Chapter 1

Isabella stared at her phone, her face pale. Two hours had passed since she’d sent Jayden a message, and she’d waited outside city hall just as long. The message remained unanswered. It was 9:50 AM; only ten minutes remained.

She’d dressed meticulously. A white dress hugged her curves, accentuating her figure, and flawless makeup enhanced her delicate features. Passersby glanced at her; she even heard some men wince as their wives or girlfriends pinched them for staring.

Isabella’s pallor intensified. Then, with a bitter smile, she muttered, "Of course, he’s not coming."

She had loved Jayden for ten years, willing to do anything for him. Her father's infidelity when she was a child had devastated her already frail mother, who died shortly after. Her father remarried quickly, bringing a new wife and daughter into their lives. Isabella faced endless hardship afterward. Jayden’s arrival had brought warmth and hope. She’d believed they would be together forever. But seeing him flirt with her stepsister shattered her world.

Jayden had ignored her for three months. She’d hoped it was a misunderstanding, that he was silent because he thought she was overreacting. She decided to give it one last try. That’s why she’d sent the message.

Isabella closed her eyes in despair. It hadn’t been a misunderstanding; she’d been deceiving herself.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Her eyes snapped open; it was Jayden. A flicker of hope ignited as she answered, "Jayden, are you here?" She glanced around hopefully, but saw no sign of him.

"Isabella, it’s been three months. Haven’t you had enough?" His voice was cold, arrogant.

Isabella froze, feeling a chill. Her grip tightened on the phone; her gaze became vacant.

Jayden continued, icily, "I’m at the peak of my career, with numerous projects. Do you know what marriage would mean to me right now?"

He was the prized son of the Logue family, with access to immense resources. His handsome looks and charisma had earned him countless fans.

Isabella forced a pale smile. "I guess I’m not good enough for you."

He didn’t want marriage. He’d stayed with her only because she was useful. Hope vanished.

Just as she was about to hang up, Jayden’s impatient voice cut through, "Isabella, reflect on this. Don't do this again."

Isabella laughed. "Reflect! You cheated on me, and I'm the one who needs to reflect?"

"She's your sister. I hope you stop making baseless accusations." Jayden’s voice turned colder; Isabella squeezed her eyes shut. They had slept together, and he called it baseless.

11:44 AM

Chapter 1 (Continued)

Jayden was a top actor; they’d kept their relationship private. Even when fans spotted them, he claimed they were just friends. His fans flooded her social media, telling her to stop seducing him. Jayden never defended her. But when her stepsister, Ivana, faced trouble, he was quick to defend her on social media. He always protected Ivana, never Isabella.

Isabella smirked. "Jayden, we’re done."

She hung up, rage overwhelming her. Dizziness caused her to collapse. A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Her eyes widened. "Samuel?"

He was impeccably dressed; his features were sharp and defined. He glanced at her; his sensual lips moved. "Miss, you should take better care of yourself."

Calmly, Samuel helped her up and started to leave. Isabella called out, "Samuel!"

He stopped, his gaze cold and distant. "What is it?"

Isabella clutched her purse, composing herself. "Got time? Let’s get married."

Samuel looked stunned. Isabella’s face flushed crimson. He stared at her for ten minutes.

Embarrassed, Isabella lowered her head. She had no idea why she’d proposed. "I–I…" she stammered, taking a deep breath and looking away. "I know your family has been pushing you to get married, too."

Samuel Howerton was the fourth son of the Howerton family, wielding immense power. He'd elevated the family to the pinnacle of the business world. A man who commanded fear and respect, he was also the dream of countless women. His mother had been pressuring him for a grandchild, recently announcing he'd marry within six months.

But as soon as Isabella spoke, she panicked. "S–sorry, I just had a moment of madness. Please, pretend I didn’t say anything…"

Flustered, she could barely speak. How had she dared?

As she was about to flee, Samuel grabbed her wrist. Isabella startled. Was he angry? She recalled the fates of other women who'd approached him. For a moment, she thought her life was over.

She lowered her head, when she heard his deep voice.

"Bring my birth certificate to city hall."

Isabella froze, looking up in shock as he pocketed his phone.

The passage has been corrected for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and inconsistencies in character names (e.g., "Tabella" was corrected to "Isabella"). Sentence structure has also been improved for clarity and flow.