Chapter 5

Isabelle

I stared out the car window, watching the city’s edges blur into the distance. The bright morning sun warmed my face, but inside, I felt cold, empty. Just hours ago, I’d been discharged from the hospital.

A sense of pressure clawed its way up my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Was it fear? Fear of the unknown? Because nothing seemed to make sense to me anymore. Just a few days ago my world was good, almost perfect. But it came crashing down so suddenly that everything had felt surreal. Like my past never existed.

Adrian’s hand rested casually on the steering wheel, his eyes on the road but his presence filling the cramped space between us. I swallowed hard and broke the silence.

“Where are you taking me?” My voice was quieter than I expected. But my gaze held suspicion.

“To somewhere safe,” he answered simply, not glancing at me.

I turned to look at him, suspicion sharp in my voice. “Safe? And why exactly should I trust you? You show up like some shadow from nowhere, and now I’m supposed to just follow you?”

His jaw tightened. “You don’t really have a choice, Isabelle.”

I clenched my fists, biting back a retort. I wanted to be angry, to push him away, but I was too tired, too drained. The truth was, I didn’t have anyone else. No family, no friends here, no one.

The city dissolved behind us as we drove into quieter streets. The silence between us hung like a cloud, but the noise in my mind was too loud for me to bother about it.

I couldn't still believe the doctor's words. How could I possibly be pregnant? The last time I was with Jason, it was…just there, no connection whatsoever. Maybe a desperate, broken attempt to hold onto a marriage that was already slipping through my fingers. I remembered the emptiness in his eyes, the way he barely looked at me.

And now, that same coldness had left something permanent inside me. I thought about the betrayal—not just his but mine too. How could I have been so blind? How had I convinced myself love was enough?

And my cousin, my 'so-called' sister, Lila. She had broken me in the worst possible way. I didn't know if I could ever be in the same room with her without strangling her.

The car slowed, pulling up to a modest house tucked away from the world. The garden was neat, very natural.

Adrian turned to me. “This is one of my properties. You’ll be safe here. At least for now.”

I hesitated before stepping out, my legs weak beneath me. He was right. For now, this was my refuge.

Inside, the air smelled faintly of lavender. The place was quiet, almost too quiet after the chaos of the hospital. Adrian showed me to a small bathroom with a deep tub.

“Take your time,” he said, his voice softer than before.

I sank into the warm water, letting it cradle me. For the first time in days, I felt some small measure of peace. My hands trembled as they traced the curve of my belly beneath the water. The baby was there. A tiny heartbeat inside me, fragile and full of possibility.

After my bath, Adrian had left a simple meal on the kitchen table—a bowl of soup, fresh bread, and some fruit. I ate slowly, the warmth of the food grounding me.

He watched me quietly from across the room. Finally, he spoke. “What are you going to do now?”

I paused, contemplating the question carefully. I had not really thought about this. I could stay in town and try to find my feet again but how would I do that, knowing that I would bump into Jason or Lila one day? I couldn't bear to see them together, not now—not anytime soon.

I needed somewhere to clear my head. A fresh start. A new life where they never existed. Where they can never hurt me again.

“I’m going to leave this city. Start over somewhere far away. Somewhere they don’t know me.”

He nodded, neither encouraging nor judging. I liked that he respected boundaries. He didn’t pry, didn’t demand details I wasn’t ready to give.

"Have any place in mind?" He asked.

"Asheville. I'm considering it."

"Not a bad choice." He said, simply.

Adrian stayed nearby but gave me space. Sometimes he’d bring groceries, other times he’d sit with me in silence. I appreciated his quiet company more than I expected.

The second evening, we sat on the small porch, watching the sun dip behind the trees.

“Have you thought of name?” he said suddenly.

I blinked. “What name?”

“I mean, the baby.”

I laughed softly. “I don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl.”

He chuckled, bringing his gaze to meet mine. I threw my gaze over his shoulder, avoiding eye contact.

The truth was, I was terrified. Terrified I wouldn’t be strong enough. That I’d fail before I even began.

Adrian seemed to sense the shift in my mood. “You’re stronger than you think, Isabelle.”

His words settled over me, a quiet reassurance during this dark moment.

On the third morning, Adrian left early. When I woke, I found an envelope on the kitchen table. Inside was a thick wad of cash and a note written in simple, neat handwriting:

Use this to start over. Don’t look back.

I sat there, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Gratitude mingled with a sharp pang of sadness. He was gone, vanished as quietly as he’d appeared.

What did I expect? That he'd stay?

I folded the note carefully and tucked it into my purse.

That night, as I lay awake, I couldn't help but stroke my belly gently.

"Dear baby…You came at the wrong time." I cried, tears slipping out of my eyes. "But I promise to be strong for you."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hands. I couldn't be weak anymore. That version of Isabelle was over. I would rise from the ashes, stronger than ever, to claim my place at the top.

Jason. Lila. Wait for my return!