Bella's Pov
My mind wandered through a labyrinth of thoughts until his voice sliced through, jolting me back to reality. The words I had imagined sharing with him remained unspoken. "I'm truly grateful that you're here," I confessed, enveloping him in a tight hug. Despite my relief, anxiety still knotted my stomach, uncertain of how he'd react to the news I carried. Mirabel's revelations echoed in my mind, but doubts lingered like shadows cast by flickering candlelight.
Gently disengaging from the embrace, I asked, my concern genuine, "How are things on the other side?" He responded with a comforting smile, yet a storm brewed in his eyes, betraying the façade he attempted to maintain.
Intrigued by his subdued demeanor, I pressed on, "Derek, tell me—what has Asher done?" Fear tinged my w
