Chapter 490

Isabella froze mid-step.

Her knees hit the marble floor with a sharp crack.

"Mr. Blackwood," she whispered, voice trembling. "Please...I want to live. I'm not ready to die." Her hands clenched into fists on her thighs. "I only reconciled with my parents five years ago. They have no other children. I can't leave them like this."

Nathaniel turned at the sound of her collapse.

His eyes narrowed as he took in her crumpled form kneeling before him. He reached down, fingers closing around her arm to pull her up.

"Vivienne drugged you?"

"Yes." The word came out choked. "This afternoon. She gave me your address. Helped me get past Rosewood Manor's security." Her gaze dropped, unable to meet his. "She said...she said no one could develop an antidote. That I'd need monthly doses to survive. If I told you, the worst you'd do is kill her...but I'd suffer forever."

Nathaniel's expression darkened.

His jaw tightened. Not only had Vivienne targeted Isabella, but she'd dragged this innocent woman into her schemes? "Go home," he commanded, voice low. "I'll handle this."

"Thank you." Relief washed over her features. "Thank you so much." She bowed deeply before turning to leave.

Nathaniel watched her retreating figure, his gaze heavy with unspoken thoughts. This woman had endured so much pain...and he was the unwitting cause of it all.

"Dominic," he said without turning. "Watch her. And dig deeper into her situation."

"Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, inside the manor...

After Nathaniel and Sophia left for the gardens, Oliver tugged Isabella toward the window.

He pressed a pair of sleek, high-tech earbuds into her palm. "Put these on, Mommy. They'll pick up their conversation from here."

Isabella shook her head. "Oliver, we can't. This is an invasion of privacy."

"But Daddy's family!" Oliver insisted, his small face serious. "We have a right to know what's happening. You're his wife. This isn't spying—it's understanding him better. How can we be a happy family if we don't understand each other?"

Before she could protest further, he slipped the earbuds into her ears.

Isabella tried to remove them, but Oliver held her hands firmly in his.

She had no choice but to listen.

The voices came through crisp and clear.

But then Oliver heard something he shouldn't have.

His eyes widened. "Mommy, take them off! Now!" He released her hands, suddenly frantic.

But it was too late.

Isabella had heard everything.

Every devastating word.

Her world tilted.

An invisible hand seemed to squeeze her heart, stealing her breath.

That fragile, gentle woman...was the one Nathaniel had slept with?

Oliver's biological mother?