Bella's POV
The air was thick with tension, heavier than Bella had expected. She stood in her apartment, pacing back and forth in the living room. Aiden and Aria were playing with their toys on the floor, their innocent chatter a stark contrast to the storm raging inside her.
It had been a week since Ethan had sent her the necklace, and although she hadn't seen him since that day, his presence lingered in the corners of her mind. The twins had started asking questions—small, simple ones that had grown more frequent. Who's Ethan? Why does he care about us?
Bella had been dodging their inquiries, not ready to reveal the truth. But today, she couldn't avoid it any longer. The time had come.
With a deep breath, she walked over to the couch where her children were sitting, their small hands fiddling with their toys. "Aiden, Aria," she began, her voice soft but firm. "I need to talk to you both about something important."
Aiden's head snapped up, his dark curls falling into his eyes. Aria, ever the more serious twin, looked up as well, her gaze expectant.
Bella knelt down in front of them, taking their hands in hers. "You both know how Mommy has been working hard lately, right?" They nodded. "Well, there's someone I've known for a long time, someone who's been really kind and wants to be part of our lives."
Aiden's eyes widened, his curiosity piqued. "Is he gonna be our friend?"
Bella hesitated, the words feeling heavier than she anticipated. Should I say it now? Should I tell them the truth? The weight of her decision felt suffocating, but she couldn't shield them forever. They deserved to know.
"Yes, Aiden," she said softly. "His name is Ethan, and... he's someone very important to me."
Aiden tilted his head. "Is he like Daddy?"
The question hit Bella like a punch to the gut, but she quickly masked her reaction. "Not exactly, sweetheart. But he cares about you both, a lot."
Aria, her brow furrowed in thought, tugged on Bella's sleeve. "Are we going to see him? Will he visit us?"
Bella's heart raced as she nodded slowly. "Yes, we're going to meet him today."
Aiden and Aria exchanged excited glances before turning back to Bella, their faces lit up with wide smiles. "Yay!" they exclaimed in unison, their joy and innocence making Bella's heart ache. She couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm, even though a part of her felt guilty for keeping them in the dark for so long.
"Alright," she said softly, trying to steady her breathing. "He'll be here soon. But we have to be kind, okay? Remember, he's our guest."
The twins nodded eagerly, already bouncing with excitement, and Bella stood up, smoothing out her clothes as she heard the familiar sound of a knock on the door.
Her pulse quickened.
The moment had arrived.
She walked over to the door and hesitated for a moment, taking another deep breath. When she opened it, she found Ethan standing there, as composed as ever, yet there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
Ethan looked even more handsome in person, his sharp jawline and intense blue eyes impossible to ignore. He wore a casual outfit—dark jeans and a soft, navy blue shirt that made his eyes pop—but it was the way he looked at her that took her breath away. There was no mistaking it—he wasn't just here to be polite. He was here because he meant what he'd said. He wanted to be a part of her life. Our life.
"Hey," Ethan said softly, his voice low and warm. "Ready?"
Bella swallowed her nerves, giving him a tight nod. "Come in."
He stepped inside, his gaze immediately flicking to the twins, who were peeking out from behind her. His expression softened when he saw them, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, Aiden. Aria," he greeted gently.
The twins stared at him with wide eyes, their innocent curiosity hanging in the air like a tangible thing.
Ethan crouched down to their level, his tone light and friendly. "I've heard a lot about you two. You're very special, you know that?"
Aiden's eyes were glued to him, and he finally spoke, his voice tentative but full of wonder. "Are you… are you my friend?"
Ethan's smile widened, and Bella's heart swelled with something unfamiliar. He was already so good with them, and it was only just the beginning. "I'd like to be, Aiden," Ethan said softly. "I'd really like to be your friend."
Aria, still cautious, stepped forward slowly, her eyes narrowing as she sized him up. "Do you know my mom?"
Bella's breath hitched. This was the part she had feared—the part where the truth would slip out, one way or another. But Ethan didn't flinch. He looked at Aria with gentle sincerity.
"I do," he said, his voice full of warmth. "Your mom is someone very special to me. She always has been."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the twins processed his words. Bella could see the wheels turning in their young minds, but she couldn't help the mixture of relief and fear flooding her.
Aiden, ever the curious one, stepped closer to Ethan. "Are you gonna come over more? Play with us?"
Ethan glanced up at Bella, as if silently asking for her permission. She gave a subtle nod, though the weight of her decision felt like a mountain on her shoulders.
"If it's okay with your mom," Ethan replied, his voice steady. "I'd love to spend more time with you both."
Aiden's face lit up at that. "Yay! Can we play games? And maybe have ice cream?" His excitement was contagious, and even Aria seemed to soften at the idea, her usual guarded expression melting into a smile.
Bella let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, relieved to see them starting to warm up to Ethan. The bond between them was still fragile, but there was a glimmer of something beautiful forming, something she hadn't allowed herself to believe in for so long.
Ethan stood up, glancing at Bella with a small, knowing smile. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gift—a box wrapped in bright paper.
"Here," he said, handing it to Aiden and Aria. "For both of you."
Aiden tore the paper off quickly, revealing two toy cars. Aria's eyes widened with delight as she clutched a pink toy horse, her face lighting up.
"Thank you!" Aiden said excitedly, his voice full of gratitude.
Ethan smiled warmly, looking at Bella for a moment. "I'm glad you like them."
Bella felt her heart flutter as the twins ran off to play with their new toys, their laughter filling the room. Ethan watched them with a mixture of awe and affection, but his eyes never strayed far from Bella.
She knew that this was just the beginning. The twins had accepted Ethan, but the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Trust would take time—on both sides.
But for now, in this moment, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of something new. Something that could heal the wounds of the past.