Isabella’s eyes fluttered open.

Liam’s face was mere inches from hers.

His cheek was pressed against her arm, his mouth slightly open in sleep.

She shifted slightly.

Then she felt another presence behind her.

Ethan.

The entire situation felt surreal.

If not for the warmth radiating from both of them, she would have thought it a dream.

A wave of emotion washed over her.

There was a time when all she had ever wanted was this.

A simple, ordinary life with Ethan and their child.

Just like any other family.

But then, everything shattered.

Her heart still softened in these tender moments.

But she no longer clung to the hope they would last.

Gently, she disentangled Liam from her arms.

She slipped out of bed as quietly as possible.

“Mrs. Blackwood! Good morning. Have you seen Liam?”

Isabella had just stepped into the hallway when the butler rushed toward her.

He looked deeply worried, beads of sweat on his forehead.

“Please, catch your breath. What’s happened?”

“Liam—he’s gone! We’ve turned the entire estate upside down. He’s nowhere to be found.” The butler’s voice trembled, his eyes pleading.

“Oh, it’s alright,” Isabella reassured him quickly. “He’s in the master bedroom.” Ethan must have brought him in during the night. How else would the boy end up there?

The butler stared at her for a moment, then exhaled in profound relief.

“Thank heavens. I was terrified. I thought perhaps he’d been…” He didn’t finish, just patted his chest, breathing deeply.

Guilt pricked at Isabella. “I’m so sorry for the scare.”

“No need for apologies, Mrs. Blackwood. The only thing that matters is that the young master is safe. Breakfast is ready whenever you are.”

She watched him walk away, her own sigh of relief soft in the quiet hall.

She turned to go back and check on Liam.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Pulling it out, she saw Lucas’s name on the screen.

She hesitated before answering.

“Hello?” Her voice was tentative.

“Isabella? Are you alright? I heard…” Lucas’s voice was thick with concern. He left the sentence hanging, waiting.

“I’m fine,” she said, her tone a careful mix of reassurance and underlying tension. “What about the company? Is everything stable?”

A relieved sigh came from the other end. “It’s all under control. The situation has been handled. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

He paused, his voice softening. “Where are you now? Are you safe?”

Isabella opened her mouth to answer.

A deep, cold voice cut through the air behind her.

“She’s at Hawthorne Residence. What possible danger could she be in here?”

Startled, she spun around.

Ethan stood there, looming close.

His expression was unreadable.

His presence felt suffocating.