Semua Bab His Betrayal, His Regret: Bab 361 - Bab 370

Emerson’s POVThe drive home was a blur of thoughts, punctuated only by Liam’s excited chatter from the backseat. “I’m so excited Mommy’s back! When will she come home, Daddy?”I gripped the steering wheel tightly, forcing my voice to stay even. “I’m not sure, bud.”“But she will, right? She has to,” he insisted, his wide-eyed innocence cutting straight to the heart of my turmoil.I wanted to tell him yes, to reassure him that everything would fall into place. But I couldn’t. Not when Isabel was so stubbornly distant, so determined to keep herself—and even Liam—away from me.Liam didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. He launched into a cheerful monologue about Elena. How funny and brave she was, and how he promised to protect her forever. His excitement was infectious, yet I found myself struggling to focus.Isabel’s image was seared into my mind. The fierce determination in her ocean eyes. The way her voice cut through the chaos with sharp clarity. The softness that only surfaced when

Isabel’s POVMy secretary’s words left me staring at the receiver for several moments, my thoughts an unruly mess. Emerson. At work. The very idea of dealing with him in a professional capacity churned my stomach. He’d always been controlling, always found a way to worm himself into parts of my life I’d hoped to keep separate. And now, even my sanctuary at work wasn’t immune. I sighed heavily. “Miss?” my secretary’s voice broke through my haze.“Who agreed to cooperate with Mr. Williams?” I asked, my voice tight with irritation.“Mr. Eric Sullivan signed the contract, ma’am. It seemed like an excellent opportunity, and the terms were favorable,” she explained, her tone professional but slightly wary.Of course, Uncle Eric didn’t know the details about Emerson and me. He had no reason to suspect there might be underlying issues. And if I refused this cooperation, I’d likely have to explain more than I wanted to. My initial instinct was to shut it down immediately. But then the secret

Isabel’s POVI straightened my spine, forcing a calmness I didn’t feel as I met Emerson’s gaze. “That’ll be unnecessary. I can take care of both children perfectly well on my own.”His lips curved into a faint smile, but the glint in his eyes was anything but benign. “I’m sure you can,” he said, his tone laced with faux admiration. “But Liam’s safety is my priority.”The solemn expression he wore, as if he were some selfless protector, nearly made me laugh. Emerson was as cunning as ever, playing his cards so skillfully that it was hard not to be infuriated. But Liam’s hopeful eyes pinned me in place. The thought of disappointing him stung more than I wanted to admit.Taking a deep breath, I straightened further, masking my irritation with composure. “Fine,” I said finally. “We can have lunch at my home.”As I moved past Emerson, I let my shoulder brush his deliberately, leaning in just enough to whisper, “You’d better behave yourself.”He didn’t flinch. Instead, he tilted his head, w

Isabel’s POVThe audacity of his request left me speechless. I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh and admit it was a joke. He didn’t.“Are you serious?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.He nodded. “Liam misses you. He deserves to have both of his parents in his life, under one roof. This isn’t about us, Isabel. It’s about him.”I clenched my jaw, my mind racing. His words sounded noble, but I knew better. Emerson never did anything without an ulterior motive.“You think I’m going to fall for that?” I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. “You’re using Liam as an excuse to manipulate me.”He didn’t deny it. Instead, he leaned forward, his gaze steady. “I’m offering you a chance to give Liam what he needs. A stable family. Isn’t that what you want?”I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw his roses across the room and storm out. But I couldn’t. Not with Elias’s future hanging in the balance.I stared at him, half in disbelief, half in frustration. He was leaning casua

Isabel’s POV“Miss Isabel, Mr. Williams is here to see you.”The maid’s voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. I rubbed my temples, pushing away the lingering unease from my restless night. Right. Today was the day. Moving day.I forced myself into action, heading to my dressing room to change into something presentable. As I descended the stairs, Emerson stood waiting in the foyer, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He greeted me with a broad smile that only added to my irritation. He looked happier than I’d seen him in ages. As if he’d won the lottery.In stark contrast, the dark circles under my eyes must’ve been glaringly obvious. His smile faltered as his gaze lingered on my face. “You didn’t sleep well, did you?” he asked, his tone soft but perceptive.“That’s none of your concern,” I snapped, brushing past him.Unfazed, he followed me. “Is everything packed?”“No,” I replied curtly. “You’re early.”He tilted his head, his expression almost smug. “I’ve already take