The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 43

Chapter 38: Bella Dilemma-1

Bella POV

I spent the next hour trying to figure out how to tell Tom about his father while my son sat at the kitchen table, happily drawing dinosaurs with his crayons. Every scenario I imagined ended in disaster, with Tom crying or confused or worse, excited to meet a man who might disappoint him.

“Mommy, look!” Tom held up his drawing, a purple T-Rex with what looked like wings. “It’s a flying dinosaur!”

“That’s beautiful, baby.” I kissed the top of his head and tried to memorize this moment, this peace before everything changed.

The knock on the door made me freeze.

“I’ll get it!” Tom jumped down from his chair before I could stop him.

“Tom, wait” But he was already running to the door, standing on his tiptoes to look through the peephole.

“There’s a tall man outside,” he announced cheerfully. “He looks fancy.”

My heart stopped. I crossed the room in three strides and looked through the peephole myself. Caleb stood in the hallway, looking disheveled in a way I’d never seen him, his tie loose and his hair mussed like he’d been running his hands through it. His eyes were red-rimmed and desperate.

“Tom, go to your room,” I said quietly, my voice shaking.

“But I didn’t finish my dinosaur”

“Now, Tom.” The sharpness in my tone made him flinch, and I immediately felt guilty. “Please, baby. Mommy needs to talk to someone.”

Tom’s bottom lip quivered, but he nodded and walked slowly toward his bedroom, dragging his feet. The moment his door closed, I yanked open the suite door.

“I told you I needed time,” I hissed at Caleb, keeping my voice low. “You can’t just show up

here”

“I’ve given you three hours.” Caleb’s voice was raw, desperate. “I’ve given you years, Bella. I can’t wait anymore. I need to see him. I need to see my son.”

1/3

Chapter 38: Bella Dilemma-1

“Lower your voice,” I snapped, glancing toward Tom’s room. “He can’t hear this.”

+25 Points

“Then let me in.” Caleb stepped forward, and I instinctively moved to block the doorway. “Please, Bella. Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”

“You don’t get to make demands”

“I’m not demanding.” He ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up even more. “I’m begging. I’m on my knees here, Bella. Just let me see him. Let me look at my son’s face just

once.”

Before I could respond, Tom’s voice called out from inside the suite. “Mommy? Can I come

out now?”

Caleb’s entire body went rigid at the sound, his grey eyes widening with something between hope and terror. I saw his throat work as he swallowed hard, saw his hands clench at his

sides.

“Stay in your room, baby!” I called back, my voice tight. “Just a few more minutes!”

“But I’m hungry!” Tom’s door cracked open, and before I could stop him, he was padding toward the kitchen in his dinosaur socks. “Can I have a snack?”

He stopped dead when he saw Caleb standing in the doorway.

For a moment, nobody moved. Tom stared up at Caleb with wide grey eyes, the same shade as the man looking down at him with an expression of complete devastation. I watched Caleb’s face crumble as he took in every detail of his son, from the messy black curls to the dinosaur pajamas to the crayon smudge on his cheek.

“Who are you, mister?” Tom asked, his head tilted with innocent curiosity.

Caleb opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His eyes were wet, his hands trembling at his sides. I’d never seen him look so completely undone, so utterly vulnerable.

I stepped between them, my body a wall between father and son. “Tom, go back to your

room. Now.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify