Chapter 2

Isabella's POV

The fire alarm wailed through the apartment building, chaos erupting all around. I pulled out my phone, steadying my trembling hands against the doorframe. Through the lens, I captured Brian and Jessica scrambling half-dressed through our living room, panic etched across their faces.

Brian awkwardly tugged at his t-shirt, trying to conceal the suggestive red marks on his neck, while Jessica's blonde hair fell disheveled around her shoulders, not even bothering to button her blouse properly.

When Brian looked up, our gazes met in mid-air. His expression shifted from panic to irritation, as if I were the unwelcome intruder disturbing their intimate moment.

"Isabella?" His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Why are you home so early?"

I stared at this stranger before me. Years crumbled in this moment, every once-familiar detail now repulsive. His rumpled clothes still bore traces of Jessica's lipstick, fresh kiss marks peeking from his shirt collar. My nails dug deep into my palms, but I couldn't feel the pain.

"Fire alarm," I pointed at the shrieking alarm above, my voice so calm it felt foreign even to myself.

Brian's eyes darted between Jessica and me, finally realizing their disheveled state—her lipstick smeared across his neck, his pants barely zipped, her hair a tangled mess.

"Oh, this... this isn't... Jessica just came by to talk about some things," he stammered, "and then the alarm went off, and we were just..."

Jessica kept her head down the entire time, staring at the floor as if she might find her dignity there.

I could have screamed. Could have thrown things. Could have let the rage burning inside me explode outward. But what would be the point? They weren't worth it. I had more important things to do.

"Mmm, okay." I stepped aside to let them pass.

As they hurried away, I heard Jessica whisper, "Do you think she knows?"

I suppressed the cold laugh that nearly escaped my lips. Know what? That my boyfriend had been drugging me for years, destroying my chances of motherhood while screwing my best friend? Yes, I fucking knew.

But now wasn't the time for revenge. I turned toward the stairs, with only one thought in mind: I needed to see Sarah, immediately.

The Silver Creek Reproductive Center stood in the city's busiest commercial district, afternoon sunlight cascading over its glass façade, reflecting dazzling rays.

Pushing through the heavy glass doors, the smell of disinfectant hit me. Fine art pieces reflected on the marble floors, every decoration silently testifying to the center's prestige.

"I need to see Dr. Collins," I told the receptionist, struggling to control my trembling voice. "Sarah Collins. It's urgent."

Ten minutes later, I sat in Sarah's private office. Though it continued the lobby's luxurious style, there was warmth in every personal touch.

Photos of us from high school hung on the wall, and on the windowsill sat the succulent plant I'd given her at her medical school graduation. Years had passed, yet it remained lush and vibrant.

The moment Sarah pushed open the door, she knew something was wrong.

"Izzy? What happened?" she asked, immediately coming around her desk.

When her arms encircled me, I broke down. All the betrayal and pain poured out like a broken dam. Sarah listened quietly, her fingers gently stroking my hair.

"That bastard," Sarah hissed after I finished, grabbing her phone. "I'm calling my lawyer friend. We'll charge him with reproductive coercion; he's dead meat."

I grabbed her wrist. "No. Not now. There's something more important." I took a deep breath. "Sarah, I need to get pregnant. Now. Before my next cycle."

Sarah's expression softened. "Izzy..."

"You're the only one who can help me," I clutched her hand tightly. "Being a mother is my greatest wish in life. I only have one chance left, and I can't let Brian destroy this too."

Sarah gazed at me, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Finally, she nodded gently. "We have many options here. This center stores the highest quality donor samples in the country." She hesitated, "Even... Gabriel Vasquez's sample is stored here."

"Gabriel Vasquez?" The name caught me off guard.

Who didn't know Gabriel Vasquez? That legendary billionaire CEO. Once, while walking my employer's children through Galaxy District, I had encountered him. Even in that brief glimpse, his presence was overwhelming—tall, imposing, with piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through you.

Sarah suddenly realized she had let something slip, her expression growing serious. "You'll have to keep this confidential for me. Doctor-patient confidentiality, you understand."

"Of course," I nodded, though confused by her unusual nervousness.

Sarah strode out of the office, returning moments later with a tablet. "This is our donor database. Take your time."

For the next hour, I scrolled through profiles of men willing to father children they'd never meet. Actors, scientists, certified geniuses... each profile dazzled, each photograph concealing a possible future.

Finally, my gaze settled on a surgeon's profile. Wisdom shone through his gentle eyes, and his credentials were impressive. Perfect medical reports, excellent athletic background, no history of hereditary diseases.

"This one," I said, touching the screen. "I choose him."

Sarah carefully examined the profile, her brow slightly furrowed. "The surgeon? Are you sure? Once we begin, there's no going back."

"I'm certain," I said without hesitation.

Sarah took the tablet and stood up. "Give me a few minutes to prepare."

When she returned, something seemed off. Her hands trembled slightly, her gaze flickering with unease. Yet she maintained a professional tone as she guided me through the entire process.

"This won't hurt," she reassured me softly. "At most, just a bit of pressure."

Afterward, she squeezed my hand. "Come back in ten days. We'll see if it worked."

The next ten days stretched like a century. I moved into an ordinary extended-stay apartment in the suburbs, allowing Brian's missed calls and texts to accumulate on my phone.

Those messages evolved from initial anger to pleading, then threats, and finally desperate apologies. But none of that mattered anymore—all my thoughts were focused on the new life potentially growing inside me.

My baby. My family. These words became like a mantra, sustaining me through each agonizing day of waiting.

I maintained my nanny job in Galaxy District, pretending life was normal. The Carson children were my only solace—Emma with her innocent smile missing a front tooth, and Jack, forever energetic like a small whirlwind. Their innocence helped me temporarily forget my inner anxiety.

"Isabella! Isabella!" they shouted excitedly as I approached the white mansion, "Can we go to the museum today? Dad said you could take us!"

For the first time in days, I smiled genuinely. "Of course we can, my little explorers. Did you bring your explorer hats?"

We walked along Galaxy District's immaculate sidewalk, flanked by breathtaking mansions. This was Silver Creek City's most elite residential area, where even the air seemed fresher than elsewhere.

"Jack, don't run too fast!" I called, holding Emma's small hand while watching Jack bounce ahead of us.

Suddenly, Jack stopped in his tracks, staring fixedly at something. Following his gaze, my heart skipped a beat.

There stood the Vasquez Mansion, with Gabriel himself at the entrance. He was even more imposing than I remembered—broad shoulders filling out his tailored suit, every gesture exuding elegance and power.

When he turned, those mesmerizing green eyes locked directly onto mine, and in that moment, time seemed to stand still.