13. Bella #3
One evening, we’re sitting on the terrace watching the sunset, Sophia asleep in her stroller beside us. The sky is painted in shades of pink and orange and gold, and the city below is starting to light up for the night.
“Do you ever think about that day?” Adrian asks suddenly. “The day I found you?”
“Sometimes,” I admit. “Why?”
“I think about it all the time,” Adrian says. “I think about how different things could have been. If I hadn’t been there. If you hadn’t taken the job. If we hadn’t fallen in love.”
“But we did,” I say, taking his hand. “We did fall in love. And now we have this beautiful life together.”
“I know,” Adrian says. “And I’m grateful for it every single day. But sometimes I wonder… do you ever regret it? Do you ever wish things had turned out differently?”
I turn to face him fully, making sure he can see the truth in my eyes. “Adrian, I don’t regret a single thing. Yes, what happened with Marcus was awful. Yes, it hurt. But it led me to you. It led me to this life, to Sophia, to everything I have now. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.”
Adrian’s eyes are suspiciously bright. “You mean that?”
“I mean it,” I say firmly. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You and Sophia. You’re my everything.”
Adrian pulls me into his arms, holding me tight. “You’re my everything too, Bella. My whole world.”
As Sophia approaches her first birthday, I find myself reflecting on the past year. It’s been the hardest year of my life - sleepless nights, endless feedings, the constant worry that comes with being a new parent.
But it’s also been the best year of my life. Watching Sophia grow and develop, seeing Adrian as a father, building our family together - it’s been incredible.
We’re planning a small party for Sophia’s birthday - just close friends and family. Sarah is helping me organize it, and she’s more excited than I am.
“I can’t believe she’s going to be one,” Sarah says as we’re going over the guest list. “It feels like just yesterday you were telling me you were pregnant.”
“I know,” I say, looking over at Sophia, who’s playing with blocks on the floor. “Time flies.”
“She’s gotten so big,” Sarah says fondly. “And she looks just like you.”
“You think so?” I ask. “She’s got his stubborn streak, that’s for sure.”
“She has your smile,” Sarah says. “And your determination. I can already tell she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
I laugh. “God help us.”
The party is a huge success. Sophia is adorable in her little birthday dress, and she’s fascinated by the cake - though she makes more of a mess than anything else.
“She’s having the time of her life,” Adrian says, watching as Sophia smashes cake into her hair.
“She is,” I agree, laughing. “We’re going to need to give her a bath after this.”
“Worth it,” Adrian says, pulling out his phone to take pictures. “These are memories we’ll treasure forever.”
That night, after everyone has left and Sophia is clean and asleep, Adrian and I collapse on the couch, exhausted but happy.
“That was a good day,” Adrian says, pulling me against his side.
“It was,” I agree. “Sophia had so much fun.”
“So did I,” Adrian says. “I love seeing her happy. I love seeing you happy.”
“I am happy,” I say, tilting my head up to look at him. “Happier than I ever thought possible.”
Adrian kisses me softly. “Good. Because you deserve to be happy, Bella. You deserve everything good in this world.”
“I have everything good,” I say. “I have you. I have Sophia. I have a career I love and friends who support me. I have everything I could ever want.”
“So do I,” Adrian says, his voice thick with emotion. “So do I.”
A few weeks after Sophia’s birthday, I’m working from home when I get a call from Detective Morrison.
“Mrs. Sterling,” she says when I answer. “I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”
“Not at all,” I say, my heart starting to race. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” Detective Morrison assures me. “I just wanted to give you an update on Marcus Webb.”
I take a deep breath. “Okay.”
“He’s been transferred to a maximum-security facility upstate,” Detective Morrison says. “He’ll be there for the foreseeable future. And I wanted you to know that his final appeal has just been denied. With a life sentence and no parole, he’s never getting out.”
I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Of course,” Detective Morrison says. “I know this has been a difficult journey for you, and I wanted to make sure you had closure.”
“I appreciate that,” I say sincerely. “More than you know.”
After we hang up, I sit there for a moment, processing the information. Marcus is locked away. He can’t hurt me. He can’t hurt anyone.
It’s over. It’s really, truly over.
That evening, I tell Adrian about the call.
“How do you feel?” he asks, watching me carefully.
“Relieved,” I say honestly. “And… free. Like I can finally let go of the past completely.”
“You should feel free,” Adrian says, pulling me into his arms. “You are free. Marcus has no power over you anymore. He never will again.”
“I know,” I say, resting my head on his chest. “And I’m grateful. For you, for everything you did to make sure he faced justice.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Adrian says fiercely. “I’d do anything to protect you, Bella. Anything.”
“I know,” I whisper. “And I love you for it.”
As the months continue to pass, life settles into a comfortable rhythm. Sophia starts walking, taking her first wobbly steps across the living room floor. She starts talking, saying “Mama” and “Dada” and “more” and “no.”
She’s developing a personality - curious, determined, affectionate. She loves books and music and playing outside. She loves when Adrian makes silly faces and when I sing to her at bedtime.
She’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.
One Saturday morning, Adrian and I are having breakfast on the terrace while Sophia plays with her toys. The weather is beautiful - warm and sunny with a gentle breeze.
“I’ve been thinking,” Adrian says, setting down his coffee cup.
“About what?” I ask.
“About expanding our family,” Adrian says, and my heart skips a beat.
“You want another baby?” I ask.
“Eventually,” Adrian says. “Not right away - I want to enjoy Sophia being little for a while longer. But yes, I’d love to have more children with you. If you want that too.”
I think about it for a moment. The idea of another baby is both exciting and terrifying. But looking at Sophia, seeing how much joy she’s brought into our lives, I can’t help but want to experience it again.
“I want that too,” I say, reaching across the table to take his hand. “Maybe in a year or two?”
“Perfect,” Adrian says, smiling. “That gives us time to enjoy Sophia and prepare for the chaos of two kids.”
I laugh. “It’s going to be crazy.”
“It’s going to be amazing,” Adrian corrects. “Just like everything else we do together.”
That afternoon, we take Sophia to the park. She’s obsessed with the swings now, and she squeals with delight every time Adrian pushes her.
“Higher, Dada!” she shouts, and Adrian obliges, pushing her a little higher.
I watch them, my heart full. This is what happiness looks like. This is what love looks like.
This is everything I never knew I needed.
Later that evening, after Sophia is asleep, Adrian and I are sitting on the couch, my head on his shoulder, his arm around me.
“Do you remember what you said to me that first day?” I ask. “When you found me on the street?”
“I said a lot of things,” Adrian says. “Which part?”
“You said you were there to offer me a job,” I say. “You said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.”
“It was,” Adrian says. “I knew I wanted you in my life. I just had to figure out how to make that happen.”
“And you did,” I say, tilting my head up to look at him. “You changed my life, Adrian.”
“You did the same for me,” Adrian says softly. “Before you, I was just going through the motions. Building my empire, taking down my enemies, but never really living. You taught me how to live, Bella. You taught me how to love.”
I feel tears prick my eyes. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” Adrian says, kissing me gently. “More than words can say.”
As I lie in bed that night, Adrian asleep beside me, I think about the journey that brought me here.
I think about the wedding that never happened. The betrayal that shattered me. The man who saved me when I was at my lowest.
I think about the revenge plot that turned into something real. The partnership that became a romance. The love that grew from the ashes of my broken dreams.
I think about Sophia, sleeping peacefully in her nursery. About the life we’ve built together. About the future that stretches out before us, full of possibility and promise.
And I realize something: I wouldn’t change a thing.
Yes, what Marcus did was awful. Yes, it hurt. But it led me here. It led me to Adrian, to Sophia, to this beautiful life.
It led me home.
The next morning, I wake to the sound of Sophia babbling in her crib. I get up and go to her, lifting her into my arms.
“Good morning, sweet girl,” I say, kissing her cheek.
“Mama,” Sophia says, patting my face with her little hand.
“That’s right,” I say, carrying her to the changing table. “Mama’s here.”
As I’m changing her diaper, Adrian appears in the doorway, his hair messy from sleep, a soft smile on his face.
“Good morning, my girls,” he says, coming over to kiss us both.
“Good morning,” I say, handing Sophia to him. “Can you take her while I make breakfast?”
“Of course,” Adrian says, lifting Sophia high in the air. She giggles, delighted.
I watch them for a moment, my heart full. This is my family. This is my life.
And it’s perfect.
Over breakfast, Adrian tells me about a new project he’s considering - a charitable foundation focused on helping victims of corporate fraud.
“I want to do something meaningful,” he says. “Something that helps people who’ve been hurt the way Marcus hurt so many people.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” I say, impressed. “I’d love to help.”