Bella Pov
I woke up to something sliding under my door. I sat up fast. My back hurt from sleeping on the floor next to the door all night. I could hear Damian breathing on the other side.
He really stayed out there all night. Like some kind of guard dog.
I looked at what came under the door. A large envelope. Thick and official looking.
I picked it up and opened it. Papers fell out. Legal papers. From a lawyer.
I read the first page. Then the second. My hands started shaking.
It was an offer. A huge amount of money. More money than I had ever seen in my life. Enough to pay for everything. The hospital bills. The rent. Food. Baby supplies. Everything.
All I had to do was meet with Damian once. One conversation. That was it.
I read it again to make sure I understood. Yes. That was what it said. Meet with him one time and get enough money to survive.
Rage exploded in my chest. He thought he could buy me. Buy a conversation. Buy his way back into my life with money.
I grabbed the papers and ripped them. I tore them into tiny pieces. I opened my door.
Damian was still sitting there. He looked up at me with hope in his eyes.
I threw the shredded papers at him. They scattered all over the hallway like confetti.
"I am not for sale" I screamed at him. "You cannot buy me"
"Bella please" he said. "Just listen"
"No" I slammed the door again. I locked it. I could hear him picking up the paper pieces outside.
I went back inside and tried to calm down. But I couldn't. I was shaking with anger.
An hour later my mail came. I opened it. More bills. Hospital bills. Thousands of dollars I couldn't pay. Bills that would go to collections. Bills that would ruin my credit. Bills that would follow me forever.
I sat on my mattress and stared at them. The numbers blurred together. I couldn't breathe right.
My phone rang. Marcus. My agent. I didn't want to answer but I had to.
"Hello" I said.
"Bella" Marcus said. He didn't sound happy. "We need to talk"
"About what"
"About your career" Marcus said. "Or what's left of it. I got another call today. Another client dropping you. They said you're unreliable. They said you look terrible in photos. They said you need to get your life together before they'll work with you again"
"I'm trying" I said. My voice was so quiet.
"Well try harder" Marcus said. "Because right now you have zero jobs lined up. Zero. Do you understand what that means. It means no money. No bookings. Nothing. You need to fix whatever is going on with you or you're done in this industry"
"I'm pregnant" I said. "I told you that"
"And I told you that's not an excuse" Marcus said. "Plenty of models work while pregnant. But they take care of themselves. They show up. They don't cancel at the last minute or look like they haven't slept in weeks"
"I'm doing the best I can"
"It's not good enough" Marcus said. "Get yourself together Bella. Or find a new agent"
He hung up. I stared at my phone. No more jobs. No more money. Nothing.
I looked at the hospital bills again. At my empty bank account. At the tiny apartment with no furniture. At the ultrasound photo on my wall.
I couldn't do this anymore. I just couldn't.
I lay down on my mattress. I pulled my knees to my chest. I clutched the ultrasound photo against my chest and cried. Deep painful sobs that hurt my whole body.
I was failing. At everything. As a model. As a mother. As a person. I couldn't even keep myself healthy enough to grow a baby.
My phone rang again. Tanya. My friend. The only person who still talked to me.
I answered it.
"Bella" Tanya said. "How are you"
"I can't do this anymore" I said through tears. "I can't...I can't keep going like this"
"What happened" Tanya asked. Her voice was worried.
I told her everything. The hospital. The bills. Losing my jobs. Damian stalking me. The money offer. All of it.
"Oh honey" Tanya said. "I'm so sorry. But...maybe you should consider"
"Consider what" I asked.
"Talking to him" Tanya said carefully. "Just once. Not for him. For the baby. He has money. He can help. You need help Bella"
"I can't" I said. "He hurt me"
"I know he did" Tanya said. "And I'm not saying forgive him. I'm not saying take him back. But this isn't about you and him anymore. This is about survival. About keeping that baby healthy. You almost lost it yesterday. Do you want to lose it because you're too proud to accept help"
Her words hit me like a slap. She was right. This wasn't about me. This was about my baby. About keeping my child alive and healthy.
I looked at the hospital bills again. At the ultrasound photo. At my empty kitchen.
"I have to tell him" I whispered. "For the baby's survival. Not for him. Just for the baby"
"Be careful though" Tanya said. "He hurt you once. Don't let him hurt you again"
"I won't" I said. "This is just about money. Nothing else"
We hung up. I sat there for a long time. Staring at my phone. Thinking about what I was about to do.
Finally I opened my settings. I found Damian's number in my blocked list. My finger hovered over the unblock button.
I pressed it. His number appeared in my contacts again.
I opened a new text message. I stared at the blank screen. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely type.
I typed one sentence: Park. Tomorrow. 3 p.m.
I stared at it. This was it. Once I sent this there was no going back. He would know I was willing to talk. He would think he won.
But this wasn't about winning. This was about survival. About my baby.
I hit send before I could change my mind.
The message went through. Delivered.