The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 31

Chapter 30: Truth-2

Chapter 30: Truth-2

+25 Points>

The message below the photo read: Thought you should know what you’ve been missing. He’s three

years old, in case you’re wondering. – A Friend

A friend. Jade, probably or Richard. Or someone else who wanted to twist the knife. But the

sender didn’t matter, what mattered was the child.

My son.

I had a son, and he was three years old, and I’d missed everything. First steps, first words, three entire years of his life gone because I’d been too stupid to question the lies.

I zoomed in on the photo, my hands shaking violently. The boy was smiling up at Bella, complete trust and love on his face. He looked happy. Everything I should have given him if I hadn’t thrown them both away.

The rage came first, hot and justifiable. Bella had kept my son from me for years. Had hidden his existence, had raised him alone, had robbed me of being his father. But then the rage died as quickly as it came, replaced by something worse: understanding.

Why would she tell me? Why would she bring my son anywhere near me after what I’d done? I’d told her to abort him. I’d accused her of trying to trap me with a pregnancy. I’d thrown her out while she was carrying my child and made it clear I wanted nothing to do with either of

them.

Of course she’d kept him secret. Of course she’d raised him alone. I’d made it impossible for her to do anything else.

I stared at the photo until my eyes burned, memorizing every detail of my son’s face. He looked like me, but he had Bella’s smile, that same hopeful expression she’d worn in the early days of our marriage before I’d crushed it out of her.

What was his name? Did he ask about his father? Did Bella tell him anything about me, or was I just an absent mystery in his life?

Did he hate me without even knowing me?

By morning, I’d made my decision. I needed confirmation before I confronted Bella, needed to be absolutely certain before I destroyed whatever fragile peace she’d built for herself and our

son.

I called my head of security.

“I need discreet surveillance on Bella Hart. No contact, no interference, just eyes on her and

1/2

Chapter 30 Truth-2

+25 Points

the child. I need to know where they go, who they see, and I need someone to obtain DNA confirmation without alerting her.”

“Sir, that’s”

“I know what it is,” I cut him off. “But if that’s my son, I need to know for certain. And if Richard and Jade know about him, they’ll use him as leverage. I need to make sure he’s protected, even if Bella never knows I’m doing it.”

There was a pause, then a sigh. “I’ll assign my best team. Discreet surveillance only, no direct

contact.”

“Thank you.”

After I hung up, I looked at the photo one more time. My son, smiling up at his mother, completely unaware that his father was staring at his image like a drowning man looking at

shore.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify