Isabella stood frozen in place.

Her entire body went cold.

She felt like she'd been plunged into ice water.

“What did you say?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Can you repeat that?”

Her mind reeled.

It couldn't be true.

The Grant family and the Blackwoods had been allies for generations.

The Grants were powerful in their own right.

Chloe shrugged, looking just as confused. “Who knows? The decisions of those at the top are always a mystery.”

She stifled a yawn, her eyes watery from exhaustion.

“I need to get some sleep,” Chloe murmured. “I'm completely drained.”

With a tired wave, she walked away.

Isabella was left alone.

Her thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind.

Was Blackwood Enterprises really trying to acquire the Grant Group?

How was that even possible?

She hadn't been able to reach Lucas…

Was this connected to Ethan?

A light rain began to mix with the wind.

It whipped against her face, sharp and cold.

The sensation snapped her back to reality.

The potential takeover.

The mass resignation from her studio.

It all pointed to one terrifying conclusion.

A deep, unsettling dread settled in her stomach.

“Is this because of me?” she whispered to herself.

She remembered that day in Ethan's car.

His cold, threatening words echoed in her mind. “You'll regret this, Isabella. Mark my words.”

Now she understood.

It was because she had refused his so-called generosity.

Was this his revenge?

Against her and Lucas?

A sharp, painful tightness seized her chest.

It felt like her heart was being squeezed.

She could barely breathe.

“No,” she gritted out. “I have to know the truth.”

Clenching her jaw, she pulled out her phone.

Her fingers moved quickly, dialing a number.

“Investigate the staff who left my studio,” she ordered, her voice low and urgent. “I need to know where every single one of them went.”

The wait felt endless.

Each second stretched into an eternity.

Ten minutes later, her phone rang.

She answered immediately.

“Miss Scott,” the voice on the other end said. “We've confirmed it. All your former employees have been hired by Blackwood Enterprises.”

It was exactly what she had feared.

Her grip on the phone tightened.

Her knuckles turned white.

A fierce, burning anger began to rise within her.

It threatened to overwhelm her completely.

Just then, the kindergarten bell rang.

The sound cut through the tension.

Children's laughter filled the air as the school day ended.

Liam spotted her at the edge of the crowd.

His little legs carried him running toward her.

He launched himself into her arms. “Mommy!”

Isabella forced a smile.

She hugged her son tightly, pouring all her love into the embrace.

“Mommy, are you okay?” Liam asked, his small hand gently touching her cheek. “You look sad.”

“I'm fine, sweetheart,” she reassured him, holding back her tears. She kissed his forehead. “Mommy's just a little tired.”

Once they arrived home, she handed Liam to Emily.

She quickly gave a few instructions.

Then she turned and rushed out the door.

She had to find Ethan.

She needed to confront him.

She demanded the truth.