Chapter 2

I hired three housekeepers and spent the whole afternoon making sure every corner was spotless.

I erased every sign that Jude had ever been here.

The lavish gifts he once gave me, the ones I used to treat like precious keepsakes, were packed up and sent to Shelton Group, addressed directly to Jude.

Once I was done, I called my mentor, Andrew Haynes, one of the top architects in the country.

Andrew picked up right away. "Isabelle?" He sounded pleasantly surprised. "I thought you'd never call me again."

Back then, I made the tough call to give up a spot at a top overseas design institute, ignoring Andrew's warnings, all for the sake of marrying Jude.

Andrew was so mad, he nearly cut me off.

"Andrew, I'm sorry," I said.

This was the only time in days I sounded emotional. It wasn't love nor was it hate. It was just guilt.

"Don't be silly. There's no need to apologize." He sighed. "It's enough that you've come back. That's all I care about. Did you finally figure things out?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"So, what are you planning next? Are you still considering going overseas? I've still got a spot for you if you want it," he said.

"No, I want to start my own studio," I said.

He was silent for a few seconds on the other end.

"That's good too," he said eventually. "You're the student I'm most proud of, Isabelle. You definitely have what it takes. Are you short on cash? I've got a little nest egg if you need it."

"Thanks, but I've got enough to get started," I replied.

"Alright then. If you ever need anything, just give me a call."

After I hung up, I gazed out at the city slowly coming alive with lights, a quiet peace settling over me.

My new life had begun.

*****

A month later, my studio, Paramount Designs, officially opened its doors.

On opening day, Andrew showed up in person and introduced me to some of the biggest names in the industry.

My skills were recognized almost immediately.

The studio's very first project was the interior design for a landmark building right in the heart of the city.

I was working around the clock, sketching designs, endless meetings, hustling between job sites. Other than taking care of Benjamin, every waking moment was devoted to work. I felt like a machine that never ran out of fuel.

And Jude? It was like he'd vanished from my world for good. He never reached out again.

The divorce papers I sent him vanished without a trace.

Then, the day I took Benjamin to the hospital for his vaccination, I spotted a familiar figure in the hospital lobby.

It was Jude.

He'd lost a lot of weight, with dark circles under his eyes. Even his expensive suit seemed to swallow him up.

A young, gorgeous girl had her arm wrapped around his, her smile sweet and charming as she whispered to him.

That was the girl he always pined for, his unattainable dream, Phoebe Fletcher.

I chased after Jude for five years, but he barely gave me the time of day.

On the other hand, the moment Phoebe came back to town, he rushed to take her under his wing.

I used to go crazy with jealousy over her. I even threw a glass of red wine at her in front of everyone at a party.

That was the first time Jude ever got truly angry with me. He grabbed me by the throat, his eyes cold and fierce. "Isabelle, if you do anything to her again, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."

Back then, it felt like my heart was being torn apart.

But now, seeing them both cozy together, not a single ripple stirred in my heart. It was like staring at a picture that belonged to someone else's story.

I held Benjamin close and walked right past them, not even glancing their way.

"Isabelle?" I heard Jude's voice behind me.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "Mr. Shelton, do you need something?" My voice was polite, but distant.

Jude let go of Phoebe's arm and hurried over to me.

His eyes locked onto Benjamin in my arms, his gaze a tangled mess of emotions. "Is he... our son?" His voice shook, just a little, almost too subtle to catch.

"His name is Benjamin Deleon," I replied. I didn't answer his question directly, making it clear that Benjamin carried my last name, not his.

Jude's face went ghostly pale for a split second. He reached out, like he wanted to touch Benjamin's face.

I stepped back, holding Benjamin close, avoiding his hand.

His hand froze awkwardly in the air.

Phoebe walked over, her smile flawless and impeccably polite. "Isabelle, it's been a while. When did you get back? Jude's been really worried about you."

She acted like she was Jude's wife. Her tone was intimate, as if we were old friends.

To her, all the messy history between Jude and me seemed like nothing more than childish squabbles.

"Miss Fletcher," I said coolly, "I don't owe it to you to tell you where I have been."

Phoebe's smile faltered for a moment. She probably never imagined that the woman who used to be nothing but dust beneath her shoes would ever stand up to her like this.

She looked to Jude for help, her eyes pleading.

But Jude didn't look away from me for a second, his gaze locked on my face. "Isabelle, we need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," I replied, voice icy and resolute. "When are you going to sign the divorce papers? If you don't like my terms, then we'll settle it in court."

"I'm not divorcing," Jude nearly shouted.

People in the hospital lobby started staring at us.

My brow furrowed.