Gabriel could not give Isla his heart. He knew it, and she knew it too. Yet, he could not let her go either.

It was not love that chained him to her, but fear. Fear of the one man everyone in the Wyndham family feared: his grandfather, Alfred Wyndham.

Alfred might have been old, but age had not softened him. He was powerful, and terrifying. Even Gabriel’s father, John, bowed before him. And, just like his grandson, Alfred loved Isla deeply. To him, she was the perfect wife for Gabriel—the only woman who had managed to win his affection.

If Alfred ever found out that Isla had filed for divorce, Gabriel did not even want to imagine what the old man would do.

That night, after work, Gabriel rushed home and went straight into Isla’s bedroom. But the room was empty. Her suitcase was gone.

A knot tightened in his chest. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

“Switched off.”

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room.

“Where are you, Isla?” he muttered under his breath.

His body wasn’t just shaking, he was trembling with fear.

He tried again. This time it rang, but there was no answer. Again. And again. Until frustration boiled inside him.

“What game are you playing, Isla?”

Before he could redial, his phone rang. Without checking who it was, he picked up immediately.

“Gabby, where are you?” The sweet, delicate voice belonged to Delphine. “I need your help. I think I sprained my leg. It’s swollen.”

Gabriel froze. “What? How did that happen? …Never mind. I’m coming right away.”

He forgot all about Isla at that moment. The thought of Delphine in pain pulled him away instantly. Without hesitation, he scurried out of the mansion.

***

Meanwhile, in Teriporto, Isla was settling into her new life.

She had reconnected with people she once knew. And she built small networks again, and even took her first bold step into business.

She had purchased a batch of uncut diamonds, hiring a skilled local craftsman who specialized in shaping and polishing rough stones. Slowly, she began creating her first pieces of jewelry.

What made this possible was a secret she had carried for years: her savings.

Isla had quietly saved a fortune. Not only did Gabriel transfer monthly allowances into her account, but the Wyndham family also had a tradition—every family member, by blood or by marriage, received a monthly stipend directly from the family trust. It was generous, almost excessive. Since her marriage, Isla had been a beneficiary too. And, on like others, she had barely touched a coin.

Now, all that money was fueling her dream.

Her phone buzzed, and she answered quickly.

“Yes?”

“Your earrings are sold out,” the voice on the other end informed her. “We already have more orders waiting.”

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