That was the exact moment Isabella fell completely for Ethan.

After he left to study abroad, she buried herself in her work.

She pushed herself to excel, eventually getting into his university.

She thought if she became exceptional enough, he might finally see her.

One day, he did.

He proposed.

She believed her unwavering love had finally reached his cold heart.

She was wrong.

Ethan’s heart had always belonged to Sophia.

To him, Isabella was merely a convenient replacement.

Isabella took a deep, steadying breath, fighting to control the storm inside her.

Her doctor had warned her to avoid stress for the baby's sake.

She wiped her tears and stood, heading back to the bedroom.

She wasn't ready for his coldness.

The moment Ethan entered, he delivered the blow.

“Sophia is back,” he stated flatly. “We should get a divorce.”

The word ‘divorce’ hit her like a physical punch, stealing her breath.

A tiny, foolish part of her had still hoped.

It took her a long moment to find her voice.

“You’re leaving me now that she’s here?” Her voice shook, betraying her.

Ethan frowned, his displeasure clear.

“I was clear from the beginning. Don’t hope for things that were never meant for you. I’ll make sure you’re financially taken care of.”

Those had been his wedding vows, a transaction to silence the board.

His heart was never part of the deal.

Blinded by love, she had believed she could change him.

Isabella looked directly into his eyes, her gaze pleading for honesty.

“All those nights… were you thinking of her?”

Ethan was visibly startled by her directness. He hesitated, his lips parting slightly, but no sound came out.

His silence was the only answer she needed. It broke her.

She had always known the truth in her heart.

But the brief moments of intimacy had made her forget.

She had mistaken passion for affection.

She had been a fool.

His heart was a fortress she could never breach.

Isabella let out a heavy sigh, finally surrendering.

“Fine. I agree to the divorce.”

She turned, gathering a few things to move to the guest room for the night.

Ethan watched her, his forehead creased in clear frustration.

As she passed him, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist as if to speak.

But his phone rang. Sophia’s name flashed on the screen.

He released her to answer it.

Isabella continued to the guest room.

“Hello, Sophia… It’s nothing, don’t worry…”

She didn’t hear the rest.

She only heard the sudden softness in his tone, a warmth he never showed her.

She shut the guest room door, collapsed onto the bed, and muffled her sobs into a pillow.

Even facing divorce, the stark contrast in his treatment was a fresh wound.

What would she do now?

What about their child?

She felt utterly lost.

All she wanted was to escape the pain.

The shower water roared.

Isabella stepped in, letting the warm spray hit her skin, but it couldn't warm the ice in her chest.

She sank down, curling into a ball, her face buried against her knees.

The water drowned out her uncontrollable sobs.

Why did he have to be so cruel?

Exhausted, she stood and dressed.

Her foot slipped on the wet tile.

A sharp pain shot through her. She cried out, her hands flying to her abdomen.

Ethan heard her cry from the master bedroom.

He rushed to the source of the sound.

The bathroom door was open. He found her on the floor.

She was pale, clammy, her clothes askew, her hands desperately cradling her stomach.

A sudden, sharp worry clenched his chest.

He hurried to her, scooping her up from the cold, wet floor.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

A thread of panic ran through his voice.

Her head spun, her vision blurry. It took her a moment to focus on him.

“I’m okay…” she whispered weakly.

She tried to squirm out of his hold, but he tightened his grip.

“Stop moving,” he commanded, his voice firm yet urgent.

She stilled, subdued.

His tone softened. “Let me check you.” He laid her gently on the bed.

He leaned over her, his expression a mix of concern and focus as he checked for injuries.

This unexpected tenderness made a fragile hope flicker inside her.

She suddenly grabbed his hand, her voice cracking with fear.

“Ethan, what if I told you I’m pregnant? Would you still want the divorce?”

The question hung in the air, a final, desperate gamble.

She searched his face for any sign of hesitation.

Ethan paused, his face an unreadable mask for a brief second before his expression hardened into cold resolve.

“We were always careful. The chances are negligible. But even if it were true, it wouldn’t change anything. You would have to terminate it.”