Chapter 270

Sophia shook her head. She picked up the phone.

Alexander cradled her in his arms, his thumb gently massaging her temple as he studied her delicate features - the same arched brows and piercing eyes that mirrored his own. "You spoke with her," he murmured, "yet you're still upset?"

The little girl's forehead creased. "I am happy...but..."

It had been months since she'd heard her mother's voice. Now that the call finally came, joy should have flooded her heart. Yet...

"But what?" Alexander pressed.

Sophia's lower lip trembled. "But I also feel sad."

Alexander chuckled, resting his chin on his palm. "That's quite profound for a six-year-old. You're just missing your mother after so long apart. Once her project wraps up, she'll make time for you."

Sophia nodded, but her pout remained. "Mom said she won't be free until next month."

"Then we'll count down the days together, alright?"

"Alright."

Fatigue began weighing on Sophia's eyelids. After a few more minutes of conversation, she yawned, slid from Alexander's embrace, and shuffled off to her bedroom.

The eve of the Ember Festival arrived.

By midmorning, Catherine and Henry still hadn't caught sight of Isabella.

On New Year's Day, Richard had visited Eleanor at the hospital, but Isabella never appeared. Catherine assumed some crisis had struck the Sinclair family.

Yesterday, when Eleanor was discharged, Isabella's absence continued. Alexander simply claimed she was occupied.

Given Isabella's devotion to Sophia, Catherine never imagined the divorce would actually proceed. She'd dismissed the possibility entirely.

But today felt different.

Isabella didn't share Alexander's demanding career. No matter how dire the Sinclair family situation, she should have carved out time for a brief visit.

When Alexander descended the stairs at eleven, Catherine could no longer contain her curiosity. "Have you and Isabella finalized the divorce?"

Henry, present in the room, froze. He hadn't questioned Isabella's absence these past days. But Catherine's words struck him like lightning.

Alexander sipped his tea calmly. "Not yet. The process is underway."

Henry's eyes widened. They were actually going through with it?

He'd always known Alexander didn't love Isabella, but after all these years, he assumed their marriage would continue indefinitely.

The reality stunned him.

Catherine studied Alexander...

If love had never existed between them, perhaps divorce was for the best.

But Victoria...

She opened her mouth to speak when Alexander, as if anticipating her thoughts, stood abruptly. "I have a meeting."

With that, he departed.

Catherine frowned. "You—"

Meanwhile at the Sinclair residence, dinner concluded beneath a starless night sky.

Isabella, Edward and William were preparing fireworks when Julian's video call notification flashed across her screen.

Isabella hesitated.

Julian never called without reason.

She answered to find Lily's beaming face filling the display.

"Ms. Isabella!"

Isabella smiled. "Happy Ember's Day, Lily."

"Happy Ember's Day!" Lily appeared to be in a garden. She passed the phone to Julian and raised a glowing rabbit-shaped lantern. "Look, Ms. Isabella! My lantern's so pretty! I love it! Thank you!"

"As long as you're happy, that's what matters."

Lily grinned. "Ms. Isabella, Uncle Julian and I are lighting fireworks later. Want to join us?"

Assuming Lily meant visiting the Montgomery estate, Isabella replied, "Not tonight, sweetheart. I have plans. Next time, okay?"

"Oh...okay."

Their conversation continued briefly before something distracted Lily, sending her skipping away.

Julian reclaimed the phone. "Happy Ember's Day."

"Happy Ember's Day."

Without Lily's chatter, silence stretched uncomfortably between them.

Julian cleared his throat. "Any plans? Fireworks? Midnight countdown?"

Isabella shook her head. "Probably."

Edward and William wanted to go out. She'd likely accompany them.

Isabella thought Julian was merely exchanging pleasantries and didn't dwell on it. The conversation still felt stilted between them.

"I should get going," she said abruptly. "Let's talk another time?"

Julian gave a curt nod. "Of course."

With a polite smile, Isabella met his gaze one last time through the screen before disconnecting.

She placed her phone on the wrought-iron garden table with deliberate care. The distant laughter of Edward and William reached her ears as they prepared the fireworks display.

Stepping onto the dew-kissed grass, Isabella quickened her pace toward the commotion. The night air carried the scent of gunpowder and childhood nostalgia.

"Save some sparklers for me!" she called out, her earlier tension dissolving like sugar in tea.

William waved a bundle of Roman candles triumphantly. Edward stood ready with a lighter, his grin visible even in the twilight.

Isabella's heart lightened as she joined her cousins in their impromptu pyrotechnics show. The brilliant colors exploding against the velvet sky momentarily erased all thoughts of awkward video calls and unfinished conversations.

"Watch this one!" Edward shouted as he lit the fuse of a spinning wheel firework.

The sudden burst of golden sparks reflected in Isabella's wide eyes as she laughed freely for the first time that evening. Tomorrow's problems could wait - tonight belonged to family and fireworks.