Chapter 113
The late afternoon sun stretched long and golden over the quiet road, painting the city in soft amber light. Timothy’s delighted laughter filled the back seat as he clutched his half-eaten cone of ice cream, his little legs swinging back and forth.
Jake glanced at him through the rearview mirror, lips curving into a faint smile. “You’re making more of a mess than you’re eating, champ p>
Timothy looked up, grinning with chocolate smeared around his mouth. “It’s melting too fast p>
Bella chuckled beside him, turning slightly in her seat. “Because you keep talking instead of eating. Here—” she reached for a napkin and gently wiped his chin.
Jake’s soft laugh joined hers. “Now he looks like a proper gentleman again p>
Timothy beamed proudly, holding his cone high as if he’d won a medal. “I’m trying my best p>
Bella laughed again, shaking her head. “You sound just like me when I’m trying to explain something to Rachel or vice versa p>
Jake smirked. “So the chaos runs in the family, then p>
Bella’s eyes narrowed playfully, but there was warmth in them. “Be careful, Mr. Stones. You’re dangerously close to being added to that ’chaos p>
“Oh, I think I’ve already been drafted,” he replied lightly.
Their eyes met briefly before Bella looked away, smiling faintly at the windshield. The mood was light, easy, the kind of calm she hadn’t felt in a while, especially not after the long morning with Rachel.
The city rolled by in gentle rhythm, the distant chatter of schoolchildren, vendors calling from the sidewalks, the hum of traffic easing as they approached quieter streets.
After a moment, Bella spoke, her tone soft but curious. “Jake, can I ask you something p>
He hummed, glancing at her. “Sure. What is it p>
“Did you… have you gone to see your parents, yet p>
Jake’s hands tightened on the steering wheel slightly, his gaze fixed on the road. “Not yet,” he said after a pause.
Bella nodded, not pushing further. She just gave a quiet “Hmm,” and turned to look out the window. The air between them wasn’t heavy, just thoughtful.
Jake’s mind, however, wasn’t as calm as he looked. He’d been thinking about it all day. The unread messages from his mother, the silence between him and his father, and the echo of Raymond’s angry words the night before where he’d found out the truth.
But sitting there, hearing Timothy’s innocent hums and Bella’s quiet presence beside him, he realized maybe it was time to stop running and just face the truth.
He exhaled slowly. “I’ll go after I drop you off,” he said finally, almost to himself.
Bella turned to him, her face softening. She didn’t say anything, but her small nod was enough.
When they reached her house, Jake parked in front. The air was tinted gold from the setting sun. Bella turned back to find Timothy already dozing, the ice cream long forgotten in his hand.
Jake smiled. “Guess ice cream and playtime won today p>
Bella laughed softly, unbuckling the boy’s seatbelt. “He’ll deny it if you tell him p>
She carried Timothy carefully from the car. As she did, Jake stepped out, his gaze resting on the two of them and the small, peaceful picture they made together. Something about it hit deep inside him.
He walked around the car to meet her. “I’ll see you later,” he said quietly.
Bella nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Drive safe, Jake p>
Their eyes met briefly, something unspoken lingering in the look before she turned toward the door. Jake waited until she and Timothy were inside before he got back into the car and drove off. The source of this content ɪs
The Stones mansion stood at the edge of the city, large and quiet beneath the evening light. For the first time since the night before, Jake didn’t feel resentment looking at it or thinking of it. Just nerves.
He parked outside, sat for a long moment gripping the steering wheel, then finally stepped out.
When he rang the doorbell, the familiar voice of the butler greeted him. “Good evening, Mr. Stones p>
Jake nodded faintly. “Are my parents in p>
“Yes, sir. In the living room p>
He stepped inside, every footstep echoing through the marble hall. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and old books. It was his home, yet not quite. It felt awkward now after learning the truth.
When he entered the living room, Evelyn Stones was the first to look up. She froze. Her cup clinked softly against the saucer as her hand trembled.
“Jake?” she whispered, standing up.
He managed a small, uncertain smile. “Hi, Mom p>
Mom?
She crossed the room in seconds, throwing her arms around him. The scent of her perfume—the same one she’d worn since he was a child—wrapped around him, and for a moment he felt like a boy again.
Evelyn’s voice broke. “You’re here. You’re really here and you’re calling me mom p>
Jake’s throat tightened as he hugged her back. “I’m sorry I left that way,” he said quietly. “I just… didn’t know how to react to the truth p>
Charles appeared in the doorway, his tall frame casting a shadow across the room. His expression softened instantly. “Jake p>
Jake turned to him. “Dad p>
For a long second, neither spoke. Then Charles stepped forward, his tone low and steady. “We were worried p>
Jake’s lips curved faintly. “You had every right to be p>
Charles’s eyes flickered with emotion. “We thought you might never come home again p>
Jake took a slow breath. “I wasn’t sure I would. But I realized… staying angry wasn’t fixing anything p>
Evelyn wiped her eyes, guiding him to sit. “You have every right to be angry, sweetheart. We should’ve told you the truth long ago p>
Jake’s jaw clenched, but his voice stayed soft. “You should’ve. But I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.” He looked between them, emotion tightening his voice. “You loved me the only way you knew how. And maybe that’s enough p>
Charles’s gaze lowered. “We thought we were protecting you. You were just a baby when we brought you home, and you made us feel whole again. We wanted to believe you were truly ours in every way p>
Jake’s eyes glistened. “You’re the only parents I’ve ever known. That’s never going to change. I’ve realized that I shouldn’t be angry at you for anything. If not, I should be feeling grateful that you choose to love me even when you’d lost a child yourself p>
Evelyn covered her mouth, tears spilling freely. “Oh, Jake p>
He smiled faintly, voice trembling. “I blamed you both for something you didn’t deserve. I made it sound like all those years meant nothing. But they did. Every memory, every lesson, every moment were real. Your love was and is real and I’m grateful p>
Charles reached across the table, his hand steady. “We forgive you, son. But only if you forgive us too p>
Jake’s throat constricted as he nodded. “I already did p>
The air seemed lighter then, like something sacred had been mended. Evelyn reached out, taking her husband’s hand with one and Jake’s with the other, tears glimmering but her smile steady.
Then, footsteps sounded from the stairs.
Jake turned as Raymond appeared, hesitating halfway down. He looked uncertain, guilt heavy in his eyes.
“Hey,” Jake said softly.
Raymond’s voice came out strained. “You’re here p>
Jake nodded. “Yeah p>
A silence hung between them. Then Raymond descended the last few steps, stopping a few feet away.
“I don’t deserve to talk to you,” he said quietly. “But I will anyway, because if I don’t, I’ll never forgive myself.” He drew a breath. “I’m sorry, Jake. For everything. For being a terrible brother. For the things I said. For not being there when you needed me. For hurting you and misunderstanding you p>
Jake’s gaze softened. “You hurt me, Ray. More than you know p>
“I know,” Raymond said, voice breaking. “I hated how much they loved you and how much you could easily steal the attention of women I liked. I thought you took what was mine. I didn’t understand that you were never the problem. I was p>
Evelyn covered her mouth again, eyes wet.
Jake stood and took a slow step toward him. “You were angry, confused. I get it. But that doesn’t mean you’re not my brother p>
Raymond’s breath caught. “After everything, you still want to call me that p>
Jake gave a faint, teary smile. “I never stopped p>
That broke something in Raymond. He closed the distance in two steps, pulling Jake into a rough, desperate hug. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
Jake hugged him back tightly. “I know. It’s okay p>
Charles rose slowly, his arm wrapping around Evelyn as she wept quietly into his shoulder. The family stood there for what felt like forever, bound again not by perfection, but by forgiveness.
When they finally sat again, the tension that had haunted the mansion for weeks felt gone. Evelyn wiped her cheeks, smiling shakily. “You must be starving. I’ll make dinner myself p>
Jake laughed softly. “You? In the kitchen p>
Charles chuckled. “Don’t let her fool you. She can still make a mean casserole when she wants to p>
Evelyn playfully swatted her husband’s arm, and for the first time in a long time, the house sounded like home again—alive with small laughter and warmth.
Jake leaned back, exhaling quietly. “I missed this,” he murmured.
Charles met his gaze. “So did we, son. So did we p>
“So, now that everything is back to normal, when do you intend to tell us about her?” Evelyn asked with a mischievous smile.