Free Web NovelChapter 119: Chapter 119 Ghost Texts
Bella’s POV
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "I’m just pointing out that if their families despised me so much, maybe they should have thought twice before sleeping with me. Protection would have been smart too."
Hugo’s jaw tightened, his stance unwavering. "Don’t pretend like safety wasn’t an option for you."
Heat flashed through my chest. "Here’s the reality. None of you wanted children back then. Now that you’re all grown men with your lives together, suddenly a baby sounds appealing. That’s what bothers me most." My palms grew damp as I rubbed them together, fighting to keep my voice steady. "All this time is plenty of time to fall out of love with someone, even when they claimed every word was real. Congratulations. You succeeded in cutting that love right out of me."
His expression shifted slightly. "You weren’t exactly honest either. You fabricated stories just to stay close to us. Even lied about being pregnant in the first place."
My defenses shot up instantly. "I said what I had to because none of them wanted me around." The words caught in my throat. "None of you wanted me around."
The moment I included him in that statement, I watched his tongue click against his teeth with smug satisfaction.
"That’s not what you told me that particular night."
Something in his tone made my blood run cold. He raised both eyebrows, waiting like a predator watching its prey stumble. ƒreewebɳovel.com
"I told you the truth." My voice came out stronger than I felt. "I remember exactly what happened. I went to each of you that night and announced my pregnancy. One by one, all three of you made it clear I wasn’t wanted. So I have no idea what revisionist history you’re trying to sell me."
The memory burned fresh in my mind, as vivid as if it had happened yesterday instead of years ago. I’d replayed that night so many times it felt like an open wound that refused to heal.
Hugo uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees. His stare bored into mine with unsettling intensity. "Wrong. Completely wrong. You specifically told me that you didn’t want me as the baby’s father."
The accusation hit like a slap. He was stating something I had absolutely no recollection of saying, and the boldness of his lie left me speechless for a moment.
"That’s not what happened." My voice cracked slightly as I fought back. "I told you I was pregnant and you said you didn’t want the baby."
His scowl deepened. "Now who’s making up stories?"
Anger boiled over. "Are you kidding me right now? Is this because Derek and the other two had their excuses ready, but you’ve got nothing? No convenient story to hide behind? So you’re just going to sit there and lie to my face about what you said that night?"
Instead of backing down, he had the audacity to chuckle and shake his head with theatrical sarcasm. The sound made my skin crawl.
Maybe he’d spent these years rewriting history in his head, casting himself as the victim instead of the villain.
"I need to understand something, Bella." His tone carried an unnerving confidence. "Do you genuinely not remember what happened? Or are you playing games with me?"
The certainty in his voice sent chills down my spine.
"Remember what exactly? I remember that night perfectly. I remember you telling me you knew someone who could help me get rid of the baby." I watched his face drain of color and felt a moment of vindication. Finally, the truth was surfacing.
"That was a lie," he said quietly.
"Right. And you have zero proof it was a lie." I forced myself to take a steadying breath. "Look, I didn’t come here to rehash ancient history. I came to discuss what Derek’s been saying lately."
But Hugo wasn’t finished. He never knew when to quit, never stopped pushing until he claimed victory in every argument.
The difference was, I wasn’t the same broken girl who’d let him win before.
"Bella, you told me flat out that you didn’t want me involved. So stop putting my name on your list of men who wronged you that night."
This time he snapped with real venom, and I felt something inside me go still. He looked so absolutely certain that doubt began creeping in despite myself.
"When did I supposedly say that?" My voice came out rougher than intended, exhaustion weighing down every word.
He straightened, his tone becoming eerily calm and measured. "When I texted you. I sent you a message, and you responded by saying..." He stopped mid-sentence when I held up my hand.
"You texted me? When exactly? What did it say?"
A strange sensation crawled up my spine. The air in the room seemed to thicken as the conversation took an unexpected turn. This was completely new information, and it made my stomach churn with unease.
"That day you left. After you told us about the pregnancy and then claimed you were lying about it. After you walked out, I waited a while and then sent you a text. I told you I wanted to be the father of your children. You responded by saying you’d rather abort the baby than let me be involved."
He delivered this information in that same steady, controlled voice, as if the memory was crystal clear in his mind.
The problem was, his version of events was impossible.
"There’s absolutely no way I responded to you that night." A bitter smile tugged at my lips despite the anxiety clawing at my chest.
"It’s fine. I’m not going to hold it against you now," he said gently, probably sensing my distress.
"No, Hugo, it’s not fine. There’s no possible way I could have responded to you." I watched him run both hands over his face in frustration until I added the crucial detail. "Because I was already long gone before any message could have reached me. And I didn’t even have my phone with me."
His head jerked up, and I watched horror and panic flood his features.
"It’s the truth. I never received any text from you." Tears stung my eyes as I wondered why he’d lie about something so devastating, forcing me to relive that nightmare all over again.
"Bella, I swear I had a conversation with you. Your response came back, wait, look at this." Panic saturated his voice as he fumbled for his phone.
The screen lit up, displaying an entire conversation thread between us.
"I never deleted it. Not once in all these years," he whispered.
When our eyes met across the space between us, both of us were crying.
