Bella's POV
Hugo prowled through the garden like a caged predator, his hands clenched into white-knuckled fists. Parker couldn't stop shaking his head, dragging his palms down his face in obvious distress. Derek remained planted in his chair directly across from me, his intense stare burning holes through my composure while his jaw worked tensely.
I settled deeper into my seat, crossing my arms over my chest and throwing one leg casually over the other. Let them squirm. After years of running and hiding, I held all the cards now.
"Just ask whatever's eating at you," I said, slicing through the suffocating silence. This conversation was overdue. The truth had finally clawed its way to the surface.
"Is it real?" Parker's pacing stopped abruptly as he turned to face me, his voice barely above a whisper.
"That you're only Tara's father?" I filled in the words he seemed too terrified to speak.
