Isabella Collins discovers the most painful betrayal: her husband never loved her, stole her inheritance, was unfaithful, and took her child away, making her believe he had died. Now, stripped of everything and out on the street, Isabella is determined to reclaim her life and her child. In her quest, she encounters Sebastian Ashford, an arrogant man who despises marriage and sees women only as objects of pleasure. However, a scandal forces him to quickly find a wife, and Isabella, with her persistent presence, seems to be the perfect candidate. What begins as a marriage of convenience becomes complicated when Isabella discovers that her new husband's child might have an unexpected connection to her. Can this arrangement full of secrets and distrust transform into something real?
View MoreCHAPTER 1: SLEEP WITH HIM!
"High society scandal! Businessman Marcus Becker was seen at a well-known city hotel, and it is suspected that his mistress is pregnant!"
The scandal between Marcus and his mistress caused a sensation on all social networks and broke the heart of Isabella Collins, his wife. Marcus Becker was the president of Becker Group, and thus almost all media outlets were broadcasting the scandal.
Isabella was sitting silently at the dining table, her ears ringing and her eyes filled with unspoken emotions as she looked at the TV screen for a moment. Her rough and thin hands clutched her clothes, yet she could not control the trembling of her body.
Because the woman with whom her husband was cheating on her was none other than her cousin.
Amanda.
When Amanda's parents died, Isabella's father took her in at the mansion and treated her like another daughter. Isabella never imagined that her cousin would have the audacity to steal her husband.
"This food is disgusting!" Isabella's mother-in-law threw the still-hot plate at her, her face red with anger.
She hastily put down the cutlery and rushed to clean up the mess despite the pain of her burned skin.
"I'm sorry, mother-in-law, I'll make something else..." she stammered.
She did her best not to cry, but the tears were too many and soon slid down her cheeks.
"Crying! Is that all you know how to do?!" Renata stood up and walked towards her and, without any remorse, stepped on one of her hands. "You are nothing but useless. My son made a big mistake marrying you," the woman sneered. "I don't know what he saw in you, but you are just a disgrace to this family."
"Ah, it hurts!" Isabella complained. "Mother-in-law, please..."
"Look at you, even now you are still pathetic, a perfect fool," Renata stepped back and Isabella quickly raised her hand. "Even your cousin is more competent than you! You don't deserve to be by my son's side!"
Marcus's mother's words were like knives piercing her chest. Isabella had tried everything to be a good wife and daughter-in-law. But nothing could satisfy her mother-in-law's demands.
"Mother-in-law, what... what do you mean by that?" she looked at her with some panic, feeling a bad premonition in her heart.
Renata crouched down, looked her in the eyes, and smiled.
"Are you stupid or just pretending? You haven't even been able to get pregnant again! And you still want to hold the position of wife for the rest of your life?! Amanda is pregnant, and she will move into this house tomorrow to take your place!"
Isabella's heart raced, her stomach tightened, and the pain lacerated her inside.
"Mother-in-law... How can... how can you say that...?" Isabella's eyes were red from tears. "I... it's not that I can't get pregnant... It's just that Marcus..." the words came out choked.
After the wedding, Marcus had refused to touch her. At first, he said he didn't want to hurt the baby, and then he excused himself by saying he didn't want to affect her body after the loss of the child. But deep down, she knew he rejected her because he probably didn't find her desirable. And today, she could confirm it with the news of the scandal.
"There are no excuses, Isabella." Renata stood up and adjusted her dress. "My son needs an heir, and since you are so useless for something as simple as that... Well, let your cousin take your place."
The breeze blowing from the window did not chill Isabella as much as her mother-in-law's words. Although she had been treating her badly for the past six years, even using her as a servant, she had never felt as much pain as now.
"You are the only one to blame! If you hadn't pretended to trap my son by getting pregnant, he wouldn't have been forced to marry you." Renata took the water glass from the table and walked towards Isabella. "And not satisfied with that... You gave birth to a stillborn child! And you still intend to hold the position of wife?! You don't deserve it in any way, so I just hope you leave my house as soon as possible!"
After saying this, she threw the water in her face and left, not without giving her a disdainful look. Isabella stood there motionless, as if she still couldn't process what was happening.
She had married Marcus six years ago, but she did not force him at that time, and she did not deliberately lose the child.
At that moment, the mobile phone rang, and Isabella took it out only to see that it was her husband. It was inevitable that she felt both excited and nervous at the same time.
Excited because it was the first time he had called her in six years of marriage, and nervous because she feared he would say things as cruel as those her mother-in-law had just said.
"Marcus, you..."
"Where are you?" the cold and familiar voice interrupted her words.
Isabella's heart tightened, and she replied.
"I'm at home."
"Come to room 208 of the Hilton Hotel, you have half an hour."
"What? Wait, for what...?"
Isabella tried to ask, but before she could say anything, Marcus hung up.
However, Isabella was somewhat used to this kind of treatment from her husband and thought that maybe he was just looking for a quiet place to explain the scandal with Amanda, which is why he asked her to go to the hotel.
"Maybe he doesn't want a divorce."
Thinking this, her frightened heart calmed down, and quickly, she got ready and lightly made up before leaving. When she arrived at the door of the room, Isabella tightened the strap of her bag, took a deep breath a few times, and knocked on the door.
It didn't take long for the door to open and her husband to appear. Marcus was wearing a hotel bathrobe, and everything seemed to indicate that he had just showered. When he saw Isabella, his eyes narrowed a bit, and a look of dissatisfaction appeared on his lips.
She was about to say something, but the familiar and delicate voice of her cousin came from the bathroom.
"Love, is my cousin here?"
Isabella's words got stuck in her throat, and her eyes fixed on her cousin, who was also wearing a hotel bathrobe and had wet hair. Amanda walked behind Marcus, wrapped her arms around his waist, and looked at her mockingly.
"Hello, cousin, I haven't seen you in a long time."
Isabella stared at the scene in front of her in astonishment, the blood in her entire body flowed quickly, and her throat could not make any sound. A knot formed in her stomach, and soon nausea arose.
However, rage also took control.
"Amanda! You, how... how dare you? Don't you know he's my husband?!"
The bag in her hand fell to the floor, and she took a step forward, determined to settle accounts with her cousin, but Marcus stepped in the middle and gave her a threatening look.
"But cousin, Marcus and I really love each other!" Amanda said pitifully but mocking her.
"Love each other? What I see is a pair of miserable, traitors! But you..." Isabella was filled with pain and anger. "... you are a whore. You dared to mess with my husband! We are family!"
Amanda gave her a playful smile and lightly kissed Marcus's cheek.
"There's nothing to do when two people like each other. Besides, you are..." Amanda made a thoughtful face. "... how to say it... Ah, yes! Too bland and boring. It's not my fault for being more of a woman than you."
Isabella's heart was in pieces, on one hand, the man she thought loved her betrayed her with her own blood, and on the other, her cousin repaid all her father's care and love with betrayal.
"I may be boring," she said with tears falling from her eyes. "But at least I'm not a husband-stealing whore."
Amanda gasped and was about to say something, but Isabella was already turning away. She wanted to escape from there as soon as possible, but Marcus grabbed her by the wrist.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Isabella, in a reflex act and to defend herself, slapped him and then tried to break free.
"Don't touch me again! You disgust me, Marcus!"
The man tightened his grip and tried to drag her into the room; still, Isabella struggled.
"I told you to let go! Let me go!"
"Shut up!" he shouted as he slapped her, his eyes were two pits of fury. "If you dare ruin my plans, you will pay dearly!"
He stared at her and then threw her directly onto the sofa. Isabella was no longer scared; she was angry. The man she was seeing now was not the man she had married.
Marcus ran his fingers through his hair and looked her up and down.
"There's an important man in the next room," he walked towards her and grabbed her jaw tightly. "Go and sleep with him!"
CHAPTER 114: UNEXPECTED NEWS.Nicholas was playing in the living room when, with a curious expression, he asked, "Mommy, when will Daddy be back?"Isabella, trying to hide the dissatisfaction she felt inside, forced a smile and replied, "Today, honey. Daddy went to take care of some business."Although she smiled, her heart was full of discontent. She had agreed with Louis and didn't want Sebastian to travel, but he had ignored her and left anyway.Coraline, concerned, took the opportunity to ask, "Have you heard anything about Inesa?"The question immediately made Isabella tense up. "No, not yet. The police say she disappeared from the city, so... we still have to live with that lunatic out there."At that precise moment, one of the maids approached respectfully, "Ma'am, someone wants to see you."Isabella frowned, doubtful. "Who?"The maid hesitated before answering, "It's... it's Mr. Davenport.""Elijah? Is he here?""Well, outside. The bodyguards won't let him in."Isabella stood
CHAPTER 113: I WILL PROTECT THEM.Sebastian answered on the second ring."Love...""Sebastian, you need to come to the hospital. It's urgent. Nicholas... someone tried to hurt him," said Isabella, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and rage."What?! What are you talking about?" asked Sebastian, clearly alarmed."It was Inesa. I'm sure it was her," Isabella responded, almost in a whisper.Sebastian looked at Rodrik, and his eyes turned furious."I'm coming, honey. Don't leave without me," Sebastian ordered before hanging up.Once he did, he put away his phone and approached Rodrik menacingly; the officers were still in the boardroom."Your daughter went too far this time, Rodrik," Sebastian pointed at him. "And if she dares to come near my family again, I'll kill her myself.""Mr. Ashford, I advise you to..." one of the officers began."I don't need your advice," he interrupted. "You should go and find that crazy psychopath.""We will, Mr. Ashford, you and your family...""Don't bo
CHAPTER 112: A DANGEROUS WOMAN.The boardroom was plunged into a deathly silence. Everyone present watched the officer with incredulity."Murder?""Yes, Mr. Philips, we found evidence linking your daughter to the deceased," said the officer firmly.Rodrik shook his head, disbelief painted on his face."No, there must be a mistake... my daughter wouldn't be capable of something like that.""Well, that will have to be proven in front of a judge. Now, please, we need you to tell us her whereabouts. She needs to be brought to the police station for her statement," insisted the officer.Tension took hold of Rodrik. Everything he was experiencing felt like a nightmare, the most horrible of all.He recalled his daughter's call."Dad, I'm going to be out of town for a few days. But you have to do something, Sebastian is lying. He most likely wants to get me out of the company."Rodrik began to think that Inesa's sudden trip had an explanation."Mr. Philips, are you listening?" The officer sna
CHAPTER 111: SUSPECTED OF MURDER."Then, you didn't know anything?" asked Isabella, with a mix of incredulity and concern.Lucy, looking at her friend with an expression of shame and surprise, responded vehemently:"Of course not! Elijah never said anything, although I had heard something about Gemma and her crush on him. But this took me by surprise, just like you."Isabella sighed deeply and shook her head."Well, your cousin was very cruel to her, he said things... so harsh... I never thought Elijah could be like that," confessed Isabella."Neither did I," admitted Lucy, her tone soft but laden with sadness. "But... if it's any consolation, Gemma asked him for a divorce, so... Elijah won't hurt her again.""They're getting divorced?" Isabella seemed astonished by the news."Yes, before they returned to New York, I went to the hospital, she told me herself, and she sounded very determined.""Well, I think that's good; no woman should accept being humiliated like that," affirmed Isab
"CHAPTER 110: HUMILIATION"Inesa's heart was pounding furiously in her chest, and she had a bad feeling. On the other hand, Isabella was determined to end everything that very night. She wasn't going to let Inesa continue harming their lives."Do you want to know the truth? Well, I will show you the truth," she said, turning around and entering the house.Meanwhile, Inesa tried to fight her last battle. She looked at Coraline with pitiful eyes and sobbed."Coraline, how can you… how can you allow this? I thought… that you would support me. For years you said I should marry Sebastian and now you allow this?!"Coraline shook her head slightly and handed the baby to the nanny."Yes, I admit it. At first, I considered you the ideal wife for my son, but I was also clear and asked you to abandon the idea of being Sebastian's wife when Isabella came into his life. Even so, you didn't listen, Inesa, so… there's nothing I can do for you."Inesa clenched her hands, her nails digging into her fl
"CHAPTER 109: CONFRONTATION"All the guests started murmuring. Coraline was in disbelief, Roger was speechless, Nicholas was in denial, unable to accept that he would have a sibling with the woman he despised so much. But Sebastian, Sebastian was about to explode with rage. The blood in his veins felt like liquid fire burning every cell in his body; his only desire was to wrap his hands around Inesa's neck and squeeze until she stopped breathing.However, and to everyone's surprise, Isabella was completely calm, very strange, considering she was the most wronged. Inesa had just thrown in her face that she was going to have a child, right when they had just reconciled. So she stepped away from Sebastian and walked directly toward her. When she stopped, Inesa gave her a victorious smile, full of excessive arrogance."Aren't you surprised? It seems Sebastian didn't waste any time during your separation, Isabella. He found solace with me and well…" once again, Inesa placed a hand on her b
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