Chapter Eighteen

The woman’s eyes twinkled as she smiled. Before Nikolai knew it, he was reminded of how Isobelle’s eyes would twinkle whenever she would laugh. It’s impossible to ignore when she looks exactly like Belle. Maybe it’s his memory that is deceiving him, but the resemblance is really uncanny.

So, this is how it is supposed to be. He thought, seeing Liam talk to the woman. If only Belle had not disappeared suddenly, the three of them could have been a happy family.

“Daddy!” Liam paused talking with his teacher to call Nikolai.

He even found it harder to move now that both of them are looking in his direction.

“Come!” It was his son's cheerful voice that brought him back to reality.

The closer he was, the clearer it got. In Nikolai’s head, it is already established. This woman is Isobelle. It’s the only explanation that made sense.

“Hi. I assume you are Mr. Laurent?”

She offered her hand for a handshake.

Unlike Belle, she had much shorter hair that didn’t reach her shoulders. And her smile,