Chapter 412

The evening shadows stretched long across Isabella's office as she gathered her things to leave. Her phone buzzed insistently - Sophia Whitmore's name flashing across the screen.

Tomorrow was Saturday. Isabella guessed her stepdaughter wanted to arrange a visit. But her schedule was already packed.

She had promised Margaret Sinclair they would visit Evelyn at the nursing home together. The doctors needed to discuss her mother's deteriorating condition and adjust medications accordingly.

With a sigh, Isabella silenced the call.

Saturday dawned bright but carried no warmth for Isabella. At the nursing home, Evelyn looked alarmingly frail - her once-lustrous hair now brittle, her complexion ashen.

Dr. Whitmore adjusted his glasses. "The antipsychotics we previously prescribed are causing liver toxicity."

"Given her current organ failure, we've had to discontinue several medications. Combined with the antibiotics..." His voice trailed off meaningfully.

Isabella's knuckles whitened around her purse strap as she nodded.

The medical consultation stretched through the morning. It wasn't until noon that she and Charles finally left the facility.

Sophia called again as they exited. Isabella stared at the ringing phone, then firmly declined.

The calls stopped after that.

But fate wasn't done with her yet. That afternoon, Emily Donovan - freshly returned from Paris Fashion Week - phoned with shopping plans.

Isabella nearly refused. Between Evelyn's decline and Margaret's recent fatigue, outings held little appeal.

"Stop locking yourself away," Margaret chided gently, patting her granddaughter's hand. "Some fresh air will do you good."

Reluctantly, Isabella changed and met Emily at The Grandeur Mall.

Over milk tea, months of separation melted away. When Isabella finally shared Evelyn's prognosis, Emily's cup hit the saucer with a clatter.

"She'll... she'll pull through," Emily offered weakly after a long pause.

Isabella wished she could believe that. But the doctors' grim expressions told another story.

"I shouldn't have dragged you out when-"

"It's fine," Isabella began, then froze. Her entire body went rigid.

Emily followed her gaze to the elegant couple browsing nearby. Reginald Kensington, impeccably tailored, carried shopping bags while his wife Eleanor selected garments with practiced ease.

The Kensingtons looked decades younger than their age, radiating contentment as they enjoyed their Saturday outing.

Emily's nails dug into her palms. "How do people like that sleep at night?"

Isabella lowered her eyes. The injustice burned like acid.

What made it worse, Emily added quietly, was that Alexander still-

Isabella's grip threatened to crack her cup.

They left soon after. The encounter had extinguished what little remained of Isabella's mood.

Monday morning found her at Whitmore Enterprises with Nathaniel Graves. Their tech team meeting proceeded smoothly - conspicuously without Alexander's presence.

During a bathroom break, Isabella rounded a corner to find Alexander deep in discussion with Daniel Prescott. Both men fell silent at her approach.

She moved to pass without acknowledgment when Alexander spoke: "Sophia's been trying to reach you. When she calls, answer."