Chapter 1959
No.1
Instead... it died.
It died in her womb before taking its first breath.
Mocked by everyone.
She later heard the infant was the size of a kitten when removed.
It was covered in bruises.
It was wrapped in a trash bag and discarded in the mortuary.
No one cared.
The memory was a sharp blade piercing Isabella’s heart.
She could barely breathe from the agony.
No.2
The five-year-old wound felt as fresh as yesterday.
What Alexander and Victoria felt now was nothing compared to her pain.
She had been innocent. She had harmed no one.
They deserved every bit of this punishment.
This was meant to be a celebration.
But all she could see was herself on that stretcher.
Her stillborn child inside her.
Her heart felt wrenched, squeezed impossibly tight.
Isabella left the hotel.
No.3
A black car waited quietly outside.
It was Nathaniel’s car.
Had he been waiting for her this whole time?
The car door swung open.
Oliver’s small face appeared in the gap. “Mommy! Mommy, come quick! The reporters are swarming this way—they’ll trap you for interviews!”
Isabella snapped back to reality.
She quickly slipped inside the vehicle.
Dominic was in the driver’s seat.
Nathaniel sat in the back.
No.4
Oliver occupied the middle.
Judging by their positions, it was clear they hadn’t left.
They had waited for her the whole time.
A sharp pang shot through Isabella’s heart as she remembered her stillborn child.
She turned her gaze toward Oliver.
Overcome with emotion, she pulled him into a tight embrace. “Are you okay, Mommy?” Oliver asked, his voice small.
“It’s nothing… Let me hold you for a bit,” Isabella murmured.
She buried her face in the curve of his shoulder and shut her eyes.
She needed to calm down.
No.5
Holding Oliver’s soft, warm little body worked like magic on her frayed nerves.
Nathaniel’s expression darkened slightly.
Was the boy’s shoulder more comfortable than his?
Lately, he found himself growing increasingly jealous of his own son.
The kid was nothing but trouble.
Isabella held Oliver for a long moment.
She thought about how her own baby would have been his age if he had survived.
But that was all in the past.
She had to cherish Oliver now.
No.6
At least this child hadn’t been born into a world of pain and suffering.
After a while, she slowly released him, feeling somewhat soothed.
“Thank you, Momo. Your shoulder is so warm… it’s magical.”
“Really? Then anytime Mommy feels sad, she can hug me! Always!” Oliver chirped, nuzzling into her arms.
Nathaniel scowled at the sight. “Come here.”
“Huh? Why?” Oliver whined.
“Safety first. No horsing around in the car,” Nathaniel said sternly.
Isabella immediately understood.
She quickly settled Oliver back into his middle seat and fastened his seatbelt.
No.7
Oliver huffed. “Just admit you’re jealous, Daddy! You’re jealous because Mommy hugged me! Admit it! You’re jealous!”
Both Nathaniel and Isabella fell silent at his outburst.
The atmosphere in the car grew tense again.
Isabella replayed the events in her mind.
Oliver had a point.
It did seem to make sense.
Was Nathaniel actually jealous of his own son?
A strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred inside her.
Five years ago, Alexander had despised her.