Chapter 260

The morning felt different. No matter how long she waited, Nathaniel never showed up.

Isabella's fingers trembled as she dialed his number repeatedly. Each time, the same robotic voice answered. "The subscriber you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."

Her phone shattered against the wall with a loud crash. "How dare he ignore me!"

Victoria rushed to her daughter's side. "Darling, calm down. You know your heart condition..."

Isabella shoved her mother away violently. "Calm down? After that idiot Daphne ruined everything!" Her manicured nails dug into her palms. "We planned everything perfectly - the fake pregnancy, framing Harrison for the miscarriage. But that stupid girl couldn't even play her part right!"

The realization hit her like a truck. Nathaniel knew the truth now. He knew Harrison was the woman from that night.

Years together, yet he'd never touched her. Harrison had been his first. Every woman knew what that meant for a man.

Victoria's face darkened. This was worse than they'd imagined. Nathaniel had chosen Harrison over Isabella for the first time.

The unthinkable was happening.

"Mother..." Isabella's voice trembled. "What if he finds out about the cave? What if he realizes I'm not the girl he's been searching for all these years?"

Victoria slapped a hand over her daughter's mouth. "Silence!" Her eyes darted around their empty mansion. "Never speak of that again. If Nathaniel discovers the truth, we're all finished!"

The Hawk family heir wasn't someone to cross. Their deception would cost them everything.

Isabella collapsed onto the velvet couch. "We never should have let that country bumpkin take my place. How could Nathaniel fall for someone like her?"

"She was supposed to be temporary!" Victoria spat. "An uneducated peasant with no connections. Who knew he'd develop feelings?"

Their arrogance had blinded them. Fate had other plans when Harrison entered Nathaniel's life.

Isabella clutched her mother's arm. "We can't let this continue. We need a new plan."

Victoria's lips curled into a calculating smile. "This time, we pull out all the stops. We'll make sure Nathaniel divorces that girl and comes back to you."

Morning light filtered through the dorm room curtains as Harrison stirred awake. Every muscle protested as she moved, evidence of last night's passion.

Nathaniel's strong arms held her close, his breathing even in sleep. Even now, he looked every inch the powerful CEO - the most sought-after bachelor in Willowbrook currently tangled in her pink floral sheets.