𝟸𝟾. "... 𝚂𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔"

BELLA'S P.O.V

I sighed and glanced at the kids in the backseat. Teddy was already asleep, his little head tilted against the window. Leo, as expected, was glued to his iPad, fingers tapping away. Blair, on the other hand, was staring outside, lost in thought.

“I won’t be able to pick them up after the party,” Derrick's voice broke through my thoughts. My head snapped toward him, my brows furrowing. His hands were steady on the wheel, his tone casual—too casual.

“But you promised.”

“Something came up,” he said, offering no further explanation.

I let out a sharp breath. “Well, you know I have to be somewhere at ten. Who’s going to watch the kids?”

“As I said, this party is unnecessary,” he replied, his grip tightening slightly on the wheel.

I scoffed. “I can’t turn Hillary down. And they’re excited about it.”

Derrick sighed and glanced at me briefly. “Baby, I wish I could. Maybe another time.” His hand slid onto my leg, rubbing it lightly in an attempt to soothe me.

I shook my head, staring out the window. “I’ve been postponing this event for weeks, Derrick. I can’t keep doing—”

“Well, I always watch the kids,” he interjected.

I turned to him sharply. “Can you not do this right now?” I whispered, mindful of the children in the back.

He sighed again but didn’t argue. Silence filled the car as I turned back to the window, frustration simmering under my skin. It was always something. I couldn’t be everywhere at once, no matter how hard I tried.

By the time we pulled up to the Eastons' estate, the kids were already sitting up in anticipation. A smile tugged at my lips despite the lingering tension.

“Is Grandma gonna be here?” Blair asked excitedly.

I hesitated, exchanging a look with Derrick.

“Not today, darling,” he answered.

The moment the car stopped, the door was flung open, and they bolted out.

“Alright, Leo, no more screens,” I said, taking his iPad from him.

“Just one more minute, Moooom,” he whined.

“Nope. Go grab the boxes from the trunk.”

Derrick got out, lifting a sleeping Teddy into his arms. He held my gaze for a second, and I already knew what was coming.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he murmured.

I exhaled slowly, shifting my focus to the house. “Come on, kids!”

The double doors swung open, revealing the bustling house. But for Leo and Blair, it was nothing more than a giant playground as they disappeared into the chaos.

“Leo! Blair!” My calls fell on deaf ears.

“Bella!”

I turned to see Natalia by the kitchen, a glass in her hand.

“Hey,” I greeted, making my way over.

“You’re early. Where are the twins?” she asked, scanning the room.

“Running wild somewhere.”

She chuckled before shifting her attention to Teddy, ruffling his hair. I eyed the glass in her hand suspiciously.

“Is that champagne?”

She grinned.

“Natalia, you’re pregnant!” I shot her a deadpan look.

“No bump, no worries,” she shrugged, taking another sip.

I sighed, adjusting Teddy in my arms.

“The party hasn’t started?” I glanced at the clock. “It’s nine.”

“Yeah,” she shrugged.

“Where’s Azalea?”

She glanced around. “These kids.”

I handed Teddy over to her. “Hold him for a sec.”

My heels clicked against the marble as I stepped outside to the garden. The decorations covered every inch of the house, and the party setup stretched across the lawn.

Leo darted past me, and I caught his arm.

“Where did you put the present?”

“What present?” He blinked innocently.

I narrowed my eyes.

He burst into laughter. “With the other presents!” And just like that, he was gone again.

Kids.

The warm sun bathed the garden in golden light as I stepped further in.

“Bella!”

I turned, a grin spreading across my face as Kourtney ran toward me.

“Oh my god, Kourt! You’re back!”

We embraced tightly before pulling apart.

“Look at you. You’re blonde!” I noted, laughing.

“I listened to my intrusive thoughts,” she smirked.

I chuckled. “I can’t remember the last time I took a vacation. I need one—desperately.”

“You always could,” she pointed out. “And let’s not forget the wonders you’re doing back here. Vega’s is a three-star restaurant now.”

I smiled, glancing down. It could be better.

“Good job, Bella.”

“Thanks. Where’s Alya?” I asked, scanning the garden.

“Over there.” She gestured toward the small fountain where a group of kids was gathered.

“I’m glad you’re back. How’s Davis? Don’t tell me he’s not here.”

“He would’ve been, but duty calls. It was hard enough for me to squeeze out time.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Summer is insane with all these events,” she groaned.

I chuckled, gesturing toward the balloons. “What are you doing?”

“Helping out.” she answered. “Where’s Hillary?”

“I haven’t seen her since we arrived. Is Derrick coming?”

I sighed. “No. ‘Something came up.’”

She gave me a knowing look but didn’t push. Just then, a voice cut through the noise. “You guys!”

Hillary came running toward us, Natalia right behind her, still holding Teddy.

“Is she okay?” Kourtney asked.

“Is the party canceled?” I frowned.

Hillary finally stopped, out of breath. “You okay?” Natalia asked, shifting Teddy in her arms.

“Yes, yes,” she waved us off, brushing her hair back. “I just—”

“Mom!”

“Not now, Jackson!”

“But it’s my birthday,” he reminded her.

“Just a moment, darling!”

“Where have you been?” I asked, frowning.

“Guys, I have something to tell you,” she said, her tone suddenly serious.

“You’re pregnant,” Natalia guessed. We all turned to her. “Are you drunk?” Hillary asked.

“Isn’t she pregnant?” Kourtney whispered.

“Guys!” Hillary snapped, regaining our attention. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes—something unsettling that.

“But you promised”

“Something came up” he answered and I let out a huff. “Well, you know I have to be somewhere at 10, who's gonna watch the kids?“

“As I said, this party is unnecessary” he replied. “I can't turn Hillary down and they are excited about it” I reminded and he sighed before glancing at me.

“Baby, I wish I could. Perhaps, another time” he said, his hand sliding on my leg and he rubbed it lightly. I huffed and glanced out the window, shaking my head.

“I've been postponing this event for a while now, Derrick. I can't keep doing—”

“Well, I always watch the kids” he fired and I turned to him, “Can you not do this right now?“ I whisper yelled, glancing at the kids behind.

He did too and glanced back at the road. I let out another breath and glanced out the window again. It's always been this or that, I couldn't possibly share myself at once just to be everywhere.

We arrived the Easton's estate and the kids sat up in anticipation, a smile enveloping my lips. “Is Grandma gonna be here?“ Blair asked excitedly.

I paused, exchanging looks with Derrick before he answered her, “Not today, Darling”

The door was thrown open and they came running out. “Alright Leo, no more pads” I took it from him and he pouted. “Just one more minute, Mooom” he drawled but I ignored, placing it back into the car.

“Go grab the boxes in the trunk”

Derrick got out a sleeping Timmy and handed him over to me while still holding a look with me and I immediately knew what was coming. “I'm sorry about earlier”

I only let out a breath and turned towards the building. “Come on, kids!“

The double doors got pulled open to the busy house. But as for those two, it was just another play ground because they were already running around. “Leo! Blair!“ My calling fell on deaf ears.

“Bella!“ My eyes shot up to Natalia who was by the kitchen area. “Hey” I answered.

“You guys are early. Where are the twins?“ She asked, looking around. “Going crazy somewhere”

“Hey Teddy” she crooned, ruffling his hair lightly as I held him in my arm while I glanced at the glance she had in hand. “Is that champagne?“

She grinned and I shot her a dead panned look. “Natalia, you're pregnant!“

“No bumb, no worries” she shrugged, swinging another glass and I let out a low breath, the weight of the child in my hand, pressing down on me.

“The party hasn't started?“I then glanced at the clock. “It's 9!“

“Yeah” she shrugged in response and I let out another sigh. “Where's Azalea?“ I asked and she looked around once again. “These kids” she muttered.

“Here, hold him” I handed Teddy over to her before heading out to the garden, my heels clinking on the floor. The whole house was decorated top to bottom and the party was to be carried out in the garden.

Leo immediately ran past me but I pulled him bag, “Where did you drop the present?“

“What present?“ He asked back and I shot him a look and he began laughing. “With the other present " and with that he ran out again.

Kids.

The sun shine brightly on me as I stepped out, my heels sinking into the grass. “Bella!“ Kourtney yelled out to me and a big smile enveloped my lips immediately.

“Oh my gosh, Kourt. You're back!“ I said and we both embraced before pulling out, “look at you. You're blonde”

“I listened to my intrusive thoughts” she answered and I chuckled. “I can't remember when last I went on a vacation, I'm in dire need of it” I groaned and she chuckled.

“You always could and let's not forget the wonders you're doing back here. Vega's place is now a 3 star restaurant” she praised and I smiled, glancing down.

It could be better.

“Good job, Bella”

“Thank you. Where's Alya?“ I asked, looking around, “Over there!“ She pointed at the little fountain were most of the children were gathered.

“I'm glad you're back. How's Davis? Don't tell me he isn't herei mentioned and she chuckled. “He would have been but...duty calls. It was even difficult for me squeezing out time”

“Tell me about it”

“Lots of events this summer” she heaved and I chuckled. “What are you doing?“ I gestured at the bazillion balloons she had on the table.

“Helping out”

“Where is Hillary?“ I asked, looking around. “I haven't seen her also since we arrived. Is Derrick coming?“ She asked and I sighed.

“Unfortunately no, he...he has something. Something came up” I said and she nodded before returning back to the balloons she was gasing up.

“And Bethany?“

“You guys!!!“ someone screamed and we turned to see Hillary running to us. Natalia behind her, still holding Teddy. “Is she okay?“ Kourtney asked.

“Is the party cancelled?“ Was my concern.

She finally stopped, out of breath. “You okay?“ Natalia asked, joining us as we gave her a moment to catch her breath.

“Yes yes...“ She looked up, pushing her hair back. “I just—”

“Mom!“

“Not now, Jackson!“

“It's my birthday” he reminded. “Just a moment, darling!“

“Where have you been?“ I asked. “Guys, I have something to tell you all” she said, her tone getting serious.

“You're pregnant” Natalia guessed and we all turned to her. “Are you drunk?“ Hillary inquired.

“Isn't she pregnant?“ Kourtney whispered. “Guys!“ Hillary yelled again, getting our attention and we turned. “This is serious”

“Raquel is coming?“ Natalia guessed again and we shot her a look. Hillary looked back at us and said. “She's back”

That statement got me confused and blank for a moment before it finally sunk, the realization of who she was. My breath was knocked out again before I looked up at her.

“Who are we talking about again?“ Natalia asked.

“Pearl” Kourtney answered, her eyes on Hillary, realization had dawned on her too and that's when Natalia got hers. “Pearl is back”

“I saw her” she went on. “That can't be” I blurted out, shaking my head. “Are you sure? Because we've been searching for—”

“I am certain” Hillary confirmed and we got quiet again. “Can we get out of the sun to talk about this?“ Natalia made a point.

Moment later.

“And when I came out to meet the customer, it... It washer, she was sitting right there and—”

“What did she look like?“ I asked and she paused. “So...different " she answered and the place got quiet again.

I've been in disbelief since this news was broken out to us. Kourtney has been quiet, not seeming to make out a word.

She's been gone for...a while now. Without a trace. Without contact. She disappeared, up until now, she's be6a fhost, a figment of our imagination that existed only in our past but...but she was back now.

“Did...“ Kourtney tried to speak but couldn't get out the words. “Did she say anything?“

“She only talked about...the dress, my accomplishments. I...i was numb up until she left, she's back "

“How long do you think she has been in LA?“ Natalia asked. “Who knows. She...“ I let out a breath, shaking my head.

I haven't seen my sister for years now and when I finally get a chance, I only get to hear about it. “It's Pearl. She...does whatever she wants”

“At least, she's alive” Kourtney added and I nodded, Hillary let out a sigh too and leaned on the counter.

“I've been plagued since the encounters. It's oddly coincidental, she's back and...he too is back“

All eyes shot to her again. “Travis is back?“ Natalia asked. “Yes, he's the reason Adriana is missing his son's birthday”

“Do you think he knows?“ Kourtney asked. “Could that be the reason he came back after...all these years?"

“He has been searching for her, we all have. It might be a coincidence they are both back” she answered and we all let out a sigh again.

Silence followed for a while. “How different is she?“ Kourtney asked.

This could be hitting her harder than it was to me. Pearl and Kourtney were close and her whole disappearance took a toilet on Kourtney, almost causing her her engagement.

“She is Pearl. You could see it, those figments, those traces of what she used to be but now...shes...different”

Different bad or good?

“Hey guys!“ Someone called out and we all turned to see Bethany stepping in.

➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦➦

HILLARY'S P.O.V

I took off the last earring and placed it on the table and that's when the door freaked open and he stepped in.

I didn't look up as I took off the necklace and placed it on the table. I put my hair into a bun and got you to climb into bed but he was in front of me.

His blazer off, his tie loosened and stress lines on his face. “How was the party?“

“You didn't miss much. Your son turned 5 and he blew the candles off his cake” I shrugged in response, wanting to walk away but he didn't let me.

“I'm sorry, I couldn't make it to the party, I couldn't—”

“It's no big deal, Adrian. You've already set your priorities straight” I answered, walking to the other side. “Can we not do this tonight?“ he asked, exasperatedly.

“Of course, whenever it comes to this, you do not want to talk about it” I murmured. “Because I know what it is leading to”

“He keeps holding you back there at the office, doesn't he know you have a family!“ I fired. “Hillary”

“What the hell is this? He keeps taking your time? Ever since he got back, what us his problem?!“ I yelled. “Can you stop this?“ He struded to me and grabbed me by the hand.

I let out a breath, shaking my head. “Do you know who I saw at my office yesterday?“ I asked and he remained silent. “Pearl”

I watched as realization dawned on him and he let me go. “That's not possible, she's...she's not in LA, we've searched every—”

“Of course, I must have been hallucinating when I saw her but she's back! You guys couldn't find her because she doesn't want to be found” I deadpanned and he moved away now deep in thought.

I huffed, throwing my head back. “Do you know what I don't get? Your loyalty to him. Have you forgotten what he did to her? He's the reason left!“ I reminded.

“Hillary, it wasn't clearly—”

“Pearl left to stay away from him. He ruined her, that's all he seems to be good at. He is suddenly back now wanting to take you to—”

“He's not doing that” his voice cut into mine and I paused. “And I'm not sure...he knows she's back”

“He doesn't deserve to know” I gritted. “I know you're mad at me right now, I messed up today and I'm sorry. I promise to do everything in my power to—”

I shook my head, turning away from him. “This isn't about the party, Adrian. This is bigger than the party!“ I stated and he paused.

I walked back to him, my hands cupping his face. “Travis is dangerous”

He didn't blink at my words, he didn't flinch, he knew this, this was a fact engraved in the back of his mind. “And I don't want to lose you”

“You won't” he said and I still shook my head. “You could pick him over me any day and any time—”

“Baby—”

“You are that loyal.“

He let out a low breath before grabbing both my hands. “You, Jackson and Jocelyn are my only priorities. You three are all I live and work for. My loyalty is to you”

I know that but I also knew how close he was to Travis. Things got Rocky after he left and I knew he was glad to have his best friend back, no matter his different he was now but I knew Adrian. He never gives up on family.