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Gabriel could not give Isla his heart. He knew it, and she knew it too. Yet, he could not let her go either.

It was not love that chained him to her, but fear. Fear of the one man everyone in the Wyndham family feared: his grandfather, Alfred Wyndham.

Alfred might have been old, but age had not softened him. He was powerful, and terrifying. Even Gabriel’s father, John, bowed before him. And, just like his grandson, Alfred loved Isla deeply. To him, she was the perfect wife for Gabriel—the only woman who had managed to win his affection.

If Alfred ever found out that Isla had filed for divorce, Gabriel did not even want to imagine what the old man would do.

That night, after work, Gabriel rushed home and went straight into Isla’s bedroom. But the room was empty. Her suitcase was gone.

A knot tightened in his chest. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

“Switched off.”

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room.

“Where are you, Isla?” he muttered under his breath.

His body wasn't just shaking, he was trembling with fear.

He tried again. This time it rang, but there was no answer. Again. And again. Until frustration boiled inside him.

“What game are you playing, Isla?”

Before he could redial, his phone rang. Without checking who it was, he picked up immediately.

“Gabby, where are you?” The sweet, delicate voice belonged to Delphine. “I need your help. I think I sprained my leg. It's swollen.”

Gabriel froze. “What? How did that happen? …Never mind. I’m coming right away.”

He forgot all about Isla at that moment. The thought of Delphine in pain pulled him away instantly. Without hesitation, he scurried out of the mansion.

***

Meanwhile, in Teriporto, Isla was settling into her new life.

She had reconnected with people she once knew. And she built small networks again, and even took her first bold step into business.

She had purchased a batch of uncut diamonds, hiring a skilled local craftsman who specialized in shaping and polishing rough stones. Slowly, she began creating her first pieces of jewelry.

What made this possible was a secret she had carried for years: her savings.

Isla had quietly saved a fortune. Not only did Gabriel transfer monthly allowances into her account, but the Wyndham family also had a tradition—every family member, by blood or by marriage, received a monthly stipend directly from the family trust. It was generous, almost excessive. Since her marriage, Isla had been a beneficiary too. And, on like others, she had barely touched a coin.

Now, all that money was fueling her dream.

Her phone buzzed, and she answered quickly.

“Yes?”

“Your earrings are sold out,” the voice on the other end informed her. “We already have more orders waiting.”

Isla’s heart leapt. She pressed her hand to her chest, as if to hold the joy inside.

“Thank you. I’ll call you back,” she said, her voice trembling with excitement.

The moment she ended the call, she sat on the edge of her bed and whispered to herself, “This is it. This is the beginning.”

She had not expected success to come this soon. She thought her first pieces might take months to sell, but they had already found buyers. It felt like a sign.

Her celebration was cut short when her phone rang again. This time, it was her mother.

“Honey,” Diana’s lively voice filled the line, “I want to invite you and Gabriel for dinner this weekend. I have good news to share with you and your sisters.”

Isla stiffened. She hated conversations like this. “Mom, I’m busy this weekend. And so is Gabriel. He’s going on a business trip. If you could just tell me now—”

“No.” Her mother will not have it. “If Gabriel is busy, you can still come. No excuses.” She hung up before Isla could protest.

Isla tossed the phone onto the bed with a sigh. “What is she up to now?”

She knew her mother well. Diana loved to show off, especially with her daughters’ marriages. She had married her daughters into wealthy families and flaunted it like her greatest achievement. To her, Isla’s marriage into the Wyndham family was her brightest jewel.

But Isla had always hated that. It was why she had promised herself never to choose a man the way her mother did. Yet life had cornered her, and she ended up marrying Gabriel. And now… now she regrets it with every breath.

Her mind drifted back to the divorce. She had not heard from her lawyer yet, but she assumed Gabriel had already signed the papers. She prayed he would not dare to involve Alfred Wyndham. That would only make things worse.

Perhaps, she thought, going home to Carminton might not be so bad. Her parents still did not know she had left Gabriel. Maybe she could face them, pretend for one weekend, and then quietly see her lawyer on Monday. At least that way, she could check on the progress of the divorce.

***

On Friday, Isla headed to the airport to catch her flight. The air buzzed with noise and the sound of rolling suitcases.

Just as she was about to enter the terminal, she noticed a stir ahead. Several men in black suits were running, securing the path.

Curious, Isla followed their direction with her eyes. And then she stilled.

It was Gabriel.

He is in Teriporto. And he was surrounded by four bodyguards. But what made Isla’s heart sink was not the guards. It was Delphine.

Delphine walked beside him, holding his hand, her face glowing as though she belonged to him. Gabriel did not pull away. He did not even look uncomfortable.

The crowd around them began to murmur.

“That’s Gabriel Wyndham… and the love of his life.”

“I heard her best friend betrayed her,” another voice whispered. “She seduced him into marriage.”

“They look perfect together. I’m so jealous,” someone else added.

Isla’s stomach twisted. She turned quickly, walking in the opposite direction, her face burning.

Even here, in Teriporto, people knew about Gabriel and Delphine. Their story had become a gossip, a tale whispered among strangers.

Now Isla was sure of one thing: she had made the right decision.

Once the divorce was final, she would finally be free.