Isabella~"Alan, please don't cry; Mama is coming home." He kept calling me after sitting in Xavier's car, so I answered his call. "Mama, it's evening now, and you haven't returned home yet." He voiced his dissatisfaction with me. "Alan, please don't cry; you are Mama's strong boy." The sound of his tears pierced my chest again. I love him more than anything in the world, and I can't imagine him facing any kind of difficulty. "Please take care of yourself; I'll be returning home in two hours." It wasn't until Xavier offered me tissue paper to wipe my tears that I realized they had fallen on my cheeks. I refused his offer to drop me off at my house because I only wanted to spend time with him for work-related matters. However, as soon as I saw how much rain was falling, I quickly changed my mind, thinking of my son's health. This time, I decided to sit in the passenger seat to keep him from ogling my face in the car's rearview mirror. Heavy clouds obscured the sun, engulfing our s
Xavier~"Alan..." She ran inside her house with tears in her eyes. After hearing her housemaid’s news, she completely lost control of her senses. She threw her mobile and bag on the street, rushing into the house to check on her son. I couldn’t hold myself back from following her inside, concerned about what had happened. I picked up her mobile and purse from the roadside and entered her house without her permission. I knew she didn’t want me here; she didn’t want me to see where she lived, but I couldn’t just stand by while she was this distraught. Her son’s condition and the fact that she had left him alone because of my case weighed on me heavily.I hesitated before entering her hallway, fully aware that no one would welcome me, but my worry overshadowed everything else. The beautifully decorated house made me feel like a trespasser for a moment. Bella had always been precise in everything she did, and this house was no exception. It was full of memories I didn’t know—reflections
Isabella~"Wh...what type of question is this? He is, of course, my son." My voice faltered upon hearing his query. It unfolded in the manner that frightened me the most. I did everything in my power to keep Xavier from seeing my son, but fate had other plans. Xavier eventually became acquainted with my son. "Bella, I am asking who’s the father of Alan." His eyes are filled with suspicion, and his tone is dominating. "Mr. Thompson, please get out of my house immediately. You have no right to inquire about my personal life." I gestured toward the open hall door. "I'll leave when you respond to my questions." His rage was evident in his voice. I am well aware of his dominating nature. He won't leave until I provide him with a satisfactory response. Even if I'm not prepared to handle the situation right now, I must answer his inquiries. "Alan is my son, and his father is out of town. When he gets back, I'll introduce him. It's too late, so please leave my house now." Even after rec
Xavier~"Mr. Thompson, I would like to meet you tomorrow morning." Her message beeped on my phone. What does she want to discuss so urgently that she texted me at midnight, even after today’s incident? I pondered over her text. I know She wants to withdraw from my case, but why would she want to meet me again? Placing my phone on the side table, I immersed myself again in today's events. The more I try to put my life and my broken heart back together, the more confused I get. My life has become a gigantic mess.Jordan Lucas is not in prison. Jordan Lucas put Alicia in my life to exact retribution on me, but instead of doing so, he murdered his pawn and ensnared me in her murder investigation. I kept getting more and more entangled in this murder case whenever I attempted to gather evidence that would show my innocence. However, my conflicting emotions toward Isabella are exacerbating the situation, not to mention that the murder case itself is the primary cause of my distress. Even
Isabella~"Isabella, where’s Xavier? Call him to the party hall. All the guests are waiting for the cake-cutting ceremony." Mr. Donald Thompson, my father-in-law, requested that I find my spouse. With trepidation, I nodded and spun around to search for Xavier in the massive party hall. At this grand party, seeing him felt like an impossible task.All the important guests, clutching their wine glasses, enjoyed the evening in the beautifully designed hall, its floral arrangements, and colorful lights creating a breathtaking display. The wealth of the Thompson family was evident in every detail of the decor, which reflected the Thompson family's wealth, leaving everyone in awe. They were America's richest family, not just the town's richest.Holding the shimmering folds of my heavy gown, I navigated through the crowd like a lost puppy, trying to spot my husband, Xavier Thompson. This was only the second time I’d attended such an extravagant event. The first had been my wedding reception,
Isabella~"Bella, what happened? Why are you looking so sad?" Victor gave me a worried look."I'm all right. Let's go to the party; Dad must be waiting for us." I put more effort into forcing a fake smile on my face, trying to hide my tears."But my brooch, you said my appearance looks incomplete," he grumbled as he glanced at the locked door to my room."You look perfectly fine; you don't need a brooch." I grabbed his hand, stopping him from entering my room. I couldn’t bear for him to step into the nightmare I had just witnessed. My hand trembled slightly as I held onto his, the weight of Xavier and Alicia’s betrayal pressing on my chest like a boulder.Victor let out a soft sigh. "All right, if you say so." His eyes searched mine, and I quickly averted my gaze, tugging him toward the party hall. It became impossible to face anyone alone.As we walked, my world crumbled in my mind, replaying Xavier and Alicia’s intimacy over and over. How had I been so blind to their relationship? E
Isabella~"What are you saying, Dad?" Xavier's frustrated voice echoed through the silent party hall following Mr. Thompson's shocking announcement. I still couldn’t believe it. There had to be a mistake. How could he choose me as his firm’s new heir? I’m not qualified—I’m not even worthy to be a lawyer’s assistant."Dad, how can Bella—" Victor’s voice broke through the confusion, his shock mirroring the one I felt."You all heard me," Mr. Thompson said, his voice firm, cutting through the whispers that started spreading through the crowd. "Isabella Thompson, my daughter-in-law, is the new successor to my legal practice."My blood froze as his words sunk in. It wasn’t a dream. The whispers grew louder. People’s gazes landed on me—questioning, doubting, almost judging. I could feel their stares like I was a cheap cloth draped across a rich carpet. Grayson and Dixie exchanged glances of disapproval, and Victor looked utterly stunned, still trying to process what his father had said.I
Xavier~"Oh, so you want a divorce from me, huh?" I raise my brow at her. I always wanted to get rid of her, but the idea of asking her for a divorce in exchange for returning my firm to me hurt my ego. How can a low-standard woman insult me in this way? My dad's announcement has already angered me, and now she's fueling my already simmering rage. "Yes, Xavier Thompson, you heard me right—I want divorce." As she stared right into my eyes, her voice challenged me. I never thought she would suddenly be that fearless. Her eyes were typically kind toward me, but now they were blazing with something that looked like anger. I looked at the legal papers for the company that were on the ground. Did I accept her demand? I own this company, so she can't ask for anything in exchange for giving it back to me. But all she's asking for is a divorce, so it's a win-win for me. I turned to face the party guests and my family members. They were all looking at me with dissatisfaction. Will taking a