Semua Bab Reluctant Love Reckless Heir : Bab 81 - Bab 90

Isla's POVI watched Adrian’s eyes flicker, his expression torn between frustration and something I couldn't quite place. He stood there, as if he were trying to reconcile what I had said, but the truth was, I could see the conflict in him, the weight of his decisions pressing on him more than it had ever before.“I get it, Adrian,” I said quietly, almost too quietly for him to hear. “I understand that you want to be there for your son. You’ve just found him, and I know it must feel like you’ve been given a second chance. But you have to understand, I can’t just sit back and let Chloe grow up with the fear that she’ll always be the one left behind.”I swallowed hard, feeling the tremor in my voice, but I pressed on.“You don’t know what it’s like to be the second choice. I grew up feeling that way. Always pushed aside, always fighting for attention and love that never really came. I don’t want that for her, Adrian. I don’t want her to grow up feeling like she’s just waiting for her fa

Adrian’s POVI stood in the doorway, watching the scene unfold before me with a tightening in my chest. Aiden, my son, was sitting beside Chloe on the couch, his small hand gently holding hers as he whispered something to her that made her giggle softly. Chloe had finally woken up from her nap, her eyes still heavy with sleep, but the warmth of the moment between them made it seem like they had known each other forever. There was no hesitation in Aiden’s gestures, no uncertainty in the way he protected her even though they’d just met. It was natural. Instinctive, even.I felt a surge of something deep within my chest, a feeling I hadn’t fully understood before. I’d always known Aiden was mine, but seeing him so effortlessly bond with Chloe, who was also mine in ways I never expected, brought a sense of pride I couldn’t ignore. Aiden had just met his sister, but he had already started building a bridge between them. It wasn’t the bridge I had hoped for them to have one built on years o

Isla’s POVThe air was thick with tension as I stood before Adrian, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes, usually so full of resolve, were clouded with frustration. He knew something was coming, but I wasn’t sure how he would react. He had a right to be angry, no, I mean furious but this was something I had to do for Chloe. For all of us.“I’m filing for full custody of Chloe,” I said, my voice steady but laced with a firmness I didn’t even know I was capable of.Adrian’s reaction was immediate. His face hardened, his jaw clenched as if he were trying to restrain a storm inside him. He took a step forward, his presence overwhelming in the space between us. “Isla,” he began, his voice low and dangerous, “do you honestly think that’s the solution? You can’t just take her away from me, from Aiden. She’s part of this family now.”I shook my head, feeling the weight of his words. This wasn’t about taking Chloe from him. It was about ensuring her safety, protecting her from the world tha

Adrian's POVI paced the hallway, the tension in my chest tightening with every passing second. I couldn’t believe she had left. She’d taken Chloe and vanished without a word, leaving nothing but a note with a few hasty lines. My mind raced through all the possible reasons why she would have done it. Fear. Anger. Something inside of her telling her to run. I couldn't allow that to happen.I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Jack. His voice was quick to answer.“Adrian?”“Track her,” I said, my tone sharp. “I need to know where she is.”I heard him type a few commands into his system before responding, “On it.”I hung up the phone and ran a hand through my hair, frustration mounting. Aiden’s voice echoed in the background, soft but persistent, his cries punctuating the stillness. He wanted his mom. He wanted Isla.I thought about what she must be feeling right now. Fear. I could feel it in her decision to leave, even though I had tried so hard to make things work. I knew she

ISLA POV The atmosphere was light and celebratory as laughter filled the air. Naomi and Dante were sitting together, their easy rapport making it clear that they had become something more than just friends. Dante, now Naomi’s boyfriend, had managed to soften the edges of her once guarded nature. There was a light in her eyes, a peace I hadn’t seen before. They were inseparable, always joking around, teasing one another in that way only couples could.On the other side of the room, Aiden and Chloe were deep in play. The two of them, so different in age, seemed to have formed an inseparable bond. Chloe’s laughter rang out every time Aiden did something silly, and it made my heart swell to see how far the two had come. They were like siblings already, and it was a beautiful thing to witness.I sat beside Adrian, watching the children play and trying to soak in the peace of the moment. For once, everything felt right. There were no more enemies lurking in the shadows, no more battles fo