After Lewis heard Lorenzo’s taunt, his expression darkened. He glared at Lorenzo, his fists clenching tightly until they crackled with tension. If they weren’t in court, he might have lost control.Lorenzo, noticing Lewis’s reaction, sneered in disdain. “Stop trying to scare me. You don’t look intimidating at all. Just give it a rest.”Lewis felt a twitch at the corners of his lips but took a deep breath, snorting coldly in response. “You can say whatever you want outside this courtroom, but know this: I will never let you get close to Isabella or Ben. They will never be yours.”With that, Lewis turned away and strode out, ignoring Lorenzo’s mocking voice behind him. “Stop thinking too highly of yourself; you can’t stop me!”Lewis walked into the courtroom with his entourage, leaving Lorenzo fuming as he followed suit. Lewis shot Lorenzo a cold glance before averting his eyes. They waited in tense silence until the judge finally entered.“All rise!” the clerk announced as the judge to
Isabella's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as Lewis's expression darkened. He didn't need to dig deeper; it was clear that Lorenzo had orchestrated this group of reporters.“Mrs. Isabella, how do you feel about cheating on your husband and dragging him into this shameful legal battle?”Another question quickly followed, and Isabella clung to Lewis, lowering her head to avoid the cameras flashing around them.The reporters, undeterred, turned their focus to Lewis, who stood protectively beside her. “Mr. Lewis, it’s impressive that you’re willing to stand by your wife. Not everyone would want to be in your position—having to defend her infidelity in court. Are you against divorce, or do you consider yourself a symbol of a ‘simp’?”The insults stung, igniting fury within Lewis, but he fought to keep his composure. Facing the camera, he replied with a sneer, “Stop judging me or my family. Those commenting on our situation need to understand that Isabella and I love each other, and nothi
At that moment, Lewis's dad regretted giving him the freedom to choose his own partner."Dad, I promise I won’t let him win," Lewis said, his voice steady and resolute.His father merely nodded, disappointment etched across his face as he waved him off. He felt let down by his only son."I'm sorry, Dad," Lewis said, his tone apologetic. He turned and walked out, getting into his car and heading home.When he arrived, Ben had already finished dinner and gone to bed, leaving only Isabella in the living room, waiting for him."Babe, welcome back," Isabella said, rising to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.Lewis managed a nod, forcing a smile. "Did you eat?" he asked.Isabella shook her head. "Not yet. I was waiting for you.""Alright, let’s have dinner," Lewis replied, heading to the dining table. They ate in silence, the weight of the day lingering in the air.Afterward, they went upstairs to their bedroom. Isabella didn’t pry into where he had been; she could see the exhaustion in hi
Tony watched his boss with trepidation, unsure if it was the crushing defeat that had driven him to madness or the realization that he had nothing left to live for.Months slipped by in silence.Then, a piercing cry shattered the stillness from Isabella and Lewis's bedroom. Lewis, filled with anxiety, gently grasped Isabella's hand. "Babe, don’t be scared. I’ll take you to the hospital."Isabella, wracked with pain, tilted her head and bit down on Lewis's shoulder, her frustration spilling over. "It hurts so much!"Lewis gritted his teeth but remained steadfast, calling for help. The housekeeper and a few other staff members rushed in to help Isabella down the stairs.The commotion drew Ben's attention from his deep sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he emerged from his room, bewildered as he saw a crowd around his mother. By the time he fully registered the scene, Isabella had already been carried outside. He sprinted after them, only to find his father circling the car. "Dad, what’s wrong wi
When Lorenzo heard Chris's response, his white beard bristled with anger. He didn’t need a second to realize that Chris had tricked him yet again. The memory of the money he had burned just to ferry someone else's child to London ignited his fury. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Motherfucker, what’s your end game?"Chris remained calm, his demeanor unruffled. "I’m just protecting my grandchild, Lorenzo. You can’t expect me to sit back and let you take her away. I’m a grandfather now. Let me go see my baby girl in the hospital, and we can catch up later."A beeping sound came from the phone’s speaker. Lorenzo stared, dazed, confusion etched on his face. He knew Chris well—his talent lay in screwing people over, but lying wasn’t his style. The realization washed over Lorenzo like a cold wave. "She wasn’t pregnant with my child?" he muttered to himself, disbelief creeping in. After all his plotting, he had failed.In a fit of frustration, he grabbed a chair and smashed it a
It was still summer, and the open bar, though breezy, couldn't lighten the tension between the woman and the girl sitting by the pool.Laura gazed at her daughter Isabella, her face lined with worry and anxiety, unsure of how to begin."Mom, why are we here?" Isabella asked, confused after sitting in silence for two minutes.The table held only two bottles of water, and her mother hadn’t spoken since they arrived. They had just relocated to a new city, and Isabella was uneasy because her mother hadn't discussed their accommodations, despite her repeated questions during the journey.Laura took Isabella’s hands, her eyes meeting her daughter's with tension. She finally spoke, "Isabella, I found you a dad."Isabella’s reaction was one of disbelief, her eyes wide as if hearing an unfunny joke."What?" she exclaimed, shocked and incredulous."I'm sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It’s been just us for the past eighteen years, but I’ve found someone I love. His name is Lorenzo, and he’s a goo
Isabella stopped trying to convince her mother when she realized her words weren’t being taken seriously.“Isabel, your dad is waiting for us. Let’s head to dinner,” Laura called from the doorway. With a sigh, Isabella set the book she had been reading on her bed and followed her mother out of the room.Lorenzo was already seated at the dining table when he spotted Isabella, and a smile spread across his face. "I've prepared dinner for us. My cooking may not be perfect, but I promise you'll enjoy it."Laura returned his smile warmly. "I've tasted your cooking before; you're the best I've ever known. If every man cooked like you, women would fall in love every day," she said, playfully flattering him.Lorenzo chuckled, his gaze lingering on Isabella for a moment before he spoke again. "Enough of the pleasantries; let's eat."They all sat down and enjoyed the meal in comfortable silence.After they finished eating, Laura turned to Isabella and said, "I've finalized the transfer. You can
Isabella's face was a picture of confusion. The unexpected fame left her speechless; she hadn't even completed the necessary formalities to be assigned to a class, yet her name was already known by a group of boys.One of them chuckled and said, "Laura is her surname. Doesn't that mean she doesn't know who her father is?"At this, Isabella felt a tightness in her chest. This had always been her soft spot; she had hoped that moving to a new city would help her escape it, but here it was, haunting her once again.The group of boys erupted in laughter at her expression, their eyes glinting with mockery as they snickered."Her mother must be a bitter single mom," the leader sneered, his laughter booming.Isabella's fists clenched tightly at her sides, anger boiling within her at the disrespectful jab aimed at her mother."Excuse me," she said, her words sharp and laced with fury, her face contorted and her eyes bloodshot.As she tried to move past, the overweight boy who had led the group
When Lorenzo heard Chris's response, his white beard bristled with anger. He didn’t need a second to realize that Chris had tricked him yet again. The memory of the money he had burned just to ferry someone else's child to London ignited his fury. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Motherfucker, what’s your end game?"Chris remained calm, his demeanor unruffled. "I’m just protecting my grandchild, Lorenzo. You can’t expect me to sit back and let you take her away. I’m a grandfather now. Let me go see my baby girl in the hospital, and we can catch up later."A beeping sound came from the phone’s speaker. Lorenzo stared, dazed, confusion etched on his face. He knew Chris well—his talent lay in screwing people over, but lying wasn’t his style. The realization washed over Lorenzo like a cold wave. "She wasn’t pregnant with my child?" he muttered to himself, disbelief creeping in. After all his plotting, he had failed.In a fit of frustration, he grabbed a chair and smashed it a
Tony watched his boss with trepidation, unsure if it was the crushing defeat that had driven him to madness or the realization that he had nothing left to live for.Months slipped by in silence.Then, a piercing cry shattered the stillness from Isabella and Lewis's bedroom. Lewis, filled with anxiety, gently grasped Isabella's hand. "Babe, don’t be scared. I’ll take you to the hospital."Isabella, wracked with pain, tilted her head and bit down on Lewis's shoulder, her frustration spilling over. "It hurts so much!"Lewis gritted his teeth but remained steadfast, calling for help. The housekeeper and a few other staff members rushed in to help Isabella down the stairs.The commotion drew Ben's attention from his deep sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he emerged from his room, bewildered as he saw a crowd around his mother. By the time he fully registered the scene, Isabella had already been carried outside. He sprinted after them, only to find his father circling the car. "Dad, what’s wrong wi
At that moment, Lewis's dad regretted giving him the freedom to choose his own partner."Dad, I promise I won’t let him win," Lewis said, his voice steady and resolute.His father merely nodded, disappointment etched across his face as he waved him off. He felt let down by his only son."I'm sorry, Dad," Lewis said, his tone apologetic. He turned and walked out, getting into his car and heading home.When he arrived, Ben had already finished dinner and gone to bed, leaving only Isabella in the living room, waiting for him."Babe, welcome back," Isabella said, rising to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.Lewis managed a nod, forcing a smile. "Did you eat?" he asked.Isabella shook her head. "Not yet. I was waiting for you.""Alright, let’s have dinner," Lewis replied, heading to the dining table. They ate in silence, the weight of the day lingering in the air.Afterward, they went upstairs to their bedroom. Isabella didn’t pry into where he had been; she could see the exhaustion in hi
Isabella's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as Lewis's expression darkened. He didn't need to dig deeper; it was clear that Lorenzo had orchestrated this group of reporters.“Mrs. Isabella, how do you feel about cheating on your husband and dragging him into this shameful legal battle?”Another question quickly followed, and Isabella clung to Lewis, lowering her head to avoid the cameras flashing around them.The reporters, undeterred, turned their focus to Lewis, who stood protectively beside her. “Mr. Lewis, it’s impressive that you’re willing to stand by your wife. Not everyone would want to be in your position—having to defend her infidelity in court. Are you against divorce, or do you consider yourself a symbol of a ‘simp’?”The insults stung, igniting fury within Lewis, but he fought to keep his composure. Facing the camera, he replied with a sneer, “Stop judging me or my family. Those commenting on our situation need to understand that Isabella and I love each other, and nothi
After Lewis heard Lorenzo’s taunt, his expression darkened. He glared at Lorenzo, his fists clenching tightly until they crackled with tension. If they weren’t in court, he might have lost control.Lorenzo, noticing Lewis’s reaction, sneered in disdain. “Stop trying to scare me. You don’t look intimidating at all. Just give it a rest.”Lewis felt a twitch at the corners of his lips but took a deep breath, snorting coldly in response. “You can say whatever you want outside this courtroom, but know this: I will never let you get close to Isabella or Ben. They will never be yours.”With that, Lewis turned away and strode out, ignoring Lorenzo’s mocking voice behind him. “Stop thinking too highly of yourself; you can’t stop me!”Lewis walked into the courtroom with his entourage, leaving Lorenzo fuming as he followed suit. Lewis shot Lorenzo a cold glance before averting his eyes. They waited in tense silence until the judge finally entered.“All rise!” the clerk announced as the judge to
When Ben heard the question, confusion washed over him. Ever since his parents had picked him up from school, he’d felt an unsettling tension in the air. His face creased with worry as he looked at them, his anxiety palpable. "No, I want to stay with only you and Daddy," he replied, his voice trembling.Isabella, still unsure, pressed on. "Do you like any uncles? The one who usually visits you at school? Do you like him more than Daddy?"Although Ben appreciated the ice cream the uncle often brought, he didn’t like him in person. He pursed his lips, shook his head, and insisted, "I like only you and Daddy, and no one else."Isabella felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been worried for days, unable to sleep peacefully. Lewis, sensing her tension, remained silent, knowing why she was asking these questions.He gently patted Ben's head and promised, "We will never let anyone take you from us. Don’t be scared."But as soon as Ben heard this, memories of his past kidnapping flood
Lewis exclaimed in frustration, "We still don’t know his true intentions. If he’s after custody of Ben, I think he’ll fail. But if he just wants access, the court will likely grant it."Isabella's expression shifted as she considered the implications. If Lorenzo had regular contact with Ben, he could manipulate him. The thought of the court granting him access filled her with dread, especially given the possibility that he might try to kidnap Ben again."Is there nothing we can do?" Isabella asked anxiously, worry etched on her face.Lewis’s eyes lit up as he replied, "If we can establish a criminal record and present evidence of his past attempts to kidnap Ben and the trauma he caused, the court will likely favor us."Isabella felt a glimmer of hope, but it quickly faded when she realized they had no way of obtaining Lorenzo's criminal records."How do we get his criminal record and evidence of his illegal activities?" she asked, frustration creeping into her voice.Lewis thought for
The court bailiff didn’t linger; after delivering the letter, he left without delay. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, and Isabella’s face was etched with worry.When Lewis caught sight of her expression, he tried to reassure her, saying earnestly, “Don’t worry. I won’t let him take Ben. I’ll call my attorney to discuss our chances in this case.”Isabella felt a bit of relief at his words, but the worry didn’t fully dissipate. She fell into his arms and whispered, “Babe, I’m so grateful for you. I don’t know what I would do without you. You’ve brought happiness into my life and made it so much more colorful.”Hearing this, Lewis smiled and gently patted her back. “I’ll always be by your side. No matter what storms we face, I won’t let you go. My love for you is stronger than any challenge that lies ahead.”Isabella’s heart warmed at his words, and she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. Lewis then bent down to kiss her forehead.“Now, I should talk to my attorney,” he r
Lorenzo's face darkened, his eyes blazing with anger. He hadn’t anticipated Chris's interference, which was precisely why he had never factored him into his plans. If he had known Chris would step in, he wouldn’t have acted so recklessly, allowing himself to be outmaneuvered. He gritted his teeth, furious at having underestimated Chris’s duplicitous nature."He is my grandson," Chris replied with an unsettling smile, his tone casual and dismissive.Lorenzo was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected such a nonchalant response and stared at Chris, suspicion flickering in his mind. "Chris, stop trying to provoke me. What are you planning to do with Ben? You can't be genuinely nice without an ulterior motive. Are you secretly plotting to kill him later?"Chris blinked in surprise at Lorenzo's wild accusation. He had not expected him to jump to such conclusions."Stop assuming I'm going to harm him. I’m not as ruthless as you; I wouldn’t kill my own blood. Despite being your son, he i