Chapter 22
In the airport’s VIP lounge, Dominic slid a document across to isabella
Sign it,” he said, his voice calm despite the dark circles under his eyes betraying his exhaustion |
Isabella opened the file and paused, her fingertip hovering over the page:[]
11 was a transfer agreement for 15th of Hinton Group shares
“en’t accept this,” she closed the file and pashed it back. “You’re just going abroad for recovery, not disappearing forever:
Dominic smiled with that familiar stubbornness in his eyes. “Consider it my penance.
A plane streaked across the sky outside, lew
leaving a long trail of clouds.
Tabell eventually signed, but changed the beneficiary to the Montgomery Charitable Foundation.
I don’t need compensation,” she looked up at him. “Dominic, we both need to move forward“]
He gazed at her for a long moment. Then he reached out to lightly touch the wedding ring on her finger.
Does he treat you well-
Isabella looked through the glass windows to where Lucas waited by the car, holding a paper bag from her favorite bakery!
The sun
sun pouring down over his shoulders, softening his sharp edges
“Yeah,” she said softly. “Batter than I deserve.”
Dominic withdrew his hand and picked up his carry on. Then that’s though –|
He walked toward security. His back was perfectly straight, like the boy standing in the auditorium spotlight when they first met
-D
Chlor stood on the courthouse steps, listening to the judge pronounce
“Guilty of kidnapping.“1
She threw her head back and laughed, her once–perfect curls now a tangled mess, red lipstick smeared across her mouth
“You think you won, huh?” she screamed, glaring at Esabella and Lucas, “Isabella Bennett, you fucking whore. What makes you deserve any of this?”
As the court officers restrained her heaving shoulders.
Chloe seemingly knowing her fate, summoned unprecedented strength. She broke free and lunged toward an idling car at t
As the engine roared to life, no one had time to react
Except Lucas
He showed labella out of the way, taking the full impact of the vehicle himself.||
isabella’s scream pierced the air as time slowed.
Blood pooled beneath him, bright against the cold gray courthouse steps.
Outside the ICU. Habella mechanically signed the critical condition forms ||
The doctor’s words drified in fragments to her ears. Tractured ribs. Internal bleeding.. concussion..]
She stared through the glass at Lucas, tubes running everywhere.||
at the curb.]
She remembered how this morning, he’d hugged her from behind and his breath warns against her neck as he ambled, “Tive more minutes, baby just five more minutes”
How could someone like him exist?||
bring the most flippant tone to speak the most sincere words.
Using the most calculating mind to do the most foolish things
Family members can go in now,” the nurse gently reminded her]
Isabella pon
face was paler than the shreis moment she took his hand, his eyelashes fluttered.
on a sterile cap and sat beside the hospital bed. Lucas’s far
“You look so ugly when you cry.”
His voice was barely a whisper, yet he still managed that teasing smile
Isabella’s tears fell onto the back of his hand. “You idiot“]
Lucas weakly raised his fingers to wipe the tears from her face
“If I’d known…that getting hurt… would work this well… I’d have tried it, sooner.||
“Doctor said you’ll be out in a week. Isabella’s voice steady though her fingertips trembled slightly||]
It had been three days since Lucas left intensive care, but she still couldn’t shake the fear
He lay in the hospital bed, the bandage at his temple still faintly stained with blood. But those warm eyes were startlingly bright ||
He watched babella sitting beside him, his fingertips gently stroking her knuckles as if confirming she was really there.]
Worried about me?”
she met his gaze, the afternoon light catching the gold flecks in her eyes.
Local I need to tell you something.
He paused, his smile fading as he waited quietly for her to continue.
I’m choosing to believe in your sincerity,” she said softly. Don’t disappoint me.”
Lucas’s breath caught. He hooked his pinky finger with hers, his voice husky.
salella, I wish rd met you sooner
