Chapter 152
After reassuring me, William walked out of the banquet hall with his smile. The moment the door closed behind him, his smile vanished mumplets, His cane tapped rhythmically against the floor as he muttered under his breath.
“Henry Harding, you worthless dog, are you dead somewhere? He pulled out his phone and dialed Henry’s number. Me answer.
“Mark, William barked, his face flushed with anger. Find that dog and bring him here immediately!!
this very minute!” by his hair if you have to! I want to see him now – right now
I don’t care if he’s in leabella Scott’s bed
drag him
Mark had never seen William this furious before. Without another word, he bowed and rushed off to execute the order.
Across town, Isabella clung tightly to Henry’s arm as they strolled down New York’s most exclusive shopping district. Despite her vice like grip on bus st and constant chatter, she couldn’t help but notice his distracted demeanor.
Henry hated these meaningless shopping excursions. He had important matters to attend to, and he felt isabella was deliberately wasting his time
Sensing his impatience, Isabella stopped walking and turned to face him, her expression perfectly calibrated to appear vulnerable and helpless..
“Henry,‘ she said softly, “if you don’t want to be with me, just say so. You can leave me here alone if that’s what you prefer.”
Every time Isabella looked at him with those sad, luminous eyes, guilt washed over him like a wave. Henry didn’t know how to express his current predicament.
Billy’s birthday celebration had started at six, and he, the father, was late. Henry gently removed Isabella’s hand from his arm, his expression growing increasingly serious.
“Isabella, I can’t keep wandering around with you. There’s an important meeting I must attend.”
“What meeting?” Isabella asked, feigning innocence. “I’ll come with you.”
Seeing her persistent questioning, Henry could only tell the truth. “All right. To tell you the truth, I’m not going to a business meeting. I’m attending Billy’s birthday celebration.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “My father and grandfather will be there. Bringing you would be… problematic.”
Six years ago, Richard and William had made their dislike for Isabella clear, and nothing had changed since then.
Henry expected Isabella to back down, but she persisted.
“Henry, please, I want to come with you. I promise I won’t cause any trouble. I just want to offer the child my birthday wishes and then leave. Is that too much to ask?”
Under the bright lights, Henry could clearly see her eyes reddening, tears threatening to spill over. Sighing, he pulled out his black credit card and offered it to her.
“James will stay and accompany you shopping,” he said.
Isabella shook her head, not even glancing at the card. Her tear–filled eyes remained fixed on him. “Henry, I brought a gift for Billy. I know he’s your child with Sophia, and you can’t imagine how jealous I am of her for having your child.”
Her voice trembled as she continued, “If I were healthy, it would have been me marrying you six years ago, not Sophia. I would have been the one giving you a child. Now my body is broken, and I can’t have children anymore.”
She spoke as tears streamed down her face. “I just want to see your child, to imagine what our child might have looked like. 1 present in person, say a few kind words, and then leave. Is that really so impossible?”
With each tear that fell from her eyes, Henry felt his resolve weakening. After a long internal struggle, he finally relented.
“Fine,” he said, offering his arm once more “Come with me.”
nt to give him his
