In the months following that fateful night with Bella, Reid had thrown himself into his work, burying the memory of their passionate encounter beneath piles of paperwork and endless business meetings. He had always prided himself on being a man in control, one who never let emotions or desires cloud his judgment. But Bella had shattered his carefully constructed façade, exposing a part of him he had tried to forget.
The devil inside him whispered tempting thoughts in the dead of the night, urging him to reach out to her. To reclaim the fiery passion they had shared. But Reid knew better. He was a man with a dark history, tainted, a reputation for ruthlessness in the corporate world. He was no good to her, and their realities were worlds apart.
Despite his efforts to move on, the company of other women had left him feeling empty and unsatisfied. Even the most beautiful and skilled of his usual companions couldn't ignite the same fiery passion that had sparked between him and Bella.
And then came the unexpected call.
"Reid," her voice had trembled with uncertainty when she called him, as if she had been fighting an internal battle before deciding to reach out to him. "I need to see you."
"Why, Bella? We said everything we needed to when we parted ways." he had replied, his voice cold and distant, hoping she would reconsider her decision.
"Reid, it's about what happened the last time we saw each other. I can't explain over the phone, but I need to talk to you about it. It's really important.."
That one word had been enough to intrigue him, to awaken the curiosity he had tried to suppress. What could be so important? What could possibly bring her back into his life after all this time?
Reluctantly, he agreed to meet her, under the condition that it would be on his terms, when he returned to California for a business deal. Their meeting had been scheduled after a week. Reid's life had once again been thrown into disarray as he counted down the days, filled with anticipation, dread, and excitement, all mixed together in a turbulent cocktail of emotions.
On the day of the meeting, Reid arrived at the coastal cafe early, his heart pounding in his chest. His suit was meticulously tailored, a shield against the vulnerability that Bella's presence stirred within him.
When he saw Bella, his breath caught in his throat. She was as captivating as ever, her presence casting a spell over him. The memories of their passionate night together flooded back into his consciousness, and he found himself growing hard and retracing every kiss, every touch, every whispered word. The spark that had ignited between them had never truly dimmed.
As he approached the table, Reid tried to maintain his composure. But the moment her eyes met his, the defenses he had carefully built up over the months began to crumble. He saw a hint of uncertainty in her gaze, and for a brief moment, he detected a vulnerability that intrigued him.
The two of them settled into a tense silence as they sat across from each other. Reid couldn't help but observe the subtle shifts in Bella's demeanour, the uncertainty that flitted through her eyes. What had driven her to seek him out? What was the "important" matter she wanted to discuss?
She greeted him and he decided to clear this as soon as possible before the temptation could push him to do any reckless things. "You said it was important. So, what is it you want to talk about?" he asked, his voice steady.
Bella took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving his. "Reid, I need to know the truth. Why did you lie about your fertility? Why did you tell me that you couldn't have children?"
Reid's brows furrowed deeply in response to Bella's question. He couldn't fathom what she meant by him lying about his fertility. This was a sensitive topic for him, one he rarely spoke of. Her audacity to touch upon it left him irritated and on the verge of anger.
"What are you talking about?" Reid asked, his tone clipped and his patience waning. His temper simmered just beneath the surface, and he fought to keep it in check.
Bella shifted uncomfortably in her seat, as if choosing her words with great care. Her eyes held a hint of sadness and apprehension. Then, with a deep breath, she confessed, "Reid, after our night together, I got pregnant."
At first, Reid couldn't believe what he was hearing. He let out a loud, mocking laugh, startling Bella. She looked puzzled and hurt by his reaction, her face a mixture of emotions.
"Stop with the stupid jokes, Bella. It doesn't suit you," Reid said dismissively, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He had never expected her to stoop to this level, playing a cruel prank on him after all this time.
Bella's eyes welled up with frustration, and she shook her head vigorously. "Reid, I'm not joking. This is serious. I've been to the doctor. I've had tests. I'm carrying your child."
Reid's laughter faded, replaced by anger as his composure began to crumble, like dark clouds gathering above his head. Anger surged within him, threatening to consume his self-control. He couldn't believe the audacity of Bella, her insistence on a matter that should have been straightforward, her attempt to deceive him.
His voice grew icy as he spoke, "You should know when to stop, Bella. Don't take me for a fool. If you are indeed pregnant, it's not mine. I can't have children, and you know it."
Tears welled up in Bella's eyes as his words hit her like a cold, hard slap. Her voice wavered as she responded, "Reid, I swear I'm not trying to deceive you. You were my first and last," she ended in a small broken tone.
Reid's frustration intensified. He couldn't comprehend why Bella would persist with such a lie, especially when it was about something as crucial as this matter. For a brief moment, he felt a surge of disgust towards her. He had believed she was untainted, moral, and different from the rest, but now it seemed that she was just like any other person, aiming to manipulate, lie, and cheat to get what she wanted.
"Why would you do this?" he asked, his voice laced with betrayal. "Why lie about something so important? Do you believe this is a joke?"
Bella's tears were now flowing freely, her voice trembling. "I'm not lying, Reid. I don't understand it either. I can't explain it, but I'm carrying your child. Please, don't turn your back on us."
Reid's anger clashed with confusion. He couldn't fathom what was happening. The child was supposedly his, yet he had been told his entire life that it was impossible. He struggled to make sense of it all.
Reid's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He wanted to trust her, to believe in the possibility of fatherhood. But it was hard to erase years of certainty that he couldn't have children. The doubt gnawed at him.
As Reid watched Bella, a long-buried memory resurfaced from the depths of his past. It was a painful memory of a time when he was young, hopeful, and carried his emotions on his sleeve. A time when he had trusted someone, only to be left broken and betrayed.
The memory was of Victoria, the woman who had entered his life with a radiant smile and promises of love. He had fallen for her deeply, and their passionate relationship had been filled with hopes and dreams. Reid had believed that he had found his soulmate, that they would build a life together, and that he would become a father someday.
Then, Victoria had revealed the unthinkable to him: she was pregnant. He remembered the mix of joy and fear that coursed through him at the news. He had imagined being a father, raising a child, and experiencing the love and responsibility that came with it. Moreover, he never had this for himself or the love of a family.
But the happiness was short-lived. Months later, the cruel truth had surfaced. Reid had learned that he couldn't have children in the cruellest way. Victoria's betrayal had been complete, as he discovered that the child she carried was not his and everything was just a ruse. She had used him, manipulated him, and then discarded him like a broken toy, leaving him for dead.
The raw feelings of that time washed over Reid as he watched Bella's figure. He recalled the profound sense of loss, the shame of his infertility, and the pain of being deceived and betrayed by someone he had loved. It was a wound that had never completely healed, and it left him with an enduring fear of vulnerability and trust.
His life had changed dramatically after that experience. He had become guarded, emotionally distant, and cautious when it came to relationships. The scars from that betrayal ran deep, and he couldn't easily forget the pain and humiliation he had endured.
Bella's revelation had shaken him to his core, forcing him to confront the possibility that history might be repeating itself. He couldn't ignore the similarities between the two situations – a surprise pregnancy, a woman he had cared for, and the uncertainty of trust.
Reid's cold, piercing glare bore into Bella as he stood up from his chair. The icy anger in his eyes was enough to send shivers down her spine. He leaned closer to her, his voice low and dangerous, a stark contrast to the man she had known.
"Listen to me carefully," he hissed, his words sharp and filled with menace. "You will never show your face in front of me again. Never. I don't care who your father is or what connection we used to have. What you just tried to pull is unforgivable."
Bella tried to speak, her voice quivering, but Reid cut her off with a chilling finality. "These are my final words to you, forever. If you ever cross my path again, be prepared to face the consequences."
With those ominous words, Reid stormed out of the coffee shop, leaving Bella sitting at the table, her world shattered. The raw, unbridled anger in his voice had left her in shock, realizing the gravity of the situation.
She watched him disappear into the distance, and for the first time in her life, she felt utterly and completely shattered.