Felix drove his car calmly, trying to transfer that calm energy to Isabella, who was still sitting beside him, lost in thought. Since the earlier incident, Isabella had remained silent, staring out the window while hugging herself. Felix no longer saw the usually talkative Isabella.It took about 15 minutes for Felix to get back to his house. Felix thought that Isabella must have had a reason for coming to his house angrily and yelling at him. But that could be discussed later. As the car pulled into the garage, Felix hurried out first. He opened the door for Isabella, treating her like a queen because he felt sorry for what had just happened to her.Both of Felixâs hands rested on Isabellaâs shoulders, trying to provide strength and comfort."You're home now, you're safe," Felix said.But Isabella remained silent. Even after entering the house, Isabella only closed the door without saying anything to Felix, who had helped her. Felix stood in front of the door, feeling confused but un
Isabella opened her heavy eyes. After crying all night, her eyes were swollen and sticky, making it difficult to open them. She stretched on the bed and reached for her phone on the nightstand."Um, itâs already noon. Felix will probably understand if I donât go to the office today." Isabella then got up from her bed.Her appearance was truly terrible. Isabella had a rough day yesterday. Besides being invited to a painful dinner, she had to argue with Felix and ended up being sexually harassed on the street. With a deep sigh, Isabella walked to the dining table. A sandwich sat there, and she sat alone, staring at it."Why is my life this unlucky?" Isabella closed her eyes, trying to take deep breaths, then exhaled sharply.But the sound of her phone in her hand made Isabella open her eyes. "Emily?"Click."Hi, Emily?"The voice on the other end sounded panicked. Isabella suddenly remembered that they had been on a call last night, and the call had been cut off when Isabella experience
There's nothing better than having lunch with the man you love and... dining at a luxurious restaurant. Just the two of you and delicious food with a bill reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.Felix opened the door for Isabella, and she immediately got into the car. As she fastened her seatbelt, Isabella said, "This was the best experience for me. Iâve never eaten at such an expensive restaurant and... without even showering. Really bad."A smile spread across Felix's lips. He started the car engine with a sense of relief. At least he knew that Isabella felt much better than she had the night before. "I'm sorry you had to go through something bad because of my mom, because of me."Isabella sighed and looked at the man beside her with sympathy. "Letâs just forget about last night. So, are you going back to the office? I can take a taxi and go home by myself if you want. Itâs not a big deal."But Felix remained silent. Isabella found it strange, but a few seconds later, Felix sudde
"I want the acquisition process of Golden Company to be completed next week. Are there any issues with the audit process?"Felixâs voice filled the room, making Isabella feel happy. The man truly had an incredible charm. His voice was deep, but it had the power to intimidate and control the situation like a battlefield. She couldnât take her eyes off Felix as they sat across from each other, while Felix remained focused on work. Nicholas was the first to notice Isabellaâs change in behavior."Of course, Mr. Kingston. Weâll do our best," Erick said, sitting next to Nicholas during the meeting.After the meeting ended, Isabella immediately went to the cafeteria alone because Felix still had some work to finish in his office. Felix didnât ask Isabella to follow him this time. Isabella sat at the farthest table, stirring her iced vanilla latte when suddenly Nicholas joined her."Hi."Isabella turned and raised her eyebrows. "Yeah?""Yeah? Youâre not happy Iâm sitting here?""Well, do you
Felix and Isabella returned to the car after spending time walking on the beach. The night air was getting colder, and Felix thought it wasn't good for Isabella's health. After fastening Isabellaâs seatbelt, Felix prepared to turn the key and start the engine.The car drove away from the beach. It had been a memorable date, but something was still bothering Isabella. She bit her lip, weighing whether her decision to ask a question would be the right one or not."By the way... why did you and Sarah end things back then?"Felix turned the wheel to the left, taking the busy main road."Well, there were business and political matters involved.""Sarah didn't love you?" Isabella asked, straight to the point."I don't know." From his tone, Isabella could tell Felix wasn't interested in discussing this. "But she wanted us to end the relationship. And, yeah, she then married Louis. I guess it will benefit Sarahâs family in the future. I'm happy for her if she's happy."Isabella looked at Feli
Isabella was still staring at Peter, who lay there with a bruise on his cheek. She was completely confused about what to do. However, Felix acted decisively and quickly reminded her, "We need to check if Irene is inside, right? Or are you just going to stand there and watch the unconscious man?"Felix gave Isabella a meaningful look, and she nodded, giving her approval. He then forced open the door in front of them.After three attempts, Felix finally managed to unlock the door. Isabella grabbed Felix's hand, making him turn toward her."What now?""Peter is the guard of this apartment, Felix.""So?""He should have the key to Rudolf's room."Felix's eyes widened. He couldn't believe Isabella was thinking about that at such a critical moment. Sighing, Felix held Isabella's hand and said, "The door is already open, you don't need a key. Let's go inside!""Alright."Felix stopped deliberately at the entrance, while Isabella continued inside. Her blue eyes scanned the room. It was still
Sarah stared blankly at the man above her. Her blue eyes locked with the brown gaze of the English-born man who had become her husband. It had been a few weeks since they got married, but Sarah couldnât let go of anything whenever they made love. She couldn't reach climax, and everything ended in pretense.âIâm going to finish, darling!â Louisâs groan marked the end of their heated sex that night.Or at least, thatâs what they did as part of the formalities of marriage on top of business matters. Louis turned and rolled over to Sarahâs side. His breath was still heavy from the remnants of their activity together.âCan you look at me when we make love?âSarahâs heart raced, but not from passion. The question hung between them, heavy with meaning. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Her body, tense under the weight of Louisâs words, seemed to freeze. The room, dimly lit by the streetlights outside, felt suffocatingly small, as if the walls were closing in on her.âWhat do you mean?
Felix drove through the quiet streets after dropping Isabella off. The night felt heavy, weighed down by the situation with Irene still haunting his mind. His thoughts were filled with the address they had just discovered, but a phone call interrupted his focus.It was Sarah.Her voice was trembling, choked with sobs. "Felix... I donât know what to do. Please come."Felix's heart tightened. He had never heard Sarah cry like this before. Worried, he turned his car around and drove to where Sarah was. When he arrived, Sarah stood outside, her eyes swollen from crying. As soon as she saw Felix, she ran into his arms, clutching him tightly as if she were drowning."I canât... I canât keep doing this," Sarah whispered between sobs.Felix, though still burdened by the situation with Isabella and Irene, felt the immediate need to comfort Sarah. "Let me take you home, Sarah. You need to rest."But Sarah shook her head, gripping Felixâs jacket even tighter. "No, I donât want to go home. Please
Isabella and Nicholasâs wedding unfolded just as they had envisionedâintimate 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 Sarahâs hand tightly. They walked side by side, and a warm smile spread across Felixâs faceâa 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
"Sheâs 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. "Sheâs 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 Isabellaâs attention. Curious, she stood and peeked out the window. A smile spread across her faceâit 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 canât 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 cafÃĐ, Felix stopped in front of a run-down apartment on the outskirts of the city. According to Kevin, his informant, this was where Louisâthe man who had ruined Sarahâs lifeâwas 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 youâ"Before Louis could finish his sentence, Felixâs fist collided with his face. Felix struck him repeatedly, his punches fueled by rage. Louis tried to fight back, but Felixâs 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 youâd need this after such a long day."Nicholas smiled as he took the coffee and sat down next to her on the bench. "Thanks. Youâre right, itâs 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 donât think Rudolf would have received the punishment he deserved."Nicholas nodded slowly, then, with a serious tone, said, "Actually, I canât 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 defendantâs 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 truthâbehind 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 Ireneâs. 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, arenât you?" he said warmly.Isabella smiled softly. "Always, for Selena." She looked at the tiny baby, sleeping soundly in Benâs 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 Benâs attentive gaze on her."So, itâs 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 Felixâs 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 donât have to do that."Nicholas leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"Felix looked directly at Nicholas, without hesitation. "Iâm going to London. Thereâs business I need to take care of there. And more than that, Iâve decided to end my pursuit of Isabellaâs love."Nicholas paused, surprised. "Youâre just giving up?"Felix let out a long sigh, as if releasing a burden he had carried for a long time. "Itâs not about giving up. Itâs 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. "Weâve found Rudolf. We tracked him to the outskirts of town, hiding in an old motel. Heâs 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 Ireneâs murder. It seems heâs 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. Itâs all over."Nicholas exhaled deeply, as if a heavy burden on his heart had lifted in an instant. Without saying a word, he clasped Isabellaâs hand, finding peace in their shared silence. The engine purred softly, and the car rolled away from Felixâs 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. "Youâve been lying about your marriage to Irene all this time. Youâve brought disgrace to our family!"Felix held his breath for a moment, no