The pure happiness shining in Liam's eyes twisted Isabella's heart into a painful knot.

It was the simple joy a child finds in new toys.

Liam had never known his biological father from the moment he was born.

Now that he finally had the chance, Isabella couldn't bear to take that away.

Even if Liam didn't yet realize Ethan was that man.

Isabella clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly broke the skin of her palms.

She was determined to get Eleanor out of Ethan's house immediately.

Staying any longer risked further harm.

To Isabella, Ethan's home was nothing but a gilded cage.

Beautiful and inviting on the surface, yet ultimately suffocating.

Ethan watched her internal struggle, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Isabella, please. Let's discuss this."

"Discuss what?" Her voice cracked, tears threatening to fall.

"Do you think you can buy my compromise with toys? That I'll just forget everything that's happened?"

"No, let me explain," Ethan said urgently, his tone sincere. "You misunderstood me three years ago. I never intended to hurt you."

"Misunderstood you?" Tears streamed down Isabella's cheeks.

"And what about what happened to my grandmother recently? Was that another misunderstanding?"

Her voice trembled with emotion, barely containing her sobs.

"Ethan, you owe me. You owe my grandmother. How do you plan to make this right?"

The sight of her tears pained him deeply.

He reached out instinctively to comfort her, but Isabella slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" she snapped, stepping back with a fierce glare.

She turned resolutely to her son.

"Liam, we're leaving."

Liam hesitated, his eyes lingering on the pile of toys.

"But Mom, the toys…"

Isabella crouched down to meet Liam's gaze. She fought back tears as she spoke.

"These toys are wonderful, sweetheart, but we can't sacrifice our principles for them. We need our own home. We can't keep depending on others."

"But I like it here…" Liam whined, his lips forming a pout.

Isabella's heart ached seeing him like this, but she refused to yield.

"I promise you, okay? I'll buy you so many toys in the future. Even better ones than these."

With that, she picked up Liam and carried him toward the door.

"Wait, Isabella!" Ethan called out desperately after them.

But Isabella ignored him and continued walking.

The office door slammed shut behind her, making Benjamin flinch.

Standing beside the door, he glanced at the scattered toys.

Ethan had each toy specially airlifted from overseas, every one as expensive as the transportation costs.

Liam had been playing so happily just moments ago, and now…