“It is,” Izzy mumbles. “This file proves it is. Ophelia is alive, and she’s been living in Tiburon theentiretime.”
She paces towards me and matches up the photos, proving without a doubt the lady in the new photo is the same girl photographed with Isaac. Everything about her is similar: her face, her eyes, and a small mole in the corner ofherneck.
“I gathered she was here because that’s Old St. Hilary’s church on Esperanza Street in the background. It is a well-loved landmark in Tiburon,” Izzy explains, her voicequivering.
My eyes lift to Izzy. She isn’t devastated to discover the secret Isaac’s been hiding the past five years. She is devastated because she thinks she is going tolosehim.
“Jesus Christ,” I mumble under my breath. “Does Isaac know about anyofthis?”
Izzy bites on her lip and shakes her head. “No, I wanted to come and see for myself. I couldn’t risk hurting him if it wasn’t true. If it wasn’treallyher.”
“If it is her, are you planning ontellinghim?”
Izzy lifts the newest photo of Ophelia off the dining table before gently nodding her head. A heavy weight slams into my chest from the defeated look onherface.
“What can I do to make this easier on you?” I ask, genuine remorse in myvoice.
New tears form in Izzy’s eyes. “Just remind me that he loves me. And that I’m doing this to easehispain.”
Chapter Fifteen
Hugo
Iclimbthe stairs of a private jet with Izzy cradled in my arms. Her face is ashen and she hasn’t stopped crying since we left a pharmacy nearly thirty minutes ago. I’ve always been a communicator, but I’m too shocked at the events that transpired today to configure a response. The hunch Izzy was running with was solid. She found Ophelia. Isaac’s girlfriend who was killed in an “accident” well over five years ago is alive and well. As if that isn’t shocking enough, Ophelia has a child, a small boy who would only be a year or two older than Joel. Isaac could be a father and he doesn’t even know it. I'm honestly at a loss on how he is going to react. Isaac protects every member of his empire as if they are his family, as if they are his blood. Imagine how great his response will be to discovering he has achild?
A few hours into the flight, Izzy’s tears finally dry and her head liftstome.
“How old do you think Ophelia’s son is?” she queries, her voiceshaky.
I want to lie. I want to tell her there isn’t a possibility Ophelia’s son is Isaac’s, but I can’t. I can’t deceive her like that. I'm not a deceitfulperson.
“Five or six,” Imutter.
Her hand rattles as she takes a sip from a bottle of water. “So the dates could add up? He could be Isaac’s son?” sheconfirms.
She tries to put on a brave front, but she isn’t fooling anyone. Izzy’s eyes are very expressive. I can read her like a book. I move to sit in the spare seat next to her. A small whimper escapes her lips when I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her into my chest. Flashes of the time I comforted Jorgie in my parent’s kitchen weeks before her death come rushing to the forefront ofmymind.
“You can’t fight fate, Izzy. But that doesn’t mean you should give up. Isaac gave you that engagement ring as a promise,” I say, peering down at the dark gray and purple gemstone on her hand. “He has never spoken those words to another woman before so that alone shows your importance to him. You need to have faith that things will work out the way they aremeantto.”
As do I.I fought my attraction to Ava for years, using any pathetic excuse I could find. She was my sister’s best friend. My parents treated her like a daughter. I didn’t want to settle down. Only now do I realize why it has only ever been Ava occupying my thoughts. She was the first girl I ever lusted over, the first girl I ever asked out, and the first girl I’ve ever loved. My very existence begins and ends with her. And I'm going to make sure she is fully aware of that. Even though she is wearing another man’s ring and has agreed to be his wife, I'm going to fight to my very last breath. I'll nevergiveup.
* * *
After watchingIsaac participate in a charity UFC match, I understand why he is feared by his rivals. The smile he wore in the cage didn’t reflect the viciousness of his attack. I’m considering changing his nickname from Boss to the SmilingAssassin.
“Are you alright?” I ask Izzy, punching in the security code for Isaac’s privateresidence.
Keeping her gaze fixated on the arched window of Isaac’s house, she faintlymurmurs, “Yes.”
When I pull to the side of the driveway, I turn off the engine and grasp the door handle latch. My quick exit is foiled when Izzy places her hand onmyknee.
“I want to talk to Isaac alone,” she advises, her words weak. “He is a private man and wouldn’t appreciate anaudience.”
Izzy’s uncle should be proud. She has grown up to be an admirable woman. Even with her heart breaking, her prioritizes remain on protecting Isaac. She harbors so many of Ava’s qualities. Even though I left her heartbroken, she has been nothing but encouraging of my relationship with Joel. For that, I'll be forever indebtedtoher.
“Alright. I’ll wait here until Isaac arrives, then I’ll head out. But if you need anything, Izzy, you have mynumber.”
Izzy nods before leaning over and pressing a kiss against my cheek. “Thanks, Hugo, foreverything.”
