Eleanor clutched her pearl ne, her heart aching even more as she looked at Isadora.


    "Isadora, I''ve decided to make a statement and cut all ties with Pearl. Whatever happens to her from now on—whether she lives or dies—she''s no longer part of the Vaughan family."


    Isadora''s response was cool and detached. "That''s your decision to make."


    "Let''s not talk about her anymore," Eleanor said, forcing a smile before changing the subject. "Tell me, is that bracelet from the Fitzgerald heir?"


    Isadora nced at her wrist. She had gotten so used to wearing ittely, she barely noticed it anymore. "Yeah," she admitted.


    Eleanor''s tone grew concerned. "Isadora, I know I have no right to pry, but how does he treat you?"


    Isadora thought of the three-month deadline he''d given her that morning.


    Before she could answer, Eleanor continued, "Your father is ambitious-always hoping you''d marry up. I''vee to realize that background and connections aren''t everything. All I want is for you to be with someone who truly loves you."


    She sighed. "The Fitzgerald family is soplicated. Honestly, I worry you''ll get hurt if you really join their world."


    Isadora frowned. "It''s too soon to talk about that. Victor and I barely know each other."


    Eleanor could tell Isadora didn''t want to discuss it further, so she let it go.


    Just then, Prescott came home.


    Spotting Isadora in the living room, he pretended not to see her and headed straight upstairs without a word.


    "Come here!" Eleanor snapped, her patience wearing thin. "How can you be so cold to your sister?"


    Prescott shot her a frosty re. "She''s not my sister."


    "If you say something like that again, Prescott, don''t bother calling me your mother," Eleanor warned, her voice icy.


    Prescott''s face flushed. "Mom, don''t let her fool you. Just because shended the Fitzgerald heir, you and Dad treat her like she''s the golden child! Can''t you see me at all? Even without outside connections, I can make the Vaughan family great on my own."


    Eleanor''s expression hardened. "I don''t care about thepany. But from now on, you are not to bully Isadora again."


    Fuming, Prescott stomped upstairs.


    Eleanor could only sigh. There was nothing she could do with this son of hers.


    "Don''t mind him, Isadora. The forecast says there''s going to be a terrible storm tonight-why don''t you stay here?"


    Isadora shook her head. "That''s all right. I''ll be fine."


    After Isadora left, Laura came over tofort Eleanor. "Give it time, ma''am. Miss Isadora really has endured a lot these past three years."


    *


    Isadora returned to Summit Crest Estates.


    She flicked on the lights, but the house remained shrouded in silence and shadow.


    Victor had beening homete a lottely.


    She looked around; everything was spotless and orderly. The cleaning staff came during the day, but, perhaps to help her feel more at home, they always left before nightfall.


    If she ignored everything else, she and Victor truly did seem like a normal couple living together.


    Isadora walked to the fridge.


    Inside, fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits were stacked neatly on the shelves.


    She pulled out a few ingredients and stepped into the kitchen.


    Ever since she and Magnus had broken up, she hadn''t cooked at all-not even for Victor.


    Tonight, she made roasted fish, sautéed shrimp with broli, chicken curry, and eggnt with minced beef.


    She sat down at the dining table, but didn''t touch the food. She just waited.


    The hours slipped by-from eight o''clock to ten. Outside, the gentle drizzle turned into a full-blown thunderstorm.


    Lightning shed across the sky, illuminating the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Thunder cracked, splitting the darkness with each jagged strike.


    Isadora stared out at the storm, lost in thought.


    Maybe it was because Ca had always left her alone as a child, but she''d never been afraid of thunderstorms like other girls.


    What she dreaded was loneliness.


    Maybe it was the looming three-month deadline that made everything feel more fragile.


    Suddenly, she missed him.


    With so little time left, Isadora realized she wanted to make the most of it with


    Victor-even if they parted ways, at least she''d have good memories to hold onto.


    After a moment, she picked up her phone and sent him a message:


    "It''s thundering. I''m scared."