"This is truly the worst pie I've ever eaten," he joked, still chuckling. "But somehow, I enjoyed it."Isabella snorted in amusement, folding her arms across her chest. "Maybe it’s because you’re too kind to me," she said, a little awkwardly.Nicholas shrugged with a smile, then stood up and offered his hand. "Come on, let’s leave the kitchen. We need something safer than this apple pie experiment."Isabella accepted his hand, and the two of them walked into the living room. They picked an old comedy movie and snuggled under a cozy blanket on the sofa. The rain outside the apartment added to the calm atmosphere. Nicholas wrapped his arms around Isabella tightly, and together, they immersed themselves in the light humor of the film on the screen.Time seemed to slow down when they were together, as if no troubles from the outside world could reach them. But as the movie drew to an end, Isabella could no longer hold back her thoughts about the reality waiting for them. She looked at Nic
Felix stared at Nicholas with a sharp, cynical gaze. The atmosphere in the living room grew increasingly tense, as if every breath could ignite an explosion at any moment. Felix leaned back on the sofa, folding his arms across his chest."I still don’t understand why Nicholas has to be here," he said flatly, though his tone dripped with sarcasm.Nicholas gave a small smile, unfazed by Felix’s hostility. "I’m here because, unfortunately, I’ve been cast as the 'main character' in this scandal. You know how the media loves a dramatic story—they’ve painted me as the man who stole someone else’s wife." He glanced briefly at Isabella with a calm smile. "The lover everyone’s been talking about."Felix snorted. "Oh, and you’re proud of that title, are you?"Nicholas shrugged, the smile never leaving his face. "I just feel I have to be here because this isn’t just about you or Isabella. I’m involved, whether I like it or not."The tension between them was palpable, and Isabella could feel the
As Isabella and Nicholas rose from the sofa, preparing to leave Felix’s house, Felix suddenly grabbed Isabella’s hand, stopping her in her tracks. Isabella turned, raising her eyebrows, while Nicholas shot Felix a sharp look."Don’t touch her," Nicholas said coldly, his voice laced with warning.Felix scoffed but didn’t release her hand. "I just want to talk for a moment. You can wait outside."Nicholas looked like he was about to protest, but Isabella gently touched his arm. "It’s okay, Nick," she said softly but firmly. "I’ll be fine. Give us a moment."Nicholas hesitated, his eyes full of doubt, but eventually, he gave a slow nod. With a cold expression, he turned and headed out toward the car. The soft sound of the door closing echoed behind him, leaving Isabella and Felix alone in the living room.Felix let go of her hand, but his gaze remained locked on her. "What’s really going on between you and Nicholas?" he asked flatly, though tension simmered beneath his words.Isabella to
"Have you taken him back?" Nicholas asked, his voice low but firm.Isabella shook her head, a faint yet certain smile on her face. "No. It’s all over."Nicholas exhaled deeply, as if a heavy burden on his heart had lifted in an instant. Without saying a word, he clasped Isabella’s hand, finding peace in their shared silence. The engine purred softly, and the car rolled away from Felix’s house, leaving that chapter behind.The next day, Felix walked down the hallway of his family home, preparing himself for a confrontation with his parents. Tension hung in the air, and he knew what awaited him behind the door. As he entered the elegant living room, his mother, Sophia, stood with a furious expression on her face. In the corner of the room, his father, Michael, sat silently, observing with sharp but unreadable eyes."Felix!" Sophia shouted angrily. "You’ve been lying about your marriage to Irene all this time. You’ve brought disgrace to our family!"Felix held his breath for a moment, no
As he reached the intersection, Felix noticed a black car parked by the roadside. Inside, a man in a leather jacket sat waiting, his expression unreadable. It was Kevin, the informant who had been helping Felix gather information about Rudolf. Felix turned off his engine and stepped out. The cold air immediately stung his skin, but he ignored it. Under the light drizzle, Kevin also exited his car, and they faced each other at the side of the road."Felix," Kevin greeted briefly, pulling up the collar of his jacket against the chilly wind. "I have news."Felix gave a sharp nod. "Tell me."Kevin slid a hand into his jacket pocket, retrieving his phone, and showed Felix a message. "We’ve found Rudolf. We tracked him to the outskirts of town, hiding in an old motel. He’s planning to flee the city tonight."Felix narrowed his eyes, his body tense. "What is he carrying?""Evidence," Kevin replied with a serious expression. "Documents and photos linking him to Irene’s murder. It seems he’s t
The atmosphere in Felix’s office was more tense than usual after he and Nicholas successfully located and captured Rudolf the previous day. Their professional relationship kept bringing them together, forcing them into awkward encounters. Nicholas entered and stood before Felix."I know you want to resign from the office," Felix finally said, breaking the silence with a calm tone. "But you don’t have to do that."Nicholas leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"Felix looked directly at Nicholas, without hesitation. "I’m going to London. There’s business I need to take care of there. And more than that, I’ve decided to end my pursuit of Isabella’s love."Nicholas paused, surprised. "You’re just giving up?"Felix let out a long sigh, as if releasing a burden he had carried for a long time. "It’s not about giving up. It’s about accepting reality." He lowered his gaze briefly before continuing, "Isabella chose you, Nicholas. I have to learn to accept that."Nicho
Isabella was visiting her parents' house and saw Selena, her little niece, cradled in the arms of Ben, her father and Irene’s. She embraced Ben warmly, feeling the unique comfort that only family could provide. Then, she handed over a box of formula she had brought especially for Selena.Ben smiled as he took the box. "Always so thoughtful, aren’t you?" he said warmly.Isabella smiled softly. "Always, for Selena." She looked at the tiny baby, sleeping soundly in Ben’s arms. "I just want to make sure she never lacks anything."They sat together in the living room, where a peaceful atmosphere surrounded them, even though the world outside was in turmoil with scandals and gossip. Isabella could feel Ben’s attentive gaze on her."So, it’s really over?" Ben asked cautiously, as if ensuring that his daughter had made the right decision. "I read about you and Nicholas on social media..."Isabella took a deep breath, feeling ready to answer. "Yes, the scandal got out of hand," she said calmly
Nicholas successfully ordered his men to capture Rudolf based on information from Felix and his informant, Kevin. The arrest went smoothly, with little resistance, and Rudolf was soon taken to the police station under tight security.The next morning, the long-awaited trial began. In the courtroom, the atmosphere was heavy. Bright lights cast shadows on the walls, and the gallery was filled with faces showing hope, anger, and anxiety. At the prosecution table, Nicholas sat with a calm yet focused expression. As the lawyer handling the case, he knew that even the smallest mistake could jeopardize his argument.Rudolf sat in the defendant’s chair, handcuffed, his face blank and without remorse. He seemed indifferent, as if the charges against him were nothing more than a game. However, Nicholas knew the truth—behind that calm demeanor was a dangerous and manipulative man, someone who had destroyed many lives.As the judge opened the session, Nicholas stood and began firmly."Your Honor,