The diner was one of those old-fashioned places with red vinyl booths and checkered floors.
A jukebox sat in the corner, playing something from the fifties.
Bella sat across from Daniel, picking at her fries.
Daniel was gesturing animatedly, his face lit up with passion.
"I'm just saying," Daniel said, "the ending made no sense. The whole movie built up this mystery, and then they just—what? The butler did it? That's lazy writing."
Bella smiled faintly. "I thought it was clever. The clues were all there if you were paying attention."
"Clues?" Daniel scoffed. "They threw in a red herring every five minutes. By the end, I didn't know what was a clue and what was just noise."
"That's the point," Bella said. "It keeps you guessing."
Daniel shook his head, grinning. "You're too forgiving. That movie was a mess."
Bella laughed softly. "Maybe I just have better taste than you."
"Or lower standards," Daniel shot back, his eyes twinkling.
Bella rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
For the first time in weeks, she wasn't thinking about Jack. About the life she'd left behind.
She was just... here.
With Daniel.
The TV mounted in the corner of the diner was playing the local news. Bella barely noticed it at first—just background noise.
But then the anchor's voice cut through the diner's chatter.
"Breaking news out of Southside tonight. A building fire has left at least three people dead and several others injured. Authorities are investigating the cause, but early reports suggest it may have been arson."
Bella's head snapped toward the screen.
The camera showed a building engulfed in flames. Firefighters sprayed water onto the blaze, but it was clear the structure was already lost.
Bodies were being carried out on stretchers, covered in white sheets.
Bella's stomach dropped.
She recognized that building.
It was one of Jack's.
One of his warehouses.
Her heart started to race.
No.
"Bella?" Daniel's voice sounded distant. "You okay?"
Bella tore her eyes away from the screen, forcing a smile. "Yeah. I just—I need to use the bathroom."
She stood quickly, her legs unsteady.
Daniel frowned. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Bella said, her voice tight. "I'll be right back."
She walked quickly toward the back of the diner, her hands trembling.
The bathroom was small and dimly lit. Bella locked the door behind her and pulled out her phone.
She dialed Jack's number.
It rang.
And rang.
And rang.
Pick up. Please pick up.
The call went to voicemail.
Bella's chest tightened.
She called again.
Voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
He always answers.
Always.
Bella stared at her phone, her hands shaking.
Something was wrong.
Something was very, very wrong.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
Calm down. He's probably just busy.
But the image of the burning building flashed in her mind.
The bodies.
The flames.
Bella shoved her phone into her pocket and walked back out to the booth.
Daniel looked up as she approached, his expression concerned.
"Hey," he said. "You sure you're okay? You look pale."
Bella forced another smile. "I'm fine. I just—I'm really sorry, Daniel, but I have to go."
Daniel blinked. "What? Why?"
"It's a personal emergency," Bella said quickly. "I had a great time tonight, really. But I have to go."
Daniel stood. "Let me come with you. If something's wrong—"
"No," Bella said, her voice sharper than she intended. She softened. "It's personal. I need to handle it alone."
Daniel hesitated, his eyes searching hers.
"Okay," he said finally. "But call me if you need anything. Okay?"
Bella nodded. "I will. Thank you."
She grabbed her purse and hurried out of the diner.
***
The drive to Jack's penthouse felt like it took forever.
Bella's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her mind raced.
What if he's hurt?
What if he's—
She couldn't finish the thought.
She pulled into the parking garage and took the elevator up to Jack's floor.
The hallway was silent.
Bella knocked on the door.
No answer.
She knocked again, harder this time.
Still nothing.
Her heart pounded.
She pulled out her phone and called him again.
Voicemail.
Where the hell is he?
Bella leaned against the door, her chest tight.
He's fine. He has to be fine.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
She looked down.
Jack.
She answered immediately. "Jack? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Jack said, his voice flat.
Bella exhaled, relief flooding through her. "Thank God. I saw the news—the fire—I thought—"
"I'm fine," Jack repeated.
Bella frowned. "What happened? The news said there were bodies—"
"It's personal business," Jack said.
Bella's stomach twisted. "What do you mean, personal business?"
"Personal," Jack said.
Bella's frustration flared. "Jack, what the hell is going on? What have you gotten into?"
There was a long pause.
Then Jack's voice came through, cold and sharp.
"I'm confused," he said. "Did you want to know all about my business? Or did you want out? Isn't that why you left me?"
Bella froze.
The words hit her like a slap.
She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
He's right.
He's right, and I hate that he's right.
She'd left him because she couldn't handle his world. Because she didn't want to know what he did. Because she wanted something normal.
And now she was calling him, demanding answers, acting like she had the right to know.
"Jack—" she started, her voice breaking.
"Don't," Jack said. "Don't do this."
"I just—" Bella's throat tightened. "I just don't want you to do anything rash. You've been doing so good. You've been—"
"See you later, Bella," Jack said.
The line went dead.
Bella stared at her phone, her chest aching.
Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them back.
What am I doing?
What the hell am I doing?
She slid down the wall, sitting on the floor outside Jack's door.
Her feelings were a mess.
She'd left him because she couldn't be part of his world.
But she couldn't stop caring about him.
She couldn't stop worrying.
And now, hearing the coldness in his voice, she realized something.
I hurt him.
I hurt him, and now he's shutting me out.
Bella buried her face in her hands.
I don't know what I want anymore.
***
The hospital waiting room smelled like antiseptic and stale coffee.
Hela sat in one of the plastic chairs, her hands folded in her lap.
Her leg bounced nervously.
She'd been waiting for twenty minutes, and every second felt like an eternity.
Finally, a nurse called her name.
Hela stood and followed the nurse down a long hallway to a small examination room.
The doctor was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and graying hair.
"Ms. Hela," the doctor said, smiling. "How are you feeling today?"
"Nervous," Hela admitted.
The doctor nodded. "That's completely normal. Let's take a look, shall we?"
Hela lay back on the examination table, her hands gripping the edges.
The doctor performed the ultrasound, her eyes focused on the screen.
Hela's heart pounded.
Please let everything be okay.
Please.
Finally, the doctor turned to her, smiling.
"Congratulations," she said. "You are indeed pregnant. About two weeks along."
Hela exhaled, relief and fear mixing together.
"Is it—" Hela started, then stopped. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
The doctor chuckled softly. "It's far too early to tell. We won't be able to determine the sex for several more weeks."
Hela nodded, her cheeks flushing.
Of course it's too early. What was I thinking?
The doctor handed her a pamphlet. "Here's some information on prenatal care. I recommend limiting strenuous activities, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and making sure you're getting plenty of rest and proper nutrition."
Hela took the pamphlet, her hands trembling slightly.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
The doctor smiled. "You're going to be fine. Just take care of yourself, okay?"
Hela nodded.
She left the examination room and walked through the hospital in a daze.
I'm pregnant.
I'm really pregnant.
The reality of it was starting to sink in.
She pushed through the hospital doors and stepped outside.
Markus was waiting in the car, parked at the curb.
Hela climbed into the passenger seat, closing the door behind her.
Markus looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Well?"
"Two weeks," Hela said quietly.
Markus nodded slowly. "You need to tell Jack."
Hela's jaw tightened. "I will."
"When?" Markus pressed.
"When the time is right," Hela said, her voice firm.
Markus stared at her for a long moment.
"Hela," he said quietly. "There's never going to be a right time. You know that."
Hela looked out the window, her hands resting on her stomach.
I know.
But I can't tell him. Not now.
Not when everything was going so well.
Jack was in love with Bella. He'd made that clear. She was nothing but a sex friend. A business partner.
And she was pregnant with his child.
How the hell am I supposed to tell him that?
Markus started the car, pulling away from the curb.
Hela closed her eyes, her mind racing.