Chapter 120
The door opened and there he was.
Jake stood on the porch, the night breeze ruffling his hair, his expression unreadable. His phone was still in his hand — and on the screen, faintly visible in the reflection of the porch light, was the same image that had wrecked her peace moments ago.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them said everything.
Bella’s fingers still trembled as she clutched the doorframe. The cool night air drifted into the room, brushing over her skin, but the real chill was inside her, crawling beneath her ribs, wrapping tightly around her chest.
Jake stood there, his face shadowed by the porch light. His expression wasn’t angry, not yet, but it wasn’t calm either. His gray eyes searched hers, quietly intense, quietly pained.
He’d been praying she wouldn’t see the news so he could just handle it and pretend like nothing happened but seeing her face and the dread in her eyes, he knew it was already too late and there was nothing he could do.
She’d seen it, even though she wasn’t saying anything.
His heart breaking for her and her sister, he stepped closer. “Why do you look like that?” he asked softly, his voice rough from the strain of everything that had unfolded that evening. “You’ve seen it, haven’t you p>
Even though he knew she have, he just wanted to hold on to that one thread of hope and wish she hadn’t. That she was just having a bad evening.
Bella couldn’t even find her voice. She could only nod faintly, her gaze falling to the floor, guilt burning at the back of her throat.
How was she supposed to face him? To tell him a truth she had had several chances to tell him but had just kept it to herself?
Jake exhaled slowly and stepped inside, taking Bella’s hands. “I’m sorry,” he said immediately, the words sharp with sincerity. “This shouldn’t have happened. I should’ve seen it coming. Helena His jaw clenched, his voice thickening with restrained fury. “She’s behind this. I know it. She wanted to get to me, and she used you and Timothy to do it. I’m so sorry that all I’ve ever caused you is pain. I promise I won’t let it happen again p>
Jake didn’t even care that Chloe and Rachel were there. All he wanted to do was make things right between him and Bella and have her understand he’d always stand by her side.
Bella blinked, startled by his apology. “Jake she whispered.
Why was he apologizing when she should be apologizing?
Jake, thinking she was too hurt to talk, ran a hand through his hair, his movements tight with frustration. “I’m really sorry, Bella. You don’t need to worry about the news or the media. I’m already handling it. My PR team is working to take everything down, and my lawyers will make sure whoever posted that trash regrets it. You and Timothy don’t deserve this p>
Her eyes softened, but her chest hurt even more. He wasn’t angry or at least not at her. Not yet. And that made it harder, because what she was about to say would change that.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said quietly, her voice shaking.
“You can tell me later. Just tell me how you feel right now about being in the news with Timothy,” Jake said, and then turned to Rachel. “I’m so sorry your son is the object of discussion to thousands of people right now p>
“Just let me speak first!” Bella half yelled, cutting Jake off.
Jake’s eyes flicked to hers, a frown etching his brows. “What is it p>
“It’s… something I’ve been meaning to tell you. It’s about that night I couldn’t make it. The night I said I wanted to talk to you p>
His frown deepened slightly, reading the seriousness in her tone. “All right,” he said gently. “Tell me p>
What was it that she had to tell him today, like this?
Chloe, who had been standing nearby with Rachel, exchanged a glance with her. Rachel gave Bella’s hand a quick squeeze before pulling Chloe gently toward the hallway.
Chloe touched Bella’s arm lightly. “We’ll give you both a moment,” she murmured, her voice calm but full of worry.
Rachel nodded quietly before following Chloe into the room.
Once the two women disappeared down the hallway, silence fell between them, deep, steady, and almost unbearable.
Jake turned fully to face her now, his tall frame still outlined by the soft light from the porch. “You’re scaring me, Bella,” he said quietly. “What’s this about p>
Bella swallowed hard. Her heart was pounding so loudly she thought he might hear it. “Jake,” she began, her voice trembling, “it’s about Timothy p>
Jake’s expression softened slightly, thinking she was worried about the boy being dragged into the news. “He’s going to be fine. I’ll make sure of it. Whoever did this p>
“No,” Bella interrupted, shaking her head. Her eyes glistened as she met his gaze. “That’s not what I mean p>
Jake’s brows furrowed. “Then what is it p>
She drew in a shaky breath, her hands twisting together. “Timothy… he actually, he isn’t Rachel’s child,” she whispered, her heart beating even louder now.
Jake blinked, confusion flickering across his features. “What do you mean? You told me p>
“I lied,” she said, her voice breaking on the word.
Jake’s frown deepened, his mind already racing. “You lied p>
He hoped he wasn’t going to regret coming here tonight. He’d been through too much big reveal that he was scared this one could do him more harm than good.
Bella’s eyes filled with tears. “I mean… he’s mine. Timothy is my son not Rachel’s p>
For a second, Jake just stared, uncomprehending. His heartbeat slowed, his mind struggling to keep up. “Yours?” he repeated slowly, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “But you said p>
“I know what I said,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks now. “That was all a lie I told to keep you from finding out p>
Jake frowned, taking a small step closer, his voice low. “Finding out about what p>
He’d once considered the fact that Timothy could be Bella’s child, especially since Timothy called her mom and Rachel whom Bella claimed was Timothy’s mother, aunt. It didn’t make sense, yet he’d chosen to believe. And now, she was telling him this?
When Bella couldn’t answer to his question, he took a deep breath and closed the gap between them. “It’s fine if you’re Timothy’s mother. I really don’t see any much difference but why did you see the need to lie to me? Why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me?” he asked again, trying not to let his disappointment show.
“Because I didn’t want you to know the truth,” Bella whispered, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. “I didn’t want you to know he was yours p>
The words hung there, heavy and irreversible.
Jake froze, staring at her. This had to be a joke. His mouth opened, then closed again, no sound coming out. He blinked once, twice, as though trying to decide if he’d misheard her. This update ıs available on.net
“What?” he said finally, his voice barely audible.
Bella’s lips trembled, but she pushed through. “Timothy is the child I got pregnant with after that night… five years ago. I didn’t even know your name then, Jake. I didn’t know how to find you. And when I finally saw you again, it was too late. I had already raised him as mine alone. I wanted to tell you but I didn’t want you to think I was pinning another person’s child on you or for you to think I was looking for money. I was also scared. Scared that you might want to take him away from me p>
“Stop. Just stop!” Jake cut in.
“I understand this is too sudden but it’s the truth and I’m sorry for keeping it away for so long. I’m sorry, okay?” Bella said, raising her two hands to cup Jake’s face but he pulled back.
Jake shook his head slowly, disbelief clouding his face. “No,” he said quietly, more to himself than to her. “That can’t be. I can’t be his father p>
“It’s true,” she whispered, stepping closer again. “You were the only one, Jake. That night… you remember it, don’t you? You were my first and the only one I’ve ever been with. I lost my mother that morning and couldn’t get the morning after pill. That was why I got pregnant. I decided to keep it without knowing who you were until I saw you again at StoneTech. I didn’t plan it, Jake. I swear. I didn’t even want to work for you at first, but fate… it just p>
“No,” Jake said again, his voice firmer now, his breath growing uneven. “No, Bella. You’re wrong. You’re… you must be mistaken p>
Her heart squeezed painfully. “Jake p>
“I can’t be his father,” he said sharply, his voice rising with desperation. “It’s not possible p>
Bella flinched at his tone. “What do you mean it’s not possible? I’m telling you the truth, Jake. Timothy is your son p>
He let out a breathless, bitter laugh and ran a hand down his face. “This has to be some kind of joke,” he muttered, his voice cracking faintly. “You can’t just—” He looked up at her again, and his voice broke. “You don’t understand, Bella. I can’t be Timothy’s father p>
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean p>
Jake’s gaze met hers, full of something raw and broken. “I can’t be his father because I can’t have children,” he said quietly.