Chapter 209

A strong sea breeze blew in, making Isabella stumble and almost fall out the window.

She grabbed the window frame with both hands to steady herself.

Just then, the door burst open, and Samantha ran in.

Seeing her, Isabella yelled, "Don't move!"

Samantha froze but still tried to get closer.

"If you take one more step, I'll jump!" Isabella clutched the window, her upper body leaning out.

It looked like she could fall any second.

Samantha didn't dare move, just stared wide-eyed.

Isabella said, "Get someone in charge here. You have ten minutes!"

Samantha nodded, hesitated, then ran off, probably to get help.

A few minutes later, Samantha came back with a large writing board. She wrote a message and showed it to Isabella.

[I called Leo. He's on his way. Don't do anything rash!]

Isabella glanced at the photo of Matthew on the wall and said, "Call Charles. I want to see him!"

Samantha was stunned.

Isabella suddenly let go with one hand, hanging precariously.

Samantha's face turned pale with anxiety. She quickly went to notify Charles.

Another strong sea breeze blew in, making Isabella sway.

She grabbed the window with both hands and looked down, her heart pounding.

Isabella didn't really intend to jump. She just wanted to force Charles to show up.

She couldn't stay locked up here.

Whether it worked or not, she had to try something.

Leo arrived quickly.

He rushed in, still in a suit, with unsteady steps and five clear finger marks on his face.

Seeing Isabella crouched on the window, he frowned and said, "Isabella, get down!"

"Leo, don't come any closer!" Isabella shouted.

Leo took two steps forward and then stopped abruptly.

He pressed his temple, looking pained. After a moment, he spoke again, "Isabella, if you slip and fall, you'll be shattered to pieces."

Isabella sneered. "Didn't you say I was already dead? Even if I jump now, it would just be dying again. Leo, I'm not afraid."

Seeing her determination, Leo was at a loss for words.

The sea breeze blew from behind Isabella, lifting her long hair. Behind her was the endless night, like the entrance to another world.

Indeed, if Isabella let go, she'd fall into another world.

"No!" Leo's heart tightened.

He was genuinely afraid she'd let go.

"Isabella, tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you. Just come down first, okay?" Leo coaxed gently.

Samantha stood by his side, looking at Leo with a complex expression.

Even when Leo was in love with Samantha, he had never been this cautious.

Isabella shook her head. "What I want, you can't give me. Leo. You're just Charles's lapdog!"

Leo gritted his teeth, sneering. "Yeah, you're right! And what about Sebastian? He's just like me. He got close to you just to get back at Charles and sent Matthew to prison."

"Shut up! Don't talk about him like that!"

Footsteps echoed from the door.

Isabella's eyes shifted as Charles walked in.

She hadn't seen Charles since Matthew's trial. It had only been a few months, but it felt like a lifetime.

Charles's hair had turned white. He still stood tall, but his eyes were cold.

"Isabella, don't you think about your child?" Charles's gaze was icy. "I believe you have the guts to jump, but do you have the guts to leave your child motherless?"

Isabella's eyes welled up. "Charles, I know you hate me and Sebastian because of Matthew. But Matthew's fate was his own doing. Don't make more mistakes."

"Mistakes?" Charles sneered. "What's right and wrong? It's all perspective. You side with Sebastian, so he's right! But have you ever thought about Matthew's side, or mine and Emma's? Even if Matthew was wrong, it wasn't Sebastian's place to judge him. Do you really think Sebastian loves you? You're just a pawn to get back at me!"

Isabella was confused. "Matthew paid for his actions. He only got a year in prison. Charles, Matthew is your child, and so is Sebastian!"

"I don't have a child like Sebastian!" Charles roared, eyes blazing. "Sebastian and his mother are heartless. If I'd known he'd turn out like this, I'd have strangled him at birth to stop him from causing harm!"

Isabella shook her head in disbelief, her mind reeling from the venom in his words. How could any father say such a thing? This wasn't favoritism; it was sheer, unadulterated prejudice. The intensity of Charles's hatred for Sebastian was almost tangible, making the air in the room feel heavy and charged.

She couldn't imagine the depth of Sebastian's pain if he ever heard his father's cruel wish. The thought alone was enough to make her heart ache.

Suddenly, a baby's cry came from the doorway.

Isabella's body trembled, and she looked toward the door.

Emma walked in, holding a swaddled baby.

"Bella, didn't you always want to see your child? I brought her here." Emma showed the baby's face to Isabella.

Isabella saw the tiny, tender face in the light-colored swaddle.

The baby was so small, eyes closed, mouth open, crying loudly. Her arms, bound in the swaddle, waved and struggled, searching for something.

Isabella's heart softened.

"Bella, come hold her."

Isabella bit her lip, not moving.

Charles said, "Isabella, if you die, I'll make sure this child goes with you!"