Dad stayed with us for about four days. It was nice to have him around, but the atmosphere between Ezekiel and Dad was tense.Because of Dad, Ezekiel and I started meeting less frequently than before. Ezekiel seemed irritated, especially since Dad often interrupted our moments together.This morning, Ezekiel’s expression was unusually stern. I couldn’t figure out why. I tried asking him what was wrong, but every time I started, something came up—either his phone rang or Dad interrupted us.Later, we sat together at the dining table, the silence heavy.Ezekiel was the first to break it.“Mr. Robert,” he began, his tone calm yet firm. “Would you mind explaining why you requested a transfer certificate for Isabella?”I froze, utterly shocked by Ezekiel’s words.What? Dad asked for a transfer certificate?My eyes snapped at Dad, searching for answers.Dad didn’t look surprised at all. He calmly placed his fork down and replied, “Yes, Mr. Ezekiel. I’ve decided it’s best for my daughter not
Mom gave me a smile, but it wasn’t like the kind other moms give—not pure, not peaceful. It was full of malice. My mom wasn’t like other moms; she was different—a completely different kind of woman.She didn’t see me as her daughter. She saw me as her competitor. This wasn’t new to me. Before, I was just her burden. Now, my title had shifted from burden to rival.Her tone was calm, almost sweet, but the words were razor-sharp. It was the kind of calm she used to threaten. "Should I tell, Isabella? Or should I not?"I pressed my lips together, unsure of what to say.If this had been the Isabella of a few months ago, she would never have lowered her head. But I wasn’t that Isabella anymore. Life had changed me. As I heard about leaving Ezekiel, I could not keep myself calm.I took a deep breath and finally spoke, my voice steady. "Mom, I love Ezekiel."Her smirk faltered for just a second, but she tilted her head as if mocking me."He loves me too," I added firmly.Mom’s gaze nar
Kathrine seemed overjoyed—after all, she’d gotten exactly what she wanted. She made her way to Ezekiel’s room first, opening the door with a bright smile."Hi!" she greeted cheerfully.Ezekiel glanced up briefly, his gaze cold and distant, before returning to the paperwork in front of him. His silence made it clear—he didn’t have the time or patience to entertain her.Kathrine, however, wasn’t fazed. She walked toward him with practiced ease, her tone sugary sweet. "What’s wrong, honey?"When he didn’t respond, she added, "I know you’re upset about Robert." She leaned closer, touching his shoulder. "Don’t be."Ezekiel tensed but didn’t acknowledge her. Instead, he stood abruptly and strode toward the shelf, rummaging for a file with sharp, deliberate movements.A smirk tugged at Kathrine’s lips as she watched him. She tilted her head, feigning concern. "Ezekiel, why are you so upset, dear?" she said softly, her voice laced with mock sincerity.Then she added with a sly smile, "You kno
"Ezekiel, Mom knows everything about us," I finally admitted, my voice trembling. There was no point in hiding it anymore.Ezekiel arched his brows, his gaze piercing through me."She was blackmailing me," I added, my tone desperate. "She said she’ll expose us, Ezekiel. She’ll ruin your reputation."His expression didn’t soften. Instead, his voice turned colder. "So you thought it would be better to leave me?"I flinched, his words hitting harder than I expected. Shaking my head, I reached for his hands, trying to steady myself. "No! No, Ezekiel, that’s not true. What are you saying?""Why wouldn’t you, Isabella?" His voice grew louder, his grip on my waist firm and unyielding.I gasped softly, staring at him in shock. "What? Ezekiel, I wouldn’t—""Because... it was always a game for you," he interrupted, his voice laced with anger.The accusation felt like a dagger to my chest. My breath hitched as I whispered, "No... that’s not true.""Yes, Isabella, it was," Ezekiel said, his tone
Dad arched his brows, his anger bubbling over as he suddenly lunged toward Ezekiel, grabbing his collar. Shocked, I froze for a moment before rushing forward."Dad!" I cried out, gripping his hand, trying to loosen his hold. "Dad, what are you doing?""Mr. Robert, please calm down," Ezekiel said firmly, his tone controlled, though his gaze darkened.But Dad wasn’t listening. With a furious shove, he pushed Ezekiel back and roared, "Did you sleep with my daughter too?""Mr. Robert, release your hand," Ezekiel said again, his voice steady but stern.Dad ignored him and shoved him again, his fury unwavering."Dad, please!" I pleaded, trembling as I stepped between them. "Listen to him. He hasn’t done anything wrong!"Dad turned to me, his face contorted with rage. "He hasn’t done anything wrong? Are you defending him?"Before I could respond, his hand shot out, slapping me hard across the face. The impact sent me stumbling, and I grabbed the sofa for support, my cheek stinging with pain.
Kathrine was in the middle of a conversation with a client, her tone poised and professional. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and smiled politely at the client. "Excuse me for a moment," she said.The client nodded in understanding.Answering the call, Kathrine’s expression shifted slightly. "Yes, Robert," she said smoothly.But as Robert’s loud, angry voice echoed through the line, Kathrine’s composure began to falter. He was ranting, saying everything she already knew. Her face darkened as she listened.Still holding the phone to her ear, she covered the receiver with her hand and turned back to the client. "Would you mind if I called you later? Something urgent has come up."The client nodded, rising from his chair. "Of course. Let me know when you’re available."Kathrine offered a tight smile and watched him leave before refocusing on the call."What are you saying?" she asked, pretending to sound confused. Her tone was calm, but her brow twitched with irrita
Kathrine sighed deeply, turning away from Ezekiel before facing him again. "You’re wrong," she said, her voice laced with tension.Ezekiel leaned forward slightly, his tone unwavering. "Kathrine, I have all the proof. Now think carefully about your next move. But I’d advise you to tread lightly if you’re thinking about interfering with Isabella and me."Kathrine arched a brow, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. "Are you trying to strike a deal with me?"Ezekiel pressed his lips into a firm line. "If that’s how you want to see it, then yes."Kathrine let out a bitter laugh, stepping closer to him. "Wow. My ex-boyfriend—who slept with me—now wants to stay with my daughter? Do you even hear how disgusting that sounds?"Ezekiel exhaled, steadying himself. "I can’t change what’s already happened, Kathrine. I know this situation is awkward and wrong in so many ways, but it wasn’t planned. It just happened. I’m asking you to try to understand."Kathrine stepped forward, her movements sl
When the cab stopped in front of the mansion, my heart raced. I immediately noticed Ezekiel’s car driving out, with Mom sitting inside the car. Without hesitation, I got out of the cab and hurried toward the mansion.As I stepped inside, my breath caught. The room was a mess—furniture overturned, shattered glass everywhere. My gaze fell on a smear of blood on the floor, my chest tightening in worry.Then, I saw him."Ezekiel!" I called out, my voice trembling.Ezekiel turned, his expression softening the moment he saw me. "Isabella!" he exclaimed, surprise and relief evident in his voice.I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck. He hugged me tightly, grounding me in his warmth."I left everything," I whispered to him. "I came back for you, Ezekiel."He cupped my face, his eyes searching mine. "I told everything to Kathrine. I don’t think she’ll do anything now."I nodded, glancing around the wreckage. "I can see that. But what’s this blood?" My gaze dropped to the red stains on
"Dimitri, you are not in my place, so you won’t understand what I’ve been through," I finally spoke, my voice firm yet weary.He remained silent, listening."Ezekiel and I… our relationship happened unexpectedly. Neither of us saw it coming," I admitted. "But there’s something deeper—something tied to my family. That’s why I couldn’t speak about it openly."Dimitri arched a brow, his curiosity piqued.I offered a small, bitter smile. "At least you asked about it. That’s more than I can say for others."He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I had a feeling something was going on between you two. Especially that night—the way Professor Ezekiel stepped in to protect you.""But I took it lightly," he admitted.There was a pause before he added, "Isabella, I’m not here to judge you. But you need to understand… you're going to face a lot. People won’t be kind."I crossed my arms. "I know."The tension in the room was thick, but before either of us could say more, the noise from outside
Dad parked the car beside the university. As soon as I looked outside, my heart started pounding—media reporters crowded the entrance, cameras flashing, microphones ready.I swallowed hard. I knew they weren’t just here for Ezekiel. They wanted answers about my mom too.Dad exhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel. “See what you’ve done?” he muttered.I pressed my lips together, holding back my frustration."Dad, I know what I’ve done, but can you please stop reminding me every single time?" I finally said.He shot me a look, then turned his gaze toward the street."You can’t even handle my words. What will you do when you face your classmates?" he asked coldly. "I told you not to come, but you’re too stubborn to listen."I remained silent. There was no point in arguing with him now.Dad honked the horn, trying to clear a path through the crowd. After a few minutes of struggling, he finally managed to drive through the university gates.The moment the car stopped, I wasted no time
"Isabella, you don’t know my dad," Ezekiel said with a deep breath, his voice heavy with something I couldn’t quite place.I sighed, unsure of what to say. I didn’t know what had happened between them, but at least his father had managed to get him out of prison. That was something.I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, looking at him with empathy. "Okay, we’ll talk about it later."I lightly pushed him toward the bed and said, "Just sit here.""I’ll bring you some food. You haven’t eaten anything, have you?"Ezekiel shook his head, his voice softer now. "I don’t want to eat anything. I just need to sleep in your arms, Isabella." He pulled my hand gently, his grip pleading.I patted his hand reassuringly. "I know what you're going through, Ezekiel. But I believe in you. The truth will come out. The real culprit will be caught soon."He closed his eyes, a heavy silence filled the room for a moment. I could feel the weight of his thoughts, the turmoil inside him. Then, he spoke again,
I just wanted to know the truth. No matter what my dad said, I refused to believe Ezekiel was responsible. Deep down, I felt that whatever had happened was a consequence of my mother’s own actions.Maybe she had gotten involved with the wrong person. Maybe she had made mistakes she couldn’t undo. And in the end, she found herself with no way out.I sighed, lost in thought, trying to piece everything together.But Dad’s voice cut through my thoughts. "Isabella, you’re not listening to me."I looked up at him."What if it turns out to be Ezekiel?" he pressed.I exhaled sharply, frustrated. "Oh, come on, Dad. I know him. He couldn’t have done this. In fact, he told Mom about us. If he had anything to hide, why would he do that?"Dad narrowed his eyes but remained silent."Besides," I continued, "Mom was the one who messed up his finances. She took money from his company. She leaked shares. If anything, she had more enemies than just Ezekiel."Dad’s jaw tightened. His expression darkened
Ezekiel was finally released from custody, thanks to the bail his lawyer had secured. However, his expression remained tense as he stepped into the sheriff's office.As he entered, his sharp eyes immediately caught sight of a man sitting with his back to him."Come in, Mr. Ezekiel," Oliver said, motioning him inside.Ezekiel didn’t move at first. He had already guessed who the man was.Slowly, he stepped forward, standing just behind him. "I didn’t think I’d be granted bail tonight," he murmured.Oliver gave a small smirk. "Your father made sure of it. We also ran a thorough check to see if you had any hidden links or evidence against you."The moment Oliver mentioned his father, Ezekiel’s jaw tightened.At that instant, the man in front of him finally turned around.Nathan Carter—the CEO of a multinational corporation, a powerful and influential man, and most importantly, Ezekiel’s father—met his gaze with a neutral expression.Ezekiel sighed, his emotions unreadable.Nathan looked a
Dad straightened his posture, his expression firm. "Officer, Kathrine and I were still friends. There was no reason for her to hesitate if she wanted to speak to me privately."The officer studied him before nodding. "I see. But if you were that close, then why did you file for divorce? Was there a specific reason?"Dad's face stiffened. His jaw clenched slightly, and after a brief pause, he let out a slow breath. "I… I had a girlfriend. And, honestly, I didn’t want to be with Kathrine anymore."The officer raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on the revelation. Instead, he jotted something down in his notepad before saying, "Alright, Mr. Robert. We’ll gather all the necessary information on Mrs. Kathrine, and soon, we should be able to locate her body."Dad nodded slowly, his face unreadable.Then, the officer turned toward me, his expression more neutral. "Miss Isabella."I straightened as he addressed me.He glanced at my father before speaking again. "Would you mind speaking with
"You got involved with your mom's boyfriend?" the officer asked, his tone laced with disbelief.I lowered my gaze, feeling a wave of shame wash over me. "Yes," I admitted softly.The officer let out a sigh, disappointment evident in his expression.I pressed my lips together, unsure why embarrassment was creeping over me. I had already come this far—why did his reaction make me feel so exposed?After a brief silence, he asked again, "Can you tell me how it happened? And your mother… how did she find out? What was her reaction?"I lifted my gaze to meet his. If I had to recount my mother’s reaction, I was sure his expression would shift.It was time to reveal everything.Everything meant everything.The truth about my mother’s real nature.And if I told them the whole story, maybe—just maybe—it would work in Ezekiel’s favor.Taking a deep breath, I began. "Actually, my mom wasn’t like most mothers. She was ambitious—ruthlessly so. Her career and position meant everything to her. She wa
“Yes, Dad,” I said firmly.“And I know the truth. The truth about Mom and her affairs.”Dad’s eyes locked onto mine, his expression unreadable. But I didn’t hesitate. I wasn’t oblivious—I had always known the truth. I had seen everything, heard the whispers, and watched in silence. I simply chose not to say anything.I lived my life without interfering in theirs.At first, it hurt. When I was younger, I despised it. But over time, I realized nothing I did would change my parents’ choices. So, I stopped thinking about it. I stopped caring.“And I also know that Mom gave you money to keep your mouth shut, Dad.”Dad’s face darkened. “Isabella!” he shouted.But I remained calm, my voice unwavering. “Dad, don’t shout at me.”“You filed a case against Ezekiel, not because you believe he’s guilty, but because you don’t want me to be with him.”Dad’s jaw clenched, but I continued, my tone steady.“Think about it. He’s an influential man, and you’ve tarnished his reputation. If he proves his i
The police kept Ezekiel in an interrogation room. They didn’t put him in custody—he was a respected man, after all. But he was still trapped, sitting alone with nothing but his thoughts. His phone had been confiscated, leaving him with no way to reach out.After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open. Ezekiel let out a sigh but didn’t bother to look up.“Hello, Mr. Ezekiel,” a familiar voice greeted.Recognizing the voice, Ezekiel finally glanced up and saw Oliver, the officer handling the case.“Can I get my phone back?” Ezekiel asked, his tone calm but edged with frustration.Oliver slid the phone across the table.“Yes,” he said simply.Ezekiel grabbed it, his fingers tightening around the device.“Did you find anything on it?”Oliver exhaled slowly.“No. But, Mr. Ezekiel, that won’t change anything.”Ezekiel narrowed his eyes.“What do you mean?”Oliver leaned forward. “Mr. Robert has strong evidence against you. He claims you had a romantic relationship with Mrs. Kathr