Isabella~
"Bella, I am exhausted now; I need to get some sleep." With a yawn, he rose from his seat. The abrupt change in his behavior heightened my suspicion. He seemed uncomfortable, which made it obvious to me that he didn't want to discuss Laila.
"Good night, Xavier." I got up from the couch and walked toward my room. I discovered a substantial barrier separating us even after he admitted his love for me. He still did not fully trust me with his secrets, and in truth, I wasn't being entirely honest with him either.
As I lay on my bed, I couldn't shake the weight of guilt pressing on my chest. Hiding my decision to meet Uncle Jorawar from Xavier felt like a betrayal, but I had no choice. His faith in me and his hope for our future made it even harder to keep secrets, but what choice did I have? If he knew, it could unravel everything I was trying to protect.
I returned to my desk and resumed working on the Jordan Lucas puzzle. I needed to figure out his next move before he presented us with another obstacle. The fear of what might happen next gripped me tightly, yet I couldn't shake my resolve.
Dad informed me about his animosity toward Uncle Jorawar, and from his perspective, Uncle Jorawar is entirely to blame. However, I don't want to draw any conclusions too hastily without first understanding Uncle Jorawar's perspective.
To make any decisions with certainty, I knew I had to meet him. But the thought of it made my stomach churn.
What if this meeting opened old wounds or created new ones? What if Xavier found out? The mere idea of his disappointment sent a chill through my veins. Knowing half of the story, I already understood why Jordan Lucas hired Uncle Jorawar as the prosecutor in this case. It wasn't just about winning; it was about fracturing what remained of our family.
My fear grew heavier as I revisited Laila's case file, hoping to uncover additional hints regarding her relationship with Xavier. I stared at the name "Laila" on the page, the letters blurring as my eyes filled with unshed tears.
Late-night work was becoming a habit, and I was paying the price for it every morning. My body ached, and I struggled to wake up. But today, I promised myself a lighter schedule. After visiting my office and addressing a few work commitments, I planned to spend time with Alan.
James had been managing my legal practice while I dealt with the chaos in my personal life. He was doing an excellent job, but the unresolved tension between us needed to be addressed. I suspected that he, too, might hold pieces of the puzzle I was trying so hard to complete.
I changed into trousers and a casual top and descended the stairs.
"Bella, good morning." Victor and Xavier were already at the dining table, waiting for me
"Good morning, Sorry for the wait. Give me a few minutes. I will prepare breakfast soon." I felt bad for sleeping so late in the morning when I saw them waiting for breakfast.
"We've already prepared breakfast, so you don't need to do it." Xavier placed the covered dish on the dining table.
Why are you both causing yourself such trouble? When I saw the delectable delicacies on the dining table, I was astounded.
"Bella, good morning." Dad came into the dining room as well.
"Give me two minutes, Dad, and I'll prepare breakfast for you." I rose from my seat to make him breakfast.
"You don't have to worry, Bella; I will consume whatever breakfast everyone else is having." Even if his speech remained icy and distant, seeing him sitting quietly in his dining chair gave me hope. When I saw him eating his breakfast, a smile formed on my lips. Hope is shining in Victor's and Xavier's eyes as well.
"Don't give yourself any hope; the only reason I ate this meal was to avoid causing you any trouble. Despite your extreme fatigue, you had to prepare a meal for me last night." After noticing our joyful glances, Dad explained to us why he decided to eat Xavier's homemade cuisine.
"Did you enjoy breakfast, Bella?" Xavier stared at my face with hopeful eyes.
"It tastes delicious, Uncle; am I right, Grandpa?" Alan answered Xavier's question before I could reply.
Dad frowned at Alan's inquiry since he didn't want to compliment Victor and Xavier on their culinary prowess.
"I don't like this food; it tastes worse than my medicine." Dad answered Alan's question when he fixed his gaze on Dad's face in anticipation of an answer.
"I never saw you eating two omelets for breakfast, so why are you lying, Grandpa? You seem to enjoy the cuisine." When Dad heard Alan's remark about him, he instantly stopped eating his meal.
"Bella, your son is watching me eat breakfast and even counting the number of bites I take." Dad feigned anger and continued to show no appreciation for brunch.
"Don't watch Grandpa's breakfast, Alan; it's a bad habit." After seeing Alan's revelation, I made an effort to keep my laughter in check.
"Do you know, Mama, that yesterday night Grandpa went into the kitchen and ate the food you had placed in the refrigerator?" We were all even more shocked by Alan's revelation.
"That's enough; I'm heading back to my room. Your son shares the same traits as his father and uncle." Dad got up from his chair in anger and left the dining hall before I stopped him.
"Alan, you made Grandpa angry."
When Xavier learned that his father liked his prepared meals, a smile formed on his lips.
I hope Dad will forgive us soon. With a heavy sigh, Victor stared at Dad's empty plate.
"I'll take you to the playhouse today, Alan, so get your homework done soon." I picked up my handbag from the side table and instructed Alan to get ready in the evening.
"Are you going anywhere, Bella?" Xavier questioned me after he noticed me retrieving my car keys from the side drawer.
"Yes, I need to talk to James about something, so I'll head to my office after my client's meeting."
"What do you want to talk about with him?" I paused when I noticed the change in his appearance. Does my work with James not appeal to him? In his eyes, I saw a hint of jealousy.
"Don't you want me to talk with him?" I gave him a raised eyebrow.
"No, I don't mean this; I am only asking because I also want to spend time with you today." He quickly hid his jealousy behind his desperation to spend time with me.
"Okay, I'll do my best to get home on time." I nodded and then left the house.
As I drove toward the office, a knot tightened in my chest. My decision to visit Uncle Jorawar felt heavier with every passing minute. Was I ready to face him? Could I handle the truths he might reveal? And what would happen if Xavier found out?