Page 125 of Wild Tangled Hearts

The way he looks at me, I can tell he doesn’t seem certain, as if he’s gauging my reaction. But then he takes a deep breath and continues, “Remember how I told you CF is genetic?”

I nod slowly, my stomach twisting. “Yes.”

“There’s a fifty-fifty chance that siblings will have it. Tobias and I both drew an unlucky hand.”

My heart sinks at his words. The weight of his revelation is staggering.

“You have cystic fibrosis?” I manage to ask, my voice trembling with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

He nods. “Yes.”

“But...” I stutter, struggling to process the information. “You’re healthy.”

“I’m doing better than most. But I’ve been fighting this battle for years. I take over thirty pills a day. I’m on nebulizers and digestive medications, as well as antibiotics to help prevent lung infections. And that’s when I’m healthy. Sometimes I have to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.” He squeezes my hand. “It’s why I couldn’t see you those three weeks.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Tears well up in my eyes as the enormity of his secret sinks in.

“I don’t tell many people. And I...” He drags his hands through his hair and then roughly over his face before admitting, “I didn’t want to scare you off. I know that’s not fair, Bella, but...”

“I get it,” I say softly.

He takes my hand, pressing his lips against my palm. “You need to understand that I’m healthy today, but that can change quickly. If we’re together, your life will always be filled with uncertainty.”

My heart aches at the stark reality of his words. I chew on my bottom lip. I love him so much. But can I handle losing him?

“There’s something else,” he says, fingers tightening around mine. “I know that you want children. And you would be an amazing mom. But most men with CF are infertile. A life with me means you’ll never have kids.”

The revelation lands like a heavy blow, knocking the wind out of me. It’s a painful truth, one that I need time to process.

As he watches me, his eyes filled with understanding and fear of what my response might be, I’m torn. Part of me wants to wrap my arms around him and tell him that it doesn’t matter, that we’ll face anything life throws at us together. That our love is stronger than any obstacle, any disease. But there’s another voice inside me, one that tells me I need time to think, talk to my mom, and consider the impact of what he’s told me.

My heart aches with love for him.

But is love enough?

Reader’s Choice

What should Bella do next?

Take time to think about what a life with Sebastian means. It’s easier to prevent a fracture than to heal a break. Maybe it’s better to lose him now than after years of loving him. Turn to this page.

Love knows no boundaries of time; it flourishes in the briefest moments, leaving a lasting imprint on our hearts. Accept a future with Sebastian, no matter what it means. Turn to this page.

Chapter56

Seabastian

WHEN TRUTH REVEALS PAIN BEYOND IMAGINED LIES

My feet feel like lead as Sebastian and I stand in the dimly lit hallway outside our hotel room. His gaze is pleading, and I want so desperately to believe that there’s a reasonable explanation for what I saw inside.

“Please, Bella,” he implores, his voice shaky. “Just hear me out.”

I should turn and walk away from this mess. I should demand answers right here in the corridor. But there’s a part of me that needs to hear what he has to say, a part that still hopes for some rational explanation.

With a reluctant nod, I follow him back to the room, flinching when he reaches for my hand. My heart pounds loudly in my chest, and I can hardly bear the idea of facing whatever awaits us inside.

The door opens when we get to it, and the woman emerges. She glances awkwardly between us before Sebastian breaks the tense silence.

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