Chapter 51

The morning sun painted golden streaks across Isabella's bedroom as she prepared for another workday. Breakfast was quick - just coffee and toast before heading out the door.

Her phone buzzed during lunch. Sophia's name flashed on the screen. This marked their first contact since the hot springs incident.

"Hello?"

"Mom!"

Isabella swallowed her bite of salad. "Have you eaten?"

"Just finished!" Sophia's cheerful voice carried through the line.

That morning at the resort, Alexander had called Sophia with an invitation to join him and Victoria for some fun. Without hesitation, Sophia had slipped away while Isabella wasn't looking.

They'd enjoyed two full days of adventures before returning to the city yesterday afternoon. But Sophia hadn't come home last night.

Now back at school, guilt gnawed at Sophia. She feared Isabella's anger. The phone call was her peace offering.

But Isabella's casual question about lunch reassured her. No mention of the disappearance. No anger. Just relief flooded Sophia's system.

Of course her mother wouldn't be mad! Still, she noticed the change - no more daily check-ins or constant location updates. This new freedom suited Sophia perfectly.

Isabella truly didn't care about Sophia's whereabouts these past days. After discussing school briefly, she ended the call.

Nathaniel approached her desk later. "Tech expo tomorrow. Should we meet here and go together?"

"Sounds perfect."

Morning traffic crawled the next day when Isabella's car sputtered and died. The vehicle behind couldn't stop in time - metal crunched against metal.

Horns blared. Angry shouts erupted from blocked drivers. Isabella apologized profusely while calling for help.

This would take hours to resolve. The expo couldn't wait.

A shadow fell across her windshield. She looked up into Julian Montgomery's striking features. What was he doing here?

She acknowledged him with a curt nod, then called Nathaniel to explain. "Go ahead without me. I'll catch up."

"These things take forever," Nathaniel warned. "You might miss the whole event. Let me send someone to help, but it'll take thirty minutes minimum."

"Just get me there before it's over."

Before she could address the other drivers, Julian spoke. "I'll handle this. Where are you headed?"

Isabella blinked in surprise.

Five minutes later, she sat stiffly in Julian's luxury sedan. The spacious backseat still felt suffocating with him beside her.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Isabella frowned. This polite Julian was unfamiliar. Normally he treated her like furniture.

Their last encounter at the racetrack had ended badly. Even their recent chance meeting where he'd initiated greetings felt... off.

Thankfully, Julian took call after call, filling the silence. Isabella exhaled in relief.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped at the expo entrance.

"Thanks again," Isabella said as she exited.

Julian merely nodded.

She turned toward the venue. Behind her, a sleek black car pulled up beside Julian's.

Victoria Kensington did a double take. That license plate was unmistakable. She rapped on Julian's window.

"Julian! What brings you here?"

He stepped out. "Just dropping off a friend."

Reginald and Beatrice Kensington emerged from their vehicle. Recognizing Julian, they rushed to greet him.

Julian exchanged pleasantries until his phone rang. With the expo starting, the Kensington family moved on.

Inside, Isabella found Nathaniel waiting.

He leaned close. "Frederick Aldridge is attending today."

Isabella froze.

Nathaniel smirked. "Good thing you made it. If he'd caught you late..."

She understood immediately. Frederick didn't accept excuses. Tardiness equaled incompetence in his eyes.

He'd already disapproved of her marrying young and having Sophia right after graduation. Showing up late now, after finally reconnecting...

The thought of his disappointed glare made her shiver.

"Glad you're here on time," Nathaniel said.

Isabella exhaled deeply. That was too close.