BELLINGHAM'S GIRL (under editing)

CHAPTER TWENTY: Happy birthday princess

JUDE'S POV

Bella's birthday was in a week, and I was feeling the pressure. She told us that she didn't want a celebration this year, just dinner with family and a few friends. I on the other hand, wanted to make it perfect, something she would remember forever. But what could I give her that would truly show her how much she meant to me? I wracked my brain for days, feeling increasingly stressed as the date approached. Then, it hit me: a combination of meaningful gifts that would surprise and delight her.

I decided on four main gifts: a custom-made diamond jewelry set, a ticket to Paris with me, a memory book filled with our shared moments,a fully funded admission to study at the culinary institute of America and a Darry ring, symbolizing my commitment to her.

The Big Day

On Bella's birthday, I woke up early, nervous yet excited. I wanted everything to be perfect.
I had already discussed with Benson and Bianca and they knew what they had to do to help me. They had to keep her away from her room while I set up the room.
After dinner with our families and sharing of gifts, I told her to follow me.

"Where's my gift darling" she had asked
"In your room, close your eyes" I replied as I carried her upstairs to her room

I walked in and then dropped her. Bella opened her eyes and she was surprise to see the romantic setup. "Darling, what's all this?" she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

"Happy birthday, princess," I said, leading her to sit on the bed. "I have a few surprises for you."

I handed her the box, and Bella's eyes widened as she opened it to reveal the stunning diamond jewelry set. "Darling, this is beautiful," she whispered, tears of joy in her eyes.

"There's more," I said, pulling out the plane tickets. "We're going to Paris, just you and me."

Bella gasped, unable to contain her excitement. "Oh my God, Jude! This is amazing!"

"And one more thing," I said, handing her the memory book. Bella flipped through the pages, laughing and crying as she relived our most precious moments together.

Finally, I took a deep breath and pulled out the Darry ring. "Bella, this ring is a promise," I said, slipping it onto her finger. "A promise that I'll always be by your side, supporting you, loving you, and making sure you're happy."

Bella was speechless, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and love behind each gift. "It's a Darry ring," she said slowly, throwing her arms around me. "I love you so much."
"You can only buy one of this ring in your whole life. You chose to give it to me" she said and bursted into tears of joy.

"I love you too, princess," I whispered, holding her close. "Happy birthday."

The joy and gratitude in Bella's eyes made all the stress and planning worth it. Knowing that I had made her birthday special and memorable filled me with a profound sense of satisfaction.

I put Bella to sleep before going downstairs. She had such a wonderful day, and I wanted to make sure she had a peaceful night's rest. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I spotted Benson, looking troubled.

"Hey bro. What's up with you? You look stressed," I said, noting the furrowed brows and distant gaze.
He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Girl problems," he replied. "Can I talk to you about it?"

"Of course," I nodded. "Let me guess, it's about Joyce."
His eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"

"I saw how you kept looking at her during dinner. Plus, Bella told me that you've liked her for a long time. You just didn't want to admit it," I said with a knowing smile.