CHAPTER 66: I'M NOT DOING THIS FOR YOU TO LOVE ME."Are you sure we can win the case?" Isabella looked anxiously at the man in front of her. Elijah Davenport gave her a smile, and the dimples in his cheeks appeared."Isa, trust me, okay? Your kids will be with you sooner than you think."She nodded nervously and tried to smile. However, nothing that was happening made her happy; she felt a deep void in her heart, and she was also afraid, afraid of what she would have to face. After Lucy told her that Elijah would help her, she contacted him, and consequently, he had flown from New York to Chicago just to take her case. And after explaining and telling him what Marcus did, Elijah told her they would go to court. They would face a custody battle for her children, so in summary: she was going to face Sebastián.The first step was to file for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and once processed, if no agreement was reached, they would go to trial."Isabella…" Elijah extended his
CHAPTER 67: SHE IS HIS MOTHER."Thank you for bringing me home," Isabella gave Elijah a small smile. He extended his hand and held hers."You don't have to be so formal, Isa. How long have we known each other? Besides, what I'm doing is nothing." Elijah returned the smile warmly.Isabella smiled again and withdrew her hand."I know, but I can't stop thinking that… you came here just for me. Your job…""Listen," he interrupted her gently and made her look into his eyes."Stop thanking me for everything, stop worrying about everything, okay? Isabella, you have to show strength, especially for what's coming. If you keep that attitude, I'm afraid that… even if we present evidence, your ex-husband will wipe the floor with you."Isabella nodded slowly, although her heart pounded at the thought of facing Sebastián in court."Elijah, isn't there a way that… we don't go to court?"He shook his head."No, your husband was very clear in stating that he would seek legal custody of the children, a
CHAPTER 68: A DEVOTED FATHER.Finally, Elijah and Isabella arrived at the hospital, an imposing building with flickering lights at the entrance. Isabella got out of the car almost before it had completely stopped, her shoes echoing on the pavement as she ran towards the entrance with her heart in her throat.In the emergency room, Coraline saw Isabella enter and quickly stood up."Thank God you're here.""Where is he?" Isabella asked, desperate."In the emergency room, the doctors are attending to him."Isabella headed towards the indicated room, her heart pounding."Nicholas, mom is here," she thought with determination. "I'm going to take care of you, no matter what."Meanwhile, Sebastián, unaware of everything, was still attending to the potential partners in the office.Beside him, Inesa saw the phone light up and picked it up. Her lips tightened when she saw it was Isabella."Sebastián, could you give me a tour of the company? I'd like to see the advertising area," one of the men
CHAPTER 69: NOW YOUR LOVER DEFENDS YOU?In the cold hospital room, Isabella was sitting next to Nicholas's bed, gently holding his small hand. The monitors emitted rhythmic beeps, and the air smelled of antiseptic as Nicholas remained asleep.Elijah stayed close, offering his silent support with a hand on Isabella's shoulder.Just then, the door to the room burst open, and Sebastián rushed in, followed by Inesa. His gaze immediately landed on Isabella and Elijah, and his expression darkened upon seeing Elijah's hand touching his wife. His fists clenched involuntarily, and he felt a scorching heat rise from his neck to his cheeks.However, though jealousy consumed him inside, Sebastián decided to stay quiet and focus on his son's situation."How is Nicholas?" Sebastián tried to stay calm, but his voice trembled slightly. He couldn't help but cast furtive glances at Elijah, increasingly irritated by his presence.Isabella looked up, her eyes meeting Sebastián's, hers filled with a mix o
CHAPTER 70: WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH HIM?After Coraline arrived, she managed to convince Sebastián that the best thing for Nicholas and Sienna was to have their mother close, so he had agreed that Isabella would stay in the apartment with Nicholas, while he would stay at the mansion with his parents.That night, Isabella went to the mansion to collect Sienna and Nicholas's things. Entering her son's room, memories of the days before everything came to light overwhelmed her. She placed a hand on her chest, trying to calm her racing heart."At least you're with him, Isabella. That's something, it's something until Elijah finds that damn lawyer," she thought, trying to find solace in her own words.Suddenly, the door slammed shut. Isabella turned and found Sebastián, who was staring at her intently while locking the door."So now you don't even have the decency to come alone? Do you have to bring that idiot with you everywhere?" Sebastián snapped, his tone accusatory.
CHAPTER 71: I DECLINE YOUR OFFERSebastián looked at her in silence, seeing the fury and determination in her voice."They took him from me, they stole my son. They made me believe he was dead for six years, do you have any idea what it's like to live with that? First, I cried in front of an empty grave. I blamed myself, day and night, for not being a good mother. Then, when the bastard I thought was the man I loved, and the father of my child, told me he was alive, I felt my world collapse. That's the damn truth, Sebastián. I never planned anything, and I think it was God or destiny that led me to cross paths with Nicholas, but I don't regret it, you know why? Because now I've found him, and I swear that nothing, and no one, will separate me from him again, do you understand? No one!" Isabella said, with tears in her eyes.Sebastián remained silent and tempted to believe her, but everything seemed too ridiculous. He laughed, as if what she had just told him was a joke."Too fanciful,
CHAPTER 72: WHAT IF SHE'S INNOCENT?Sebastián looked at the photograph of Nicholas and Sienna with a mix of nostalgia and bitterness. The storm inside him hadn't calmed, despite his deep love for Isabella. The image of her with Elijah filled him with fury and distrust. He couldn't believe in her, not after everything that had happened. However, a small doubt constantly gnawed at him: what if Isabella really was innocent as she claimed?The sound of the door pulled him out of his thoughts. Louis, his secretary, entered and informed him that the lawyer he had requested had arrived. Sebastián nodded and motioned for him to come in.The lawyer, a middle-aged man with gray hair at the temples and an impeccably tailored suit, entered the office with determined steps. His confident and professional demeanor was reflected in his sharp gaze and the firm handshake he offered Sebastián, making it clear he was used to winning."Mr. Ashford, it's a pleasure to meet you," said the lawyer, with a ca
CHAPTER 73: DON'T TOUCH MY MOMMYWithout thinking further, he took out his cell phone and called her. He gestured to the lawyer to give him a moment and headed to the private lounge. The line rang a few times before Isabella answered."Sebastián?" she said, with a tone of surprise in her voice."I need to talk to you right now," he responded, his voice laden with tension."What's going on? I'm with the kids...""I know that very well," Sebastián interrupted, trying to stay calm. "I want to know what the hell you're doing with Elijah. Why is he near my children?"There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Sebastián could hear the murmur of voices and the distant sound of children's laughter."Sebastián, you have no right to demand explanations from me," Isabella finally said, her tone hard. "You are not my owner nor do you have authority over my decisions.""Demanding explanations is the least I should do!" Sebastián almost shouted. "We are still married, Isabella! How