ien

s Etha

ile Isabella slept in the guest room of m

hind my son's rapid rise. Pregnant with his chil

asn't just anger. Disappointment with Ethan had been growing, his cocky attitu

la was som

th real dignity. No desperate pleas, no manipulations. Just honest ex

your image or we push the vote. Marriage. Sta

unstable, said

ossed my face i

uld fix multiple

to myself, "Ethan, you fool. You

out too easily. "Damien, one day you'll regret being this isolated," she used

some heartbroken woman. She had real talent, the kind my son clearly

looking pale but put-together in last night's dre

"Thank you for last night.

wn, Isa

from me. I poured her oran

," I said directly. "And I

en. The glass shook i

What matters is

me checked out? While I was sleeping here? That's... I don't

ho cross my path, especially when they seem out of place. Tell me, did Eth

He said you were tough, that he was proving himself without your

show he doesn't need me. But stealing ideas and hiding a pregnancy? Th

his pitches, calming him down before big meetings. He'd say things like, 'I couldn

pattern growing for a while. You're not the first person he's used, but you mig

ick up again. I feel so stupid for believing him. What k

counted on. I saw it at the bar, you didn't break down begging for help. That's rare. Most women i

ard, I'd ask for credit or support, and he'd promise it later. 'Just help me close this deal, Bella

uts. I tried to teach him that real power comes from building, not taking. Sounds like he

hed every contact, even practiced his delivery with him. He stood on stage and got all the applause while I watched from the bac

e with better connections came along. Vanessa's father has deep pock

have any children besides Ethan? I mean, did y

to work even harder. The board thinks that made me too distant, too cold. They want me to show a stable family image or they'll vote

all consulting work on the side. I don't want to depend on anyone ag

ou have backbone. And this mess with my s

my knees, locking eyes with

works. You get protection, money for your child, and payback against Et

like I'd

n't be

"Walk away now with nothing but pa

shock. Silence hun

hed, "Why me? You

tly lifted her chin so

son never de

"So, Isabella Hart..