Isabella sat on Ben's porch, enjoying the quiet night. Beside her, Felix sat with folded arms, his expression filled with regret. They had been through a lot together, and although their relationship was based on a contract marriage, deeper feelings had started to grow between them. Yet, all of that felt like a fading shadow amidst the conflicts that had arisen.Felix took a deep breath before finally starting a difficult conversation. "Isabella, I... I want to apologize," he said, his voice heavy. "About Sarah... I know it's complicated and confusing, but I never wanted to hurt you."Isabella looked at him coldly, waiting for further explanation. She had heard Sarah's name many times, and although she tried to close her heart, jealousy and disappointment always seeped in whenever that name came up.Felix continued, "My relationship with Sarah is very complicated. We have a long history before all of this, and I know how messy this situation is. But what you need to know is that I nev
Isabella sat at the bar in a fancy restaurant, several empty wine bottles lined up on the table in front of her. Her face was flushed, and her smile grew thinner as time passed, but Nicholas, sitting beside her, was becoming more worried. Isabella wasn’t the type to get drunk often, and this time, she had gone way beyond her limit."Isabella, that’s enough," Nicholas said gently but firmly, trying to take the wine bottle from her hand. "You've had too much to drink."Isabella chuckled softly, though her laugh sounded bitter. "Not enough, Nicholas. I... still want to forget, even if it’s just for tonight."Nicholas quickly grabbed the bottle before Isabella could pour more wine into her glass. "You're not going to solve anything by getting drunk," Nicholas said patiently. "Come on, I’ll take you home."Isabella shook her head slowly, her face looking tired and disheveled. "I don’t want to go home. I don’t know what I’ll do if I go home."Nicholas looked at her with concern. He understo
CHAPTER 61Ben looked at Nicholas with a serious yet warm expression. After the events of that day, although he trusted Nicholas, Ben felt the need to protect Isabella and ensure there were no misunderstandings. "Nicholas," Ben said, gently patting his shoulder, "if you want, you can stay the night. But it's better if you sleep on the couch. I don't want anything to be misinterpreted or misunderstood."Nicholas nodded, fully understanding the situation Ben was referring to. "Of course, Ben. I'll be here if Isabella needs anything. Thank you for trusting me."Ben nodded before heading to his room, leaving Nicholas alone in the living room. Nicholas sighed deeply, his eyes drifting toward Isabella's bedroom, where the door was slightly ajar. Quietly, he walked closer to check on her before settling down on the couch, as Ben had suggested.As Nicholas peeked inside, he saw Isabella asleep in her bed. However, her expression showed deep concern. Occasionally, her body moved restlessly, an
CHAPTER 62Isabella woke up feeling still tired. Although the night had passed, her mind was still shrouded in fog from all the chaos that had occurred recently—Felix, Nicholas, and most importantly, Irene. She slowly rose from her bed, feeling a dull throbbing in her head, and walked out of her room.In the kitchen, the aroma of tomato egg soup greeted her. Rose, as usual, had woken up early and prepared a warm breakfast. "Good morning, Bella," Rose greeted with a friendly smile as Isabella entered the kitchen."Good morning, Mom," Isabella replied with a weak smile, then sat down at the dining table with Ben, who was already waiting for her.Rose placed a bowl of soup in front of her, a look of concern on her face. "I made you tomato egg soup, your favorite. Hopefully, this will help you feel a bit better."Isabella smiled softly, though her heart still felt heavy. "Thank you, Mom. You're the best."They began to have breakfast in a comfortable silence, but Isabella felt that it was
Ben, with his heart pounding, rushed to check the attic after hearing something strange coming from there. The faint sounds from above seemed to call him to act. He quickly found a locked door, which appeared to be hiding something behind it. Without thinking twice, Ben prepared to break it down.With a strong kick, the door burst open. The old wooden door shattered with a loud crash that echoed through the attic. Everyone—Isabella and Rose, who were behind him—stood still for a moment, shocked by what they saw inside.There, sitting in the corner of a small, gloomy room, was Irene. She looked exhausted and thin, but the most shocking thing was that she was nursing a baby. Earphones were plugged into her ears, as if trying to escape the reality around her. When the door opened, Irene jerked in surprise, turning with eyes full of fear, before quickly removing her earphones.“Irene…” whispered Isabella, her voice hoarse with disbelief at what she was seeing.Ben didn’t wait any longer.
CHAPTER 64Isabella walked into Felix’s office with a heavy heart. In her hand, she held a resignation letter—not just from her job, but from Felix's life. Everything had become too complicated, and she couldn’t stay trapped in a relationship without clarity.Felix sat at his desk, focused on his computer screen, as if nothing was wrong between them. The silence around them was tense, but Felix remained calm, indifferent to the strain clearly filling the room.Isabella stood in front of Felix’s desk, looking at him with eyes full of pain. After taking a deep breath, she pulled the resignation letter from her bag and placed it firmly on Felix’s desk.“Here,” Isabella said with a calm but firm voice. “My resignation letter. I’ve decided… I want to end everything—my job, and our relationship.”Felix glanced at the letter, but his face remained expressionless. Silence hung between them. He didn’t say a word, didn’t ask questions, didn’t stop her. His gaze remained empty, as if Isabella’s
CHAPTER 65Nicholas stepped into Isabella's house with a slight feeling of tension, though he tried to remain calm. This was the first time he had met Irene in person since she had been found.In the living room, Irene was sitting on the sofa, cradling her baby, who was peacefully asleep in her arms. The baby, named Selena, was a symbol of hope amid the chaos they were facing.Nicholas smiled warmly when he saw Irene. He carried a bouquet of flowers in his hand, which he gently offered to her. "These are for you, Irene. I hope they can brighten your day a little."Irene looked at Nicholas with a weary face but filled with gratitude. She accepted the flowers and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Nicholas. They're beautiful."Nicholas sat down beside Isabella, who had accompanied him inside. "How are you feeling now?" Nicholas asked softly, his tone full of concern.Irene sighed, her eyes glancing at Selena, still sleeping soundly in her arms. "I'm... still struggling. There are days when I fe
Sarah sat down in front of Felix's desk, her eyes focused on the man in front of her, who appeared calm despite the tense atmosphere between them. She had just informed Felix that she had filed for divorce from Louis—a difficult decision but one she believed was the only way to be with Felix again.However, Felix's response was far from what she had expected."I don’t want to continue this relationship, Sarah," Felix said in a flat, almost emotionless tone. "Our relationship is over, and I don’t want us to go back to how things were."Sarah was taken aback by Felix's words, her eyes widening in shock. "What do you mean, Felix? Do you know how much I've sacrificed for this? I left Louis... for us. For a second chance at us."Felix took a deep breath before looking at Sarah with a serious expression. "I know, Sarah, and I appreciate what you've done. But I've made my decision. I'm going to London, and I won’t be coming back to New York."Sarah's face instantly paled, her entire body fee
Isabella and Nicholas’s wedding unfolded just as they had envisioned—intimate and serene. The bright blue sky and soft breeze created the perfect atmosphere for their celebration of love.Under the shade of tall trees and surrounded by wildflowers, guests enjoyed food, music, and moments filled with warmth.Isabella stood beside Nicholas, wearing her simple yet elegant wedding gown. From where she stood, she could see their closest friends and family, their smiles lighting up the small garden. Her heart swelled with warmth when her gaze fell on someone she never expected to see.Felix Kingston entered the garden, holding Sarah’s hand tightly. They walked side by side, and a warm smile spread across Felix’s face—a smile unlike any Isabella had seen before.Though Sarah still appeared somewhat fragile, her face showed newfound hope and happiness, as if they had left the darkness of their past behind.Isabella smiled softly as Felix and Sarah waved at her from afar. Seeing Felix truly ha
"She’s growing up so fast. It feels like just yesterday she learned how to roll over." Ben chuckled from his rocking chair, watching Selena with pride. "She’s brought us a joy we never expected. Irene would be so happy to see us all together like this."Isabella fell silent for a moment, reflecting on Irene with mixed emotions. Though the pain of her loss lingered, she felt that life was slowly returning to normal. They had been through so much, and now it was time to move forward.As the room filled with warmth and light-hearted conversation, the sound of a car pulling up in the front yard caught Isabella’s attention. Curious, she stood and peeked out the window. A smile spread across her face—it was Nicholas.Nicholas stepped out of the car, carrying a large box."Hey," he greeted cheerfully as he made his way to the door. "I brought something for Selena."Isabella opened the door and welcomed him with a warm smile. "You really can’t visit without bringing gifts, can you?" she tease
Felix drove with a heavy heart after leaving his office. His brief encounter with Isabella had given him relief and a renewed sense of hope. But there was still something he needed to resolve before he could truly move forward.He knew that Sarah, the woman from his past, needed him more than ever. Instead of heading to a café, Felix stopped in front of a run-down apartment on the outskirts of the city. According to Kevin, his informant, this was where Louis—the man who had ruined Sarah’s life—was hiding.Felix clenched his jaw as he stood at the door. Without hesitation, he knocked hard, gathering all the anger and regret he had held inside for so long.The door opened, and Louis appeared with a smug expression. "Felix," he said mockingly. "What do you—"Before Louis could finish his sentence, Felix’s fist collided with his face. Felix struck him repeatedly, his punches fueled by rage. Louis tried to fight back, but Felix’s vengeful strength left him powerless. With one final blow, L
Nicholas met Isabella at the park. She was wearing a white, knee-length dress with open shoulders, making her look elegant yet simple. She smiled as she saw Nicholas approaching, holding two cups of iced coffee. The soft afternoon sun cast a golden glow on the falling maple leaves, making them shimmer."For you," Isabella said, handing Nicholas one of the iced coffees. "I figured you’d need this after such a long day."Nicholas smiled as he took the coffee and sat down next to her on the bench. "Thanks. You’re right, it’s been a tiring day," he replied with a relieved tone.They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying the tranquility of the park. Isabella sipped her coffee, then broke the silence with heartfelt sincerity. "I really want to thank you, Nicholas. Without you, I don’t think Rudolf would have received the punishment he deserved."Nicholas nodded slowly, then, with a serious tone, said, "Actually, I can’t take all the credit."Isabella looked at him, puzzled. "Wha
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,
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
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
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
"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