Isabella woke to the soft rustling of the curtains and Alex's gentle breathing beside her. The tension from recent days lingered, but today felt different—a brief moment of peace, the kind that often precedes a storm. As she touched her belly, feeling the small movements of their unborn children, Isabella couldn't help but smile. The twins were growing stronger, and despite the shadow of Ethan, life was moving forward.
Alex stirred beside her, turning to face her with a sleepy smile. "Morning," he murmured, pulling her close.
"Morning," she whispered, resting her head on his chest. "The babies are active today."
"Good," Alex said, his voice low and comforting. "They're getting ready for their debut."
Isabella chuckled, but her smile faded as her thoughts turned to Ethan. "Do you think it's really over?" she asked quietly, unable to shake the feeling of unease.
Alex's expression grew serious, his fingers gently brushing her hair. "We've done everything we can to keep us safe. My father's company has increased security, and I've made sure Ethan has no way to get close to you."
"But he's still out there, isn't he?" Isabella's voice was a whisper, filled with a worry she couldn't contain.
"He is," Alex admitted, his jaw tightening. "But we'll be ready for him. He won't get near you or our children. I promise."
Later that morning, they met with Alex's parents, Mr. James Grey and Mrs. Veronica Grey, for breakfast. Veronica had grown fond of Isabella over the past few months, and the two women were now closer than ever. She fussed over Isabella, making sure she was eating well and resting enough.
"Are you feeling alright, darling?" Veronica asked, handing Isabella a plate of fruit.
"I'm fine, just tired," Isabella said with a smile. "But the babies are healthy, and that's what matters."
"They're going to be beautiful," Veronica said, beaming. "I can't wait to meet my grandchildren."
As they talked, Alex was deep in conversation with his father about security measures. Though Isabella couldn't hear the details, she could tell that Alex was still worried. Despite his reassurances, Ethan was a lingering threat that they couldn't ignore.
In the days that followed, Alex's protective nature intensified. He insisted on driving Isabella everywhere, even to her doctor's appointments, and rarely left her side. Although she appreciated his care, it was starting to feel overwhelming.
One afternoon, while Alex was at work, Isabella decided to visit his office. She needed a change of scenery and wanted to surprise him. As she entered the building, she noticed Victor, Alex's personal assistant, speaking with the security team. He gave her a warm smile and quickly approached her.
"Mrs. Zhou, it's good to see you. How are you feeling?" he asked, his tone respectful.
"I'm doing well, thank you, Victor," she replied. "I just wanted to see Alex."
"He's in a meeting right now, but I can let him know you're here," Victor said, already pulling out his phone.
"No need," Isabella said, placing a hand on his arm. "I'll wait in his office."
Victor nodded and escorted her upstairs. As Isabella sat in Alex's office, she began to feel a strange sense of unease. It was quiet—too quiet. She glanced out the window, her thoughts drifting to Ethan. What was he planning? She couldn't shake the feeling that he was closer than they realized.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She reached for it, expecting a message from Alex, but her heart skipped a beat when she saw the text:
Soon.
The message was from an unknown number, but Isabella knew who it was. Ethan.
Isabella stared at the text on her phone, her heart pounding in her chest. Soon. The message was cryptic, but the threat was clear. Ethan was still lurking in the background, waiting to make his move. She quickly deleted the message, not wanting Alex to find out. He was already so protective, and this would only heighten his anxiety. But deep down, she knew hiding it from him was dangerous.
The office was too quiet, the ticking of the clock on the wall almost unnerving in its regularity. She stood by the window, gazing out at the city skyline, trying to calm herself. But her thoughts kept racing back to Ethan. How had he managed to reach her phone? Despite all the precautions Alex had taken, Ethan had somehow breached their defenses.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see Victor standing there. He had always been reliable and professional, but today there was a shadow of concern in his eyes.
"Isabella," Victor began, stepping inside and closing the door behind him, "is everything alright? You seem... off."
Isabella hesitated. She trusted Victor, but she wasn't sure if she should involve him in this. After a brief pause, she gave him a strained smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired."
Victor wasn't convinced. He moved closer, lowering his voice. "If something is wrong, you should tell Alex. You know he'll do everything in his power to protect you."
She nodded, but the knot in her stomach tightened. She didn't want to worry Alex more than he already was. They were expecting twins, and the weight of that responsibility was already heavy enough. Adding the threat of Ethan into the mix felt unbearable.
Just then, the office door swung open, and Alex entered, his face lighting up when he saw her. His presence was like a balm, soothing her nerves for a moment. "There's my beautiful wife," he said, walking over to pull her into his arms. "How are you feeling?"
She smiled up at him, but the tension from earlier was still there, gnawing at her insides. "I'm fine," she lied, leaning into his embrace. "Just missed you."
Alex kissed her forehead, but she could feel his sharp gaze studying her. He always knew when something was bothering her, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. "You sure you're okay?" he asked softly, his hand gently caressing her arm.
Before she could answer, Victor cleared his throat, stepping back respectfully. "I'll give you two some privacy," he said, and with a small nod, he left the office, closing the door behind him.
As soon as they were alone, Alex's demeanor shifted. He took her hand and led her to the couch in the corner of the room. "Isabella, I can tell something's on your mind," he said, sitting beside her and turning to face her fully. "Talk to me."
Isabella swallowed hard, debating whether to tell him about the text. She didn't want to stress him, but she knew keeping it from him would only make things worse. Finally, she took a deep breath and pulled out her phone.
"I got this earlier," she said, showing him the message she had just received.
Alex's expression darkened immediately. He stared at the screen for a long moment, his jaw clenching in anger. "When did this come in?" he asked, his voice low but filled with fury.
"A little while ago," she admitted. "I didn't want to tell you at first because I didn't want you to worry, but..."
"But you should have told me the second you got it," Alex interrupted, his tone sharp. He stood up abruptly, running a hand through his hair. "This means Ethan's closer than we thought."
Isabella flinched at the frustration in his voice, but she understood where it was coming from. Ethan had haunted them for so long, and now, it felt like his presence was closing in on them again.
"I'll have Victor trace the number immediately," Alex said, already pulling out his phone to make the call. "We need to know how he's contacting you."
Isabella watched him pace across the room, her heart heavy with guilt. She shouldn't have hidden it from him. But at the same time, she hated seeing the toll this was taking on Alex. He was already juggling so much—running the company, preparing for the twins, and trying to keep their family safe.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I just didn't want to add more stress..."
Alex turned to her, his expression softening instantly. He walked over and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Don't ever apologize for that," he said gently. "But you don't have to bear this alone. We're in this together. I promised I would protect you, and I meant it."
Isabella nodded, her eyes welling up with emotion. She squeezed his hands tightly, grateful for his unwavering support, even in the face of danger. "I know," she whispered. "I just hate that he's still out there, waiting..."
"He won't get close," Alex assured her, his voice firm. "I won't let him."