Bella came downstairs and froze. Ada was setting the table like she owned the place.

After a whole night of working her charms on Steven, Ada was no longer in her maid uniform. She'd traded it for a sleek designer dress that clung to her.

Her face carried just enough of a resemblance to Bella's to make the comparison sting. No wonder Steven picked her.

"Mrs. Rocca, you're up. Come have breakfast," Ada said, smiling too sweetly.

She tilted her head, just enough to show off the love bites along her neck. On her wrist, a glittering bracelet caught the light.

Bella's chest tightened. She knew that piece instantly. The Rocca heirloom Miranda used to wear. Steven had once begged for it on Bella's behalf, but Miranda refused, saying it didn't belong on a woman who couldn't give the family an heir.

Now it sat proudly on Ada's wrist.

Bella clenched her fists, the weight of it all crashing down. Everything she'd held onto felt like a joke. She'd kept quiet out of respect for their families' history, but in the end, Miranda had chosen Ada as the one to stand at her side.

Even Steven's buddy at the hospital yesterday knew about Ada. The only idiot in the dark was her, strung along by Steven's empty promises.

A bitter laugh slipped out. If Steven had really wanted a kid, she could've accepted that and walked away. But after what happened in the study last night, her chest still burned. She almost wished she could just slap him across the face.

Almost—but not quite enough. She wanted him to regret it forever.

Steven strolled downstairs, looking fresh, like he'd slept easy. When his eyes caught Ada's, she ducked her head, all shy.

Then he turned and saw Bella's pale face. His smile faltered. "Babe, did you catch a cold in the rain yesterday? Maybe I should skip work and stay with you."

Every second near him made her feel suffocated, dirty.

"No," she said flatly. "Work's more important. I'll rest at home."

Steven frowned. She used to cling to him; now she was shutting him out. But he knew when she made up her mind, there was no swaying her.

He looked at the staff. "Take good care of Bella."

They traded glances, unimpressed by his little show, and nodded.

Just then, Ada stepped up and reached for Steven's collar. "Your collar's crooked. Let me fix it."

Without even thinking, he bent his head for her.

That tiny, thoughtless move cut deeper than anything else.

The staff sucked in a quiet gasp, eyes darting to Bella, afraid to even breathe.

Steven caught himself too late. He jerked back, forced a polite distance, and muttered thanks.

"I'm off to the office." He bent down to brush a kiss against Bella's forehead. "Be good. Wait for me to come back."

His voice was the same soft tone he'd used in the study last night.

At the table, Bella stared at the food, but it tasted like nothing. Steven's fake sweet act, Ada's smug little performance—it all spun in her head until she felt sick.

She shoved her chair back and headed upstairs to pack. The mansion was just ghosts now, and she needed to rip them out.

Ada slipped in after her. "Ms. Beaufort, you're good at pretending. Ollie's the Rocca heir, and I'm his mom. You don't belong here."

Bella's smile was sharp and cold. "So what?"

Ada blinked, then doubled down. "I know you don't want a divorce, but stop clinging to the title of 'Mrs. Rocca.' The family will never accept a woman who can't have kids."

Bella laughed, short and cutting. "'Mrs. Rocca'? If you want it that bad, take it."

She pulled the divorce papers from her bag and held them out.

"You know how Steven feels about me. He won't make divorce easy. I'm giving you the papers—if you're capable, get him to sign and send them back. If not, get used to being the secret lover for life."

Ada's eyes lit up as she snatched them. Spotting Bella's signature, she squinted. "You're really willing to leave Steven?"

Bella's chest clenched. Love had swallowed most of her life—how could walking away not sting?

She shut her eyes, forcing it down. When she opened them, only ice was left. "I'm not fighting over a man."

She'd once risked her life for Steven. Betrayal killed that.

Ada sneered, sure Bella was just putting on a show, but still walked off with the papers.

Bella stared at the walk-in closet stacked with Steven's gifts. All she felt was empty.

She packed her clothes, documents, the basics—nothing left behind. Steven's gifts? Boxed up and shipped to the auction house.

If she was leaving, every tie had to be cut clean.

The staff peeked from the hallway, whispering, but she didn't explain a thing.

By the time she finished, the sun was already slipping past noon. Sitting in the living room with her suitcase, she waited for Heidi to pull up.

That's when it hit her—she hadn't seen Oliver all day. Had he really been sent away?

Still trying to piece it together, she saw Steven rush in, Ada and Miranda right behind him.

"Mrs. Rocca, where's Ollie?!" Ada cried, throwing herself at Bella and shaking her arms.

Bella stumbled back, slamming into the corner of a table. Pain shot through her side.

She gasped. "What are you even talking about? How would I know where he is?"

Ada only sobbed harder. She snatched a fruit knife off the table and pressed it to Bella's throat.

"Mrs. Rocca, I know you hate Ollie, but how could you hide him from Mr. Rocca and send him away? Give me back my Ollie!"

Oliver was missing?

Bella froze. The knife had already nicked her neck, a sharp sting burning her skin.

"Get a grip. I don't know where he is!"

Ada shook like a madwoman, knife trembling in her hand. "Impossible! You're the only one who hates Ollie. You even had vans here moving your stuff today. If it wasn't you, then who?"

Her eyes were bloodshot, voice cracked from crying, looking every bit the desperate mom of a lost child. "Mrs. Rocca, please, give me back Ollie. He's all I have left."

Then, out of nowhere, she dropped the knife and clutched Bella's wrist. "Ollie is my life..."

Bella tore free, her chest twisting at the words but only feeling mocked.

She couldn't hold back. "Give him back to you? He's an adopted kid from an orphanage—what does he even have to do with you? Why should I hand him over?"

"He's my—" Ada blurted, then cut herself off, breaking into sobs.

This time, Bella didn't let go. Her eyes narrowed, sharp as glass. "He's your what? Say it."

"Enough!" Steven's voice snapped across the room. "Bella, stop being so harsh."

Bella just stared at him, stunned.

They'd grown up together, and he'd never—ever—talked to her like that. Ada had a knife at her throat and he said nothing. But the first time he actually raised his voice? To defend his side chick and her kid.

One word hit her like a punch: disappointment. She was so done.

Steven's face shifted when he saw it, and he scrambled to backpedal. "Bella, that's not what I meant. Ollie was adopted into the family, but she's always cared for him. She just... lost it—"

"Save it." Bella's tone was pure ice. "Steven Rocca, for the last time—I don't know where your son is. If he's missing, call the cops."

Her voice was too calm, too cold. It crushed him, and he didn't even catch that she'd just called Oliver his son.

Just then, Steven's assistant, Bobby, burst in. "Mr. Rocca, we found the kid. He was in a van headed out of Valmora. Luckily, it hadn't gotten far—Oliver's already on his way back."

Everyone exhaled in relief—everyone except Bella. Her stomach dropped. She was the one who'd called for vans today to move her stuff. Of course, all eyes would swing her way.

Miranda lounged on the couch and let out a sharp snort. "You can't have kids yourself, and when I give you one, you're still not satisfied. You just want this family line dead."

The words cut deep, ripping open scars Bella thought had already bled enough.

Her eyes flicked to Steven, desperate—but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring at Ada, face unreadable.

Her chest clenched tight, no air left to breathe. A bitter laugh slipped out. "You're right. I should've never risked my life for Steven. I should've let him die."

Her voice was steady, but her heart cracked wide open.

Steven's head snapped up, eyes locking on her. The thin line of blood at her throat burned into his sight. "Bella, don't say that."

He lunged forward, reaching for her hand. She yanked back, cold.

It wasn't anger that gutted her—it was the silence of a heart already frozen. And knowing these same hands had just held Ada made her sick.

Bella looked away, lowered her head, and pulled out her phone. She texted Heidi again, asking how close she was. Still no reply.

The mansion fell into heavy silence, broken only by Ada's sobs.

Not long after, Oliver was brought back.

The second he spotted Bella, he ducked behind Steven and pointed straight at her. "Daddy, it was her! She tried to throw me away. It was her!"

Miranda shot up, face hard. "Bella, what else is there to say? Ollie's just a kid—would he lie?"

Steven's gaze flickered. Their eyes met, and Bella saw it clear as day.

He doubted her.