Chapter 80

Isabella couldn't help but laugh at Oliver's unexpectedly mature observation. "Christopher, your attempt to matchmake me with your father is painfully transparent. Did he put you up to this?" she teased, amusement dancing in her eyes.

The little boy shook his head vigorously, his doe-like eyes wide with feigned innocence. "Daddy would never! Every word is true!"

She ruffled his hair affectionately, seeing right through his act. "I know you better than anyone. I can even guess how many cookies you've sneaked today. You're too young to come up with such lines on your own."

His lower lip trembled in protest. "But it's all real! Daddy actually said those things!"

Isabella reached beneath his mask to pinch his soft cheek playfully. "Confess now: how many women has your father sent you to charm with these smooth words?"

A deep, familiar voice spoke directly beside her ear. "Does someone finally want to know about my dating history?"

Isabella jerked her head up, nearly colliding with Nathaniel's sharp jawline. His clean, masculine scent enveloped her instantly. She stumbled backward several steps, glaring at him. "Absolutely not! I was merely teasing your son."

She snatched the tickets from his hand and marched toward the Ferris wheel, pulling Oliver along with her.

Nathaniel watched her retreating figure, a faint smile touching his lips. He had all the time in the world.

The amusement park stood as Westchester's most exclusive playground, designed specifically for the city's elite. Only five hundred privileged families held membership passes to this lavishly equipped paradise. The limited access meant remarkably short queues for all attractions.

Oliver began hopping with excitement as they approached the massive Ferris wheel. "Daddy, hurry! We're going up! This is the best day ever!"

Nathaniel joined them at the boarding platform, presenting their tickets. The attendant promptly opened the gated entrance with respectful deference. Oliver clung to both their hands, bouncing between them with unrestrained joy.

Isabella studied the boy's ecstatic expression. "Christopher, why are you so fascinated with Ferris wheels?"

She found it peculiar. Weren't spinning teacups or roller coasters more appealing to young boys? The Ferris wheel offered nothing but stationary seating and slow movement.

His eyes sparkled behind his mask. "This is my first time at any amusement park! My very first Ferris wheel ride! Look how beautiful the gondolas are!"

Beautiful? Isabella examined the minimalist design. Transparent tempered glass formed the entire structure, devoid of any decorative elements. Plush blue leather benches lined both sides of the cabin. While undoubtedly luxurious, "pretty" seemed an odd description.

As the wheel began its gradual ascent, Oliver's energetic bouncing ceased abruptly. A huge yawn escaped him. He slumped onto the seat with sudden lethargy.

"You should stand for a better view," Isabella suggested.

"I'll watch from here for now," he mumbled drowsily. "Maybe stand later."

Isabella's brows furrowed in concern. His sudden shift in energy felt strange. She settled beside him without further comment.

Nathaniel took the opposite bench, removing his mask. His strikingly handsome features seemed even more pronounced in the confined space.

Despite having seen him countless times, Isabella's breath caught. Mere meters separated them in the intimate cabin. His fresh, earthy scent filled the small space, making her heart pound erratically against her ribs.

The close proximity created palpable tension. The air thickened with unspoken possibilities.

Every slight movement felt magnified. The gentle sway of the gondola. The quiet hum of machinery. The sound of their breathing.

Oliver's head began to nod, his earlier excitement completely vanished. His small body leaned gradually toward Isabella's side.

Nathaniel's intense gaze remained fixed on her, ignoring the panoramic view unfolding outside. The city lights began to twinkle below them, painting the evening in glittering gold.

The higher they climbed, the more pronounced the silence grew. Isabella found herself acutely aware of Nathaniel's every breath, every subtle shift in posture.

Oliver's breathing deepened into sleep patterns, his masked face resting against her arm. The contrast between the sleeping child and the awake, watchful man created an oddly domestic scene.

Isabella kept her eyes trained on the window, watching Westchester transform into a miniature cityscape below. Yet her peripheral awareness remained entirely focused on the man across from her.

Nathaniel's voice broke the silence, low and intimate. "He's never been this happy with anyone else."

She refused to meet his eyes. "Children are easily amused."

"Not this one," Nathaniel countered softly. "He's particular about people."

The gondola reached its peak, suspending them high above the world. The entire city sprawled beneath them like a glittering tapestry.

Oliver stirred slightly in his sleep, mumbling incoherently. His small hand tightened around Isabella's fingers.

Nathaniel leaned forward slightly, his movement drawing her immediate attention. "He needs a mother figure."

Isabella's pulse quickened. "Many children grow up fine without one."

"Not like this," Nathaniel persisted, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Not with this emptiness."

The gondola began its descent, the downward motion feeling strangely symbolic. Isabella remained silent, processing his words.

Oliver sighed contentedly in his sleep, snuggling closer to her side. The innocent gesture tugged at something deep within her.

Nathaniel watched the interaction, his expression unreadable yet intense. "He's chosen you, Isabella."

The use of her full name sent an unexpected shiver through her. She finally met his gaze, finding raw sincerity in those深邃 eyes.

The gondola reached the base, the attendant preparing to open the gate. Oliver woke abruptly, blinking confusion away. "Did I miss it?"

Isabella smoothed his hair gently. "You slept through the best part, sweetheart."

Nathaniel's eyes never left her face, a silent message passing between them. The attendant opened the gate, breaking the moment.

Oliver jumped up, energy miraculously restored. "Can we go again? Please?"

Nathaniel stood, offering his hand to Isabella. His palm waited, open and inviting.

The city lights reflected in his eyes, creating constellations of gold. The noise of the amusement park faded into background static.

Oliver tugged her other hand impatiently. "Please, Isabella? One more time?"

Nathaniel's hand remained extended, his gaze holding hers captive. The choice hovered between them, weighted with unspoken implications.

The Ferris wheel continued turning behind them, its cyclical motion mirroring the patterns of fate. Each rotation brought new beginnings, new possibilities.

Oliver's hopeful eyes. Nathaniel's patient hand. The lingering warmth of the gondola seat.

Isabella hesitated at the threshold, suspended between past and future. The evening air carried the scent of candy floss and destiny.

Nathaniel's fingers twitched slightly, a barely perceptible movement. "The night is still young."

Oliver bounced on his toes, his mask slightly askew. "We can try the spinning cups next! Daddy gets dizzy on those!"

A faint smile touched Nathaniel's lips. "Only when you spin too fast."

The ordinary father-son banter felt strangely endearing. Isabella found her hand moving almost involuntarily.

Her fingers brushed against Nathaniel's palm, sending electric sparks up her arm. His hand closed around hers, firm and warm.

Oliver cheered triumphantly, pulling them both toward the ticket counter. "Next ride! Next ride!"

Nathaniel kept her hand securely in his, his thumb tracing subtle circles on her skin. The simple contact felt more intimate than any embrace.

The Ferris wheel continued its endless cycles behind them, each cabin carrying its own stories, its own potential romances.

But for now, three figures moved toward new adventures, their joined hands forming an unbreakable chain under the starlit Westchester sky.