Chapter 42
The girl’s small fingers tightening around her father’s hand. Daddy, let’s go home, she whispered, her voice trembling Billy’s father learnt mes
The father’s face paled as he nofterd Henry’s cold stare. He quickly scooped up his daughter, holding her protectively against his chest. Bir, I spolitiet for my daughter’s behavior. We’ll leave right away.”
Henry didn’t respond, his grey eyes following their retreating figures with glacial disdain. The way the father practically ran away with his daughter spoke volumes about the intimidating presence Henry projected, even in the innocuous setting of an elementary school pickup.
I watched as Henry strode toward his waiting luxury sedan, Billy held firmly in his arms. My son’s small form seemed to shrink into himself, a far cry from his usual animated chatter after school. The sight made my heart ache.
Thomas, I’m so sorry, I turned to the man beside me, guilt weighing heavily in my chest. “I had no idea he would show up.”
Thomas’s warm brown eyes held nothing but understanding, though I could see the tension in his jaw. “Let’s reschedule, I continued, wincing as Henry’s car horn cut through our conversation. “I apologize for this.”
I wanted nothing more than to stay away from Henry Harding, to escape his suffocating presence. But as his car horn blared again, more insistently this time, I knew that wasn’t an option. Henry’s window rolled down smoothly, his cold gaze fixing on me like a predator sighting prey.
“Are you coming or not?” His voice carried that quiet menace I knew too well.
The short walk to his car felt like crossing a minefield. I slid into the backseat beside Billy, immediately fastening my seatbelt as if it could somehow protect me from Henry’s overwhelming presence.
“Sweetheart,” I turned to Billy, deliberately ignoring Henry’s reflection in the rearview mirror, “what did you learn at school today? Anything interesting happen?”
Billy snuggled closer to me, his small body relaxing slightly away from his father’s reach. “Guess what!” His face brightened with childish excitement, a welcome change from his earlier tension.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I smiled, gently smoothing his golden hair.
“Mrs. Peterson chose my science project for the school exhibition!” His blue eyes sparkled with pride. “We’re studying the water cycle, and I made a model showing how clouds form and rain falls. I used cotton balls for the clouds and blue food coloring for the water!”
“That’s wonderful!” I hugged him closer, genuinely proud. “Did you remember to explain about condensation and evaporation?”
“Uh–huh! I even added a little sun made from yellow paper to show how it heats the water.” He paused, then whispered in my ear, “Mrs. Peterson said I explained it better than some of the fifth graders!”
I could feel Henry’s eyes on us in the rearview mirror, but I kept my attention focused on Billy. “You must have worked very hard on it. When is the exhibition?”
Henry cleared his throat pointedly. “Let’s have dinner together. I know an excellent seafood place.”
“No, thank you.” My response was immediate and cold. I felt rather than saw Henry’s fingers tighten on the leather seat, heard the sharp intake of breath that signaled his growing frustration.
The tension in the car was broken by the sudden chirping of Henry’s phone. Isabella’s name lit up the screen, and I watched his expression shift from irritation to concern as he answered.
“Henry,‘ Isabella’s voice carried clearly through the speaker, brittle with distress. “Have you seen the social media posts? They’re calling me a home–wrecker! But I’m not, you know I’m not. I just love you too much, I just wanted to spend time with you.”
Her voice cracked with what sounded like genuine tears. “I never meant to come between you and your family. I just wanted to be with you a little longer. These comments are so cruel.”
“Isabella, calm down, Henry’s voice softened immediately. “Wait for me at the hospital, I’ll come to you right now.”
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they as saying horrible thing, abour me online, she sobbed. They’re calling me your mistress, mying I dentroyed your mana
true Henry You know I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I just love you too much…
Henry’s knuckles whitened on the phone. Stay where you are. Don’t do anything rash, I’m on my way.
There was a moment of silence, then Isabella’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I can’t take this anymore!” A shaky breath, then, Henry, goodbye Lo
Isabella?! Henry’s composure cracked completely. “ISABELLA?!”
The call disconnected, leaving only static in its wake. Henry immediately began redialing, his fingers moving with uncharacteristic urgency. When each call went unanswered, he barked an order to the driver. “Manhattan General. Now!”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I pulled out my phone to check social media. The storm that had prompted Isabella’s apparent breakdown was immediately apparent.
“OMG! That’s attempted murder!” one comment read. “The bathroom in Manhattan General’s VIP wing is tiny anyone with claustrophobia could die in there. This woman is evil!”
Another user had connected more dots: “She’s Isabella Scott’s private nurse! Think about that connection… Suspicious much?”
The revelations kept coming: “Wait, isn’t that Sophia Wilson – Henry Harding’s wife? What a coincidence both women are at the same hospital. This is better
than Netflix!”
The speculation grew wilder with each comment: “So Isabella Scott’s nurse locked Mrs. Harding in a bathroom? What’s the endgame here? Murder attempt?
“Watch what you say the Hardings have serious power in this city.”
“Could Isabella Scott have ordered this?”
I silently put away my phone, piecing together my shattered heart once again. I wasn’t alone – I had Billy. My son’s warm presence beside me was all that mattered now.
As we approached Manhattan General, a sea of reporters and onlookers surrounded the hospital entrance. NYPD officers had established a perimeter, their blue lights casting eerie shadows across the gathering crowd. A fire truck stood ready, its crew positioned strategically around the building.
And there, on the VIP floor’s balcony, stood Isabella Scott. Her silk robe billowed in the evening wind, the thin fabric offering little protection against the autumn chill. Even from this distance, the desperation in her pose was unmistakable.
Henry’s car hadn’t even fully stopped before he was out the door, shoving his way through the crowd. The chaos outside intensified as people recognized him, cameras swiveling to capture the drama unfolding.
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ITA Love Reporn
Chapter 43
