Chapter 143

Victoria Roscente ripped the towel from her forehead.

She glared at Amelia Roscente.

"Are you here to visit me or to provoke me? If she weren't carrying the Roscente heir, would I even give her a second glance?"

Amelia let out a derisive snort.

"Serves you right. That kind of woman is clearly scheming, trying to use her pregnancy to climb the social ladder. Only you would see her as some innocent, pure little flower."

She had never thought much of Isabella Langley from the start.

It was ridiculous that Victoria was only realizing it now.

Ethan Roscente rushed to the hospital from his office upon hearing his mother was admitted.

He heard the arguing before he even entered the room.

Frowning, he pushed the door open.

"What's all this noise?"

Seeing her son, Victoria immediately sat up straighter.

Her complaints vanished, replaced by direct accusation.

"Perfect timing! Your girlfriend is utterly out of control! I went to pick her up from class out of kindness, and she gave me the wrong schedule. She even talked back to me in public!"

"She humiliated me in front of everyone! You know I have vertigo. Her behavior triggered a full-blown episode!"

Amelia gave a light, mocking hum.

"Mom, don't say that. Isabella was my brother's careful choice. If you complain about her now and their relationship thrives later, who knows how she might resent you."

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, completely ignoring Ethan's darkening expression.

Why couldn't he have just stayed with Sophia Sullivan?

Letting Sophia go for someone like Isabella.

It even cost Sophia her chance at Professor Eleanor Watson's graduate program.

Amelia still couldn't swallow that anger!

Ethan remained silent, his expression growing stormier.

He ignored both his mother's complaints and his sister's barbs.

He first went to the doctor's office to confirm Victoria's condition wasn't serious.

Then he left the hospital with a cold face.

Returning to the Beverly Hills mansion, he had barely opened the door when a soft, warm body threw itself into his arms.

It was Isabella.

She wore a silk slip nightgown. The black fabric made her skin appear snow-white.

The open neckline revealed delicate collarbones.

If Ethan looked down, he would see the hint of curves.

"Ethan, you're back—"

Her sweet, cloying voice was cut off as the man shoved her away roughly.

Ethan brushed off his sleeve with an expressionless face.

As if he had touched something filthy.

"Ethan…"

Slap!

Ethan backhanded her across the face.

Isabella's ears rang. She covered her cheek in disbelief.

"Who gave you the right to talk back to my mother?"

Tears instantly welled in Isabella's eyes.

"I just said a few extra words! Did she complain to you? Why can't you hear my side first? I'm a person too, I have my own thoughts! I just didn't want to go to class, what's so wrong about that?"

Ethan laughed coldly.

"Wasn't all of this what you begged for?"

His words shattered the last shred of Isabella's dignity.

He had told her to get an abortion, take the money, and leave. She refused and immediately went to Victoria.

"So what are you complaining about? You enjoy my mother's protection, then you provoke her until she lands in the hospital. Do you know what that makes you?"

Ethan enunciated each word, cruel and merciless.

"A hypocrite. A whore."

"I'm not! Why are you saying that to me too? I just love you so much! I want to have our baby, to stay by your side!"

Isabella wept profusely, not forgetting her passionate declaration.

Unfortunately, Ethan wasn't buying any of it.

"You're talking to me about love? Why do you think I'm keeping you? If it weren't for my mother, you wouldn't even be qualified to stand here."

The grievances Isabella had suppressed for days finally erupted.

"Can't you see everything I've done for us lately? I just want things to go back to how they were before! But your heart is made of stone, you won't give me any chance at all… Why? Is it because you still have feelings for Sophia Sullivan?! You can't forget her!"

The man spoke, word by deliberate word.

"What if I am?"

He couldn't even be bothered to pretend.

"I know I can't compare to Sophia Sullivan, but my love for you is no less than hers—"

Isabella cried pitifully, reaching out to grasp Ethan's hand.

He shook her off without mercy.

"You don't get to mention her." A vein throbbed at Ethan's temple, as if he was pushed to his limit. "Her name coming from your mouth is an insult."

"You have one day. Apologize to my mother yourself, or get out of this house. Your choice."

With that, he picked up his jacket and turned to leave.

Isabella trembled all over.

In his eyes, she couldn't see herself. She only saw a plaything, something that could be discarded at any moment.

She had gotten pregnant out of wedlock for him, given up her studies, endured humiliation and bowed and scraped before Victoria.

And the result?

He despised her. He wanted her gone?!

Isabella seethed with hatred.

She had sacrificed so much, struggled to get to this point, with wealth and luxury almost within her grasp.

How could she give up now?

Thinking of this, she wiped away her tears and protectively cradled her abdomen.

As long as the baby was still there, she hadn't lost.

…

Sitting in his car, Ethan didn't know where to go.

The hospital had a medical team. Victoria would receive the best care.

The mansion had Isabella. He didn't want to spend another second there.

The office…

He had already pulled two all-nighters. Even if he didn't need rest, his secretary and assistants did.

"Charlie, let's get a drink."

"Ethan, you've been organizing these outings a lot lately."

When he was with Sophia Sullivan, they met up two or three times a month at most.

Now he was like a runaway horse, completely without restraint.

Ethan: "Are you coming out or not?"

"Sorry, Ethan," Charlie Lowell's tone was apologetic. "I'm back at the family estate tonight."

"Alright. Send my regards to your parents."

He hung up and called Julian Winston.

That line didn't even connect.

At this hour, he was probably curled up with some woman.

Ethan scrolled through his contacts. His gaze suddenly stopped.

It landed on three words—

Sebastian Evans.

"Well, well, did the sun rise from the west today? You actually called me?" The other end picked up quickly, the words laced with sarcasm.

Sebastian always knew how to provoke people.

Surprisingly, Ethan didn't get angry. He held his cigarette out the window, flicking the ash.

He spoke lightly.

"I didn't expect the number to still work either."

Sebastian: "Blocking people is childish. I'm above that."

Ethan: "Want to get a drink?"

"You're not just using some excuse to get me out so you can pick a fight, are you?"

Ethan: "That's not off the table."

Sebastian gave a soft hum. "Send me the address."

…

Nightfall Bar.

Ethan arrived first and got a booth in the main area.

His drink had just arrived, not yet touched, when Sebastian showed up.

He sat directly across from Ethan, glanced at the bottles on the table, and raised an eyebrow.

"Tequila? Isn't that a bit strong?"

Ethan smirked.

"What? Scared?"