HIS LAST CHOICE HIS FOREVER

her first clue

The Sinclair mansion had always been beautiful.

From the outside, it looked like a perfect family home.

A place filled with warmth, memories, and love.

But Isabella knew better.

A beautiful house could still hide ugly secrets.

She stood at the entrance, staring at the place she had once called home.

The last time she had been here, someone had tried to kill her.

And yet...

Her father had called her that morning.

"Isabella, come home. We need to talk."

Not:

Are you okay?

Are you hurt?

Do you need help?

Only business.

Only the shares.

She already knew why she was here.

"Miss Sinclair?"

The butler opened the door.

"Your family is waiting."

Isabella walked inside.

The living room was exactly the same.

Her stepmother sitting elegantly on the sofa.

Her father holding a glass of wine.

And Samantha...

Smiling.

A fake smile.

"Isabella."

Her father stood up.

"You finally came."

She looked at him.

"Did you miss me?"

The room went quiet.

Her stepmother forced a laugh.

"Don't be like that, sweetheart. We were worried about you."

"Worried?"

Isabella looked around.

"Interesting. I don't remember anyone visiting me after the attack."

Samantha's smile disappeared.

Her father cleared his throat.

"That incident was unfortunate."

"Unfortunate?"

Her eyes hardened.

"Someone tried to kill me."

"And that's exactly why we need to discuss your shares."

There it was.

Not concern.

Not love.

Money.

Always money.

Isabella laughed softly.

"I was wondering how long it would take."

Her father frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I finally understand."

She stepped closer.

"You don't care if I live or die."

Her stepmother looked offended.

"How can you say that? We are your family."

"Family doesn't wait for someone to almost die before asking about their inheritance."

Samantha stood.

"You think you are better than us because grandmother chose you?"

Isabella looked at her.

"No."

"I think I'm better than you because I never tried to destroy someone for money."

Samantha's face changed.

Only for a second.

But Isabella noticed.

She always noticed.

...

Later that night, Isabella returned to the Blackwood mansion.

She was quiet.

Too quiet.

Ethan noticed immediately.

"You went to see your family."

She looked at him.

"You already know?"

"I know everything that affects my wife."

The words surprised both of them.

Isabella looked away.

"Your definition of caring sounds very much like surveillance."

"Call it whatever you want."

She placed her bag down.

"They wanted my shares."

Ethan's expression darkened.

"After what happened?"

"Exactly."

Silence.

For some reason, that angered him.

Not because of the company.

Because they had looked at her pain and still chosen money.

"Did they hurt you?"

She looked at him.

The question was simple.

But genuine.

"No."

A pause.

"Not today."

Something changed in Ethan's eyes.

...

The next morning, Victoria entered Ethan's office.

She carried coffee.

The same way she used to.

The same way she always had.

"I thought you might need this."

Ethan accepted it.

"Thank you."

Victoria smiled.

"You're welcome."

She sat down.

"How is Isabella?"

The way she said the name sounded harmless.

Almost caring.

But Ethan noticed.

"Why?"

Victoria looked surprised.

"I'm just asking."

"You don't usually ask about people you dislike."

Her smile faded slightly.

"I don't dislike her."

"Then?"

Victoria sighed.

"Ethan, I just worry about you."

He looked at her.

"About me?"

"Yes."

She lowered her voice.

"You've always been too trusting with people you care about."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying... be careful."

"With Isabella?"

Victoria didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

The doubt was already planted.

...

That afternoon, Isabella was searching through old family documents in her grandmother's study.

She had never been allowed inside this room after her grandmother died.

But now she had access.

And she wanted answers.

Her fingers moved through old files.

Business papers.

Letters.

Photographs.

Then she found something hidden inside an old book.

A small envelope.

Her name was written on it.

Isabella.

Her heartbeat increased.

She slowly opened it.

Inside was a single piece of paper.

Only one sentence.

"Your parents did not die because of an accident. Trust no one in the Sinclair family."

Her breath stopped.

She read it again.

And again.

Her parents.

The accident.

The lie she had believed for years.

A sound behind her made her turn.

The door was slightly open.

Someone had been watching her.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

Isabella grabbed the letter and stepped toward the door.

But whoever had been there was already gone.

She looked down at the paper in her hand.

For years, she thought she had lost her parents.

Now she realized something much worse.

Someone had taken them from her.

And that same person might still be watching her.