Page 127 of Wild Tangled Hearts

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.”

“What does it mean?”

He lets out a deep sigh. “The disease is part of my life. Every single day, I take over thirty pills, digestive medications, as well as antibiotics to help prevent lung infections. I have nebulizers and vibration vests, and that’s when I’m healthy.”

My brows furrow. How could I have been so blind? I remember his cough. I’d thought it was asthma.

“Sometimes,” he continues. “I have to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. Sometimes for days and weeks at a time.”

“When you couldn’t see me and I thought...”

“I should have told you, Bella.”

“Why didn’t you?” 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, but...”

“I understand,” I say softly.

He takes my hand, pressing his lips against my palm. “I get it if you want to walk away. If we’re together, your life will always be filled with uncertainty. I’m healthy today, but that can change quickly. I can’t guarantee you how long...how many years I’ll have.”

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.” His thumb traces my jaw, and he forces my eyes to meet his as he continues, “And you would be an amazing mom, Bella. 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.

I’ve never imagined a future where I’m not a mom.

As he watches me, his eyes are filled with understanding and fear of what my response might be. The truth is, 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.

PartNine

Grand Gesture

Love is a verb, and its true magic lies not in words, but in the countless deeds that reveal your genuine affection for those who hold your heart.

Chapter57

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