Brocade Heights.


    The doorbell rang, sharp and insistent, slicing through the quiet.


    Isadora assumed it was Victor again, refusing to take the hint. She strode to the door and swung it open, not even bothering to check who was there. "Why are you still here?!"


    Nte blinked in surprise, ncing up and down the hallway before asking, "Who''s still here?"


    Isadora realized her mistake as soon as she saw Nte''s face. "Sorry, wrong person."


    Nte stepped inside, slipped off her shoes, and floppedzily onto the living room couch. "Where''d you two go this afternoon?"


    Isadora was in the kitchen, filling two sses with cold water. She handed one to Nte before answering, "By the riverside."


    Nte couldn''t help but grin at that. Everyone knew the riverside in Capitolion was where couples went for romantic strolls-or, as the tabloids loved to report, for far more heated rendezvous.


    "How romantic," Nte teased.


    Isadora just shrugged, not bothering to exin that romance had been thest thing on her mind. They hadn''t even gotten out of the car.


    "So, is Mr. Fitzgerald nning to step up and do the right thing?"


    Isadora thought back to their conversation that evening. Victor seemed willing enough to keep the baby, but the idea of marrying her had clearly never crossed his mind. Not that she med him-he already had a fiancée.


    The realization made her expression turn colder. "Nte, I made up my mind on the operating table. I''m raising this baby myself."


    Nte''s eyes widened in surprise, but then she nodded, not really shocked. If anyone could do it, it was Isadora.


    She pressed on, "You really think Mr. Fitzgerald will just let it go? I mean, that''s his kid too."


    That was exactly what had been weighing on Isadora all night. She hadn''t expected Victor to show up at the hospital today and throw off all her ns.


    She slumped back on the couch, one hand unconsciously cradling her stomach. Despite the exhaustion in her eyes, her voice was steady, resolute. "No matter what he decides, I won''t let anyone take this baby from me."


    If Victor hadn''t found out, maybe things would''ve been different. But now that he knew—and knowing the Fitzgerald family, with all their wealth and pride-there was no way they''d just let an outsider have an heir to their dynasty, no questions asked.


    Nte saw the strain in her friend''s face and decided not to push further. She offered aforting smile. "Look, if you''ve made up your mind, then stick with it. You have my support. I''ll be the godmother, and between the two of us, this baby will neverck for love-even without a dad."


    That bit of reassurance softened the whirlwind in Isadora''s heart. She leaned her head on Nte''s shoulder. "If only you were a man, I could just marry you and this baby would be ours-it''d be untouchable."


    She looked at Nte, half-joking, half-serious. "What do you think, Nte? Maybe you should go to Thand and get a sex change."


    Nte groaned. "You''re out of your mind. I haven''t had nearly enough fun as a woman to go turning into a man for you and your kid!"


    *


    Two dayster, Eleanor returned from Europe, her "find-yourself” trip finally over. Isadora found herself back at the airport, waiting at arrivals.


    She remembered thest time she''d been here, picking up Nte after her abortion-how quickly things could change in just a few days.


    Not far off, Eleanor appeared, pushing her suitcase through the crowd. Isadora waved her over, then took the handle of Eleanor''s suitcase as they headed for the exit together.


    A month away had done Eleanor good. The shadows left by Richard''s betrayal


    had finally faded, and she looked more like her old self again.


    Eleanor gave her a warm, gentle look. "Isadora, you''re busy at work. You could''ve just sent a driver. No need toe all this way yourself."