Shadows of Destiny: A Dance of Secrets and Love

"Where's the baby... baby..." Isabella woke up slowly, having just given birth. She felt weak, opening her eyes only to discover her baby was missing—A cold sensation pierced her soul, and she urgently grabbed the nurse. "Where is my baby...?" "The child has been taken by your family." Isabella was shocked. She had just woken up, the pain of childbirth still fresh. Her abdomen felt like it had been stabbed with knives. In the heat of the moment, Isabella forgot about the pain. She rolled out of bed, removed the needle, and rushed after the nurse in her bare feet. She couldn't let anyone take her baby! Stumbling, Isabella ran to the hospital entrance. She saw a drizzle outside, a black Maybach parked in front of the hospital gates, four bodyguards standing by the car, and a familiar figure—her fiancé, Alexander! Why was Alexander holding her baby? She strained to see. Alexander stood respectfully in front of the Maybach, handing the man his newborn baby. "Sir, this is her newborn boy, very healthy." The man took the child, his large hands rubbing the child's face. The assistant beside him handed a blank check to Alexander. "You've done a good job." "Thanks." Alexander took the check and winced. Isabella's eyes were filled with shock, grief, and horror at the sight. Her thin body trembled, nearly unsteady on her feet as she fought back the pain of labor and grabbed the glass door, ready to go out. The man was at least 100 feet away, his face completely obscured by the brim of his assistant's umbrella. Yet she recognized him. Isabella's heart suddenly clenched. I can't believe it's that man! He's coming after us! Painful memories struck again, and her body turned as cold as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Ten months ago, she had gone looking for Alexander at the Sunshine Bar, only to bump into him making out with another woman in a booth. Angry, she had left and come across a man being hunted, covered in blood and bruises. She kindly helped the man out of his predicament, getting him a hotel room with her own ID and going to the pharmacy to get him medicine. Who knew this man was a wolf in human skin! She brought back painkillers and alcohol to help him with his wounds, but he took the opportunity to force himself on her... She hadn't realized—ten months later, that nightmare came back... "You scum... hypocrite... how could you still be alive!" Isabella couldn't control it and held her breath, ready to rush out, only to be restrained by the arriving doctors. The syringe went in, and Isabella blacked out and passed out. Five years later, in S. City. It was eight o'clock in the evening at Hotel Fulda. The debutantes were dressed to the nines, accompanied by their parents and brothers, hoping to find a romantic partner for themselves and a son-in-law for the family. Isabella, on the other hand, lacked interest. Due to Alexander's absence, she had dressed up and made the requisite pleasantries with the business luminaries. She sat in a corner, holding her glass of red wine, absentmindedly watching the bustling crowd. The man surrounded by countless beautiful celebrities must be today's protagonist, Ethan Pierce. She didn't know what he looked like, but she could imagine how outstanding he was by looking at the women's flamboyant eyes and the men's jealous faces. Unfortunately... she was married. A married woman, even though her husband was a scumbag who went around with other women. Thinking about the afternoon, Isabella poured herself another glass of wine. "Stop drinking!" Accompanied by a familiar voice, Isabella's glass was taken. She looked up and saw her best friend, Olivia. "I thought you said you were fishing for men? Why are you over here?" "Men are always around, and you can't ignore a friend when you see her drinking!" Olivia sat close to Isabella, her ample chest nearly spilling out of the neckline of her dress. "You're dressed really nicely today," Isabella commented. Olivia, on the other hand, told Isabella with a straight face, "You're the most beautiful rose of the day." Olivia added, "Where's Alexander? He didn't accompany you to the reception today?" "He's busy." "Busy? Busy hooking up with models?" Olivia grabbed Isabella's hand with irritation and pain. "Bella, why are you doing this? It's been five years! You still don't give up!" "I..." "There are a million chances for this kind of thing after the first time!" Olivia emphasized, "I know you're nostalgic and want to go back in time with him, but he left you hanging for five whole years! He proposed to you when you were nineteen, and now you're twenty-four and he's still engaged to you! Do you think the fact that he hasn't broken off his engagement with you or proposed to another woman means he still loves you? He'll come back to you when he's tired of playing! Don't be silly!" Olivia's words made Isabella's heart grow fonder, mumbling, "Actually..." "Actually what?" Olivia gave Isabella a blank look, "Don't tell me you guys actually got married a long time ago? It's the popular hidden marriage nowadays!" "You... you... you guessed it..." Isabella lowered her head in embarrassment. Olivia exploded, "What did you say? Say that again! You're too standard for a good wife!" "No, it's not what you think..." Isabella blinked and confessed, "I had an accident when I was nineteen and woke up two years later. He married me out of sympathy, and the hidden marriage was something I proposed... because I can't recall when we got engaged or anything that happened when I was nineteen..." "Why are you so naive? You believe everything he says!" Olivia said, exasperated and distressed. At that moment, the music on the dance floor changed, the elegant nocturne was replaced by light jazz, and Olivia pulled up a depressed Isabella. "Go! Let's dance!" "No—" "Why not? Are you going to keep your loyalty to this scumbag for the rest of your life?" Olivia exploded and pushed Isabella forward. "Handsome! My friend wants to ask you to dance!" Before she could say anything, Isabella had already bumped into the man's body. Isabella hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" "Just being sorry isn't enough." A low voice rang out from overhead, husky and magnetic, reserved detachment slowly spilling out. "What... what do you want?" She asked timidly.