Bella's POV

They say after every storm comes clarity. I don't know if I believe that, but what I know is that when I walked out of Eric's life, I walked into a void.

I had nothing but my name. Everything Eric had bought for me, every property, every penny, was taken by his mother after the divorce. The only thing that was left, which I doubt he or his mother knew, was exposure. Eric had introduced me to the beauty world, to salon moguls and cosmetic CEOs. I'd been the silent wife sitting beside him, but I had listened, watched, and when the time came, I stepped forward. Building my brand behind his back.

While I was married to him, I secretly built my beauty brand. People started noticing. And by the second week of my divorce, Belle's Beauty was at every beauty counter, every influencer's feed, and murmured in boardrooms. My company, my empire.

One evening, standing at the Grand Marlton Hotel for the Investor's Forum, I wore a beautiful red dress, hoping to convince potential investors my dream was worth millions. My hands trembled, but I knew this was my chance.

"Bella Hayes?" A hostess in black guided me toward my table. "You'll be presenting in fifteen minutes."

I nodded. "Thank you."

I walked across the room, past men and women in beautiful, tailored clothes. My seat was at the corner, under the banner that read, Innovations in Beauty & Lifestyle.

I set my bag down, exhaling slowly.

"You'll be fine." A soft voice came, calming me.

I turned, and beside me sat a woman with silver hair.

"I'm... I'm Bella," I stammered.

"I know," she smiled. "I read your file, Belle's Beauty. That's an interesting concept. Clean beauty with a luxury feel and an affordable touch. Investors will eat this up."

Before I could thank her, my name was called.

I walked to the podium, the deck trembling slightly in my hand. I looked out into the crowd, and my heart raced instantly.

"Good evening. My name is Bella Hayes, founder of Belle's Beauty. I started this brand with one vision. Beauty that outlasts the moment. Because life smudges, it cracks, and it tests us. But women..." my throat tightened, but still, I pushed through, "...women are stronger than any of it. My products are designed for them, for us."

Pictures were shown on the projector slides. And after it was over, everywhere was silent. I feared I failed, but then, everyone clapped. I was filled with relief. Stepped offstage with my heart pounding when I felt someone's eyes on me.

That's when I met him. Cole Warren.

When I passed his table, he stood. "Ms. Hayes," he said in a low voice. "Cole Warren. Warren Capital Holdings."

I blinked. Everyone in business knew the name. Warren Capital didn't just fund companies, it turned them into empires.

"Mr. Warren," I managed.

"Impressive pitch," he said. "But I'd like to hear more. Dinner, perhaps?"

Dinner with Cole Warren? Someone pinch me, cause I must be dreaming.

We did have that dinner together, but that dinner turned into another. And another. At first, we spoke about business. He asked about a lot, and I answered brilliantly. Slowly, our conversation shifted from business to childhood, from childhood to fears. He told me about his beginnings. How he'd taken Warren Capital from his father's modest firm and turned it into a global powerhouse.

Seven months passed. And one evening, Cole invited me to his penthouse. He poured me wine, moving smoothly, but there was obvious tension in his behaviour.

"Bella," he said, standing across from me.

"Yes?" I whispered.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it, revealing a beautiful, stunning diamond ring. He then got on one knee.

"Marry me," he said.

"Cole," I said with my trembling lips.

"You don't have to answer now," he said quickly. "But I want you to know, Bella. I don't see you as fragile, or weak, or broken. I see you as a strong, independent woman. And I want forever with you."

"Of course, Cole," I smiled, stretching out my hand for him to put the ring. "I will marry you."

"You will?"

"Of course, silly."

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Our wedding came swiftly. I wore lace again, but this time, everything was better.

Cole stood at the altar, looking taller than I remembered. His eyes were locked on mine. When I walked toward him, every memory of who I was before faded away. I wasn't the Bella who had married Eric Damon. I wasn't the barren wife, the humiliated bride, or the broken woman.

I was Bella Hayes, the CEO and founder of Belle's Beauty, and the soon-to-be Bella Warren.

Cole and I spoke our vows with conviction. And then the priest's voice broke through. As he made the final statement.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

The congregation chuckled, their soft laughter echoed in the building. Cole's hand reached for mine. But suddenly, everything shifted around me. My chest tightened, and my vision swayed. The chandeliers above me were bending into warped shapes of light. My hands trembled. It was creeping through my fingertips.

I tried to breathe, but it was hard. The room spun around me.

Cole's voice reached me. It was low and sounded worried. "Bella?" he called out. "Bella? Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't. No sound came out. My knees buckled, and my body got closer to the ground all of a sudden.

Everyone gasped collectively. The music stopped.

"Bella!" Cole screamed as he rushed. His arms caught me before I hit the floor. There was panic in his voice. "Bella... Bella, please don't do this to me. Stay with me, my love. Please stay with me."

But everywhere was getting dark. The surroundings felt heavy. And the last thing I heard before my eyes shut completely was someone shouting above the chaos.

"Call the ambulance!"

Bella's POV

The first thing I heard when I regained consciousness was the sound of beeping. The second thing I heard was a voice.

"Bella..."

I twisted and turned. My eyelids were heavy and my throat was dry. My body was weak, but slowly, everything began to clear. I could see the ceiling clearly. I could smell antiseptic, and I felt the prick of an IV in my arm.

Then I realized I was in a hospital. I blinked against the harsh light, and when my gaze was focused, I saw him. My husband, Cole. He sat at the edge of the bed, his hand covering mine. His eyes were bloodshot with sleeplessness. The man I had looked at as a perfect billionaire who seemed untouchable was now filled with fear before me.

"Cole?" I called out in my rasped voice.

Instantly, he became relieved. His shoulders dropped, and he cupped my face gently. I nearly cried.

"Thank God," he whispered. "My love, you scared me half to death. I was so worried."

I tried to sit up, but the sudden feeling of dizziness pushed me back. His hand pressed lightly against my shoulder.

"Don't move too quickly," he pleaded.

"What... what happened?" I croaked. My head was throbbing.

"You fainted," he answered. "At the altar. One moment, you were fine. The priest had asked us to kiss, and the next thing, you were..." his voice cracked, and he shook his head. "Bella, I thought I was losing you."

My chest instantly felt heavy at the sadness in his voice. He was so afraid that I could see the fear in his face. But before I could say something to comfort my husband, another voice interrupted.

"Mrs. Warren."

I turned my head to see Martha standing by the door, her hands clasped in front of her. Martha, the head of our household staff. The woman who had run Cole's homes long before I came into the picture. She was like a mother I never had.

She walked in, giving me a soft smile. "We've been worried sick, child. You gave us all a fright."

"I'm fine," I whispered. "You all don't have to worry about me. Look, I'm fine. And I'll remain fine. I promise."

Cole opened his mouth to say something else, but a knock on the door cut him off. The doctor entered. It was a middle-aged man with kind eyes, holding a clipboard. He nodded politely at Cole before turning to look at me.

"Mrs. Warren, how are you feeling?" he asked.

"Weak," I admitted. "But still, I feel good. I feel better."

"Well, that's to be expected," he said, stepping closer and adjusting his glasses. "We ran a few tests while you were unconscious, just to rule out anything serious."

Cole leaned forward, and his grip on my hand tightened. "That's great, doctor. So? What did you find?"

The doctor hesitated. "Perhaps we should-"

Just as he was about to speak, Cole's phone buzzed on the table. It was loud. He frowned, glanced at the screen, and after a few seconds, he ignored it. Then the phone buzzed again. It was longer this time.

"I'm sorry," he muttered as he was started to get irritated. "It's urgent, my love. I'll be right back." He kissed my forehead, reluctant to let go of my hand. But then, he walked out of the room with his phone pressed to his ear.

The doctor exhaled softly. "Should we wait for your husband?"

"No, continue. I'll tell him after," I shook my head.

"Very well, then. Mrs. Warren," the doctor sighed. "I'll speak with you first."

I swallowed. "Okay. What... what is it?"

He glanced at Martha, then back at me. "We discovered that you are pregnant."

The statement hit me hard like as if stones were thrown directly at me. Pregnant?

I froze, my brain trying to process what the doctor had just said. "That's... that's not possible," I whispered. "I can't be pregnant. No, doctor. I am not. You must be mistaking me with someone else. It's not possible. I can't get pregnant."

But he only shook his head gently. "It is possible, Mrs. Warren. And you are one hundred percent pregnant. Based on the tests and the ultrasound, you are approximately seven months along."

Seven months? My heart stopped as my mind went back, calculating everything. Seven months ago, I divorced Eric. I met Cole. Then my breath hitched, and my vision went blurred as I realized something tragic. The baby wasn't Cole's. It couldn't be. Because throughout our dating phase, we never had sex. And a few weeks before I handed the divorce papers to Eric, we had sex.

So, this baby was Eric's.

The reality hit so hard I nearly ripped the IV from my arm. My body shook and I trembled with shock, fear, and disbelief. "No. No, there's... There must be a mistake."

The doctor's eyes softened. "There's no mistake. You've had what's called a cryptic pregnancy. It's rare, but it happens. Some women don't notice the signs until late."

My body was trembling so hard.

"I'll give you some time," he said as he placed the clipboard down and turned toward the door. "We'll need to schedule more checkups and ensure both you and the baby remain healthy. Congratulations, Mrs. Warren."

As he left, I pressed my trembling hands to my face, tears spilling freely from my eyes. I was pregnant. Seven months pregnant. And with Eric's child. On the very night I became Cole's wife.

"Bella..." Martha called softly.

I lowered my hands, staring at her. "Did you know about this?"

"I suspected," she admitted gently. "You've been more tired lately. Your appetite... but I thought, perhaps, stress, because no bump was revealed. I never imagined it was this far along."

My heart thudded. "Martha..."

She stepped closer, her hand brushing mine with motherly comfort. "Child, breathe. You should be happy. You and Mr. Cole are having a baby."

"I can't be happy," I said, almost choking on the words. "Martha, don't you see? This baby isn't Coles's"

She didn't flinch. "Does he know?"

"No," I whispered. "And we must keep it that way. He can't know. Not now, not ever."

"But Bella-"

"Please." I grabbed her hand. "You don't understand. If Cole finds out, he'll be furious."

The door opened slowly, and I knew Cole was coming back. I tightened my grip on Martha's hand as I whispered.

"Please, Martha. Don't tell him, or anyone else. No one must know about this. Swear to me."

Eric's POV

No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to forget Bella. It had been seven months since she left me. Seven months since I signed away the best thing that had ever walked into my life. Whenever I closed my eyes, all I could see was her. I rubbed my temple, trying to shake the memory of her, when the soft click of my office door diverted my attention.

"Mr. Damon?" my secretary, Clara, peeked her head inside. "There's someone here who insists on seeing you. He doesn't have an appointment, and I tried to reschedule, but he said it's urgent."

I frowned. "Who is it?"

"A Dr. Leonard Hale," she replied, checking her notepad.

The name struck a chord immediately. Dr. Hale. The fertility specialist. I hadn't seen the man in months, not since before the divorce. I had gone secretly to him for checkups, endless tests, and consultations that had yielded nothing but disappointment.

I sat back in my chair, instantly masking the sudden urge of unease. "Send him in."

Clara nodded and disappeared.

A few seconds later, the door fully opened, and there he was. Dr. Leonard Hale. He was slightly grayer than I remembered, but with the same eyes.

"Eric," he greeted warmly as he extended a hand as though no time had passed.

"Dr. Hale," I said, rising to shake his hand. "This is a surprise. Please, have a seat."

He lowered himself into the chair opposite my desk, folding his hands together. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

I stared at him. "It's been months. What brings you here? You look... troubled."

He chuckled lightly. "Troubled is one way to put it. More like... complicated."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hmm, please. Go on."

He shifted in his seat. "Before I begin, I need to ask something personal."

"Sure, go ahead."

"Are you and Bella... officially divorced?"

That question was unexpected, even after our divorce was very private and only a few people knew about it. "How did you know about that?"

"Just answer, it'll all make sense soon."

"Hmm," I sighed. "Yes," I said flatly. "Seven months ago. Why?"

He exhaled as if he was confirming something. "I see. Well... that makes what I'm about to say even more delicate."

My stomach tightened. "Just say it, Hale."

He hesitated for a second. "Your ex-wife, Bella, was admitted to my hospital a few days ago. Apparently, she fainted at her wedding."

My jaw tightened. "Wedding?"

"Yes. She married a man named Cole Warren. Does that name ring a bell?"

I clenched my fists under the desk. Cole Warren. Of course, I knew the name. CEO of Warren Capital Holdings and one of my biggest rivals in the financial world. And now, he was Bella's husband.

The thought of someone as powerful as Cole being Bella's husband burned my chest like as if someone spilled acid on it. "Go on," I forced myself to speak.

Dr. Hale cleared his throat. "As part of our standard procedure, we ran some tests. We discovered that she's seven months pregnant."

Pregnant? Bella? My Bella?

I could hardly breathe. "What... did you just say?"

He repeated the words carefully. "She's seven months pregnant."

I shook my head slowly. The feeling of disbelief clawed through me. "That's impossible."

"On the contrary," he said softly. "The timeline checks out. She fainted from fatigue and stress, but the baby is fine. It's a healthy pregnancy."

My thoughts wandered. I did my maths automatically, my mind racing back to when we were still together. The last weeks we spent together as husband and wife. Seven months. It lined up perfectly.

Dr. Hale leaned back. "Forgive me for being blunt, Eric, but... considering the divorce, one might assume she conceived outside the marriage. With someone else."

I snapped my head up, eyes darkened from instant anger. "Don't you dare."

He blinked, startled by the fury in my voice.

"Don't you ever suggest Bella was unfaithful to me," I growled. "She was loyal to the very end. In fact, she was too loyal, even when I didn't deserve it."

Dr. Hale raised his palms in surrender. "My apologies. I only meant that, given the timing, others might draw their own conclusions."

I sat forward. "There is no other conclusion. That baby she's carrying is mine. That child is mine."

I could feel my pulse hammering in my ears as the room became silent. But I was also feeling something else, something I hadn't felt in months. Pure, unrelenting hope.

For years, Bella had carried the shame and humiliation of being barren, meanwhile, it was I who was the problem. Dr. Hale himself had delivered that verdict. My sperm was weak, my chances were slim. I'd lived under that shame, knowing that Bella wanted children, and knowing I couldn't give them to her. It had eaten away at me, destroyed the foundation of our marriage as I allowed my mother's poison to seep into everything.

But yet, against all odds. Bella was pregnant. And with my child.

I stood up abruptly, pacing to the window as I was unable to contain the storm raging inside me. "Are you sure?" I asked, demanding an answer, but my voice trembled with urgency.

Dr. Hale nodded. "Yes. The dates align precisely with the final months of your marriage. There is no mistaking it. Congratulations, Eric. You're going to be a father."

Being called a father nearly buckled my knees. I pressed a hand to the glass, staring out at the city below. This news was everything.

Behind me, Dr. Hale stood as well. "I thought you deserved to know. I'll leave you to process this. But Eric..." He hesitated, then added. "She's married now. That complicates things, so be careful."

I turned, my eyes glassy. "It changes nothing. That's my wife. That's my child. And now... I finally have the chance to set everything right."

Dr. Hale gave me a confused look. "Just be careful. Don't make an unfixable mistake."

I barely heard him cause my mind was already racing ahead.

I walked him to the door, shaking his hand firmly. "Thank you. Hale. More than you know."

When the door shut behind him, I leaned against it for a few seconds, breathing hard. Then I straightened, laughter bubbling up. I had lost Bella once. But now? Now I had the one thing that could bring her back. I spread my arms wide.

"She's still mine," I whispered. "And now, with our baby, I can finally get her back."