Chapter 665

Isabella’s hand trembled so badly that her phone nearly slipped from her grasp.
A message from Sophia popped up:
Isabella, who is that kid? Don’t tell me it’s the one you had with Benjamin Gomez?
Isabella immediately snapped her phone shut, the screen going dark.
A few more messages from Sophia rolled in, but she ignored them all.
Her mind was a complete mess. Her heart was pounding so fast it felt like it might explode out of her chest.
It was as if a sword was hanging over her head, ready to plunge down at any moment and turn her world into chaos.
If Benjamin and Ashley stayed here much longer, it was only a matter of time before the Lane family-and Andrew Lane himself-found out the truth. Benjamin was stubborn to the core; he wouldn’t back down or keep quiet.
The more Isabella thought about it, the more she resented her younger self for listening to Benjamin all those years ago and going through with the pregnancy. If only she’d refused, none of this would be happening now.
And she hated Benjamin too, for not listening to her he should’ve put Ashley up for adoption like she’d begged him to. Instead, he’d insisted on raising the girl himself, even bringing her here, right under Andrew Lane’s nose.
No matter how she looked at it, Isabella knew she had to get Benjamin and Ashley out of the country. They needed to disappear-completely, for good-before the Lane family found out everything.
Suppressing the dark thoughts swirling in her eyes, she turned and stepped inside.
Alex White was still tending to his wounds, while Dennis Lane had run over to the window, propping himself up to peer outside.
Isabella sat down beside Alex. A nurse was leaning over, carefully dabbing ointment on the cuts on his face.
She looked at Alex’s injuries with gentle concern, making his ears flush red.
“Does it hurt, Alex?” she asked softly.
Alex flashed a crooked, defiant grin. “Not at all. Don’t worry about me.”
The nurse dipped a cotton swab in the medication and gently dabbed it on the swollen corner of Alex’s mouth. Isabella watched for a moment before reaching out her hand. “Let me do it. You must have other things to take care of.”
Alex looked surprised, a hint of pride flickering across his face. “You sure?”
She shot him a playful glare. “How many times have I patched you up since you were little?”
Alex grunted in mock annoyance but looked even more pleased with himself.
The nurse hesitated, glancing between the two of them. Realizing she was intruding, she quickly handed Isabella the swab and quietly explained the order in which to apply the medicine.
After the nurse left, Isabella took over, gently pressing the medicated swab to a scrape on Alex’s knee. “Let me know if it hurts, okay? I’ll be careful.”
Alex watched her, utterly distracted by her focused expression and tender movements. Whether it hurt or not was the last thing on his mind. “Doesn’t hurt at all,” he said quickly. “Really, keep going.”
Isabella smiled, then asked, “Alex, why did you get into a fight with Benjamin?”
At the mention of Benjamin’s name, Alex’s expression darkened. “No reason. You don’t need to ask.”
She looked up at him, exasperated. “But I want to know. Won’t you tell me?”
Her instincts told her this had everything to do with her. Maybe Benjamin had said something about her that set Alex off-maybe he was defending her.
Alex frowned, struggling with the truth. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you
He paused, then gave in when he saw the almost pleading look on her face. “Fine, you win. Benjamin started dropping hints that his daughter was yours. Then he went on about how you still loved him, wanted to get back together—all that nonsense. I’d had enough.”
Isabella froze, and Alex could see how much it stung her.
As much as he didn’t want to believe Benjamin’s words, he couldn’t help but wonder. Still, seeing the pain in Isabella’s eyes, he quickly added, “But don’t worry-
I didn’t believe a word of it. If I had, I wouldn’t have punched him, right?”
Isabella’s features softened. “I know. You’ve always trusted me most.”
She bent her head again, carefully wrapping Alex’s wound with gauze. “But I still have to say this—don’t listen to anything he says. That child isn’t mine. I’m married now, and I have my own family. Getting back together with him was never even a thought. He’s just making things up.”