Chapter 3

Isabella's POV

Morning sunlight filtered through the blinds into the kitchen as I prepared Caspar's favorite fried egg sandwich. Last night's phone call had kept me awake all night, but I told myself maybe he really hadn't heard clearly.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

"I'll get it." Caspar put down his coffee cup, his expression somewhat serious.

I heard him talking with an unfamiliar man, and my heart began to feel inexplicably uneasy. A few minutes later, Caspar walked into the living room with a middle-aged man in a suit carrying a briefcase.

"Bella, this is my lawyer, Mr. Johnson." Caspar's tone was calm, but I keenly sensed something unusual. "I think we should sign a prenuptial agreement."

I was stunned. A prenuptial agreement? We'd never discussed this topic.

"Of course, that's reasonable." I forced a smile. "After all, your family has substantial assets."

Lawyer Johnson opened his briefcase and took out a stack of documents. "Ms. Rose, this is just routine procedure. I need to verify your financial situation to ensure the agreement's fairness."

I nodded, thinking this should be simple. I didn't have much property, not much in bank savings, and my salary income was transparent.

"Your bank statements show..." Lawyer Johnson flipped through the documents, suddenly frowning. "You transfer $1,200 monthly to an account under the name Sophia Rose, and this has continued for three years. What is the nature of these payments?"

My blood instantly froze.

"That's..." My voice began to tremble. "Some family... assistance."

"Family assistance?" Lawyer Johnson continued reviewing. "But according to your tax records, you've claimed Child Tax Credit with Sophia Rose as the beneficiary, relationship listed as daughter."

Caspar shot up from his chair, the scraping sound piercing the air.

"What?" His voice was low and dangerous. "Bella, what is this about?"

My mind went completely blank. I had no idea about the tax records—that must have been handled by the adoptive parents, who said it was for convenient transfers and medical insurance.

"Also," Lawyer Johnson continued mercilessly, "your insurance beneficiary clearly lists Sophia Rose as daughter, a relationship maintained for three years. Ms. Rose, you must explain these records clearly."

Caspar's face turned ashen. He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with anger and disappointment I'd never seen before.

"We've been together for three years." His voice was shaking. "Three years, Isabella! You never told me you had a daughter?"

"Caspar, please let me explain..." I stood up, trying to walk toward him, but he stepped back.

"Who is her father?" Caspar's voice became sharp.

"No!" I cried. "She's not my biological child!"

"Then why does she call you mommy?" Caspar's eyes burned with fury. "Last night's phone call—I heard it clearly! Why are you legally her mother? Why are you covering all her expenses?"

I tried to grab his hand, but he shook me off.

"Please give me a chance to explain. Sophia, she..."

"Sophia?" Caspar laughed coldly. "You wouldn't even let me know her name. What else is real, Isabella? What other secrets are there?"

"I didn't lie to you!" I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face. "It's complicated, but I never betrayed you!"

"Complicated?" Caspar's voice turned ice-cold. "What's more complicated than hiding a child's existence? I thought I knew you. Turns out you've been lying for three years!"

Lawyer Johnson coughed uncomfortably. "Perhaps I should..."

"No, you stay." Caspar interrupted him. "We won't be signing any agreement."

I felt my heart being torn apart. "Caspar, please let me finish explaining..."

"Enough!" Caspar pointed toward the door. "Leave, Isabella. We're done. I can't marry someone who can't even manage basic honesty."

"You can't do this!" I crawled toward him, crying. "Three years of feelings—you're just giving up like that?"

"You gave up." Caspar's voice cut through my heart like a knife. "From the moment you decided to hide her."

"I love you!" I shouted desperately. "More than I love my own life!"

"If you really loved me, you wouldn't have lied to me for three years."

He walked toward the door, and I crawled over to hug his legs.

"Please don't do this. I can explain everything..."

"It's too late." Caspar looked down at me coldly. "I once thought you were the most honest person in the world. Now I realize I don't know you at all."

He forcefully pulled my hands away from his legs.

"Get out of my house."

"Caspar..."

"Leave now!"

The door slammed shut, like closing off all the light in my life. I collapsed in the hallway outside, tears blurring my vision.

Three years of love, three years of promises, three years of beautiful memories—all turned to nothing in one morning.

I thought of yesterday's warmth at Grandpa and Grandma's house, the loving kindness in their eyes, Caspar's promise to give me a home.

Now there was nothing left.

Once again, I was a child nobody wanted.

Once again, I was abandoned.

Neighbors passing by gave me strange looks, and I realized I was still sitting in the hallway. I stood up, wiping away tears with trembling hands.

Where could I go?

Where else was there to go?

Only to that place that was never really home.

Only to those people who never really loved me.

I dragged my exhausted body toward the elevator, one thought repeating endlessly in my mind:

How could I explain Sophia's existence to him?

If I didn't even know how to begin, how could I blame him for not believing me?

But... I really didn't want to destroy my home with my own hands.