Chapter 1583
No.1
He looked up at her, his big eyes wide and hopeful. "Really? I'm not a jinx?"
"Of course not," she assured him, stroking his cheek. "You are the best. Promise me you will never be sad because of what other people say. You live for yourself. Remember that. One day, when you are strong and powerful, they will regret ever saying those things."
"Yes, Mommy! I promise!" he chirped, his usual cheerfulness flooding back. A bright, adorable smile spread across his face.
"That's my boy. Now, finish your homework. You can write all about Daddy and Mommy. For the part about Grandpa and Grandma... just write a little. It's okay."
"Okay, Mom!" He wriggled out of her embrace and scampered back to the table, pencil in hand.
Her heart ached as she watched him.
He was only five. Yet he was diligently tackling fourth-grade work during his summer break. She had assumed all Blackwood children were born with silver spoons.
She never imagined Christopher, a Blackwood, would lack a mother's love. Let alone face such cruelty from his own grandparents.
The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart felt.
No.2
'It must be because of his condition. I need to talk to Nathaniel.'
"Mommy is going to get some fruit for you. You keep working, alright?" she said, heading for the stairs.
She found Nathaniel in his study. He was focused intently on his work at the large desk. His expression was serious, his gaze sharp.
She paused, momentarily captivated. It was the first time she'd seen him emanate such a solemn, powerful aura. His beauty wasn't just in his features, but in the intense light of his concentration.
He looked up as she knocked gently on the doorframe. "Come in," he invited.
Isabella stepped into the study and settled onto the plush leather sofa.
She met Nathaniel’s gaze directly. “I want to talk about Oliver’s grandparents,” she began. “He’s mentioned things to me. It sounds like they don’t approve of him. I believe his seizures might be connected to that emotional distress. To truly help him heal, we need to address the pain he’s carrying inside.”
Logically, a child conceived through IVF surrogacy would still be a Blackwood. He would still be their grandchild. There was no reason for such deep-seated animosity.
Nathaniel’s expression darkened instantly. The world believed Oliver was a surrogate child, but he knew the painful truth.
No.3
Five years ago, under the influence of a powerful drug, he had spent a night with a mysterious girl at The Grand Monarch hotel.
High society deemed the incident a sordid scandal. His grandparents and parents were utterly disgusted by the unknown woman he had been with.
He could still vividly recall her: fragile, sweet, and trembling like a frightened dove. He had been completely captivated.
Afterward, he had searched for her relentlessly. He turned the city upside down. His efforts yielded nothing.
He found Oliver later that same year, during a bitterly cold winter. The infant was in a morgue, his breathing faint. Nathaniel’s heart shattered. He brought the baby home. Oliver clung to life inside an incubator.
A subsequent blood transfusion confirmed the shocking truth: Oliver was his biological son.
Nathaniel was certain the girl from that night was the mother. She was the only one. The discovery tore the Blackwood family apart.
They viewed the sickly child as a burden. They believed his mother was a curse. Some were convinced it was a calculated scheme to exploit the Blackwood fortune.
The Blackwoods were pillars of aristocracy. Oliver’s existence was seen as a stain on their legacy. The family pressured Nathaniel relentlessly to send the boy away, overseas.
No.4
He fought them all, defiant. He kept Oliver by his side. This was the reason he now avoided the family estate entirely.
Isabella’s question left him speechless. Should he confess that Oliver was his biological son? Should he reveal the truth about that night and the other woman?
Would she be able to accept his past? The fear that the truth would make her despise him was paralyzing.
“It’s nothing serious,” he finally said, his voice tight. He took a slow sip of coffee. “They are just traditional. They disapprove of the concept of IVF. Oliver has had seizures since infancy. They see it as a bad omen.”
‘Is that all?’ Isabella frowned, unconvinced. “Mr. Blackwood, you must resolve this. It’s difficult enough for a child to grow up without a mother. Having his own family reject him is too heavy a burden for a young heart. A child needs a real family, not just a father.”
Nathaniel nodded slowly. “You’re right, Ms. Montgomery. I will speak with them. I will try to change their minds.”
Isabella trusted he would keep his word. Satisfied, she left to prepare a fruit platter for Oliver.
The moment the door closed, Nathaniel’s composure broke.
A wave of anxiety crashed over him.
No.5
‘What if Isabella discovers my past? Will she still look at me the same way?’
‘What if she finds out about that girl? What will I do?’
Tormented by doubt, he picked up his phone. His fingers moved quickly, sending a message on WhatsApp.
Nathaniel's message flashed on Dominic's screen. (Locate that girl. Immediately.)
He needed to identify her. Compensation had to be arranged. A guarantee she would vanish from his world forever.
His, and Isabella’s.
That woman might try to win his family over. She could charm them into accepting Oliver quickly. Earn their affection and trust.
He refused to entertain the thought. Nathaniel opened his social media and uploaded several photos of Christopher.
“Whoa! What’s this, Bro? Your feed’s been dead for years. Now this?” Sebastian’s surprised text popped up.
No.6
Notifications flooded in instantly.
(Oliver is so big now! Adorable!) Aunt Beatrice commented.
(He’s Nathaniel’s miniature copy. Sigh. If only his mother was Vivienne.) Mrs. Blackwood wrote.
[Stop shaming the family with these photos!] Mr. Blackwood’s comment was sharp.
Nathaniel muted the alerts. He returned to his work.
Morning arrived swiftly.
Isabella rose from bed. Christopher still slept soundly.
Today’s bridal shoot was at Greenwish Park. After that, she planned to visit The Ritz-Carlton. The investigation into that night five years ago awaited.
She kissed Oliver’s soft cheek. Slipped out quietly. Nathaniel followed her.
No.7
“Look after Momo. Tell him I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon,” Isabella said.
“I’ll have Dominic drive you.” Nathaniel reached for his phone.
“It’s fine. Just a short shoot. I’ll take my Kawasaki.” She moved toward the door.
He walked her to the garage. “Drive safely,” he advised before she left.
“Don’t worry. I handle roads well. Take good care of Momo.” She secured her helmet. Pulled away from the estate.
She glanced in her rearview mirror. A small smile touched her lips.
Having someone see her off felt strangely nice.
“Assign covert protection for her. I’ll handle The Grand Monarch investigation alone today,” Nathaniel instructed Dominic after she disappeared from view.
“Understood, Sir.”