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I take her hand, refusing to believe that she has malice in her. “Don’t let Fletcher come between us. He wants my card? Here, give it to him!” I hand over my card to her.
But she throws it onto the table.
“It’s too late. He’ll know it’s a lie. Not just because we’ve uncovered Boss, but he’ll be able to see through me. What I feel for you is real, and I can’t mask it no matter how hard I try. He’ll take Raffi away from me.”
“Do you remember what I said in the beginning? Let him come tome.”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Clayton. That can’t happen. I’m not safe here, and Raffi is even in a worse situation.”
“I’ll keep you safe! Take Raffi to my house. I’ll have security twenty-four-seven. No one will harm you or Raffi.”
“No matter how many bodyguards you hire, it doesn’t matter if you defeat Donovan Fletcher.”
“It’s a matter of when, Isabelle.”
“If or when, it won’t make a difference. At the end of the day, I still won’t be able to give you what you want, what you dream of as a man.”
“You have given me what I want. You. I don’t care if we can’t have children. All I want is you.”
“I have too many secrets. I’m in too deep, and they’re too painful to tell. I don’t want to use you—you’re too good for me. So please let me out. It’s not too late to let me go.”
Suddenly, we hear a scream coming from Rob’s office.
“Wait here!” I instruct and rush to be with my brother.
“Clay! Where’s Isabelle? We need her! Now!” Rob is holding Amber, who’s lying on the floor. My God! She’s in labor! “Ambulance is still ten minutes away. She can’t wait!”
Isabelle is already standing by the door. “Let me help her.” She darts to Amber’s side, kneeling between her legs. I stand away from them, watching from behind.
“You’re doing well, Amber,” Isabelle encourages. “I can see the head. It’s coming. Keep pushing.”
“Rob…” Amber cries.
“I’m here, Amber-Rose.”
Minutes later—a cry.
Isabelle takes the baby in her arms, wrapping it with a towel that I just handed to her.
“She’s perfect,” Isabelle cries, handing the baby over to Amber.
She’s a beautiful girl, indeed, perfect as Isabelle claims—with very healthy lungs, too, judging by how hard she cries.
Rob hugs and kisses his wife, no doubt whispering words of love. The couple’s new-parent smiles brighten the room as they caress their baby gently. Rob himself cries tears of joy.
I stand still, overwhelmed by my own tears. I want that—there’s no denying it. But there’s no other woman I want in my life. I want that woman who just delivered that precious life.
Soon paramedics take over, and Isabelle slowly withdraws herself from the scene. But it doesn’t go unnoticed by me.
“Isabelle!” I call her desperately. She keeps running, but I catch her. “It can’t just end like this.Us—can’t just end like this.”
Her face crumples. She’s fighting an agony that is bigger than herself. “I’m looking you in the eye, Clayton Hartley. I haven’t betrayed you, and I will never do. So, let me go before I break my promise.”
“You know, Isabelle. I’ve had a girlfriend forge my signature to steal a hundred grand from me. Then, hear this. My last girlfriend, whom I thought was my forever—do you know what she called me? A clinker in a million-dollar suit.”
“I’m sorry, Clayton, but—”
“You’re talking about betrayal. Iknowbetrayal! Betrayal is stealing from me. Betrayal is putting me down, laying blame on me while you’re cheating on me.” My voice breaks. “You’re not it, Isabelle! You’ll never be it. I know I’m right.”
