I never thought I’d hear those words from Callum. But even as the hurt flashed in my eyes and my lips parted at the statement, he didn’t take it back, nor did he bat an eye. The man I once loved was really gone.

“I didn’t take Callum Blake to be a nosy meddler,” Isaac chimed in. “From what I’ve heard, you two are separated now.”

Callum’s jaw clenched before a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “You’re right, it’s none of my business. I’m simply surprised that you’d be interested in my ex-wife, Mr. Ventura… especially with your taste in women. She might bore you.”

My hand unconsciously moved to my belly. There was no way I’d share my child with this man in front of me. How could he look at me that way and say those things about me when he used to hold me in our sleep?

I was stupid to even consider telling him about our child. He wasn’t the person I knew anymore.

“Bore me? Perhaps I know a version of Yvonne that she never showed you. She’s quite… feisty,” Isaac tauntingly said, but his eyes weren’t on Callum. They were on me. “And that’s exactly how I like my woman.”

The smirk on Callum’s face vanished as his expression hardened once again. He glared at Isaac like he was ready to pounce on him, but Isaac didn’t seem at all bothered, his usual cockiness shining through.

I didn’t know if I should thank Isaac for taking over or elbow him for making it seem like we were actually together. But I was done listening to Callum tear apart the image I once had of him. I also didn’t want him to figure out why I was in this hospital.

“I don’t owe you anything,” I told Callum before walking past him. “Let’s go, Isaac.”

“Yvonne,” Callum called out, making me halt. “I know you’re upset. But you shouldn’t let it cloud your judgement, unless you’re getting fond of being… toyed with.”

Isaac suddenly laughed like what Callum said was the best joke he’d ever heard. “You need to mask your concern better, Mr. Blake. I know you’re not here because of a mere coincidence, and your words might be harsh, but I'm a lawyer. So, to me, you sound like you’re afraid I’d hurt your ex-wife. I’m starting to think she broke your heart, instead of the other way around.”

Callum moved forward, like he’d grab Isaac. So, I stood between them, placing my hand on Isaac’s arm. “Can we go? I’m tired.”

Isaac seemed surprised by my gesture. I didn’t look at Callum, but I could sense him stepping back. I took that chance to pull Isaac away.

“I can’t let him know about my pregnancy,” I said when we were far enough. “Thanks... for whatever that was.”

“You good? You won’t pass out on me again, will you?” he playfully said.

That earned him a small smile from me. “What did you mean when you said it wasn’t a coincidence that we bumped into each other?”

“I had a feeling someone was tailing us when I was driving you here. Whoever it was probably tried to get information about why you were brought here. But thanks to me, they couldn’t get any. So, I’m assuming, their boss came to the hospital himself,” he explained, his voice laced with arrogance again.

“That can’t be right… If there really was someone following me, then it must’ve been Callum’s mother. They keep tabs on me sometimes too. Probably making sure that I was gone for good,” I said.

“I can look into it,” he shrugged, like it was some game for him.

“Don’t bother. I want to cut ties with that family… that’s the only way I can move forward.”

“You know you’ll keep bumping into him because of your new status, right?”

“I know. But I want to avoid him for as long as I can and as much as I can.” Our encounter earlier proved that I wasn’t ready to face him yet. My chest still ached, and my tears still came easily.

“Damn, princess. He did a number on you, huh?” Isaac teased.

I glared at him. It was too soon for jokes, and he raised his hands in surrender as if he’d gotten that.

When we reached the garden, I found a bench to sit on. Isaac didn’t take a seat; he remained standing just beside the bench, like some kind of bodyguard.

I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that Anthony left everything to me. But the way Callum was treating me… and how everyone else had treated me until now. Maybe this was the compensation for all the pain and humiliation I endured. Maybe this was the universe’s way of making it up to me.

“What do I have to do? I don’t know anything about running an empire.”

“Everything can be taught, princess. And my job is to make sure you’re all settled,” he said with a wink. “It’ll only work if we can trust each other. So, you have to believe that we’re on the same side now.”

Sometimes, I’d forget that he had a renowned firm and a name of his own because of how loyal he’d been to my father. It was hard to think that a man like Isaac would be working so diligently under Anthony just for money.

“Why? Why are you helping me this much?”

“Because I owe your old man… and I’m not a big fan of his wife,” he said, and for a second, I saw contempt in his eyes. “So, you’re taking the company and I’m going to help you.”

The way he defended me earlier made me believe that it was possible to trust him. I just have to know how Anthony gained his loyalty, and how helping me benefits him. Until then, I couldn’t lean on him too much.

I would have to learn everything from scratch about the company, but that shouldn’t be too hard. Studying was never difficult for me. As long as I have resources, taking over what Anthony left behind wouldn’t be too impossible. For now, I need to put a little faith in Isaac’s reason for helping me.

“Trust isn’t given. I’ll see for myself if I can really trust you. For now, I’m willing to listen,” I said.

Isaac smirked and shook his head, “I guess that’ll do for now.”

A moment of silence enveloped us. I gazed at the sky as I let every information sink in. Starting today, I had to be wiser and stronger because this time, I wanted to fight for my place in this world… instead of living in whichever corner they try to push me into.

“You need to get plenty of sleep tonight, princess,” Isaac said. “Because I’m bringing you to the mansion tomorrow, and your father’s family won’t like it.”