Chapter 1824
No.1
The scene felt instantly welcoming, wrapping Isabella in a comforting sense of belonging.
Nathaniel spotted her and rose immediately, guiding her toward the table. “Mommy, come sit with us. Let’s have dinner.”
Isabella shook off her daze. She followed Oliver to the left side of the long dining table and settled into her chair.
Nathaniel sat directly opposite. “I hope these simple dishes are to your liking,” he offered.
Dominic, standing discreetly outside, nearly groaned. Simple? The entire villa staff had been stretched to their limits!
Nathaniel had planned this menu two days prior. It featured rare ingredients and complex techniques worthy of a three-Michelin-star establishment. The list was exquisite.
He’d even flown in a renowned chef from Paris specifically for the occasion.
But then, just an hour ago, Nathaniel called. He demanded the chef pivot entirely to humble, home-cooked meals.
All the live musicians were promptly sent away.
No.2
Seeing Isabella’s quiet melancholy, Nathaniel understood. She didn’t need grandeur; she needed the warmth of a home. So, he changed everything.
This was his first time ever preparing a homely meal for a woman. A flicker of anxiety stirred within him.
What if she disliked it?
Isabella’s eyes scanned the spread. “I love it. Thank you for going through all this trouble after your long day. Here, Oliver, have a drumstick.”
She served her son as she spoke, the mood softening around them.
Oliver beamed. “Thanks, Mommy! You have some too. The pork knuckle is good for your skin, helps with collagen.”
“You’ve lost weight recently. You need to build your strength back,” Nathaniel stated, placing a piece of braised chicken in her bowl.
Oliver suddenly remembered something. He added a generous portion of greens to her plate. “You need vitamins too, Mommy. Eat your vegetables for balanced nutrition!”
Her bowl was overflowing in seconds.
No.3
“Okay, that’s plenty. You eat now, Oliver,” she said gently.
“Hehe, okay.” Oliver happily dug into his food.
A serene peace settled over the room. The air itself felt warmer. Though from utterly different worlds, in that moment, they felt like a complete family.
Savoring the delicious food while watching Oliver’s cheerful, round face, Isabella felt her heavy burdens lift.
Who cared about Eleanor, Victoria, or the rest of her complicated family? Nothing compared to having her son right beside her.
Isabella unconsciously finished two full servings.
For years, she’d been consumed by work and her plans for revenge. Meals were merely functional, just fuel to survive. It had been so long since she’d enjoyed eating like this.
Oliver finished his meal, gave a small burp, and rubbed his eyes. “I’m so full and sleepy. I think I’ll go take a nap.”
Before Isabella could respond, he scampered off.
No.4
Isabella saw right through it. The little schemer was deliberately leaving her alone with Nathaniel. What a clever boy.
The dining hall grew quiet. Nathaniel broke the silence. “There’s a rooftop garden upstairs with a view of the city. Would you like to see it?”
Isabella remembered she needed to talk to him anyway. She nodded. “Let’s go.”
She followed him into the elevator, arriving moments later on the nineteenth floor.
A vast five-hundred-square-meter open-air terrace had been transformed into a serene lotus pond.
The lotus leaves were a vibrant green, and the flowers bloomed magnificently under the midsummer sky.
Isabella tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, mentally organizing her words.
It should be simple. She wasn’t one to drag things out.
Yet, for some reason, the words stuck in her throat.
No.5
Suddenly, Nathaniel reached out and took her hand.
Isabella instinctively tried to pull back, but Nathaniel’s grip tightened. “Relax. I’m taking you to the balcony.”
He led the way, her hand still enclosed in his.
The pond was designed with stone pathways that arched just above the water, weaving through the blooming lotuses.
She didn’t dare struggle, afraid she might accidentally pull them both into the water. She allowed him to guide her toward the garden’s edge.
They stopped at the railing. The night air was cool against their skin. Below, the city glittered with countless lights. Above, the sky was a blanket of stars. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The atmosphere felt intimate, almost dreamlike.
Against her will, Isabella found herself drawn into the moment. But she knew it couldn’t last.
She forced her eyes away, mentally rehearsing what she needed to say.
Just then, Nathaniel turned abruptly. His gaze was intense, direct. “Isabella,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I can give you a home.”
No.6
His words, carried on the breeze, made her heart stutter.
A home.
Was this a proposal?
It wasn’t the first time he’d expressed his feelings. Letting this continue was dangerous.
She pulled her hand from his, her expression turning serious. “Mr. Blackwood, don’t you investigate a person’s past before developing feelings for them?” Her pregnancy had been a well-kept secret, explained away as a prolonged illness and a trip to Africa. But a man of Nathaniel’s resources could uncover it if he tried.
“I’m drawn to who you are now,” he replied. “Your past doesn’t change that.”
“What if I told you I’ve killed someone?” she challenged. “Or that I was once pregnant? That I have a child out there somewhere?”
His brow furrowed slightly. A shadow crossed his features. Isabella braced for his disgust. A man of his stature would surely recoil.
Instead, his expression cleared. “If you killed someone, they must have deserved it. I’d help you finish the job. And a child?” A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. “That would mean I get an instant family. Oliver would have a sibling to play with.”
No.7
Isabella was speechless. Did he think this was a joke?
“I’m being serious, Nathaniel.”
“So am I,” he stated, his face completely earnest. She stared, utterly stunned.
Was he? Did he truly mean he wouldn’t care? Even about murder? Even about another man’s child?
It seemed impossible. He must believe she was testing him. She drew a sharp breath, gathering her resolve. “Nathaniel, there’s something I need to tell you. Now is the time. We can’t be together because, five years ago—”
“Mr. Blackwood! Sir!”
Dominic’s frantic voice cut through the night as he sprinted toward them. “It’s Oliver! Something’s wrong!”
Nathaniel’s posture snapped to attention. “What happened?”
“He’s having seizures!” Dominic gasped, his face pale. “Violent ones!”