Romero was quieter than usual. The guards moved like shadows, their steps measured, their eyes always scanning. Inside, the suite where Bella stayed with Jessy was warm, safe but she still jumped at every noise in the hallway.
When Alexis arrived, Bella rushed down the staircase with Jessy on her hip, her heart racing.
Alexis took one look at the mansion and muttered under her breath, "Leave it to you to land in the middle of a billionaire's fortress."
Bella laughed weakly. "It's not what it looks like."
"Babe," Alexis said, arching a brow, "it looks like you're hiding in a palace with guards armed to the teeth. That's exactly what it looks like."
They hugged again, tighter this time, the weight of the café reunion still lingering. Alexis kissed Jessy's temple before pulling back. "Show me where you're living. I need to see it with my own eyes."
Bella led her upstairs to the suite. The crib stood by the window, a small pile of toys on the rug. Alexis smiled, running her fingers over the crib's edge. "So this is where my godson sleeps, huh? Not bad. Kid's got better furniture than me."
Jessy babbled, clapping his hands against Alexis's cheek when she leaned down to hold him. She laughed, lifting him up. "Okay, I'm obsessed. Forget the wedding, I'll just steal this one."
Bella's laughter came easier this time. It felt good to share Jessy, to not carry him alone.
Then the door opened.
Arabella stepped inside, her small face cautious, her doll tucked under her arm. She froze when she saw Alexis.
"Hi," Alexis said gently, crouching to the girl's level. "And who's this beautiful little one?"
Bella walked over and stroked Arabella's hair. "This is Arabella. She's... Chris's daughter." Her voice wavered a little, but her hand stayed steady on the girl's shoulder.
Arabella peeked up at Alexis. "Are you my daddy's friend?"
Alexis blinked, glancing at Bella before nodding. "Something like that, sweetheart."
Arabella smiled shyly before climbing onto the rug near Jessy's toys. Without a word, she picked up a block and started building. Jessy reached toward her, babbling happily, and Arabella gave him a small grin.
Alexis's chest tightened. The children — one girl with haunting violet eyes, one baby boy with the same — side by side on the rug. She didn't know the whole story, but the resemblance was uncanny.
She turned to Bella, her voice low. "You take care of her too?"
Bella nodded. "She needs someone. Thelma never treated her right. She's been through too much for a child."
The quiet way Bella said it, the tenderness in her tone, made Alexis's throat ache. Bella wasn't just mothering Jessy. She was giving Arabella something she had been denied: love.
Before Alexis could say more, Chris walked in. He had just come from his office, his sleeves rolled up, his tie loose. He froze at the sight of Alexis, his eyes flicking from Bella to the woman holding Jessy.
"Chris," Bella said softly, "this is Alexis. My... friend."
Chris's gaze lingered on Alexis, weighing, assessing, before he gave a short nod. "Thank you for being here. She needs people she can trust."
Alexis raised a brow. "And you're one of those people?"
The room went tense. Bella swallowed hard, but Chris only smirked faintly. "I'm trying to be." He crouched down beside Arabella, ruffling her hair. "You okay, princess?"
Arabella nodded, leaning into him, but her eyes darted back to Bella as if to make sure she was still there.
Chris then looked at Jessy, still in Alexis's arms. Slowly, almost cautiously, he reached out. "May I?"
Bella's chest tightened, but she nodded. Alexis handed Jessy over.
For the first time, Chris cradled his son.
Jessy stared up at him, eyes wide, before letting out a small laugh, grabbing Chris's nose. Chris's breath caught. His arms tightened around the boy, his lips pressing to Jessy's head. Something raw and unguarded broke across his face the mask slipping.
Bella watched, tears filling her eyes. She had dreamed of this moment, but never dared to hope for it.
Chris looked up at her, his voice low, rough. "He's perfect."
Arabella crawled closer, pressing her hand against Jessy's tiny foot. The baby cooed, kicking softly, and Arabella giggled. Chris pulled both children against him, one on each side.
Alexis pressed a hand to her chest. "Okay. This is... a lot."
Bella whispered, "Tell me about it."
The silence that followed wasn't empty. It was heavy, layered with love, loss, questions unasked.
Finally, Alexis leaned back against the wall, watching Chris play with the children, Bella watching him. "You two have a lot to figure out," she said softly. "But I'll say this... whatever this is, it's real. And maybe that's enough for now."
Bella's eyes met Chris's across the room, and for the first time since Toronto, she didn't look away.