But the full truth… he couldn't reveal it to her.

Not now.

“Regarding your mother…” His voice faltered for a moment before growing steady. “I will help you find the answers.”

Isabella froze. Her head jerked up, eyes wide, scanning his face for any hint of deception.

“Truly?”

Ethan held her gaze without flinching.

“Yes.” His voice was firm, decisive. “I will do everything in my power.”

She fought to hold back her tears, biting her lip hard to stop her voice from shaking.

“Thank you.”

Ethan’s expression remained controlled, but a subtle tenderness colored his tone.

“There’s no need to thank me. I am your husband. Just rest now. Leave everything else to me.”

His vow wrapped around Isabella like a warm blanket, dissolving the shadows that had long haunted her heart.

With the resources of the Blackwood family behind her, finding her mother was no longer a distant dream.

For the first time in what felt like ages, the tension in her body began to ease. A deep, unexpected exhaustion settled over her.

Isabella curled up on the sofa and drifted into sleep without even realizing it.

As midnight approached, silence filled the room, broken only by the occasional distant sound of traffic.

Ethan finished dealing with his emails and glanced over at Isabella, asleep on the sofa. Her long lashes brushed against her cheeks, and the soft light accentuated her delicate features.

He rose quietly, walked over, and lifted her carefully from the sofa. After settling her into bed, he sat beside her, watching her sleep. A faint frown lingered on her otherwise peaceful face, betraying her inner unrest.

He reached out, gently tracing her cheek with his knuckles, captivated by the softness of her skin.

“Mmm…” Isabella murmured, shifting slightly in her sleep.

Ethan withdrew his hand and left the bedroom. He went to his study and dialed Benjamin’s number.

“Investigate the whereabouts of Isabella’s mother. I need the information as soon as possible,” he instructed, his tone low and commanding.

“Understood, Mr. Blackwood,” Benjamin replied respectfully.

“Mmm…” Isabella murmured, slowly waking.

Morning light streamed through the curtains, painting patterns on the floor and rousing her completely.

She blinked away the last traces of sleep and looked around, realizing Ethan was no longer there. The suite felt vast and hollow, magnifying the loneliness that clung to her.

A sharp sense of loss pierced her as she got out of bed and walked to the window. She pulled the curtains aside. Sunlight flooded the room, illuminating every corner.

Outside, the city pulsed with energy. Towering buildings and busy streets stood in stark contrast to the emptiness she felt inside.

Turning away, she noticed her bag on the sofa. As she moved to retrieve it, a note on the coffee table caught her eye. An address was written on it, along with the words: