Her palm accidentally pressed against the shards of a shattered glass from the earlier chaos, and blood soaked through her loose hospital gown. She gasped sharply from the pain.
Nathaniel finally rushed over at that moment.
He slammed a stack of documents onto Alexander’s face, his tone icy, “See for yourself!”
Alexander took the papers, frowning in confusion, and froze as soon as he glanced at them.
He slowly pushed Ivy away from his arms.
Fixing his gaze on her, he asked, “The kidnapping… you were the one behind it?”
Ivy’s mouth opened slightly, panic flashing in her eyes. She hurriedly explained, “No, it wasn’t me! How could it possibly be me, Alexander? I’m carrying our child. I would never risk two lives to
frame Isabella!”
But Alexander just laughed, a bitter, mocking laugh, and in the next second, he slammed the stack
of documents onto the floor.
“Ivy, you’ve played me for a fool!”
Ivy finally panicked.
She tried to grab Alexander’s sleeve, pleading, but in his rage, he heard nothing. He flung off her
hand and strode out.
Ivy fell to the ground, clutching her stomach and wailing in pain.
Nathaniel glanced coldly at her and helped Isabella inside.
After Ivy’s miscarriage, she had tried to approach Alexander several times, only to be blocked by bodyguards each time. They said Alexander had ordered that no one from the Thompson family
was to see him.
Ivy had completely lost Alexander.
Desperate, she knelt in front of the Hawke Group, tearfully recounting all her years of devotion to him–from first meeting at age three, to the secret crush at six, from confessing at ten, to dating at fifteen.
Alexander could bear it no longer and stepped out. Her eyes lit up, only to be met with a legal
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notice.
“The kidnapping of Isabella? I’ve already instructed my lawyer to file a lawsuit against you.”
“Ivy, you’d better prepare for prison.”
When Isabella’s parents learned of what Isabella had gone through, they were furious and wanted to confront Alexander immediately.
But Isabella stopped them. “I’ve already submitted the evidence. I’m suing Alexander for tax evasion, and the local court will handle it soon. He’ll face justice.”
She didn’t want her parents dragged into this mess.
Yet her parents insisted, “It’s not just tax evasion. He also committed marriage fraud. He
deceived you for so many years. If it weren’t for him, you might have already returned to us and been living happily with Nathaniel.”
At the mention of this, the two couldn’t help but grind their teeth in anger.
Isabella remained silent, knowing her parents were right.
If not for that car accident years ago, her life would have taken a completely different path.
Alexander was summoned to court. Having been with him for years, Isabella had gathered comprehensive evidence, leaving him no way to escape justice.
He was sentenced to prison and ordered to return all misappropriated government–owned assets within a fixed period.
Meanwhile, the Carter Group and the Miller Group joined forces, targeting every business and collaboration of the Hawke Group. They intercepted each deal, exposing the Hawke Group’s misdeeds to the public.
After several rounds, no one dared to cooperate with the Hawke Group.
After all, the Carter Group was already on par with the Hawke Group. With the Hawke Group’s reputation now in tatters, it was only natural for people to turn their attention to the Carter Group.
Before long, Nathaniel and Isabella found themselves making a fortune, while Alexander, locked away in prison, visibly withered under the confinement.
One day, he caught a glimpse of a passing figure in front of him.
He immediately leapt to the bars, disbelief in his eyes. “Who was that woman just now?!”
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An informed inmate replied, “You don’t know? She was imprisoned for kidnapping. Got a few years. Young, but clearly couldn’t think straight.”
Alexander laughed wildly.
“Good! Excellent!”
“Finally, she’s getting what’s coming to her! Ivy, you ruined my life, and now your karma has
caught up with you!”
No one paid him any attention; the other inmates thought he’d lost his mind.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Isabella’s relationship grew stronger. In March, Isabella was confirmed pregnant.
While shopping for baby supplies, they ran into the escaped Alexander.
“Isabella! Isabella!”
Isabella jumped in fright as he rushed toward her.
His beard was unkempt, cheekbones prominent, face gaunt, no trace of his former handsome self.
She instinctively recoiled, disgusted.
Alexander, however, reached for her hand excitedly. “Isabella, about the kidnapping… I’ve figured
it out! It wasn’t you; it was Ivy!”
“I’ve already had Ivy prosecuted. She’s in custody right next door. Isabella, I’ve avenged you!”
He babbled incoherently, looking at her expectantly, like a child seeking approval.
Isabella furrowed her brows, pulling her hand back coolly. “So?”
Alexander froze, only to see the mockery in her eyes.
“Are you still deluding yourself into thinking I’ll forgive you? Alexander, are you insane, or do you
think I am?”
He shook his head painfully, tears streaming down his face. “I really regret it, Isabella. Can you wait for me? When I get out, I’ll come back to you…”
“Even if you get out of prison, don’t come looking for me. It’s over between us.”
Isabella’s tone was calm. With that, she shook the bag in her hand. “Didn’t you notice what store I just visited?”
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Alexander’s pupils slowly focused, and he finally saw that what Isabella was carrying were baby supplies.
He was struck like a bolt of lightning. “Y–You’re pregnant?”
“Whose? Is it mine?” He looked at her, hope written all over his face.
Nathaniel frowned, pulling Isabella behind him, irritation evident.
Fortunately, a prison guard arrived just then, hurriedly handcuffed Alexander and led him away.
Silence returned.
Isabella spat, “What a lunatic.”
Nathaniel gently held her hand, his gaze lingering on her lower abdomen with a soft, smoldering
intensity.
Chapter 15
