Chapter 255

Isabella Montgomery pulled up to the Blackwood Estate on her motorcycle. She spotted Oliver in the living room, intently focused on his laptop.

She approached cautiously. “Christopher, where’s your father?”

“Daddy went out earlier and hasn’t returned. Why are you home so soon, Mommy?” Oliver set aside his device and hurried toward her. He lifted his arms expectantly. Isabella instinctively scooped him up. “Did your father drive himself?” she pressed, a frown forming. “Or was Dominic with him?”

“Uncle Dominic was driving,” Oliver replied.

Isabella quickly calculated the timing. Dominic typically drove around 40 kilometers per hour. The trip from the estate to The Ivy should have taken no more than 25 minutes. She had been gone for half an hour—so why wasn’t Nathaniel back yet? Had she misjudged the situation? Maybe he hadn’t heeded her warning and went to meet Victoria after all. A surge of unease shot through her. She set Oliver down on the sofa and pulled out her phone to call Nathaniel.

Beep, beep, beep!

The line rang, then went to voicemail. A robotic voice informed her, “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”

Isabella’s frown deepened. No answer. Could Nathaniel actually be in trouble? She turned back to Oliver. “Do you have Uncle Dominic’s number?”

“Sorry, Mommy, I don’t,” Oliver said, his expression growing anxious. “Mommy, do you think something happened to Daddy? When he left this morning, he said he had a very important meeting—something about your future happiness. He left in a rush and cleared his entire afternoon schedule. I tried calling him ten minutes ago too, but he didn’t answer. He still hasn’t called me back.”

Isabella’s concern spiked. No answer for ten whole minutes? Nathaniel was notoriously reliable. It was completely unlike him to miss calls—especially twice. Something was definitely wrong. She faced Oliver immediately. “Christopher, stay here, okay? Mommy is going to find Daddy.”

“Okay!” Oliver nodded vigorously.

Isabella snatched her motorcycle keys and bolted for the door. Her mind raced with thoughts of the Nightshade perfume’s potent effects. She had developed it herself; she knew its power better than anyone. Ordinary drugs might cause discomfort and weaken resolve, but a strong will could sometimes fight them off. Nightshade was different. It induced powerful hallucinations, warping the victim’s perception of reality, making them see someone else entirely. It attacked the mind directly. No amount of willpower could resist its grip. If Nathaniel had been with Victoria because of her own creation…

The mere idea sent a white-hot fury coursing through her. So consumed was she by her thoughts that she didn’t see the solid figure blocking her path until she collided with a hard wall of muscle.

Staggering back, Isabella looked up, her brow furrowing in instant recognition. It was Nathaniel! He stood there, aloof and impeccably handsome in his tailored suit, looking completely unruffled.

“You’re back?” she asked, her voice tight. “Why weren’t you answering your phone?”

“Hmm?” Nathaniel noted her flustered state, then his gaze shifted to Oliver.

Just ten minutes prior, Nathaniel had used Dominic’s phone to check on Oliver. He’d explained his own phone had malfunctioned and specifically instructed the boy to reassure Isabella if she returned home early.

Meeting his father’s questioning look, Oliver flashed a mischievous grin. “Daddy, I told Mommy you were in trouble. She was rushing out to find you. See? Mommy does care about you! Have fun!” With a gleeful chuckle, he scampered off on his short legs.

Isabella stood frozen, completely dumbfounded.

The little schemer had tricked her.

A visible lightness seemed to wash over Nathaniel’s features. His eyes locked on hers, a teasing glint in their depths. “You were worried about me?”