Note: This is the second book in the "Are You Our Daddy?" series but can also be read as a standalone. “Please don’t do this. You know I have nowhere to go, don’t you? Please, I still love you. All you’re being told is false. Listen, I am going to tell you the whole truth now. I was actually the one who... who...” “Look, Salindra,” James cuts in quickly. “No, James.” Isabella continues. “Please let me speak, you’re going to want to hear this. My name is not even…” “Salindra!” James shouts. “I get you. I know you must be all spiked up and all. But it is you who really need to listen to me. Look, I... I never loved you,” he blurts out, swallowing hard. ~~~ Isabella Harrington, under her father's command, pretends to be poor to test her husband's genuine love. After falling in love at first sight with James Collins, she marries him, hiding her true identity as a billionaire heiress. On their second anniversary, eager to reveal her family background, she instead discovers his infidelity, and she’s confronted with a divorce letter, forced by James’ family to sign. Homeless and heartbroken, she returns to her family, where they welcome her with open arms. Michael Howard, who had secretly admired Isabella from afar even before her marriage, is forced into an arranged marriage by his family, just when Isabella got divorced. James, the ex-husband, crosses paths with Isabella again, not as a nobody, but as the chairman of the hospital where he works and also as the renowned phantom medic. Can Isabella reclaim her life and find true happiness with Michael, or will the shadows of her past continue to haunt her?
View MoreISABELLA’S POV
Just like yesterday, I remember meeting James in the hospital after my motorcycle accident. It was love at first sight. We got married two days later without informing my family or telling James the truth about my family background. Today was our 2nd wedding anniversary, and I was ready to reveal the whole truth. "Not today of all days." I murmured, glancing at the clock with growing impatience. It was fifteen minutes past 9 p.m., and James was not yet back. Another thing that was growing was my incessant fatigue. I was not too fit; I had been feeling weak for some time now, my throat itched, and even my breathing was labored. Yet, I had neglected all these to look good, cook, and decorate the room just so we could have a perfect 2nd wedding anniversary dinner. Just then, my phone rang, breaking my train of thought—it was my father, Elliot Harrington. “Isabella, your mom said today is your second anniversary with your husband,” Dad said, his voice lower than usual. “Yes, Dad. I'm ready. I believe he loves me for who I am, not just what I have.” I replied, trying to sound confident. “Remember, if you think he didn’t, you know what to do,” Dad said, his voice carrying the weight of our agreement. “I understand, Dad,” I said softly. “I will call you later, Dad. I have a lot to prepare,” I added before ending the call. I arose slowly to my feet and ambled towards the window to peep at the gate from there, but it was noiseless and empty. I gasped, already feeling frustrated, as I started to pace from one end of the room to the next. "I just hope James doesn't ruin today with the funny attitude he has been displaying lately." I sighed, trying not to consider the suspicions I had been having due to James's recent misbehavior. For some months now, I have been noticing a deterioration in his smile whenever he is around me. It had become worse since the last few weeks; he was colder now, he spent more time than usual at work, and on some occasions, when I would call, a female voice would respond instead, saying he was busy. I suspect that the major reason for this switch in his attitude was my inability to get pregnant. I remember how he used to be so fun when talking about our future and the number of kids we would have. But now, the sparkle in his eyes was gone, leaving only the shadows of a muted grudge. That was why this anniversary was kind of special to me; it would give us a chance to iron things out like adults, a chance to make things right again, and finally unveil the truth about my identity. I sat back on my seat tiredly, tapping my finger on the desk. I was watching my phone on the decorated study table, wondering if I should just call him or exercise a little more patience. My anxiety was growing. After a few seconds of guessing what the next action to take should be, my patience finally ran out. I yielded to the second thought and immediately grabbed my phone and called the hospital number, where the receptionist informed me James had left over an hour ago. The drained voice of the female handler came next after a small beep. "Over an hour ago? Where could he be then? Our house isn't that far." I turned around to grab my coat the next instant and stepped outside without a second thought. The cool night air outside felt twice as chilling to me, particularly because of my recent frailty, but I could not afford to mind. I stood outside the gate and tried calling James's number this time, but the call went straight to voicemail. “Please leave a message.” The machine's voice blurted. “James, it's me, honey; please call back as soon as you get this.” I ended the call and exhaled, gazing into the darkness with a mix of frustration and paranoia welling up inside of me. I placed my hands on my waist, feeling defeated, and for that same reason, I started to feel tears brushing around the corners of my eyelids. The imminent failure of this date was such a hard pill to swallow, knowing how eagerly I had waited for this night. The memory of our first anniversary night became vivid once more. The rain of laughter and love, and how the future had appeared so bright and new. The force of the nostalgic emotion hit me so strongly that my breath became shaky, and the tears I had been trying to hold back finally spilled over. I wiped them away with the back of my hand and sniffed repeatedly, trying to compose myself again. I returned to the sitting room a few minutes later, feeling a little more stoic while explaining away the letdown in my mind on behalf of James. "I believe there must be a good reason for this.” I dragged my foot out of the room, heading toward the direction of our bedroom. But as I passed by the living room, the TV, which was still turned on, suddenly caught my attention. A news anchor was speaking excitedly about something. "...the elusive Phantom Medic has done it again, saving a life with a groundbreaking procedure in a remote village. The identity of this mysterious doctor remains unknown, but their reputation continues to grow. Hospitals across the country are eager to recruit this medical marvel…” I paused for a moment, and a smile appeared on my lips, despite my exhaustion. “The Phantom Medic, hun!” I shook my head knowingly and stopped by the sitting room instead. Turning off the TV and sinking into one of the couches, the soft cushions offered a measure of comfort. I placed my phone on the coffee table, which now served as a silent reminder of the call I desperately hoped to get. “Just this once, James,” I murmured. “You should have tried harder and picked us over your job, just this once.” As the minutes turned into hours, exhaustion began to overtake me. My eyes grew heavy, the weight of my emotions grew twice as heavy, and eventually, my fatigued body yielded to a quiet hush of slumber. The following morning, I sprang up from the couch with a jerk, realizing I had spent the whole night in the sitting room. I brushed my dry face with one palm. The first thing I could immediately think of, as soon as my sight and mind became clear, was James. I grabbed my phone from the coffee table and tried calling his number once again, my fingers moving very quickly. The line rang through both times, but there was no answer from his end. "What is really going on? Or did he decide to stay back at the hospital?" I shook my head again, and for some reason, I decided to try the number for the last time while on my feet. But to my surprise and shock, I started to hear the sound of James's ringtone from the room next to the sitting room; it was coming from the guest room. "Did he come home while I was asleep?" I queried with lines on my forehead. I held out my phone like a compass, strained my ears, and followed the sound slowly till I was out of the bedroom. The sound from the ringtone got closer and closer. “What!?” I screamed. The moment I finally pulled the door to the guest room open, my face froze. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of disbelief and fury boiling inside me. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but my legs felt like lead.ISABELLA'S POVA year had passed since our wedding ceremony, and as expected, so much had changed. And this change began from where we had chosen to start a family.A towering off white mansion.It was everything we had dreamed of as a couple: It really made the experience feel like what it was called—exactly settling down.Think about the spaciousness; think about meaningful layout. It was just perfect.However, our new home was one out of many of the positive developments. My career as the “Phantom Medic” had soared in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Over the past year, I could no longer count the number of lives, performing surgeries that others deemed initially impossible had saved.My renown had grown by twice, not just as a surgeon but as an advocate. Remember the foundation I had fought so hard to establish? It had also grown to become a beacon for research into rare diseases, and that had been a deeply personal mission born out of my own health struggles... my near-death
ISABELLA'S POVThree weeks had passed, and it felt like a lifetime since everything had come together so perfectly. I was standing at the entrance of the outdoor venue of Augustine's parish, it was the same church my maternal grandfather currently attended.The garden was so, so breathtaking.The large hall adjacent to the garden was filled up with family, friends and well wishers.The groom boy, Michael, my grandparents, cheerful as always, was sitting proudly among executives from his family's company. His own family mingled with the guests, their smiles radiating pride. My parents, always a picture of grace, were seated in the front row. My dad, Elliot Harrington, was wearing a navy blue suit that complimented his tall frame, while my mother looked radiant in an elegant gown. Owen and Nathan, my loving brothers, sat beside them. Owen, always the typical charmer that he was, wore a fitted burgundy suit.While Nathan opted for a classic black tuxedo, looking more reserved than
MICHAEL’S POVMy grandparent’s large living room felt like a theater of looming judgment this afternoon.Every seat was occupied, and none of us was sitting with ease. It was like we all had fire under our buttocks.At the head of the room, Grandpa Howard sat, his large frame rigid in his high-backed chair, his normal face was a mask of barely contained rage, lips pursed, eyes narrowed. He gripped the armrests, staring at Elsa, who, as usual, was sitting in the far corner of the room; this time, she was avoiding his gaze like it would burn her alive.Her posture was stiff, hands clenched tightly in her lap, her eyes moving about in every direction but Grandpa’s.I found myself also mirroring Grandpa’s expression, the same fire in my own eyes.I could feel my parents sitting on either side of me, their faces drawn tight with disgust, eyes locked on Elsa.My mother’s lips were twisted, and my father’s fingers twitched as though ready to lash out at any moment. The only person who wasn
ISABELLA’S POVI was sitting on my couch that afternoon, my TV tuned on some spaces away. The live broadcast had been on for nearly an hour, but my focus hadn’t wavered. There on the screen was Michael, seated among the press, his expression calm but resolute, just as we had rehearsed together the night before. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, and his eyes were sharp. Michael sat in the center of the long table, surrounded by journalists whose pens moved rapidly across their notepads, eager to catch every word.His posture was upright, shoulders squared, but I could of course feel the tension he bore.I leaned forward on the couch as Michael began speaking, his voice strong and unwavering despite the gravity of what he was about to expose."After months of working with Robert Carlisle, I’ve uncovered disturbing truths." Michael began, his voice steady but his eyes darkening with emotion."I discovered that he’s been altering the properties of our product to make it more addict
GENERAL POVOwen stood in front of the full-length mirror, tightening his tie with slow, deliberate movements. His reflection stared back.He brushed a few wrinkles from his collar, muttering under his breath, ticking off the list of meetings and cover-ups waiting for him at the office. After some time of thinking about the office and where he had to be, the same old thoughts crept back, uninvited and heavy.The same old sense of discomfort he had tried to bury for days now…his tangled feelings for Claire.Came yet again.However, his thought pattern was a little different this time.For reasons he couldn't explain, the scene from that fateful night replayed in his head.He had gone to meet her, intent on laying everything out his feelings, urge to speak his mind only to find her in the VIP section, lips locked with another man. Owen had frozen, his eyes startled and alarmed.But thinking about it now, what had haunted him more than the betrayal was actually her reaction. Claire ha
ISABELLA'S POVI sat at the edge of my couch, my mind a storm of thoughts.It's been three days. Three days since I’d stormed out of Scarlett’s place, a trip of reconciliation that had quickly developed into something else I didn't bargain for.Now, it was followed by her trying to reach out to me, forwarding. desperate and pleading in the text messages...I had ignored them all, as if refusing to acknowledge them would make the gnawing suspicion less real.My gaze drifted out of the window. Inside me, there was only a deepening gloom. The things I had seen that day, the contracts with Xander, strange inconsistencies in Scarlett’s defense—it had all begun to fester like an open wound.No, something isn’t right. The words escaped my lips in a low murmur, barely audible.I needed answers. And I needed them now. I picked up my phone, quickly dialing Claire’s number and agitation in my veins.“Good morning, Dr. Isabella,” Claire’s voice greeted me, bright and efficient as always.“Morn
MICHAEL’S POV The moment I stepped into the club,music hit me, vibrating floors dim lights, charged atmosphere…name it. I paused just inside the entrance, scanning the room casually, my eyes adjusting to the low lighting as I searched for Owen. We had agreed to meet here. The club was one of those exclusive spots, packed with people who knew they were being watched but pretended otherwise. As I looked around, I saw a few groups clustered in private booths, laughter merged with the hum of conversation, while some others wriggled their tiny waists on the dance floor. Taking a breath, I made my way in, walking slowly and moving through the crowd, my hands brushing past people’s shoulders. Owen would be waiting in the VIP section, and I needed not to rush to get there. However, the urgency of what brought me drove me. The VIP area was cordoned off by a velvet rope, guarded by a bouncer who gave me a curt nod of recognition before unhooking the rope. I slipped past without a
ISABELLA'S POVNathan had shared with me how Scarlett had been visiting him of late, lingering too long at his door, just enough to stir old wounds. And even reaching out to the estate security personnel whenever he wasn't around. At least it showed a level of desperation on her part. And that was why I was on my way there today.Despite the hurt, part of me hoped we could still talk this out. Even though restoring her back into his life wouldn't be all that possible.But we could still arrive at something that works. Just like James and I had done.After all, we had been friends for years. All I wanted was a hint of remorse from her, an acknowledgment of the line she had crossed.As I parked in front of the gallery, the emptiness of the space mirrored the hollow feeling in my chest. The lights were off, the windows dark, and not a soul in sight. I stood for a moment, staring at the locked door, a quiet sigh escaping my lips. So, she wasn’t here. And perhaps indoors or something
GENERAL POVOwen pushed the door to his apartment and entered.He shut the door softly behind him, pausing for a second, as though leaving the world outside was not quite enough.He moved with slow, deliberate steps, crossing the room with a weariness that had become second nature to him over the past few days.His face was hard to read; his brows were slightly drawn, lost in thought.When Owen reached his bedroom, he stopped at the center of the room, standing there as though uncertain of what to do next.His eyes were scanning the space, landing on nothing in particular, and for a long moment, he didn’t move.The room felt too big, too empty. It swallowed him whole.With a heavy sigh, his hand reached up to undo the buttons of his shirt, one by one, slowly. The fabric fell away from his body, and he carelessly tossed it onto the bed. He stood shirtless and then made to sit down on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped loosely as his head hung low.For day
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments