Chapter 200

The private hangar stood isolated under the inky night sky, miles away from the bustling city center.

A sleek white jet waited silently on the tarmac.

Cassandra Delacroix trembled as she was escorted by a group of intimidating men toward the aircraft.

"Nathaniel, I knew you'd come for me!"

The moment she spotted the imposing figure seated inside, her anxiety melted into relief. She rushed forward, desperate for his embrace.

But Nathaniel Blackwood's expression remained icy—bordering on irritation.

"This jet will take you to Seabreeze City tonight. You'll remain there until the baby is born. No contact with the outside world."

His emotionless tone sent a chill down her spine.

"What are you saying, Nathaniel? You're locking me away? How is this any better than prison?"

His sculpted features didn't flicker. "You're welcome to return and face trial if you prefer."

"No!"

Cassandra's composure shattered. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she transformed into a picture of vulnerability. "Nathaniel, why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong?"

"You know I'm innocent! Shouldn't you be defending me? Instead, you're hiding me like some dirty secret! How is this fair?"

"Fair?"

Nathaniel's voice turned glacial. "You dare speak of fairness when it comes to Isabella Lockhart? That's the greatest injustice of all."

The venom in his words stunned her. She swallowed hard. "I... I don't understand."

She could feel it—the man before her wasn't the same one she could manipulate so easily anymore.

"You're carrying my brother's child. His only heir. For the sake of his bloodline, Isabella had no choice but to—"

Nathaniel's gaze sharpened. "Yet you used this to steal everything that rightfully belonged to her. And you call that fair?"

Cassandra's mouth went dry.

"If you'd stayed in your lane, I might have let you keep what you schemed for. But you got greedy. Vicious. I won't tolerate it any longer."

Disgust laced Nathaniel's words.

How could his honorable brother have fallen for a woman like this? Even in his final moments, Sebastian's last wish was for Nathaniel to protect Cassandra and their unborn child...

"Enough. Just go."

Nathaniel stood to leave.

Cassandra lunged forward, blocking his path with desperate sobs. "You've got it all wrong! I'm not greedy! I just want to give Sebastian's baby a safe birth and a real family! You were the one who suggested divorcing Isabella to marry me! But now you're blaming me?"

Her words gave Nathaniel pause.

If Cassandra and this child had never existed... would he still have divorced Isabella?

Probably. Their marriage had always been contractual. Loveless. The end was inevitable.

"Nathaniel, I messed up. I swear I'll behave. I'll stay away from Isabella. Just let me be with you—let us raise Sebastian's child together. Please."

She clutched his arm, her voice breaking.

"The baby comes in months. Do you really want them born in hiding? To grow up fatherless, without legal rights?"

Nathaniel's jaw tightened.

His gaze dropped to her barely visible bump. Finally, he relented. "We'll discuss this after the birth."

"Thank you! I trust you, Nathaniel. I'll do whatever you say!"

Cassandra knew when to push and when to yield. She sniffled dramatically. "We'll wait for you. The baby and I... we'll always wait."

The jet's engines roared to life.

Inside his limousine, Nathaniel watched the aircraft shrink into the night, his expression unreadable.

Brother... you wouldn't blame me for this, would you?

The next morning, before the trial could begin, Isabella Lockhart received shocking news—

Cassandra Delacroix had allegedly taken her own life.