Isabella Roscente opened her eyes.
The sun was already high, its harsh light flooding the room. It was warm inside. If she hadn't known it was the dead of winter, with the trees in the courtyard still skeletal branches clutching withered leaves, she might have mistaken it for the arrival of spring.
"You're awake?" Julian Sullivan was sitting by her bed.
"You?—" How had he acquired so many bruises and cuts on his face overnight? It looked like he'd been in a fight. She sat up. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
Julian took her hand, his voice soft. "Isabella, I found Jacob. We can leave."
Isabella's eyes instantly lit up. "Really?!"
Julian nodded. "Yes, really."
"Where is he? Let me see him, Jacob..." Isabella's eyes welled up, her desperation to see her son palpable.
"Don't rush. You'll see him soon. Let's pack our things first."
"Okay, okay!"
Isabella quickly got out of bed. She washed up hastily and began packing. Anxious, she haphazardly stuffed clothes into a suitcase. Julian stopped her. "Slow down. Pack properly. We have time."
Her heart felt like it was on fire, the impatience unbearable. But having waited this long, a little more time wouldn't matter. She slowed down and carefully packed her belongings.
Hers? They were all things Alexander Sullivan had bought for her over the past year.
A glance around the walk-in closet revealed luxury brand clothes, shoes, and bags. Their combined value was easily over a million dollars.
During season changes or when new collections dropped, he would buy for her in bulk.
She had worn or used very few of these items. Many still had their tags attached.
She felt it was a waste for him. If he had directed this effort and money toward another woman, that woman would surely cling to him desperately.
She was just a married, middle-aged mother. She couldn't love him. She couldn't give him anything in return. What was so special about her?
She didn't understand the source of his obsession.
Soon, she was finished packing. She didn't take much. Just two changes of clothes. She left all the expensive jewelry behind.
"Where exactly is Jacob?" Her heart fluttered like a bird long caged, sensing imminent freedom. Following Julian downstairs, she couldn't stop pressing him.
"He's waiting for us at the airport. We're flying to England together," Julian said.
"Where did you find him? How?"
Julian lifted the suitcase into the car's trunk and slammed it shut. "I'll tell you on the way."
Once on the road, Julian drove while Isabella sat in the passenger seat. She continued her questions. "How is Jacob? Is he thin? He must have grown taller? Does he still remember me?"
Julian paused, then smiled. "You'll see for yourself when you see him."
"How did you actually find him?"
"My brother hid him in a very secluded place. The private investigator I hired tracked him down," he explained briefly.
Isabella looked at his face. "Did you get into a fight with Alexander? Is he really just letting us go like this?"
Julian glanced at her, then reached over and took her hand. "I found Jacob. He has nothing left to threaten you with. What can he do, even if he doesn't want to let us go?"
Isabella squeezed his hand back, a relieved smile gracing her lips. "Yes."
Half an hour later, they arrived at San Francisco International Airport.
Their flight was scheduled to depart in one hour.
"Where is Jacob? Where is he?" Isabella scanned the area frantically.
Julian led her to a quieter corner and sat down with her. "Isabella, I need to talk to you."
Isabella frowned, urgency in her voice. "Let me see Jacob first. We can talk later."
Julian's expression grew more serious. "It's about Jacob."
Seeing his face, a terrible premonition seized Isabella. Her heart plummeted. "What do you want to say?"
Julian pulled a stack of documents from his backpack. "This is the Jacob I found."
Isabella's face turned ashen. "What do you mean?"
—
Liam Lowell sensed the tense atmosphere the moment he arrived at the company. Everyone looked grim. He asked Connor Evans, who explained that Alexander had been off all morning. Connor had picked him up, but Alexander had him stop the car right outside the house. Alexander sat in the back seat, staring at the residence for a long time before finally telling him to drive on. At the office, a new female intern accidentally bumped into him in the lobby. He had yelled at her, telling her to get out. Later, Helen from the secretarial team brought him a document to sign. He tore it up without a word and ordered no one to disturb him.
"Liam, did he have a fight with Isabella? Why is it so intense this time?"
Liam looked at the closed door of the CEO's office and sighed inwardly. If only it were just a fight.
By his estimation, the time was about right.
"Connor, if anything urgent comes up today, bring it to me. I'll handle it. Don't bother Mr. Sullivan."
"Understood." Given the circumstances, no one dared to provoke him further.
Around noon, Liam sent Connor out to deliver some documents. As Connor reached the main lobby and was about to exit, a woman crashed into him, nearly knocking him over. He looked closely. It was Isabella.
"Isabella—" His question died in his throat as Isabella, looking like a madwoman pushed to the edge, grabbed his lapels with surprising force. "Where is Alexander? Is he here? Is he?!"
"Y-yes! Mr. Sullivan is upstairs—"
Just then, the elevator dinged. Isabella shoved Connor aside and dashed toward it like a whirlwind, causing the people exiting to cry out as they were thrown against the doors.
Reaching the top floor, the hysterical Isabella began pounding and kicking Alexander's office door. "Alexander, open the door! Open it! Open up, now!—"
This floor had fewer staff, and it was lunchtime, so no one intervened.
Connor, concerned by her state, had followed her up. Seeing her assault the door, he rushed to pull her away. "Isabella, stop! You'll hurt your hands before you break the door, you—"
The office door opened. Alexander saw Isabella, his face expressionless, even cold. "Why are you here?"
Tears burst from Isabella's eyes. "I don't believe it! It can't be! Tell me, he's not dead. He's not dead, right?" She stepped forward, grabbing Alexander, her eyes brimming with tears and terror. "Tell me, my son, Jacob, he isn't dead, is he?"
Connor, standing nearby, was shocked by her words. Alexander instructed him, "Go get Liam."
Connor hurriedly replied, "Yes, Mr. Sullivan," and left.
Alexander stepped back, pulling Isabella inside. "I'll talk to you after you've calmed down."
"No. Tell me now."
Alexander was silent for a moment. "Julian must have shown you the medical records from Jacob's accident a year ago. The resuscitation efforts, the time of death. I lied to you because you wanted to lie to yourself. You witnessed what happened to Jacob but chose to forget. I brought you home, took care of you. You said I had taken Jacob. I went along with it. I said Jacob wasn't dead, that if you ate well and lived properly, I'd let you see him. The lie became more real, more elaborate over time."
"No! No! It's not true! Jacob is with you. He's not dead. He's alive!" Isabella couldn't accept it. She clutched at him, sobbing and screaming. "You let me hear his voice!"
"Voices can be faked. You'll understand when Liam gets here."
"Why? Why—" Her tears flowed like a river.
Alexander gave a bitter laugh. "Why am I unwilling to keep lying to you now?" He pointed at himself. "Look at me. See what I got in the end." His smile faded, his face hardening like ice. "I exhausted all my love and care on you. And you? You only hated me, resented me. Now you've betrayed me. You seduced my only family, the brother I cherished most."
"Even a fool has their limits."