A woman named Bella. People& Society
“Who is she?”
Sophie stared at me.
“Adrian’s daughter.”
I laughed once because the sentence made no sense.
“Adrian doesn’t have another daughter.”
“Yes, he does.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
She slid another document toward me.
Bella was an adult.
Born before Adrian met me.
A daughter he had never mentioned.
Not once.
And for years—
he had been supporting Bella with Sophie’s inheritance.
My father’s money. Parenting
Money intended for his granddaughter’s education.
“Why?”
“I don’t know all of it.”
Sophie paused.
“But after Adrian kicked me out, I eventually found Bella.”
PAULINE WAS BELLA’S BABY
I looked at the newborn in my arms.
Then slowly back at Sophie.
“No.”
She nodded.
“Pauline is Bella’s daughter.”
I stared at the child.
Sophie continued:
“Bella was pregnant when I found her.”
“The father?” Parenting
“Gone.”
“Her mother?”
“Dead.”
Sophie took a shaky breath.
“Bella became seriously ill during childbirth.”
“And you…”
