The chasing start
1415 Words
The chasing start
The next morning, Lucas could no longer silence the thoughts tormenting him.
Ever since he discovered that Isabella had become the CEO of a prestigious company, his mind had been restless.
The woman he once believed could never survive without him had built an empire with her own hands. What hurt him even more was knowing that the money used to start that company came from the last inheritance she had sacrificed for him after selling everything she owned.
As he drove into the company's premises, his grip tightened around the steering wheel.
The magnificent glass building stood proudly against the morning sky, its polished walls reflecting success and power.
Luxury cars filled the parking lot, and elegantly dressed employees walked confidently through the entrance. Every corner of the environment radiated wealth, class, and achievement.
Lucas slowly stepped out of his car, his eyes wandering across the expensive surroundings.
A painful realization settled deep inside his chest. Isabella had truly moved on... and she had done far better than anyone, including him, had ever imagined.
His heartbeat quickened as another memory flashed through his mind.
The contract Isabella had handed over the previous night...
It was the wrong document.
Sherman had deliberately protected her.
Lucas suddenly understood that
everything had been carefully planned.
Taking a deep breath, he entered the reception.
"Good morning, sir," the receptionist greeted warmly with a professional smile.
Lucas forced a polite smile in return.
"Is Mrs. Isabella in?" he asked, pretending he had every right to be there.
Before the receptionist could answer, the cheerful laughter of a child echoed through the hallway.
A little boy came running excitedly before stopping right in front of Lucas.
The child gently tapped Lucas's leg.
"Hello!" the little boy greeted happily, looking up with bright innocent eyes.
Lucas lowered himself slightly, unable to stop himself from smiling.
"Hello there, young man."
The moment their eyes met, Lucas's smile slowly disappeared.
Something about the boy's face...
His nose...
His eyes...
Even the shape of his lips...
The resemblance shook him.
Before he could think further, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Alex! Come back here."
Lucas looked up.
Isabella was already walking toward them.
She looked breathtaking in her elegant business suit, carrying herself with the confidence of someone who belonged at the top. Every step she took reflected authority.
She immediately pulled Alex gently behind her.
Lucas stared at her for several seconds before finally speaking.
"Isabella..."
He instinctively reached for her shoulder.
She stepped back immediately.
Her eyes turned cold.
"What are you doing in my office, Lucas?" she asked sharply. "You should have left by now. Why are you here?"
Lucas swallowed hard.
"I came because... I want us back."
The words escaped almost like a desperate confession.
For a brief second, silence filled the hallway.
"Mom..."
Alex tugged softly at Isabella's hand.
Lucas couldn't stop staring at the child.
His heart pounded violently.
The resemblance became impossible to ignore.
"The boy..." Lucas whispered. "He looks so much like me."
His breathing became uneven.
"Were you... pregnant when you left my house?"
The question immediately hardened Isabella's expression.
She slowly turned toward him, disbelief flashing across her face.
"What kind of nonsense question is that?"
Her voice became firm.
"Did you get me pregnant before divorcing me?"
Lucas remained speechless.
"Never ask me such a question again."
She pointed a finger directly at his face.
"Not now. Not ever."
Her voice carried years of buried pain.
Lucas lowered his head.
"I'm not here to argue."
His voice cracked slightly.
"I just... want another chance."
"I want us to become what we once were."
For the first time in years, regret was written all over his face.
Before Isabella could respond, another man entered the office.
One of Sherman's bodyguards respectfully approached her while carrying a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers together with an expensive gift package.
"Ma'am," the man said politely, "I was asked to deliver this to you."
Isabella looked surprised.
"By who?"
The bodyguard simply smiled.
She accepted the package.
Carefully opening it, she unfolded the handwritten note inside.
As her eyes scanned the words, her expression slowly softened.
"From the very first moment I met you, life suddenly felt complete. I hope you'll allow me to spend many more moments by your side."
The note wasn't signed.
It didn't need to be.
She immediately knew it was from
Sherman.
A smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
Not the forced smile she often wore.
A genuine one.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Hopeful.
For the first time in a very long while, her heart felt strangely light.
She looked up at the bodyguard.
"Thank you."
"You may leave now."
The man nodded respectfully before walking away.
Lucas stood frozen.
Jealousy burned fiercely inside him.
His fists slowly clenched inside his pockets.
The smile Isabella had just given Sherman...
It was a smile she had never given him in years.
Alex suddenly tried walking toward Lucas again.
"Don't be silly, sweetheart."
Isabella gently lifted him.
"We're leaving."
Without sparing Lucas another glance, she walked toward her car.
Lucas remained standing exactly where she left him.
Watching.
Regretting.
Breaking.
Inside the car, silence settled between mother and son.
For several minutes, Isabella simply stared out the window.
Her thoughts were in complete disorder.
Why had she accepted Sherman's help?
Why had she allowed him into her life?
What exactly was happening to her heart?
"Mom..."
Alex's tiny voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Was that my dad?"
Isabella froze.
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
A thousand emotions crossed her face.
Finally...
She smiled gently.
"Dad will come back someday."
Alex nodded innocently.
"I want chocolate."
She chuckled softly despite everything weighing on her heart.
"We'll buy some on our way home."
The car slowly drove away.
Meanwhile, Lucas remained outside the company building, staring helplessly until the car disappeared from sight.
He looked like a man who had lost everything.
His expensive tailored suit could not hide the emptiness in his eyes.
When he finally returned home, exhaustion consumed every part of him.
He had barely entered his bedroom when his phone suddenly rang.
He answered immediately.
"Hello."
A serious voice responded from the other end.
"Mr. Lucas, we have completed the review of the property documents you submitted."
Lucas straightened instantly.
"We discovered that the documents belong to another individual."
His face drained of color.
"You have been summoned to appear before the investigation panel tomorrow morning to defend yourself."
The line disconnected.
Lucas remained motionless.
His breathing became heavy.
Slowly...
He turned toward Norah.
She was calmly sitting nearby.
His eyes filled with burning anger.
"What documents did you give me?"
Norah frowned.
"My inheritance."
Lucas stormed toward her.
Without warning, he grabbed the front of her clothes, nearly pushing her against the wall.
His voice thundered through the room.
"I was just informed those documents belong to someone else!"
"You set me up, Norah!"
She forcefully removed his hand from her clothes.
"I beg your pardon?"
Her voice remained unusually calm.
"Who told you that?"
"I've been summoned to defend myself tomorrow."
Lucas pointed angrily at her.
"What exactly have you done?"
Norah folded her arms.
"What I gave you was my inheritance."
"I can stand before anyone and defend that."
Lucas laughed bitterly.
"You think you can face professional auditors?"
"You think you can fool investigators?"
He moved closer.
"If those papers are confirmed to be forged..."
His voice became frighteningly cold.
"I'll personally make sure you're the one sent to prison."
Norah stared directly into his eyes.
Then...
She smiled.
Not out of fear.
But with dangerous confidence.
"You're an ungrateful husband."
"I kept my promise."
"I gave you everything I had."
"And now you're accusing me?"
Her eyes darkened.
"Don't push me tonight, Lucas."
"You won't like the version of me you'll awaken."
Lucas grabbed her wrist tightly.
His voice became low.
Threatening.
"Stop taking my patience for weakness."
Every word came out slowly.
"Listen carefully."
"If you destroy my life..."
"I'll make sure you fall with me."
The room suddenly became deathly silent.
Neither of them blinked.
Neither of them looked away.
Only hatred remained between them.
After several tense seconds, Norah finally spoke.
Quietly.
"This is all because of Isabella."
The name hit Lucas like lightning.
His fingers slowly loosened around her wrist.
He turned away without saying another word.
Facing the wall, he closed his eyes.
Because deep down...
He knew she was right.
- Writer
