She collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Harrison motioned for Grant to help him down. He didn’t care about the grime soaking into his expensive suit.
“Bella… please…”
“Don’t call me that!” she cried. “You lost the right when you told me to choose!”
The memory slammed into him. Her pregnancy. His fury. His obsession with reputation. “Either that boy or this family,” he had said.
“You made me choose between you and my child!” Isabella shouted. “And I chose my daughter.”
“I was wrong,” Harrison whispered. “I was cruel. I thought I was protecting our name. Instead, I destroyed my own family.”
Lily clung to her mother.
“Lily’s father died three years ago,” Isabella continued, her voice trembling. “Construction accident. He loved us. We were poor, but we were happy. Then he was gone. I got sick. And now my daughter begs so I can afford medicine.”
Each word cut deeper than any business loss ever had.
“Your mother passed away two years ago,” Harrison said quietly.
Isabella froze. “Mom?”
“Cancer. Her last wish was that I find you. I waited too long.”
Silence settled heavy between them.