Bella moved gracefully down the wide, marble-floored corridor toward the kitchen, the soft rustle of her robe the only sound accompanying her early steps. As she pushed the swinging doors open, the warm scent of baking bread and sizzling eggs filled her senses. The chefs were already busy, gliding between counters with practiced ease, preparing the household's breakfast.
"Good morning, everyone," Bella greeted with a smile, her presence commanding attention yet wrapped in warmth.
A chorus of "Good morning, ma'am," followed her greeting.
She walked up to the nearest counter, where Mrs. White was arranging breakfast trays.
"We'll be taking black tea this morning, not porridge," Bella said gently, her tone leaving no room for questioning.
Mrs. White turned to her quickly. "Yes, Ma'am."
Bella narrowed her eyes playfully. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Ma'am? It's Bella."
The older woman smiled, her eyes twinkling with fondness but held back by hesitation. "I'd love to, but unless you want young Mr. Hampton Jr. to chase me out of this house, I can't risk it."
Bella chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Alright, alright. Just... call me Bella when he's not around, okay? And let the others know too."
"Yes, Bella," Mrs. White said with a wink, and Bella gave her a grateful smile before heading out of the kitchen.
The morning light streamed through the tall windows as Bella made her way up the grand staircase to the girls' rooms. She gently knocked and entered, her voice soft but firm.
"Wake up, wake up," she called out, walking to the large windows and drawing the curtains apart to let the light pour in.
Lisa, Bianca, and Bonitah stirred in their beds, blinking sleepily at her.
"Good morning, my little princesses," Bella cooed, moving from one bed to the other, brushing hair from their foreheads.
"Good morning, Mom," the girls replied in unison, their voices still groggy but cheerful.
"Let's head to your bathrooms so you can clean yourselves up and get ready for breakfast. I'll be downstairs waiting," she said, ushering them toward their en suite bathrooms.
Once satisfied that the girls were preparing themselves, Bella made her way to Jr's room. The door was ajar, and she peeked in to see him standing in front of his mirror, fumbling with his tie.
She stepped inside, smiling softly. "Let me help you with that."
Jr looked up, surprised but relieved. "Thanks."
Bella stepped close, her fingers deftly adjusting the tie, tightening the knot with precision. As she focused on getting it just right, Jr's eyes weren't on the mirror—they were on her.
She noticed his gaze but didn't meet it right away. There was a tension in the room, subtle but thick, a thread stretching between them, waiting for someone to pull it taut.
Then, without a word, Jr leaned in and pressed his lips to Bella's. The kiss was sudden, intense, and full of a hunger that caught her off guard.
Bella froze, her heart skipping a beat, her hands resting against his chest. She hadn't expected it—hadn't prepared for the rush of heat that surged through her. But a second later, instinct and emotion took over. She kissed him back with equal fervor, matching his urgency with her own.
The world around them seemed to disappear for a moment. Time stood still as their lips moved in harmony, the quiet hum of morning broken only by their breathless exchange. Bella's fingers curled into the fabric of Jr's shirt, her thoughts a blur, her heart pounding.
But reality returned, swift and sharp. She pulled away, her eyes wide, her lips parted.
"You're getting late," she said breathlessly, trying to gather herself. "Breakfast is ready. Let's go."
Jr leaned in and planted a quick peck on her cheek, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
Bella turned away quickly, smoothing her dress and trying to suppress the fire still lingering on her skin. They left the room together, walking side by side down the hall and toward the staircase that led to the dining room below.
Downstairs, the girls were already seated at the table, chattering excitedly and sipping their tea. Mrs. White moved between them, refilling cups and placing platters of toast and fruit on the table. The morning sun spilled across the room, casting everything in a golden glow.
Bella took her seat at the head of the table, casting a glance at Jr, who sat opposite her. His expression was unreadable, calm and composed, as if nothing unusual had occurred moments before. Bella, however, felt her pulse still racing, her mind trying to make sense of what had just happened.
She turned her attention to the girls, asking about their dreams and plans for the day. Their innocence and joy grounded her, reminding her of the role she played in their lives—one of stability, care, and love.
But under the surface, her thoughts drifted back to Jr's kiss. What did it mean? Was it a moment of impulse or something deeper? And what did it mean for her?
As the breakfast continued, Bella kept her composure, but her heart was tangled in questions.
She caught Jr watching her once or twice, his eyes lingering a bit too long, his gaze speaking volumes neither of them were ready to say aloud.
The rest of the morning passed with the usual routine—home schooling prep for the girls, staff instructions, and household errands—but for Bella, everything felt different now. Something had shifted in the quiet of that room upstairs, and no matter how much she tried to ignore it, it refused to be buried.
And somewhere deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.