After a while, Isadora lowered her gaze. "I''ll think about it."


    She understood that Eleanor had already done everything she could to n the best future for her.


    Eleanor looked at Isadora, her tone gentle yet earnest.


    "And one more thing, Isadora-since you''ve decided to cut ties with the


    Fitzgeralds, try to keep your distance from Victor from now on."


    Isadora''s eyes lingered on Eleanor''s face for a moment before she nodded slowly.


    After dinner, Isadora washed up, slipped into bed, and nned to read a bit before going to sleep.


    A guidebook for expectant mothers sat on her nightstand.


    Suddenly, her phone chimed.


    "Good night."


    Ever since Victor found out she was pregnant, he''d sent her a good night message every single day.


    Isadora had never replied.


    Tonight, as she stared at his message, she felt strangely nk.


    Eleanor''s words from earlier echoed in her mind.


    She tapped Victor''s profile picture, her finger hovering over the "Block Contact" button.


    She hesitated, staring for a long time.


    Taking a deep breath, she was about to confirm when her phone rang.


    Without thinking, Isadora answered.


    Nte''s cheerful voice came through. "Isadora, I have a friend whose family runs a little country farm. I just bought a bunch of fresh organic veggies and free-


    range chicken from her. I''m sending some over to you!"


    Isadoraughed. "Are you trying to make me even bigger?"


    "You need to be! You can''t let my godchild go hungry, now can you?"


    Suddenly, Isadora remembered something. "Your birthday''sing up in a couple of days. Why didn''t you mention it?"


    Usually, Nte threw huge, lively birthday parties every year.


    Isadora always showed up-neither of them ever missed the important moments in each other''s lives.


    But this year was different. Those parties were always crowded and noisy, and Isadora, now pregnant, wasn''t exactly up for it.


    Nte had clearly thought of that. "Actually, I was nning to sneak away at midnight so I coulde back and blow out candles with you."


    Isadora didn''t want to dampen her friend''s spirits. It wouldn''t be right for the birthday girl to leave her own party halfway through. She forced augh. "I''m pregnant, not an invalid, Nte. I''m not that fragile. I''lle celebrate with you for a while-but I probably can''t stay until dawn this year."


    Nte sounded thrilled. "Isadora, that''s perfect! As long as you''re there to blow out the candles with me, I''ll be happy. I can''t bear to keep my godchild up all night anyway."


    They chatted for a little while longer.


    After she hung up, Isadora looked at Victor''s chat window again. But instead of blocking him, she just backed out and set her phone aside.


    *


    Two nightster.


    Isadora arrived at Nte''s birthday party, following the address she''d been given.


    The club was a riot of neon lights and pulsing music, packed with people dancing andughing. The noise was almost deafening.


    Isadora felt ufortable as soon as she walked in. She hurried toward private room 505.


    Just then, she bumped shoulders with a man in a loud floral shirt.


    Finley looked up—and immediately recognized her.


    "Isadora? What are you doing here?"


    Seeing it was him, Isadora answered simply, "My friend''s birthday."


    Finley raised an eyebrow in amusement.


    So, it was that feisty little wildcat?


    "That gorgeous actress? Which room is she in?"


    Isadora was puzzled. How did he know Nte?


    Noticing her surprise, Finley grinned. "I saw her at the hospitalst time. She seemed interesting."


    Typical rich boys, always eager to flirt with a pretty girl.


    Isadora didn''t bother replying.


    Suddenly, something clicked. "Wait-how did you know I was pregnant?"


    Finley shrugged. "I own the clinic where you went for your check-up."


    The realization dawned on Isadora. Finley must have tipped Victor off.


    Her expression grew colder.


    Finley held up his hands. "Look, I just think the father deserves to know, that''s all."


    Isadora''s voice was t. "Of course you''d take his side. You''re his friend."


    "I''m not taking sides. Just think about it, Isadora-how does Victor really feel about you?"


    As she hesitated, Finley added casually, "Oh, and didn''t you ask mest time about that photo in Victor''s office? Did you ever go and see who it was?"