Chapter Nine: A Familiar Voice
1239 Words
The moment Isla stepped out of the conference room, she let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding.
Her heels echoed softly against the polished marble floor as she walked back toward her office.
Inside…
Liam immediately stood up from the sofa.
“How was the meeting, Ma’am?”
A faint smile appeared on Isla’s face.
“It went well.”
Liam noticed the tiredness hidden behind that smile.
“You don’t look convinced.”
Isla let out a quiet chuckle.
“I’m just… exhausted.”
She placed the files on her desk before sitting down.
“I thought waiting here would be boring for you.”
Liam shook his head.
“I don’t get bored doing my job.”
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Just then—
A knock interrupted it.
“Come in.”
Her personal assistant entered, looking unusually nervous.
“Ma’am…”
“There will be another staff meeting.”
Isla frowned.
“Another one?”
“Didn’t we just finish one?”
The assistant shifted awkwardly.
“This one isn’t about business.”
“It’s… personal.”
Isla slowly stood.
“What do you mean?”
The assistant hesitated before lowering his voice.
“Sir wants to introduce Mrs. Eva to everyone.”
“For a few seconds… Neither of them spoke.”
Liam instinctively looked at Isla.
She didn’t say anything for several seconds.
Then she calmly replied,
“I’m not attending.”
The assistant looked helpless.
“Ma’am…”
“Sir specifically asked every department head to be there.”
“If you don’t come…”
“He’ll ask me why.”
Isla closed her eyes for a brief second.
She already knew the answer.
Damien wouldn’t excuse her.
Not today.
Not in front of everyone.
“Fine.”
“I’ll tell him myself.”
She walked toward the door.
Liam immediately stood.
“I’ll come with you.”
She gently shook her head.
“No.”
“I can handle this.”
Although…
For the first time in her life…
She wasn’t sure she actually could.
⸻
The CEO’s office.
Without thinking…
Without remembering…
Isla pushed the door open without knocking.
It was a habit.
One Damien himself had created years ago.
“This office is yours too.”
“You never have to knock.”
“Walk in whenever you want.”
Those words still echoed somewhere deep inside her heart.
The door opened.
Then—
She froze.
Eva sat comfortably on Damien’s lap, one arm wrapped around his neck.
She was kissing him.
The world around Isla fell silent.
Her fingers tightened around the doorknob.
She immediately turned her face away.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll come back later.”
Eva slowly pulled away from Damien before crossing one leg over the other.
Her lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“Didn’t anyone teach you manners?”
“You knock before entering the CEO’s office.”
Isla didn’t answer.
She simply kept looking away.
Damien gently removed Eva from his lap before standing.
“Babe…”
“No need to get upset.”
Then he looked at Isla.
His voice remained calm.
“She has a point.”
“You should’ve knocked.”
For a split second…
Time stopped.
A memory flashed across Isla’s mind.
Damien laughing as he pulled her into this very office.
“Knock?”
“Why would my wife knock?”
“Everything here belongs to you.”
“Even me.”
Reality crashed back.
Her chest tightened.
She forced herself to look at him.
“I came to tell you…”
“I won’t be attending your second meeting.”
Damien’s expression hardened slightly.
“It’s mandatory.”
“Everyone will attend.”
“You’re no exception.”
For a few seconds…
Neither of them spoke.
Finally…
Isla simply nodded.
“Understood.”
She turned toward the door.
Just as she reached it—
Eva spoke again.
“Oh… and one more thing.”
Isla stopped.
“Next time…”
“Remember to knock.”
“My husband and I spend a lot of time in this office now.”
“This kind of interruption would be… inconvenient.”
The words were polite.
The smile wasn’t.
Isla’s fingers clenched.
But she didn’t respond.
Without another word…
She walked out.
The door closed softly behind her.
Damien stared at it for several long seconds.
Something inside him…
Didn’t feel right.
⸻
Back in her office…
Liam immediately noticed her expression.
“What happened?”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
She wasn’t.
But she didn’t have the energy to explain.
Almost ten minutes later…
Her assistant appeared once again.
“Ma’am…”
“Everyone’s already in the meeting hall.”
“They’re waiting for you.”
Isla quietly nodded.
“I’ll be there.”
⸻
The meeting hall buzzed with conversation.
Every employee had gathered.
The moment Isla entered…
The whispers faded.
She walked toward the very back of the room and stood alone.
Far away from everyone.
Far away from Damien.
At the front of the hall…
Damien adjusted the microphone.
Beside him stood Eva, smiling confidently.
“Ladies and gentlemen…”
“I’d like you all to meet someone important.”
He turned toward Eva.
“This is my wife…”
“Eva Cross.”
A round of applause filled the hall.
Some employees smiled politely.
Others hesitated.
A few quietly glanced toward Isla.
She remained completely still.
Her eyes fixed somewhere beyond the crowd.
Another memory surfaced.
Years ago…
This very hall.
This very stage.
Damien had proudly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Everyone…”
“Meet my wife…”
“Mrs. Isla Cross.”
Back then…
She had been standing beside him.
Today…
She stood alone.
Hidden among the crowd.
She blinked quickly.
Still…
A single tear escaped before she could stop it.
At that exact moment—
Her phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The screen displayed a familiar name.
Mia Calling…
Isla immediately stepped outside before answering.
“Hello?”
The voice on the other end exploded the moment she picked up.
“So…”
“Are you planning to tell me your husband got married…”
“Or was I supposed to find out from the company’s official social media page?”
Isla’s eyes widened.
“…Mia?”
“Oh, now you remember me?”
“I leave the country for a few months and you decide to suffer alone?”
“You idiot.”
“You’ve been crying, haven’t you?”
Silence.
Mia sighed.
“I knew it.”
“I know you too well.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m downstairs.”
Isla’s heartbeat stopped.
“What?”
“I said…”
“I’m downstairs.”
“Should I come up…”
“Or are you coming down?”
Tears filled Isla’s eyes again.
This time…
Not because she was breaking.
But because…
Someone had finally come back for her.
Mia spoke again, her voice gentler now.
“You don’t have to fight this alone anymore.”
“I’m here.”
For the first time since everything had fallen apart…
Isla smiled.
A real smile.
“…Wait for me.”
She ended the call…
Took one deep breath…
And walked toward the elevator.
Someone from her past had returned.
And neither Damien…
Nor Eva…
Had any idea…
That everything was about to change.
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