Chapter 50: Overwhelming Emotions
"But there's something you should know. I don't have a good relationship with your father's parents. They hate me," Bella told him.
Dax frowned, "What about my father? Was he mean to you, too?"
"No. Your father was never mean to me, but he ignored me and didn't love me..." Bella wanted to say that, but of course, she couldn't. She wasn't the type of woman who would speak ill of her child's father.
Bella smiled at him before saying, "Your father is a nice person. However, we're just not right for each other—" she paused to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Dax. I can't tell you more details about why we divorced. I hope you can understand..." She ruffled his hair gently.
"Mom, I understand," Dax said, lifting his chubby little hand and holding hers. He tapped it gently and smiled at it. "No need to explain anything, mom..."
Bella felt warm inside when she saw how cute Dax looked now. "Thank you, darling... You are so kind and sweet. I love you."
He smiles back at her through his gaze.
"I forgot to tell you. The old man outside is your great-grandpa... He is very kind to me and always protects me. He is also your grandfather's best friend..."
Bella continued explaining about the Sinclair family to Dax.
****
While Bella and Dax were chatting in the library, Isaac Donovan sat across from Lewis Sinclair in the living room. Several minutes passed, but his best friend didn't say a word. Lewis just stared at him with a pale, shocked expression.
Isaac knows that Lewis has seen Dax. He predicts that Lewis will recognize Dax with only a slight glance.
Earlier, when he was fishing on the frozen lake behind the Villa, he didn't expect Lewis to visit and chat with Bella in the living room. When he found out Lewis was visiting his house, it was too late; Dax had already run inside to show Bella his fish.
Now, he waited for Lewis to ask about Dax, but this guy didn't ask anything. He looked like he was turning into a statue, sitting still without moving. He would look like a mannequin if only his eyelashes weren't blinking.
Isaac could see himself in Lewis's position when he discovered that Bella had Tristan's child. He was very shocked and sad to imagine what Bella was going through — pregnant alone, giving birth alone, far from family.
Just the thought of all that Bella had gone through made Isaac extremely upset. He wanted to scold Tristan and his parents for how they had treated her. However, his anger towards Tristan slowly faded when he saw Dax this morning. He forgot everything else and just wanted to spend time with Dax.
He is too old to dwell on the past. All he wants now is to live peacefully with his granddaughter and Dax.
"Lewis, if you don't say anything in one minute, I'll assume you're paralyzed. I'll call an ambulance and take you to the hospital." Isaac said while narrowing his eyes at Lewis.
.
.
.
.
"Alright, my friend, I will call an ambulance—"
"Isaac, tell me…" Lewis finally said something. Looking at Isaac, his eyes were filled with emotions that were hard to describe.
"Why does that young man's face look familiar?" Lewis continued with his voice slightly trembling. "The young boy... he… he looks similar to Tr—" He couldn't finish his words. It was hard for him to believe that the little boy was Tristan's son.
"Indeed, my friend. What you are thinking was right. That young boy earlier was Tristan and Bella's son. His name is Daxton, and he is now four years old." Isaac explained. His expression turned gloomy again, remembering how hard Bella raised her child alone.
Lewis rubbed his face with his palm. He was too shocked to hear Isaac's words.
Countless questions now swirl in his mind. How could Tristan divorce Bella when she was pregnant? What happened that time? Did Tristan know about her pregnancy!?
Lewis fixed his eyes again on Isaac. He asked, "Isaac, why did you never tell me about Dax?" His voice sounded shaking, and he felt disappointed with his friend for hiding this vital information from him.
"I know about Daxton yesterday and met him in person this morning. Bella never mentioned anything about him, and she hides it so well that only she and Noora know about him."1
"Is this the reason Bella decided to move to another country? To give birth to Daxton?"
"Yes. And, because your useless grandson and son kicked her out of your family. So, she didn't have a chance to move to another country and give birth in peace." Isaac feels angry talking about this again.
If the man in front of him were Tristan, Isaac would have slapped beat him hard for what he did to Bella. He hoped that Tristan would never appear before him anytime soon or he would never restrain his anger from beating him!
Lewis couldn't say anything. He felt angry with Tristan. How could that useless brat divorce Bella when she was pregnant? He was so stupid!
"I'm sorry, Isaac—" These were the only words that could escape Lewis' lips. He wants to call Tristan now and scold him, but he already promised Bella not to say anything.
"Lewis, I'm tired of hearing you say those words. Please stop! It's our fault for making such a stupid vow to become family and let them marry." Isaac said.
"You're right. It's our fault!" Lewis couldn't deny that. Again, he could only take a deep breath.
Silence hung in the air as Lewis Sinclair and Isaac Donovan were lost in their own thoughts.
...
At the same time, Bella and Dax had finished talking heart to heart, and now they were both holding hands, walking towards the living room to join their elder.
However,
Bella and Dax stopped near the seating area. They looked at each other after seeing Lewis and Isaac sitting quietly, lost in thought. The atmosphere in the living room felt cold and dark as if the two elders had just had a big fight.3
"Mom, are they fighting? Why do their expressions look terrible?" Dax whisper.
