Chapter 763

No.1

She didn’t want to owe him.

But she had no choice.

She allowed them to lead her away.

Surrounded by guards, she moved like royalty.

Fans watched helplessly as she left.

Paparazzi snapped photos from every angle.

Amelia watched from a distance, boiling with envy.

Isabella’s first show was a triumph.

Her popularity was skyrocketing.

And those bodyguards… they weren’t ordinary.

No.2

The ones Amelia hired for fifty thousand were nothing compared to these.

These men looked premium. A hundred thousand a month, at least.

What had Isabella been doing in Africa for five years?

How did she return like this?

Amelia had to know.

She pulled out her phone and called Lillian.

“Use all our resources. I want to know everything about Isabella’s time in Africa. Every detail.”

The bodyguards cleared a path as Isabella Montgomery stepped into the waiting limousine.

Her breath caught. Nathaniel Blackwood occupied the rear seat. Worse, Sebastian Blackwood was behind the wheel again. Was she doomed to relive that nightmare?

She instinctively reached for the door handle. But the screaming fans and flashing cameras outside made escape impossible. In that moment of hesitation, Sebastian hit the accelerator. The car surged forward, leaving no time for protest.

No.3

A sudden idea sparked in Isabella’s mind. Her eyes narrowed with determination.

She shifted closer to Nathaniel.

Seeing her approach, his gaze darkened with anticipation. A visible swallow moved his throat. She was already beside him, her hand reaching toward his waist.

Oliver—in the front passenger seat—instantly covered his eyes. Sebastian flipped the rearview mirror down, avoiding any distraction.

Isabella’s fingers searched along Nathaniel’s waistline. Feeling her soft touch, he smirked. "Miss Montgomery, if you're interested, my abs and chest offer a better experience."

She rolled her eyes. "In your dreams." She tugged the seatbelt from behind him and clicked it into place. "I’m ensuring you don’t crush another one of my dresses. They’re not disposable." She then secured her own belt tightly and sat rigidly upright, putting maximum distance between them.

So it was just about the seatbelt. Sebastian readjusted the mirror with a disappointed sigh. Oliver lowered his hands, his hopeful expression fading.

‘Why is Mommy so resistant? How will they ever reconnect at this rate?’ The boy’s large, worried eyes darted as he schemed.

In the back, a tense silence stretched like a chasm. Oliver grew anxious. This couldn’t be it. Wasting a perfect opportunity was unthinkable. As the car approached the city limits, an idea struck him.

He suddenly clutched his stomach, letting out a pained groan.

No.4

Sebastian immediately pulled over. "Oliver? What's wrong?"

"My stomach… it hurts so much," Oliver whimpered, his voice weak. "I didn’t eat breakfast…"

Sebastian’s brow furrowed. "That’s serious. It could be the start of a gastric issue. You need food now."

"R-Really?" Oliver feigned shock, then turned a guilt-ridden face toward Isabella. "Mommy… can you please take me to get something to eat?" His whimpers intensified. "Waa… it really hurts…"

"You look pale. Your father and uncle should take you. I'll grab a cab," Isabella said, already moving to unbuckle her belt.

"No!" Oliver’s cry was too forceful for a sick child. He quickly softened his tone, breathing shallowly. "Waa… Mommy… I don’t want to go with them. They always pick spicy food! It’s terrible! I just want something gentle for my stomach, but they never listen!"

He dropped his head, fake tears welling in his eyes. "They say eating spice makes me grow up faster. I always obey because I don’t have a mommy. Nobody loves me. I have to be good. I have to be a good boy… But now…" His crying escalated. "My stomach is on fire! Spicy food will kill me! Waaa… I don’t want to die! Waaa…!"

Nathaniel and Sebastian were utterly speechless. Since when did they force-feed him chili?

The act worked perfectly on Isabella. Her heart melted at his desperate sobs. She quickly opened her door and rushed to gather him into her arms.

Nathaniel and Sebastian trailed closely behind Isabella and Oliver.

No.5

They stepped into the small eatery. Isabella ordered a warm pot of congee with several side dishes. After the server left, she fixed her gaze on the two men across from her. "Do neither of you have any common sense? He's just a little boy. Spicy food is completely inappropriate. That tall tale about spicy food making you grow taller is absolute nonsense. How could educated men like you believe such foolishness?"

Sebastian opened his mouth to protest.

Nathaniel kicked him sharply under the table. He adopted a serious, attentive expression. "You're absolutely right, Miss Montgomery. I'll be more mindful. Are there any other points I should remember?"

"Mommy," Oliver interjected, seizing the opportunity. "Daddy enrolls me in endless tutoring. My classes run until midnight every single night." He continued, his voice small. "And he leaves me alone at home most of the time. We only share one meal a week. He takes me out to play just once a month." A sad sigh escaped him. "All my friends have parents who play with them. I'm always by myself."

Her heart ached for the child. Isabella's expression hardened as she turned to Nathaniel. "Mr. Blackwood, this is entirely unacceptable. He carries your blood. You are his father. That comes with responsibility. He's a young child. Why burden him with so many classes? He isn't a machine. He deserves a joyful childhood. Furthermore..." She continued, listing his parental failings without pause.

Nathaniel didn't interrupt. He listened quietly, periodically refilling her water glass. When she finally finished, he pulled out his phone. "Miss Montgomery, would you provide me with your number? This way, you can continue to advise me on parenting matters in the future."

"Yes, Mommy," Oliver chimed in, nodding vigorously. "You have to remind Daddy every day. Otherwise, he'll forget everything you said."

Without a second thought, Isabella took out her own phone and added him on WhatsApp. Sebastian watched, utterly bewildered. How had this happened so quickly? They were exchanging contacts now?

Suddenly, Isabella's phone screen lit up. The caller ID showed 'Julian'. As her agent and friend, he only called for urgent matters.

She excused herself quickly and stepped outside to answer.

No.6

A flicker of jealousy tightened Nathaniel's chest. Julian. A man's name.

Sebastian leaned in, muttering, "Don't worry. I'll find out who that is."

Outside, Isabella listened to Julian's report.

"Two things, Bella. Maxwell found the guest list from The Ritz-Carlton five years ago…"

The name hit her like a physical blow. The Ritz-Carlton. Her body went rigid. Instinctively, she glanced back into the restaurant.

Nathaniel was carefully selecting food for Oliver. He noticed her look and gave a slight nod. A strange, unexplainable feeling washed over her. She felt a powerful urge to keep the incident from five years ago hidden from him.

"We'll discuss this when I return," she said swiftly, ending the call.

Nathaniel studied her tense posture. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"It's nothing important," Isabella replied, her brow furrowed. Why was she so worried about Nathaniel discovering the truth about that night? The reaction was puzzling, even to her.

She collected herself, her tone becoming brisk. "Something has come up. I need to leave. The repair shop is delivering my motorcycle. Take good care of him. No more spicy food."

No.7

"Mommy!" Oliver scrambled from his seat, clinging to her leg. He didn't want her to go.

She gently ruffled his hair. "Be good, sweetheart. I've added your father on WhatsApp. I'll be watching him closely to make sure he treats you properly."

"Okay! But you have to promise to video call me," Oliver beamed, his large, pleading eyes making him look like a hopeful kitten.

Isabella nodded. As she turned to leave, Nathaniel stood and followed her. "I'll walk you out."