, but then the door creaked open.

"Bella," came in the shrill voice I had learned to hate. "Oh, thank heavens!"

Grace Damon stepped inside, her smile was wide. She looked at the folder in Eric's hand and clapped joyfully.

"Finally! She's leaving!" she laughed. "I told you, my son, didn't I? She was never good enough for this family. Couldn't even give you a child. What use is a wife like that?"

Eric's head snapped toward her. "Mother, please stop—"

But she only waved her hand. "Stop? Oh, Eric, don't pretend you don't see the blessing in this. She's doing us both a favor. Sign it, dear. Let her go, and we'll find you someone worthy of this family. That's if you don't want the one I brought in. Someone who can give you an heir."

My blood boiled, and my fists clenched at my sides. I wanted to scream at her, wanted to throw something. But instead, I exhaled, forcing myself to calm down.

"You don't deserve a reaction out of me."

Grace blinked, and the smile on her face slipped.

Eric turned back to me. "Bella, please," he begged. "Don't do this. Don't leave me."

I shook my head, trying to control the tears that wanted to pour out of my eyes. "I already have, Eric. This paper is just the proof."

He faltered, staring at the signature line, his hands trembling. Then slowly, painfully, Eric picked up the pen.

His hand hovered, and his chest heaved. But finally, he signed.

Eric dropped the pen, his eyes were glassy. "Bella..." he whispered.

But I couldn't listen. I turned the papers in place, and the marriage was gone. As I turned to leave, behind me, Grace laughed.

"Good riddance. The barren lady finally takes her leave."

I paused at the door, my hand on the frame and my body trembling with fury. But without looking back, I spoke.

"You can have your son now."

And then, I walked out. But as the door shut behind me, a question kept whispering in my mind.

Was this the end or only the beginning?

Bella's POV

They say after every storm comes clarity. I don't know if I believe that, but what I know is that when I walked out of Eric's life, I walked into a void.

I had nothing but my name. Everything Eric had bought for me, every property, every penny, was taken by his mother after the divorce. The only thing that was left, which I doubt he or his mother knew, was exposure. Eric had introduced me to the beauty world, to salon moguls and cosmetic CEOs. I'd been the silent wife sitting beside him, but I had listened, watched, and when the time came, I stepped forward. Building my brand behind his back.

While I was married to him, I secretly built my beauty brand. People started noticing. And by the second week of my divorce, Belle's Beauty was at every beauty counter, every influencer's feed, and murmured in boardrooms. My company, my empire.

One evening, standing at the Grand Marlton Hotel for the Investor's Forum, I wore a beautiful red dress, hoping to convince potential investors my dream was worth millions. My hands trembled, but I knew this was my chance.

"Bella Hayes?" A hostess in black guided me toward my table. "You'll be presenting in fifteen minutes."

I nodded. "Thank you."

I walked across the room, past men and women in beautiful, tailored clothes. My seat was at the corner, under the banner that read, Innovations in Beauty & Lifestyle.

I set my bag down, exhaling slowly.

"You'll be fine." A soft voice came, calming me.

I turned, and beside me sat a woman with silver hair.

"I'm... I'm Bella," I stammered.

"I know," she smiled. "I read your file, Belle's Beauty. That's an interesting concept. Clean beauty with a luxury feel and an affordable touch. Investors will eat this up."

Before I could thank her, my name was called.

I walked to the podium, the deck trembling slightly in my hand. I looked out into the crowd, and my heart raced instantly.

"Good evening. My name is Bella Hayes, founder of Belle's Beauty. I started this brand with one vision. Beauty that outlasts the moment. Because life smudges, it cracks, and it tests us. But women..." my throat tightened, but still, I pushed through, "...women are stronger than any of it. My products are designed for them, for us."

Pictures were shown on the projector slides. And after it was over, everywhere was silent. I feared I failed, but then, everyone clapped. I was filled with relief. Stepped offstage with my heart pounding when I felt someone's eyes on me.

That's when I met him. Cole Warren.

When I passed his table, he stood. "Ms. Hayes," he said in a low voice. "Cole Warren. Warren Capital Holdings."

I blinked. Everyone in business knew the name. Warren Capital didn't just fund companies, it turned them into empires.

"Mr. Warren," I managed.

"Impressive pitch," he said. "But I'd like to hear more. Dinner, perhaps?"

Dinner with Cole Warren? Someone pinch me, cause I must be dreaming.

We did have that dinner together, but that dinner turned into another. And another. At first, we spoke about business. He asked about a lot, and I answered brilliantly. Slowly, our conversation shifted from business to childhood, from childhood to fears. He told me about his beginnings. How he'd taken Warren Capital from his father's modest firm and turned it into a global powerhouse.

Seven months passed. And one evening, Cole invited me to his penthouse. He poured me wine, moving smoothly, but there was obvious tension in his behaviour.

"Bella," he said, standing across from me.

"Yes?" I whispered.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it, revealing a beautiful, stunning diamond ring. He then got on one knee.

"Marry me," he said.

"Cole," I said with my trembling lips.

"You don't have to answer now," he said quickly. "But I want you to know, Bella. I don't see you as fragile, or weak, or broken. I see you as a strong, independent woman. And I want forever with you."

"Of course, Cole," I smiled, stretching out my hand for him to put the ring. "I will marry you."

"You will?"

"Of course, silly."

**

Our wedding came swiftly. I wore lace again, but this time, everything was better.

Cole stood at the altar, looking taller than I remembered. His eyes were locked on mine. When I walked toward him, every memory of who I was before faded away. I wasn't the Bella who had married Eric Damon. I wasn't the barren wife, the humiliated bride, or the broken woman.

I was Bella Hayes, the CEO and founder of Belle's Beauty, and the soon-to-be Bella Warren.

Cole and I spoke our vows with conviction. And then the priest's voice broke through. As he made the final statement.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

The congregation chuckled, their soft laughter echoed in the building. Cole's hand reached for mine. But suddenly, everything shifted around me. My chest tightened, and my vision swayed. The chandeliers above me were bending into warped shapes of light. My hands trembled. It was creeping through my fingertips.

I tried to breathe, but it was hard. The room spun around me.

Cole's voice reached me. It was low and sounded worried. "Bella?" he called out. "Bella? Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't. No sound came out. My knees buckled, and my body got closer to the ground all of a sudden.

Everyone gasped collectively. The music stopped.

"Bella!" Cole screamed as he rushed. His arms caught me before I hit the floor. There was panic in his voice. "Bella... Bella, please don't do this to me. Stay with me, my love. Please stay with me."

But everywhere was getting dark. The surroundings felt heavy. And the last thing I heard before my eyes shut completely was someone shouting above the chaos.

"Call the ambulance!"

Bella's POV

The first thing I heard when I regained consciousness was the sound of beeping. The second thing I heard was a voice.

"Bella..."

I twisted and turned. My eyelids were heavy and my throat was dry. My body was weak, but slowly, everything began to clear. I could see the ceiling clearly. I could smell antiseptic, and I felt the prick of an IV in my arm.

Then I realized I was in a hospital. I blinked against the harsh light, and when my gaze was focused, I saw him. My husband, Cole. He sat at the edge of the bed, his hand covering mine. His eyes were bloodshot with sleeplessness. The man I had looked at as a perfect billionaire who seemed untouchable was now filled with fear before me.

"Cole?" I called out in my rasped voice.

Instantly, he became relieved. His shoulders dropped, and he cupped my face gently. I nearly cried.

"Thank God," he whispered. "My love, you scared me half to death. I was so worried."

I tried to sit up, but the sudden feeling of dizziness pushed me back. His hand pressed lightly against my shoulder.

"Don't move too quickly," he pleaded.

"What... what happened?" I croaked. My head was throbbing.

"You fainted," he answered. "At the altar. One moment, you were fine. The priest had asked us to kiss, and the next thing, you were..." his voice cracked, and he shook his head. "Bella, I thought I was losing you."

My chest instantly felt heavy at the sadness in his voice. He was so afraid that I could see the fear in his face. But before I could say something to comfort my husband, another voice interrupted.

"Mrs. Warren."

I turned my head to see Martha standing by the door, her hands clasped in front of her. Martha, the head of our household staff. The woman who had run Cole's homes long before I came into the picture. She was like a mother I never had.

She walked in, giving me a soft smile. "We've been worried sick, child. You gave us all a fright."

"I'm fine," I whispered. "You all don't have to worry about me. Look, I'm fine. And I'll remain fine. I promise."

Cole opened his mouth to say something else, but a knock on the door cut him off. The doctor entered. It was a middle-aged man with kind eyes, holding a clipboard. He nodded politely at Cole before turning to look at me.

"Mrs. Warren, how are you feeling?" he asked.

"Weak," I admitted. "But still, I feel good. I feel better."

"Well, that's to be expected," he said, stepping closer and adjusting his glasses. "We ran a few tests while you were unconscious, just to rule out anything serious."

Cole leaned forward, and his grip on my hand tightened. "That's great, doctor. So? What did you find?"

The doctor hesitated. "Perhaps we should—"

Just as he was about to speak, Cole's phone buzzed on the table. It was loud. He frowned, glanced at the screen, and after a few seconds, he ignored it. Then the phone buzzed again. It was longer this time.

"I'm sorry," he muttered as he was started to get irritated. "It's urgent, my love. I'll be right back." He kissed my forehead, reluctant to let go of my hand. But then, he walked out of the room with his phone pressed to his ear.

The doctor exhaled softly. "Should we wait for your husband?"

"No, continue. I'll tell him after," I shook my head.

"Very well, then. Mrs. Warren," the doctor sighed. "I'll speak with you first."

I swallowed. "Okay. What... what is it?"

He glanced at Martha, then back at me. "We discovered that you are pregnant."

The statement hit me hard like as if stones were thrown directly at me. Pregnant?

I froze, my brain trying to process what the doctor had just said. "That's... that's not possible," I whispered. "I can't be pregnant. No, doctor. I am not. You must be mistaking me with someone else. It's not possible. I can't get pregnant."

But he only shook his head gently. "It is possible, Mrs. Warren. And you are one hundred percent pregnant. Based on the tests and the ultrasound, you are approximately seven months along."

Seven months? My heart stopped as my mind went back, calculating everything. Seven months ago, I divorced Eric. I met Cole. Then my breath hitched, and my vision went blurred as I realized something tragic. The baby wasn't Cole's. It couldn't be. Because throughout our dating phase, we never had sex. And a few weeks before I handed the divorce papers to Eric, we had sex.

So, this baby was Eric's.

The reality hit so hard I nearly ripped the IV from my arm. My body shook and I trembled with shock, fear, and disbelief. "No. No, there's... There must be a mistake."

The doctor's eyes softened. "There's no mistake. You've had what's called a cryptic pregnancy. It's rare, but it happens. Some women don't notice the signs until late."

My body was trembling so hard.

"I'll give you some time," he said as he placed the clipboard down and turned toward the door. "We'll need to schedule more checkups and ensure both you and the baby remain healthy. Congratulations, Mrs. Warren."

As he left, I pressed my trembling hands to my face, tears spilling freely from my eyes. I was pregnant. Seven months pregnant. And with Eric's child. On the very night I became Cole's wife.

"Bella..." Martha called softly.

I lowered my hands, staring at her. "Did you know about this?"

"I suspected," she admitted gently. "You've been more tired lately. Your appetite... but I thought, perhaps, stress, because no bump was revealed. I never imagined it was this far along."

My heart thudded. "Martha..."

She stepped closer, her hand brushing mine with motherly comfort. "Child, breathe. You should be happy. You and Mr. Cole are having a baby."

"I can't be happy," I said, almost choking on the words. "Martha, don't you see? This baby isn't Coles's"

She didn't flinch. "Does he know?"

"No," I whispered. "And we must keep it that way. He can't know. Not now, not ever."

"But Bella—"

"Please." I grabbed her hand. "You don't understand. If Cole finds out, he'll be furious."

The door opened slowly, and I knew Cole was coming back. I tightened my grip on Martha's hand as I whispered.

"Please, Martha. Don't tell him, or anyone else. No one must know about this. Swar to me."

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."

Bella's POV

Cole had left for the office, and I had lied to him that I would be returning to mine when he asked. But instead, after he left, I ran to the bathroom, sitting there longer than I realized, perched on the closed lid of the toilet seat, staring at the floor. My fingers twisted together in my lap. I was restless.

I still couldn't believe that I was pregnant. I wanted to deny it. For years, I'd carried the shame of being barren on my shoulders. Eric's family had blamed me, and I had judged myself. And now, suddenly, as if fate decided to mock me, I was carrying a life inside me, but it wasn't for Cole. And that was what made this worse.

I closed my eyes, inhaling slowly, but the air was suffocating. I pressed my hand against my stomach, fingers trembling. For seven months, I had carried a child I hadn't known existed until days ago. A secret that could destroy the one shred of happiness I had managed to build.

Cole didn't want children. He had told me that himself. Months ago, when I confessed to him that I could never conceive, that I was broken, he had smiled and kissed my forehead.

'Good," he said softly. "Because I don't want kids anyway. I just want you."

It was Cole's acceptance that had healed me and made me believe I was enough. But now? I carried the one thing he had never wanted. The child of another man.

I was going to cry, but I swallowed them down. I couldn't afford to cry because crying wouldn't change anything. Then, a soft knock pulled me away from my thoughts.

"Mrs. Warren?" Martha called. Her voice came in gently through the door.

I inhaled, wiped quickly at my eyes, and stood. When I opened the door, Martha's kind face appeared. Her hair was pulled neatly into a bun.

"Are you all right, dear?" she asked. Her voice was that soothing maternal edge I had always longed for. "I didn't see you at breakfast. Shall I have something brought up to your room?"

I shook my head quickly. "No thanks, Martha. But I'm not hungry."

Her brow furrowed, and she set her tray aside on a nearby table. "That doesn't sound like you. You've barely eaten since you fainted and was taken to the hospital."

"I just..." I trailed off, my throat suddenly too tight for me to explain.

Martha stepped closer. She studied me with her eyes. Looking at me more than I wanted her to. "Something's wrong. I can see it all over your face, dear."

I laughed bitterly. "Something's wrong, all right." I turned my gaze to the floor, unable to look her in her eyes. "I'm thinking of... aborting this baby."

Martha froze, as if I'd slapped her. The silence felt so thick I wanted to take my words back, swallow them, pretend I hadn't said them. But it was too late.

Her voice broke softly. Her voice trembled. "You... you can't mean that, dear."

I looked up then, meeting her horrified gaze. "What other choice do I have, Martha? My husband doesn't want children. I told him I couldn't have any, and he was happy about it. He married me knowing that I couldn't bear children. And now—" My voice cracked. "Now, Martha, I'm pregnant with another man's child. How am I supposed to explain that?"

She clasped her hands over her chest, shaking her head. "Bella, listen to yourself. That's still your child. A living piece of you. A miracle you never thought you'd have. How can you even think of... ending it?"

My lips quivered. "Because it will ruin everything. Martha, I've just started over. I've built this life, my company, this marriage with Cole. He trusts me, he believes in me. If he finds out about this, about this baby being my ex-husband's, he will hate me. He'll leave."

'He loves you," Martha said as she stepped closer. "And love, true love, doesn't shatter that easily. He deserved the truth, Bella. He deserves to know what's happening."

I wrapped my arms around myself, rocking slightly. "The truth must never see the daylight, Martha. That truth will destroy us. I know it. I feel it. I can't..." I let out a strangled laugh. "I can't lose everything again. I don't know if I will survive it this time."

Martha's eyes softened. "Do you really think this child is here by accident? You called yourself barren for years, you believed you could never conceive. And yet here this little one is, fighting to live inside you. Maybe, just maybe, this is God's way of telling you that you were never broken. That it was never your fault, and that you were always capable of life."

I shook my head violently. "Don't say that. Please don't say that. You don't know what you're asking of me. You don't know the risk."

"I know enough," Martha whispered. "And I know that if you throw this child away, you will regret it for the rest of your life. More than you ever regretted your marriage to Eric. More than anything."

My heart thundered in my chest.

"Please, Bella," she reached out for me. "Just think about it. Regardless of everything I've just said. You alone know what's best for you."

My lips opened to speak, but before I could say anything, just then, my phone buzzed on the table, interrupting me. I froze, staring at the screen. It was an unsaved number.

Martha glanced at it too. "Are you going to answer? Or would you let me take that for you?"

"No... no. I will," I shook my head. My throat tightened as I slowly picked it up and pressed it to my ear.

"Hello?" I said in a cautious and uncertain tone.

The person on the other end was silent for a while, and then...

"Bella."

My entire body froze. I recognized that voice.

"Eric?" My breath caught.

'Yes. It's me," he answered. "I'm so happy you remembered my voice."

My grip on the phone trembled. "Why are you calling me? How did you get this number?"

He chuckled softly. "I have my ways. You should know that by now."

I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't.

Then he spoke again. "I know, Bella. I know about the baby. Our baby."

My eyes darted to Martha, who was watching me with wide, worried eyes. I pressed my free hand against my stomach as if he could see through the phone.

"You're wrong," I whispered. 'You don't know anything."

"Oh, I know enough," Eric said. "Seven months, isn't it? Seven months pregnant. And we both know what that means."

My knees weakened, and I leaned against the wall. "Eric, you better..."

"I'll be coming for you, Bella," he interrupted. "And for my baby."

The line went dead. I stood frozen, phone still pressed to my ear.

Martha's voice broke through faintly. "Bella... what did he say?"

But I couldn't answer. Was my world already shattering again?