"I bet she's faking it," Damon said, his voice laced with skepticism as we stood anxiously outside the nurse's office
"Why would she fake fainting?" Alaric interjected, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
Damon sprang to his feet, his long strides pacing back and forth in front of us, the tension radiating from him palpable. "Because she knows we're onto her! I don't think she forgot what happened."
"Forgot what?" Alaric pressed, his brows knitting tighter in bafflement.
"Being attacked," I replied, my voice steady but filled with urgency.
"What?" Alaric's incredulity was evident.
"Damon was the one who attacked her," Elena sighed, glancing at Damon with a mix of frustration and pity.
Alaric shot Damon a fierce look, and his disappointment was evident in his eyes. "Let's hope she's really forgotten; otherwise, she won't help us," he warned, the grim seriousness cutting through the air.
"Why didn't you mention this before, Stefan?" Damon spat, turning to me, his jaw tight with anger.
"It slipped my mind amid everything I've been through," I defended, feeling the weight of his accusation. "Besides, every interaction with Bella is a risk for me. I could drain her dry. I only saw the pictures involving Mr. Tanner, never with John and Isobel."
A look of surprise crossed Alaric's face. "The previous history teacher?!" he exclaimed, his voice rising alarmingly.
"Yes," I nodded, feeling the gravity of the situation deepen.
Elena turned to me, her curiosity piqued and eyes wide. "Wait, Mr. Tanner knew my uncle?" she asked, the realization sending a ripple of concern.
"And Isobel. It wouldn't surprise me if he knew about you, too," I replied, hoping to quell her anxiety with information.
Elena shot Damon a glare that could rival a thunderstorm. He rolled his eyes in response. "That still doesn't absolve you of guilt," he pointed out, his tone sharp and unyielding.
"I didn't bring it up earlier because I wanted to talk to her once I was feeling better," I explained, my irritation building.
"Do you think she figured out I was adopted before I did?" Elena asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Damon's gaze met hers with a predatory glint. "I can compel the truth out of her," he suggested, his tone dark.
"But she has vervain in her necklace," Elena countered, her shoulders slumping. "I mentioned to Stefan that i told you. Stefan gave her and her grandmother vervain the next day."
"My brother, always the hero."
"I could snatch it off her," Elena proposed eagerly, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
"And then what?" I challenged, crossing my arms tightly.
"What do you mean, 'what'?" Elena shot back defensively. "Damon can—"
"If she truly remembers, then how can you—"
"I'm stronger than you," Damon interjected, a smug grin on his face.
"But if she's already on vervain—"
"We can wait until it leaves her system—"
"And how would we know that? The only way to be certain is by holding her hostage!"
"We could—" Elena started, but the urgency in my voice stopped her.
"Well, between her grandmother, Jeremy, and Bella herself, getting within a mile of her is impossible!" I snapped, frustration boiling over as I thought of the risks we were all taking with Bella's safety.
"We could tell Bella and her grandmother it was a misunderstanding," Elena suggested, biting her lip.
"And what about Jeremy? Don't you remembe, he suspects you and Caroline are involved in Bella's attack."
"What?" Damon turned to me, his expression shifting to one of disbelief.
"Bella texted Jeremy right before you attacked her," I stated, the gravity of the revelation hanging heavily between us.
Damon cursed under his breath, frustration evident, while Elena stood with her hands on her hips, determination etched on her face.
"We could talk to Jeremy—"
"But if Bella does remember and you compel Jeremy to hound her for answers, she's going to get suspicious," I warned.
"Elena could talk to Isobel by herself—" Alaric suggested hopefully.
"It's too late for that now," I sighed, shaking my head as the weight settled in. "She didn't like Elena before; this incident will only amplify that."
Surprise flickered across Alaric's face as he looked at Elena. "Why not?"
"She thinks she's smarter than me! She called me stupid," Elena exploded, her voice rising in indignation.
"She didn't call you stupid," I exclaimed, exasperated.
"Did she tell you that?"
"You told me that. I compelled you to tell me. She made you feel that way but didn't outright say you're stupid."
"What!" Elena's eyes narrowed at me in disbelief. "Stefan—"
"You also said she ruined your life when you were kids," I said her calmly.
Elena moved closer to me. "What did I say she did?"
"Only that people were yelling at you because of her."
"I don't really remember her," Elena admitted quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "Caroline and Bonnie occasionally talk about memories of playing with her."
"She used to play with Jeremy; he probably remembers more about her," I suggested gently.
"Assuming he talks to me again," Elena added, crossing her arms.
"And we need to address the possible elephant in the room," I said, sensing a shift in the atmosphere.
"Which is?" Damon asked, his interest piqued.
"Why does she smell so good?" I said, opening up a new line of inquiry.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Elena snapped, her annoyance resurfacing.
"What if it ties into the reason she remembers?" I pressed, the wheels in my mind turning faster.
"What are you saying?" She inquired, her brow furrowing as she tried to grasp my thoughts.
"What if she's found some way to resist compulsion?" I suggested a new possibility dawning on us.
Damon shook his head, dismissing the idea. "Humans can't—"
"And humans don't smell as good as her! What human have you fed off that tasted as enchanting as she does?" I retorted, a hint of desperation creeping into my voice.
Damon glanced towards the door as if expecting Bella to emerge at any moment. "None," he admitted, wiping his mouth reflexively.
"What if the two are connected?" I urged, the intrigue of our discussion igniting a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty.
"Like how?" Damon asked, genuinely curious now, the tension easing slightly as we explored this new line of thought.
I began to respond when up rushed Caroline, Matt, and a stunning blonde girl who seemed to radiate confidence. I had seen her flitting around Bella a few times, always with an effortless grace.
"Caroline," Elena gasped, voice laced with concern. "What—"
"After they called Mrs. Higginbotham, she called me to stay with her until she arrived," Caroline explained, her tone serious.
"What happened to Bella?" the blonde girl asked, her brow furrowing as she approached the door.
"She's fine," insisted Alaric, his voice firm as he tried to pull her away. "We can wait with her—"
"Where's Jeremy?" the girl pressed, her eyes darting around the room, oblivious to Alaric's effort to deter her.
"He's inside with Bella. Why?' Elena replied, curious about the urgency in her voice.
"He was there with Bella when she fainted, right?" she clarified, worry evident in her tone.
Elena shot her an annoyed look, frustration spilling over. "What do you want?"
The girl turned calmly to Elena, her expression shifting to one of genuine concern. "Bella and I hang out occasionally; I want to know what happened."
"We can take it from here," Alaric stated firmly, his resolve unyielding.
"No, I actually prefer to stay and talk to my friend," she retorted, confidently pulling away from Alaric's grasp. "Excuse me."
"Go back to class, Rosalie," he commanded, his voice stern but tinged with frustration.
"It's my lunch period, Mr. Saltzman," she replied, mirroring his sternness.
"Why are you here?" Elena shot at her, her tone sharp.
"Jeremy called and insisted I bring her; he said they were friends," Caroline stated, trying to mediate the accumulating tension.
"Actually, he called and insisted that I hurry down because I might get the scoop on a hot story," Rosalie added with a slight smirk, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Damon, Elena, Alaric, and I exchanged looks; I could feel a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. This can't be good.
"Don't you write a beauty column?" Elena scoffed, disbelief coloring her voice.
"What could be more beautiful than mental equilibrium?" Rosalie shot back, a hint of defiance in her tone.
"How is she?" Caroline asked, her eyes narrowing with concern for Bella, one of the few who seemed genuinely worried.
"She's fine," I said, a wave of relief washing over me.
It felt good to know someone cared about Bella's well-being.
"What exactly happened?" Rosalie pressed, worry now etched in her features.
"She fainted," Elena stated, glaring daggers at Rosalie, clearly annoyed she was still intervening.
"Did she hit her head?" the blonde girl inquired, her brow furrowing further.
"Stefan caught her before she hit the floor,"
Matt shook his head slowly, concern evident in his eyes. "First, she's nearly crushed, and now this."
"What do you mean?" Alaric asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Last night, she was nearly crushed by a pickup truck. Some guy forgot to put his truck in park and almost pinned Bella against her trunk," Matt explained, his voice filled with disbelief.
The four of us exchanged concerned glances, and after a moment, Alaric broke the silence. "Bella said she fell."
"Of course, she fell," Rosalie commented dismissively, jotting something down in a tiny notebook. "That's her trademark."
"What happened?" Alaric pressed, desperation creeping into his tone.
Rosalie scowled at him and rolled her eyes but couldn't help responding. "Bella said she thought she saw someone she knew and ran after them."
"When did she say this?" Alaric asked, eager for any details.
"She told me right after class," Rosalie replied, her pen dancing over the pages.
"And I did see her running after someone," Matt interjected, recalling the scene vividly.
"Who?" Alaric demanded, the urgency in his voice rising.
"I'm sorry," Caroline said, moving closer to the door, her expression firm. "But I need to check on Bella."
"And I want to talk to Jeremy," Rosalie countered, unwavering.
Caroline, accompanied by Rosalie, knocked on the door firmly.
"You can't—" Alaric began to protest before the door opened slightly.
"Yes?" said the nurse softly, her voice soothing as she peered out from behind the door.
"We're here to see Bella Swan," Caroline announced with determined confidence.
"I'm Rosalie Hale, and this is Caroline Forbes—"
"Oh, Isabella's grandmother has arrived—"
"Bella," I heard Bella mumble, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried a weight of reassurance.
Good, she is awake and okay.
"She said you were coming; Miss Forbes and Jeremy Gilbert indicated you could probably piece together what's going on with Isabella," the nurse said, her eyes glancing back toward the room.
"Bella."
"Come in," she instructed.
As Alaric moved toward the door, the nurse blocked his path firmly. "Excuse me; I need to check on her."
"Isabella—I mean, Bella insisted she only wanted her friends and grandmother," the nurse continued, looking resolute.
"I'm her teacher; I should be allowed to see—"
"No!" Bella shouted suddenly, her voice ringing with urgency. "I do not want him in here!"
"I need to talk to you, Isobel!" Alaric insisted, desperation tainting his words.
"Why don't you leave Bella alone?!" Rosalie shot back angrily, slamming the door in his face.
Matt glanced nervously between us, confusion evident in his expression.
"What's going on?" he asked, looking for clarity.
"Who was Bella running after?" Alaric demanded, his gaze shifting back to Matt.
"Some woman," Matt replied, his tone hesitant.
"How did she look?" Alaric pressed, determination evident in his demeanor.
Matt shrugged, a hint of frustration creeping into his response. "I don't know; she had dark hair."
"Anything else?" Damon insisted, his voice low and pressing.
"She seemed irritated," Matt said, shifting uncomfortably.
"The woman?" Damon prompted, intrigued.
"No, Bella. She was upset with her grandmother, which was out of character for her," Matt explained, his reluctance to speak about Bella's feelings palpable.
"What do you mean?" asked Elena, her concern deepening.
"Bella was angry with her grandmother for some reason," he replied carefully.
"Did you hear anything else?" Elena continued, seeking more insight.
Matt squirmed again, his discomfort radiating off him. "I don't feel comfortable talking about Bella behind her back."
I recalled her phone call with Elena, where she had fiercely reprimanded her friend for spilling details about her collapse.
"It could help us help Bella," I pressed gently, trying to persuade him.
"I only heard Bella mention something about Elena's uncle," he finally admitted, his gaze dropping.
"What about my uncle?" Elena asked, intrigued.
"Something happened between your uncle and hers; I heard Bella say the name," he replied, a hint of uncertainty in his tone.
"Do you know anything else?" Alaric asked, his urgency growing.
"John and Jeremy came to see Bella last night; Bella's grandmother doesn't like John," Matt stated, glancing sideways.
"Who does?" Damon commented dryly, raising an eyebrow.
"Bella?" called the voice of Bella's grandmother, her cane clicking swiftly against the floor as she entered the room. She moved with a brisk determination, her expression one of concern as she approached the door. "What happened?"
"She fainted in the cafeteria," I offered, hoping to allay her fears.
"What?! Why?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in panic.
"I don't know," I admitted.
"Did she say anything?" Mrs. Higginbotham pressed, her worry palpable.
"She mentioned that her chest felt tight," I added, feeling the moment's weight.
Mrs. Higginbotham knocked on the door gently, calling for Bella, her concern palpable as she sought her granddaughter.
Bella's grandmother had whisked her away, creating a silent chasm between us, leaving me unable to reach out to her. With the hope of reconnecting with Bella extinguished, I
turned my attention to the impending meeting with Isobel, wishing desperately for answers to the questions that swirled in my mind.
Stefan stood by my side, calm as we made our way toward Isobel, while Damon and Alaric lingered across the street, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution.
As I leaned closer to Stefan, who was casually playing pool, a wave of warmth washed over me when Isobel finally arrived. She took a seat, and I couldn't help but take in her striking appearance.
Her dark brown hair cascaded down her back like a silky waterfall, and her garden-green eyes sparkled with an alluring light. Her fair skin had a luminous glow that seemed to radiate from within, and her heart-shaped face held an enchanting beauty that made my breath catch.
This extraordinary woman, mesmerizing yet unsettling, was my birth mother, Isobel.
Isobel's gaze swept over me with an unsettling familiarity as she remarked, "You look just like her; that's eerie."
"You've met Katherine?" I asked, a chill creeping into my voice, curiosity mingling with anxiety.
"She found me after I turned. I suppose it was genetic curiosity. She would be fascinated by you," Isobel replied, her tone casual as if we were discussing the weather.
I couldn't help but glance at the luminous necklace draped around her neck. "Is that how you can walk in the daylight?" I inquired, needing reassurance in this surreal encounter.
"Katherine helped me obtain it," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
"What about my father?" I pressed, my heart sinking as I sought answers.
Isobel rolled her eyes dramatically at my question as if I had asked a tiresome question for the millionth time.
"Not necessary. He was a teenage waste of space," she retorted, her disdain palpable.
"A name would be nice," I countered a hint of bitterness in my tone.
"It would, wouldn't it? You certainly ask many questions," she replied with a sly smile.
"Why did you compel that man to kill himself? Right after he told me to stop searching for him?" I asked, my voice laced with frustration.
"Dramatic impact. I wish it could have been more effective," she answered nonchalantly.
"Does human life mean that little to you?" I shot back, incredulous.
"It means nothing to me. It's just part of being what I am," she replied dismissively, her words chilling my veins.
"That's not true. I know other vampires," I insisted, trying to challenge her perspective.
"Like your boyfriend over there by the pool table? Stefan Salvatore. Why Stefan? Why not Damon? Or are you enjoying them both like Katherine?" she said, a smirk curling her lips.
Her boldness caught me off guard, and I glanced at Stefan, wondering what he was thinking.
"Why did you want to meet me? It can't be just for a catch-up," I queried, my heart heavy with hope and doubt.
"Because I'm curious about you," she replied, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. "But the real reason is: I want what your uncle wants—Jonathan Gilbert's invention."
A wave of disappointment washed over me.
If her goal was the Gilbert device, what was the point of this meeting?
"How do you know my uncle?" I asked, determined to piece together the fragmented story.
"I spent a lot of time here when I was younger. John had a crush on me for years. He was the first one who enlightened me about vampires," she explained, nostalgia tinting her voice.
"What made you want to become one?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"It's a very long list of reasons, Elena—most of which I've no doubt you've contemplated already," she replied, and I shook my head in disagreement. "That's your first lie. It's inevitable; you'll age while Stefan won't," she said, glancing at him. "Forever doesn't hold much weight when you're human," she added with amusement.
This conversation was spiraling away from my hopes, and Isobel was not providing the answers I so desperately sought.
"I'm not sorry, but I don't have what you want," I said, the weight of the moment pressing down on me as I stood up.
Isobel caught my wrist with surprising strength, forcing me back into my seat. "Sit down, and tell your boyfriend to step away. I want the invention, not you," she ordered.
"I don't have it," I insisted defiantly.
"I know that, but Damon does, and you will get it for me," she replied, her tone flat and commanding.
"He's not going to give it to me," I said, shaking my head, the dread pooling in my stomach.
"Then the blood will be on your hands." She stood, the finality in her voice slicing through the air. "It was nice meeting you, Elena."
As she left, tears surged forth, spilling down my cheeks. Stefan wrapped his arm around me, a protective barrier against the harshness of reality.
Isobel's indifference cut deeply; she was only interested in the Gilbert device, not me.
Since discovering that I was adopted, I'd been lost in thoughts of her, imagining who she was, what her personality might have been, and what kind of mother she could have been. But now, it was painfully clear—she had no interest in me.
Bella didn't show up at school the next day, and an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I tried calling her, but the phone rang and rang with no answer. Frustration bubbled within me; if this continued, I would be forced to go to her house and confront her.
As I sat in the quiet of my room, hoping for a familiar face, I suddenly heard a knock on my door. My heart raced in anticipation, longing for it to be Bella.
It frustrated me how Bella had acted so selfishly lately, keeping all her secrets locked away while the rest of us were
left in the dark. Perhaps she had finally decided to open up and share whatever information she hid with us.
When I opened the door, though, it wasn't Bella. It was Bonnie, standing there with a look of concern across her face. Relief washed over me; it felt so good to see her again.
"Hi," I greeted her softly.
"Hey," she replied, her voice filled with warmth. "I couldn't sleep last night. You seemed really upset about something, and I just walked away. That's not like me. It can't be like this between us. You're my friend, Elena." She clasped my hands tightly, her grip reassuring. "If you need me, I'm here for you, and I'm really sorry for not being there yesterday."
With a tremor in my voice, I said, "I met my birth mother."
Her eyes widened, a mix of concern and empathy. "Oh. Was it… Are you okay?"
My emotions overwhelmed me at that moment, and I burst into tears. I shook my head, unable to find the words. Bonnie instantly wrapped her arms around me, offering comfort and understanding.
Having Bonnie back in my life felt like a balm to my aching heart, and I knew I wasn't alone.
Thank goodness for the Founders Day parade—it's a welcome distraction from everything swirling in my mind.
As we set up for the parade, I spotted Bonnie approaching with a determined glint in her eyes. She had something significant to show me.
We slipped into an empty classroom, the hushed atmosphere amplifying our conversation.
"Hey! Thanks for coming. I really wanted you to see this," she said, holding out a weathered book that radiated with secrets.
"Is that Emily's spell book?" I asked, my heart quickening as I recognized the familiar leather cover adorned with intricate patterns.
"Yes! I've been poring over it since Grams passed away. You have to see this," she replied, flipping through the fragile pages with reverent care.
Bonnie pointed to a particular page, her enthusiasm palpable. "This is the vampire compass."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she explained, "According to Emily, Johnathan Gilbert never truly succeeded in inventing anything independently. Instead, Emily secretly infused all his creations with magic—the compass, the rings, and that mysterious device you told me about."
She turned the book toward me, revealing a detailed illustration of the device. My mind raced with memories as I examined the complex design.
"Yeah, that's it. At least part of it. Damon only has one piece," I said, tracing the lines of the drawing with my finger.
Bonnie's expression shifted to one of contemplation. "Emily pledged her allegiance to Katherine, but she couldn't sit idly by while innocent people were being slaughtered. This was her way of helping—making Johnathan Gilbert believe he had created these devices himself."
I leaned closer to the page, curiosity bubbling inside me. "Does it say what it does?"
Bonnie hesitated, her brows furrowing as she reread the text. "Are you absolutely sure this is what Isobel wants?" she questioned, a note of concern creeping into her voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Why?" I asked, sensing the shift in her mood.
"Elena, this is a weapon against vampires," she said, her voice tense.
A chill ran down my spine. Why does Isobel want a device that can kill her?
I went outside to help with the float and was looking for Stefan when I heard someone calling my name, 'Elena!' I
turned around and saw Jeremy walking towards me.
'Hey, have you seen Stefan?' I asked him, 'I need to find him.'
'No, not lately.' Jeremy rubbed the back of his head and continued, 'Listen, do you have a second?'
'Yeah, sure. What's up? Is everything okay?' I asked him in a firm tone.
'Well, it's about Anna,' he said.
Anna? The vampire Anna? I was surprised.
'I've left her all these messages, and she hasn't gotten back to me, not even a text,' Jeremy continued. 'We're more than friends, so if you know anything, please tell me.'
'I haven't talked to her, Jer,' I said firmly.
Jeremy scoffed. 'Are you lying to me right now?'
I felt irritated. 'No, I'm not lying. Why would I lie about something like that?' I asked him assertively.
'Because that's what you do. You lie about everything. I know what Anna is, and I know that you know. So tell me, do you have any idea where she is?'
I was in shock. When did he find out? Did Bella tell him?
'No, but Jer...Jeremy, wait! Jeremy!' I shouted after him, but he had already walked away.
I turned around, and Isobel was standing behind me.
'Isobel. What are you doing here?'
'I'm your mother, Elena. I want to be more involved in your life.'
'I don't want you in my life.'
'I understand that. You already have many people you care about, but I've been studying. Let's see if I got this right.'
She looked at Bonnie talking to someone. 'There is the witchy best friend, Bonnie. I am going to stay away from that one.'
She turned to Jeremy, stomping away. 'Oh...sad little brother Jeremy.'
She watched Caroline. 'And there's Caroline...obnoxious Caroline. I got all of my info from her, by the way. She had no idea who I was and wouldn't stop yapping. Oh...'
She looked at Matt. 'And there's Matt, friend, ex, Yappy's future ex. Lots of connections there.'
'Matt is not involved in this.'
'He's involved with you, isn't he?'
'Look, you shouldn't be here. You need to leave.'
'No, I have some friends here too. Look, you see that man standing next to Matt by the Float? His name is Frank, he's very handsome and also quite handy, and he noticed that the axles are a little rusty, which is very dangerous. So, all you have to do is apply some pressure and...'
'No!'
That Frank guy jumped on the trailer above Matt, crushing his arm. I tried to run for him, but Isobel grabbed me.
'Get this trailer! Come on, guys, help me!' Matt screamed.
Tyler rushed to help him with some friends, and they tried to remove the trailer. But they weren't strong enough; Stefan arrived to help lift them. They release the trailer, and Matt gets free; Caroline rushes to see him.
'Caroline, call an ambulance.' Stefan ordered.
'Why are you doing this?'
'I'm showing you how easy it is to hurt the people you care about.'
'And you're doing this just because of Johnathan Gilbert's invention?'
'Hand it over, and it'll stop.'
'I told you Damon will not give it to me.'
'I think that you underestimate how much Damon cares about you.'
'He'll kill you before he gives it up.'
'Is that before or after I kill your brother Jeremy?'
I turned to catch sight of Jeremy; he had disappeared.
'Jeremy? Jeremy?!' I looked everywhere and saw that Isobel was gone, too.
She wanted to meet in the town square, so I waited for Isobel.
"Where is the device?" Her voice behind me made me jump.
"Where is my brother?"
"This isn't a negotiation. Where is the invention?"
"Where is my brother?"
"Do you really think I came alone?"
I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see a man and a woman walking up.
I guess I really am your daughter.
"Did you really think I came alone?"
Damon and Stefan arrived behind her, and she looked at them.
"For God's sake, call home."
"What?"
"Call home and ask to speak to your brother Jeremy."
I did as she instructed.
"Hello?" Jeremy's voice answered.
"Jeremy, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Uncle John hit his head. It was an accident."
"We're all laughing," I heard Jenna call out.
"But yeah, I'm okay."
"I'll be home soon, alright?"
"Yeah." I turned to her. "You were never going to hurt him."
She only kidnapped him, but she didn't hurt him.
Was it because of me?
"No, I was going to kill him. Don't look for any redeeming qualities in me. I don't have any."
"But you took a risk with Damon. How did you know he would give it to me?"
"Because he's in love with you."
Damon looked at Stefan, who appeared uncomfortable and upset. I handed the device to Isobel.
"Thank you," I told her.
"For what?" she asked.
"For being such a monumental disappointment. It keeps the memory of the mother who raised me perfectly intact."
"Goodbye, Elena. You're doomed as long as you have a Salvatore on each arm. Katherine was smart; she got out, but we all know you're not Katherine."
When I finally stepped through the door of my home, I was immediately met by the penetrating intensity of Jeremy's gaze. It felt as if his eyes were dull into me, heavy with unspoken accusations.
Our conversation quickly spiraled into an argument about Anna, emotions flaring and voices rising. I was frustrated, mainly because he had violated my trust by reading my journal. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he knew about Vicky's tragic death and the dark hold Damon had on him, compelling him to forget.
In a fit of irritation, I texted Bella, demanding she stop being selfish and finally respond to me. But as time passed with no reply, my frustration deepened to a boiling point. I determinedly made my way to her house, ready to confront her face-to-face.
When I finally stepped through the door of my home, I was immediately met by the penetrating intensity of Jeremy's gaze. It felt as if his eyes were dull into me, heavy with unspoken accusations. Our conversation quickly spiraled into an argument about Anna, emotions flaring and voices rising. I was frustrated, mainly because he had violated my trust by reading my journal. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he knew about Vicky's tragic death and the dark hold Damon had on him, compelling him to forget.
I forced myself to remain polite, summoning all the calm I could muster. "Hi, ma'am. Is Bella home?"
"You mean she's not with Jeremy?" she retorted, her tone sharp and incredulous.
"No, she's not," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"What about Caroline?" she inquired, her eyes narrowing.
"Uh, no, Mrs. Higginbotham. Could you please check Bella's room? I think I left something—"
"Bella never invited you upstairs," she interrupted, arms crossed defiantly.
"Jeremy—"
"Always stays downstairs. What do you want?" Her voice dripped with suspicion.
"Bella has pictures of my uncle—" I began, desperation creeping into my voice.
"Doesn't your uncle have the same pictures?" she shot back, unimpressed.
"I don't want to talk to him—"
"And how is that Bella's problem?" she countered, raising an eyebrow.
Steeling myself, I finally said, "I think your son was my father."
I hoped that revelation would soften her, but instead, the old woman laughed, a harsh, derisive sound that only fueled my mounting frustration.
"My son is not your father," she declared as if it were a well-worn mantra.
"I still need—"
"My granddaughter is missing, and you want to talk about yourself? You Gilberts truly have a gift for making everything about you. Why don't you ask John?" She waved me off dismissively. "Excuse me; I have to find my granddaughter."
With that, she turned away, leaving me standing on the threshold, feeling more bewildered and angry than ever.