Chapter Five

Isabella's Pov

The gala was dazzling, huge chandeliers, designer clothes everywhere, and New York’s top business people filling the ballroom. I wore a rich emerald dress that Damien had chosen for me. It looked good and still hid my pregnancy. His hand stayed protectively on my lower back as we walked in.

People turned to look. Whispers started right away.

Damien looked strong and powerful in his tuxedo, the silver in his hair catching the light. He walked us through the room like I belonged there with him.

I spotted Ethan across the room with Vanessa. She looked elegant in her jewels. Ethan’s face went completely pale the second he saw us.

Damien didn’t wait.

He raised his glass during the main toast. His voice carried clearly through the quieting room.

“Tonight I want to share something personal. After years of focusing only on Blackwood Holdings, I’ve found someone worth building a future with. Please welcome my fiancée… Isabella Hart.”

Gasps went through the crowd. Camera flashes went off everywhere.

A woman near us whispered loudly to her husband, “Is that who I think it is? Ethan Blackwood’s old girlfriend?”

Her husband tried to quiet her, but more whispers followed. “This can’t be real. Damien never brings anyone to these events.”

One older man nearby turned to his companion and said, “Damien Blackwood settling down? After all these years? This is going to be the talk of the town tomorrow.”

Another guest added, “And with such a young woman? Interesting choice.”

Ethan pushed through the crowd, bumping into a server. His eyes were full of anger and shock.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” he shouted, his voice echoing. “Her? She’s pregnant with my kid, Father! This is low, even for you!”

The whole room went silent.

Damien’s face stayed calm. He pulled me closer, his arm firm around my waist.

“Is that right, son?” he asked coolly. “Because it looks to me like you threw away the best thing you’ll ever lose.”

Ethan’s face twisted with rage. “She’s using you! Just like she tried to trap me!”

Vanessa stepped up next to him. Her perfect smile had disappeared, replaced by a cold glare. “Is this some kind of joke? Ethan told me all about her. She’s just a desperate ex trying to get back into the family money.”

I stepped forward, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was racing.

“I never trapped anyone, Ethan. I built you up. Now I’m choosing better for myself.”

Damien’s fingers pressed gently into my side, like he approved.

Ethan laughed bitterly and looked around at the watching crowd. “You hear that, everyone? She says she ‘built me up.’ That’s funny. Isabella was just my assistant, nothing more. Now she’s playing the victim and dragging my father into her mess. Father, do you even know she’s carrying my child? This is sick.”

A few guests gasped. Someone muttered, “This is better than any soap opera.”

Another voice from the crowd said, “Someone should call security. This is getting out of hand.”

I turned to Ethan, keeping my tone calm. “Your child? The one you told me to get rid of? The one you threw me out for after six years? I didn’t come looking for revenge, Ethan. But I won’t hide anymore either. Do you remember all the nights I stayed up helping you prepare for meetings? Or fixing your presentations at the last minute? I was never just an assistant.”

Vanessa crossed her arms, her voice sharp. “Oh please. You probably planned this whole thing. Running to Damien the second things got tough. How convenient. Ethan, tell them how she was always so clingy and needy.”

Ethan nodded quickly. “Exactly. She couldn’t handle that I was moving on to bigger things. Now she’s trying to destroy my reputation by going after my own father. This is pathetic.”

Damien’s voice cut through like ice. “Enough. Both of you. Isabella is my fiancée now. The details of your failed relationship are not up for public discussion. Ethan, you had your chance to be a man. You chose differently. Now live with it. And Vanessa, I suggest you stay out of matters that don’t concern you.”

Ethan leaned in closer, lowering his voice but still loud enough for people nearby to hear. “This is going to ruin everything I’ve worked for. The investors, the board, how do you think this makes me look? My own father stealing my leftovers? People are going to talk about this for months.”

“Leftovers?” I said, shaking my head. “That’s how you see me? After all the late nights I spent fixing your pitches and calming your nerves before meetings? I deserved better than being your secret helper while you showed off Vanessa. I gave you six years of my life, Ethan. Six years of support, ideas, and loyalty. And you threw it away like it meant nothing.”

Damien nodded slightly at me, then looked back at Ethan. “You’re making a scene, son. This isn’t about your image. It’s about consequences. Isabella and the child will be taken care of properly, something you failed to do. Maybe this will finally teach you that you can’t treat people like they’re disposable.”

Vanessa tugged at Ethan’s arm. “Come on, let’s go. This is embarrassing. People are staring. We don’t need this kind of drama tonight.”

But Ethan wasn’t finished. He kept coming closer, his voice dropping to a poisonous whisper that only we could hear.

“This isn’t over, Isabella. And you…” He glared at Damien. “You’ll regret this. I swear it.”

Damien leaned in toward his son, his tone like frozen steel.

“Careful, Ethan. You’re looking at the new Mrs. Blackwood. And if you come after her again…”

He paused, eyes dark with warning.

“I will destroy you.”