She was just protecting herself

After a long day of wedding shopping and unexpected revelations, Bella and Lucas settled on the couch in her living room. The soft glow of the table lamp cast a warm light around the room, contrasting with the fading daylight outside.

Rachel had already drifted off to sleep in her room, leaving Bella and Lucas to enjoy a rare moment of quiet. Bella turned to Lucas, her expression thoughtful. "Lucas, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he replied, leaning back against the couch and glancing at her with curiosity.

She hesitated, gathering her thoughts. "About your aunt Vivian… Why was she like that during dinner? I thought maybe it was just because of the social gap between us, but it felt deeper. She even apologized to me today saying that she misjudged me."

Lucas sighed, his expression shifting to one of contemplation. "It's complicated," he began. "Vivian's been through a lot, and it's affected how she sees things, especially relationships."

"What do you mean?" Bella prompted gently.

Lucas leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It goes back to her marriage with my uncle. They had a great relationship. But a few years into their marriage, something terrible happened."

"What happened?" Bella asked, her interest piqued.

Lucas took a deep breath, the weight of the story evident in his voice. "He slept with a woman or at least that was everyone thought so. He soon found out that woman was pregnant with his child. My uncle loved his family dearly but was forced by that woman to take responsibility. She was determined to break them apart. She was manipulative and did everything she could to come between them, including faking a pregnancy to get into the family. It shattered Vivian when she found out that her husband slept with another woman."

Bella's eyes widened in shock. "That sounds awful."

"It was," Lucas continued. "My uncle was wracked with guilt for the rest of his life. He tried to make amends and apologize countless times. But for Vivian, the truth remained."

Bella felt a pang of sympathy for Vivian. "That's really sad. So, did they ever reconcile?"

"Not completely," Lucas replied. "My uncle passed away a few years ago and they found out that the other woman fabricated this plan after his demise. Even till the end, he was trying to tell her that the child maybe not his, but Vivian couldn't bring herself to believe him. She felt that if she had, maybe they could have had a different life."

Bella frowned, considering his words. "That must have been hard for her and your uncle too. To hold onto that hurt for so long."

Lucas nodded. "She realized too late that holding onto anger was only hurting her. After his passing, she often reflects on their life together, wishing she could have let go of the past. But that's how she learned to cope—by guarding her heart."

Bella absorbed his story, seeing Vivian in a new light. "So, she was just protecting herself."

"Exactly," Lucas replied. "I think that's why she reacted the way she did at dinner. She sees something in our relationship that makes her wary. She doesn't want to see someone else get hurt."

Bella bit her lip, understanding the weight of that protective instinct. "I can appreciate that. But I want her to know I'm not like that other woman."

"I know you're not," Lucas said earnestly. "And I'll do everything I can to help her see that."

Bella smiled softly, grateful for his reassurance. "Thanks for sharing this with me. It helps me understand her better."

Lucas reached out, taking her hand in his. "I want you to know that you're part of my family now, and that means a lot to me."

Bella felt warmth spread through her at his words. "I hope we can build that connection with Vivian."

"Me too," Lucas said, squeezing her hand gently.