Chapter 100
Ethan Blackwood’s face drained of color as he staggered back. “You’ve lost your mind!”
His attempt to block Isabella Sinclair’s car was met with the deafening growl of the engine and a sudden, violent acceleration. The vehicle showed no signs of stopping. In a heartbeat, it was nearly upon him.
Bang!
Instinct took over. Ethan yanked Sophia Kensington by the arm, sending them both tumbling clumsily onto the roadside, barely avoiding catastrophe.
“Isabella, you’re completely insane!” he roared, disbelief and fury twisting his features. “I never expected her to be this ruthless.”
The speed of the car told him everything—she hadn’t even tapped the brakes. She had truly meant to hit them.
Sophia, equally shaken, couldn’t hold back her tears, this time from sheer terror. “She wanted to kill us! She’s a monster!” Her voice trembled as sobs wracked her body.
Ethan stood, anger simmering beneath his skin. But instead of slowing down, Isabella’s car only sped away, leaving behind nothing but the acrid stench of exhaust—a mocking reminder of her control over the situation.
Despite the shock, Ethan refused to back down.
Grabbing Sophia’s wrist, he growled, “Come on. We’re following her.”
Sophia hesitated, fear evident in her wide eyes, but she finally slid into the passenger seat of Ethan’s car, reluctance heavy in her movements.
Determined but cautious, Ethan tailed Isabella at a safe distance.
Yet their attempt at stealth didn’t escape Isabella’s sharp gaze. A glance in the rearview mirror confirmed their presence. A smirk curled her lips.
“Still following me, huh?” she murmured to herself. If she didn’t deal with them now, they’d never stop.
Isabella wove expertly through the city streets, taking sharp turns like a seasoned racer, before plunging into the shadowy depths of Muisvedo. She parked in a desolate alley, forgotten by civilization.
Ethan took in their surroundings, his expression darkening. Muisvedo was notorious—a breeding ground for trouble, especially after dark. Seedy bars lined the streets, their patrons often stumbling into drunken brawls or worse. Violence lingered in the air, and more than one fight had ended with a life snuffed out.
“I’m supposed to be with Mr. Kingsley right now,” Sophia sneered, venom dripping from her words. “What are you doing in this dump? Don’t tell me you’re here for the nightlife.” She seized every chance to tarnish Isabella’s reputation. What had started as a bid for Ethan’s affection had twisted into something darker—fueled by Alexander Kingsley’s jealousy.
Why should Isabella have a better life than hers?
The couple trailed Isabella at a careful distance, close enough to watch, far enough to stay hidden.
Just as they rounded a corner, a staggering drunk lurched toward Isabella, his eyes lighting up like he’d struck gold.
“Hey, gorgeous! You look lonely. How about a drink?” he slurred, nearly tripping over his own feet as he tugged at his sagging pants. His lecherous gaze raked over her, and he reached out a grimy hand toward her face.
Ethan’s protective instincts flared. Isabella was still his ex-wife, after all.
But before he could move, Sophia’s fingers curled around his arm, stopping him with a light, almost careless touch.
“Wait, Ethan,” she murmured. “Don’t you remember how Isabella handles herself? She’s been hiding her true nature from you for years. This could be a trap. If you brawl with that drunk, you’ll just end up looking like a fool.”
To his shock, Isabella flashed a smile so dazzling it could have disarmed anyone.
“You want my company?” Her voice was sweet as honey. “Be careful what you wish for.”
The drunk blinked, momentarily entranced by her sudden charm.
But before he could utter another word—
CRACK.
Isabella’s knee slammed into his groin.
“AHHHHH!”
The man’s scream was raw, animalistic, as he crumpled, clutching himself in agony.
Ethan winced, phantom pain shooting through him as he watched the brutal strike.
“This isn’t the woman I knew,” he whispered, his eyes locked on the figure standing before him. It was like seeing a ghost—one that had shed its softness.
There had been a time when Isabella had been gentle, trailing after him like a devoted shadow. Even in his worst moments, when he lashed out, she’d soothed him with words as calm as still water.
But now, after their divorce, he saw her clearly.
Isabella had never bowed to anyone—except, perhaps, to him during those three years.
That version of her was gone.
And he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d let her slip away forever.
Tac’s Note: Enjoy the weekend, my lovely readers! God loves you, and Tac-K loves you even more. 💖
