Chapter 187

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood! Executing now!" The bodyguard responded sharply.

Isabella's knees buckled, her legs giving out beneath her. She would have collapsed entirely if not for the firm grip of the bodyguard beside her. Ethan's men were impeccably trained—once he gave an order, they followed through without hesitation. Their duty was clear: ensure Isabella remained unharmed, especially the child she carried.

She was hauled back to her feet.

But Benjamin and Elizabeth weren't so fortunate. The couple slumped to the floor, dazed, their eyes fixed blankly on Ethan's retreating figure.

"No—!" Elizabeth shrieked before crumpling in a dead faint.

Benjamin could only stare helplessly at his wife and daughter, now flanked by two stone-faced bodyguards.

Their family of three was being treated like criminals.

Ethan strode out of the venue and slid into his car, where Nathan was waiting. "Sir, Sophia was hit by a semi-truck. She's missing. The truck driver fled the scene."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Understood."

"Mr. Blackwood, where to now?" Nathan asked cautiously.

Truthfully, Nathan was relieved the wedding had been called off. He'd never approved of Ethan marrying Isabella, but as a subordinate, he had no right to interfere. At least his boss had come to his senses before it was too late.

Ethan didn’t answer.

Where was he going?

He didn’t know. All he knew was that at the pivotal moment, he’d walked away. Isabella wasn’t the woman he wanted. And then there was Sophia’s bombshell—

She claimed she was carrying his child. That she was the woman from that night.

"Find Sophia," Ethan ordered.

Nathan hesitated. "But... where do we start?"

Ethan’s voice was steel. "Turn the city upside down."

Nathan nodded. "Yes, sir." The engine roared to life, and the car peeled away from the wedding venue.

As they sped through the streets, Nathan coordinated with their network, dispatching teams to scour every corner of Harborview for any trace of Sophia.

Meanwhile, back at the Thornton estate, Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Isabella were escorted home under heavy guard.

Within an hour, the entire household staff was replaced.

The efficiency sent a chill down Benjamin’s spine.

At least they weren’t being actively monitored—yet. The guards stationed themselves outside, leaving the family to their misery. Before leaving, the head guard delivered a chilling warning:

"Mr. Thornton, you’d better ensure the safety of your wife and daughter—especially that unborn child. If anything happens to them, death will be a mercy compared to what awaits you."

Benjamin swallowed hard.

Once alone, he rounded on Elizabeth and Isabella. "Explain. Now. Why did Ethan back out? And how the hell did Sophia know she was carrying his child?!"

Elizabeth’s eyes welled with tears. "I... I told her."

Benjamin recoiled. "What?"

She clutched at his legs. "Benjamin, we have to do something! If Ethan finds out the baby isn’t his, he’ll slaughter us all!"

"Daddy, please!" Isabella sobbed, joining her mother on the floor.

Benjamin’s rage exploded. He seized Elizabeth’s hair, yanking her head back. "What did you do?"

Elizabeth whimpered but didn’t resist. "I just wanted Ethan to despise her more! With her reputation in ruins—harassed by Vincent Holloway, tangled with Noah Whitmore, publicly humiliated by the Thorntons—she was already finished in Harborview. I thought if we pushed her to crash the wedding, Ethan would kill her on the spot!"

Her voice turned shrill. "But he didn’t! He just had her thrown out—alive!"

Benjamin released her with a snarl. "You idiot. Now we’re under house arrest. In six months, when that baby’s born, a DNA test will prove it’s not his. And then?" His laugh was hollow. "We die. Horribly."

Elizabeth trembled. "So what do we do?"

Benjamin’s mind raced. "First—Sophia has to die."

A twisted smile curled Elizabeth’s lips. "Oh, she’s already dead."

Benjamin froze. "What?"

Elizabeth’s eyes gleamed with malice. "I had a backup plan. Even if Ethan spared her, she wouldn’t make it far. The moment she stepped outside, an accident was waiting."

Benjamin’s blood ran cold. "You hired the truck driver?"