Chapter 55

Isabella's fingers dug into her palms, her nails leaving crescent-shaped marks in her flesh. Yet, she still managed to look up at Ethan with a facade of shyness and humility. "Brother Ethan, I... I gave myself to you. I've already decided you're the only man for me in this lifetime. Even if you don't want me, it's fine. I don’t expect anything else. I just want to see you every day."

Ethan suppressed the disgust rising in his throat.

He had endured this woman to his absolute limit. If she weren’t Isabella, if she hadn’t once saved his life with her own body—he would have already crushed her beneath his boot.

"Brother Ethan—" Before she could finish, his hand shot out, gripping her throat. "I said I’ll marry you! I will marry you in the future! From now on, you’ll be the wife of the most powerful man in Blackwood Enterprises. What more do you want?"

His voice was ice. "Right now, I have to take care of my mother. I don’t have time to cater to your feelings. If you disturb me again, I won’t hesitate to add another corpse to my list."

Isabella’s face drained of color. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she nodded frantically. "I—I understand. I won’t bother you again—"

"Get out." He shoved her away.

She stumbled back, then fled as if the devil himself were chasing her. The entire way back to the Thornton Estate, she sobbed uncontrollably.

Inside, Benjamin and Elizabeth were waiting. The moment Isabella burst through the door, Elizabeth rushed forward. "Isabella, how did it go? Did Ethan—?"

But one look at her daughter’s disheveled state told her everything.

Benjamin’s face darkened with dread. "Again? He threw you out again?"

"Dad! Mom!" Isabella collapsed into Elizabeth’s arms, wailing. "What are we going to do? I feel like our entire family is doomed! Ethan won’t even look at me. All he cares about is Sophia—and now she’s carrying his child! If he ever finds out the truth, we’re finished! We’ll have nowhere to go!"

The Thorntons were at a loss.

Sophia was a ticking time bomb hanging over their heads. One wrong move, and their entire family would be obliterated.

They needed a solution—fast.

Elizabeth turned on Benjamin, her voice sharp. "Benjamin! What about that private investigator? Has he found anything yet?"

Benjamin sighed. "It’s only been a few days. These things take time. Finding that woman is our only way to destroy Sophia. But before that, we need to make sure Ethan accepts Isabella."

His expression hardened. "Once Isabella gets into his bed and conceives his child, everything else will fall into place."

Isabella’s sobs grew louder. "I don’t understand! What kind of witchcraft has Sophia used to make Ethan protect her like this?"

"Protect her?" Elizabeth scoffed. "Last time, when we nearly killed her, Ethan knew it was you—and yet, he still shielded you. That proves he still cares. The only reason he’s protecting Sophia now is because his mother needs her. But after what you did, his opinion of you has soured. This time..."

She glanced around warily, then motioned for Benjamin and Isabella to huddle closer. After a hushed, venomous exchange, both father and daughter smirked in satisfaction.

Especially Isabella. Her lips curled into a vicious sneer.

"Sophia Montgomery... I swear, I’ll make sure you don’t live to see another sunrise."