Chapter 1220
No.1
Nathaniel Blackwood sat in his office at the top floor of Blackwood Corporation.
He held a document listing thirty-seven names.
Thirty-six were female staff from The Grand Monarch hotel.
The investigation results were clear.
All thirty-six women had fantasies about touching Nathaniel.
They were obsessed with him, his suite, even his bed.
They had rolled on the sheets where he slept.
That explained why their DNA was found there.
Thirty-six different women had slept in Nathaniel's bed over the years.
Sebastian tried to comfort him.
"Don't worry. I've already ordered their termination."
He flipped to the final page nervously.
"Look at this last person."
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed.
The name on the last page was Sophia Whitmore.
That name hadn't crossed his mind in over a decade.
No.2
When Nathaniel was eighteen, he attended Westchester University.
He was the wealthiest heir in the city.
She was a scholarship student from a poor family.
Sophia was delicate, fragile like a flower.
Yet she persevered, working multiple part-time jobs.
It was the first time Nathaniel encountered someone so determined despite poverty.
Out of sympathy, he helped her a few times.
She became one of the few women he allowed close.
His family assumed they were in a relationship.
They paid her five million to leave the country.
Sophia was forced to abandon her education and dreams.
Nathaniel always felt guilty about what happened.
He tried to find her for years to make amends.
But she had vanished completely.
Over time, he pushed the memory aside.
He never formed any special connections with other women.
No.3
Until five years ago.
Sebastian watched his brother's reaction anxiously.
"Bro, what do you think? Sophia must have returned to Westchester."
"We just haven't located her yet."
"If Christopher is really her son..."
Nathaniel's expression darkened.
He had considered many possibilities.
But never that Sophia would reappear after ten years.
If she was the woman from that night five years ago...
Sebastian paced the room nervously.
"Damn it... Even you're speechless!"
"What if it's confirmed? What then?"
"I've invested so much effort helping you win Isabella."
"If your relationship falls apart because of this, I'll suffer the consequences."
Whenever Nathaniel was unhappy, Oliver became upset.
Then Oliver would complain to Uncle Sebastian.
No.4
When Nathaniel was happy, Sebastian felt like a third wheel.
When Nathaniel was upset, Sebastian bore the brunt.
Life was so unfair.
Nathaniel's gaze sharpened on Sophia's name.
"It's not a big deal."
Sebastian stared blankly. "Huh?"
Nathaniel closed the folder decisively.
"Find Sophia. Verify if it's really her."
"I'll handle the rest."
His feelings for Sophia were only pity and sympathy back then.
With a faint admiration for her resilience.
When he learned she was forced away, guilt consumed him.
But he had fought hard to win Isabella's heart.
Why would he abandon Isabella for Sophia now?
Of course...
If Isabella discovered his history with Sophia, would she be angry?
No.5
Would she despise him for it?
A dark thought took root in Nathaniel's mind. He turned to Sebastian with grim determination. "Keep this entire matter from Isabella. She must not know."
He couldn't risk anything before making her his wife.
Sebastian frowned deeply. "Brother... You're planning to conceal this from Isabella?"
"It's not concealment. I'll address it when the time is right." He would handle everything appropriately.
Nathaniel gave Sebastian's shoulder a firm pat before walking out. Sebastian felt uneasy but hoped his brother could manage the situation before Isabella discovered the truth.
Neither man noticed the figure hiding in the bathroom.
Vivienne.
She had come to Nathaniel's office that morning hoping to negotiate. Those photos of him with Isabella were her bargaining chips to force their separation.
The sudden arrival of both brothers forced her into hiding. But her eavesdropping rewarded her with explosive information.
Nathaniel was still searching for the woman from five years ago.
And that woman was likely Sophia Whitmore.
Jealousy burned through Vivienne at the thought of that penniless girl. Born into poverty, Sophia had been all doe-eyed vulnerability and pathetic weakness. Exactly the type to ensnare men's souls.
Vivienne despised her.
She had grown up with Nathaniel since childhood. Shared sandboxes and childhood dreams. Yet he never once looked at her with interest.
Worse, he had grown inexplicably close to Sophia when he turned eighteen.
No.6
She had conspired with Beatrice Blackwood to send Sophia away years ago. Never expecting her return.
Was she truly at The Grand Monarch five years ago?
If the woman he slept with was Sophia... then she would be Oliver's mother...
Vivienne's fists clenched tightly. Sophia took the five million and left Westchester. Yet she bore Nathaniel's child?
The more she thought, the more Oliver's watery eyes resembled Sophia's!
Rage simmered within her.
But her assistant Cassandra quickly intervened. "Madam, please remain calm. This is actually beneficial. Consider what Isabella would do upon discovering Sophia's existence?"
Vivienne gradually cooled at Cassandra's reasoning. She had a point.
Knowing Isabella's temperament, she would undoubtedly target Sophia. Even if she didn't, she would never tolerate Nathaniel keeping another woman in his heart.
Once Isabella was out of the picture... Sophia posed no threat. She was a fragile flower that could be crushed with minimal effort.
"Find Sophia," Vivienne commanded coldly. "Get to her before Sebastian does."
"Yes, Madam."
Meanwhile...
Nathaniel drove back to Rosewood Manor, memories from a decade ago flooding his mind.
Back then, Sophia was constantly bullied by wealthy university boys. No matter how they tried to buy her, she never yielded. She fought back fiercely.
Despite her powerlessness and poverty, she stood firm without wavering. He had never encountered such determination and strength in a woman.
No.7
He had pitied her then.
Those feelings faded over the past decade. He never thought of her until Sebastian's revelation today.
Would Isabella misunderstand if she learned about this?
When he arrived at Rosewood Manor, he found Isabella and Oliver playing checkers in matching cute pajamas. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over them.
The sight was breathtakingly beautiful and heartwarming.
All his doubts instantly vanished as his gaze fixed on Isabella.
Isabella’s face was bare and fresh from the shower, yet her beauty remained breathtakingly hypnotic.
Some women possessed a fleeting allure that faded with familiarity. Isabella’s was timeless.
Her radiance never dulled. Day after day, it held the same magnetic intensity.
Her eyes, especially… They glimmered like crystals drawn from ancient wells—clear, luminous, yet touched with a knowing depth. They were story-filled, compelling.
Her beauty stood in stark contrast to Sophia’s. Sophia inspired protectiveness. Isabella commanded distance.
Just then, Oliver noticed him and beamed. “Daddy! You’re home! Come say hi to the baby!”
Nathaniel frowned. Say hi to the baby?
Isabella was equally confused. “The baby in Mommy’s tummy!” Oliver chirped adorably. “I read that talking to the baby makes it smarter after birth.”
“Watch!” He turned toward Isabella’s abdomen and waved. “Hi, little sister! I’m your big brother! I’m playing checkers with Mommy now. When you come out, I’ll play with you every day! Look—Daddy’s back.”
Isabella and Nathaniel exchanged uneasy glances. Lying to a child like Oliver was a terrible mistake.