Chapter 360
No.1
Since when had she become this person? And because of Nathaniel Blackwood, of all people. The untouchable, powerful Nathaniel.
Who was he? The undisputed king of Westchester. The formidable head of the Blackwood empire.
Her own wealth paled in comparison. She possessed barely a fraction of his assets.
What if he discovered the truth about her past? The events five years ago? Would his kindness remain? Would he still look at her with that intensity?
She stared at the large box in her hands. After a long moment, she pulled out her phone and texted her private banker.
(Transfer ten billion to Nathaniel Blackwood’s account.)
(Ten billion?) came the shocked reply.
[Yes. Immediately.)
She didn’t know what came over her earlier. But now, clarity returned. Who was she to accept such an extravagant gift? She was leaving soon. It was better to owe him nothing.
Nathaniel was feeling pleased with himself until his phone buzzed with an alert.
No.2
(Your account ending XXX received 1,000,000,000…)
He frowned. Ten billion. From Isabella? She seemed fine moments ago. Why would she…?
His expression darkened.
Night fell. Oliver came to her, his small face pale. “Mommy, my head feels dizzy tonight.”
“Dizzy? I’ll take you to the hospital.” She reached for his hand, ready to leave.
“No, it’s okay,” Oliver shook his head. “It happens sometimes. Especially…a few hours before…”
His voice trailed off. Isabella’s stomach clenched. Did that mean a seizure was coming?
Nathaniel approached, his presence calming. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay with you tonight.”
“Yay!” Oliver perked up instantly. He tugged Isabella’s hand toward the bedroom, then looked back at his father. “I’m sleeping with Mommy tonight. You can watch over us from the chair.”
The chair? Watch over? Isabella’s senses went on alert. Something was definitely brewing.
No.3
Nathaniel stood rigid. “I’ll take the sofa.”
Oliver’s sobs began to shake the room. “No… no! I want Daddy to stay. I’m scared!”
Isabella pulled the trembling boy into her arms. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Mommy’s here. Daddy can watch over you from the sofa.”
“But Ethan told me he sleeps between his parents! They hold his hands and hug him all night!” Oliver’s tears soaked through Isabella’s sleeve. “Everyone laughed at me because I’ve never done that!”
His small body convulsed with each ragged breath. Isabella’s heart clenched. She’d give anything to stop his tears.
Still… sharing a bed with Nathaniel?
She attempted reason. “Oliver, research shows sleeping between adults isn’t healthy. The carbon dioxide—”
“I don’t care!” he wailed. “I’ve waited five years for this! It’s all I want!”
His crying intensified. Small shoulders shook with violent tremors. A seizure seemed imminent.
Nathaniel strode forward, his expression dark. “Oliver Blackwood. Stop this behavior.” He retrieved a wooden ruler from the drawer. “Go to sleep. Now.”
No.4
The ruler struck Oliver’s bottom with a sharp crack.
The boy jolted, crying harder. “Why are you mad? I just want what other children have!”
He choked between sobs, gasping for air. Isabella panicked. She couldn’t risk another medical episode.
She pulled him close, shooting Nathaniel a sharp look. “He’s sleeping with us tonight.”
Nathaniel’s brow furrowed. “That’s not appropriate—”
“Since when are you so proper? Get on the bed.” Her tone brooked no argument.
After a tense pause, Nathaniel relented. “Fine.”
He moved to the far side of the bed. Isabella settled Oliver between them, stroking his back. “No more tears, my brave boy. Mommy and Daddy are here. You need to stay healthy for us, alright?”
Oliver’s tears vanished. A radiant smile spread across his face as he snuggled against her.
The three of them lay in uneasy proximity. Thankfully, Oliver served as a barrier. His well-being outweighed her discomfort.
No.5
Isabella wasn’t bound by convention. Her son’s peace mattered most.
She switched off the lights. Moonlight spilled through the window, softening the room’s edges.
Oliver’s breathing soon steadied into sleep’s gentle rhythm. Nathaniel watched Isabella through the silver light, a faint smile touching his lips before he closed his eyes.
Isabella’s eyes snapped open in the darkness.
What had she just agreed to?
They lay together like a proper family. The intimacy of it unnerved her.
She had made the firm decision to pull away from Nathaniel just this afternoon too.
Isabella’s mind began to churn. Wasn’t this all a little too convenient? Oliver said he was dizzy, and then Nathaniel walked in and struck him with that stick.
Amid the tangled thoughts, something clicked into place. Nathaniel’s acting was simply too convincing. He staged this whole scene with his own son… just to get into her bed? Strangely, the realization didn’t anger her. She couldn’t even muster the will to be truly upset. If this continued, things would inevitably escalate between them.
Isabella’s eyes narrowed as she reached a critical decision. She would tell him the truth. He would find out eventually, and she despised living a lie.
No.6
She carefully rehearsed the words in her head, clenching her fists tightly. “Nathaniel,” she confessed, her voice low but clear, “Don’t fall for me. Nothing can ever happen between us. Five years ago, I was… I had a baby.”
A heavy weight seemed to lift from her chest the moment the words left her lips, yet a sharp, persistent ache took its place in her heart.
She was certain this confession would shatter whatever feelings he had for her. This was the end. Their story was over before it ever truly began.
Isabella slowly closed her eyes, bracing for his reaction. She waited. And waited. But the only response was a profound, deafening silence. The room was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat.
Frowning, she turned her head to look at him. In the silvery moonlight, his eyes were shut, his brow smooth and untroubled. His expression was peaceful, his breathing deep and even.
He was asleep. He had fallen asleep that fast?
After she had gathered every ounce of her courage to reveal her deepest secret… he was sleeping.
A wave of pure fury washed over her. He had no idea how much it had cost her to say those words, and he… he just slept!
Forget it. Maybe it was fate. They would talk tomorrow. Remembering the Celestial Gala tomorrow night, she forced herself to push down her anger and try to sleep.
Morning light filtered into the room. Isabella opened her eyes to the sight of a bare, sculpted chest. The scent was clean and distinctly masculine.
No.7
Wait. What was this?
Why was she curled into Nathaniel’s arm, her head nestled against his chest?
Where was Oliver? Hadn’t he been sleeping between them? How did this happen?
And more importantly, where was Oliver now?