If I could run, I’d go barefoot and go as far as I could. But I had to keep myself composed even as I felt my resolve crumbling and desperation seeping through the cracks.

My internal monologue was loud and clear in my head. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. I kept repeating it to drown out the dread and pain that urged me not to let Callum go. If I so much as faltered or paused, I’d have time to think about what I’d miss and question what went wrong. So, I kept my gaze straight and my steps determined.

I was almost out of the gate. Almost ready to let go of the breath I was holding. The luggage in my hand didn’t feel as heavy as my chest. Probably because I left every jewelry and every dress Callum bought for me. I left them behind for the woman he’d replace me with. A woman who his family would approve of and would bring everything he needed to the table.

My hands trembled, either from the cold or with emotions that threatened to swallow me whole. I dragged my feet through the empty streets without looking back.

“Where are you going at this hour, Princess?” Isaac’s annoyingly familiar voice filled my ears. As if today wasn’t bad enough as it is.

I tried to ignore him at first, even picking up my pace. But the jerk was in his car, and he kept matching my pace with his window down.

“Not tonight, Isaac,” I hissed without looking at him.

“I dunno,” he drawled. “Seems like tonight is the perfect time. I think I know exactly what happened in that house.”

Isaac finally managed to make me halt. The anger that had been building up inside me was ready to burst, and he’d be one deserving asshole to be at the receiving end.

“You just think you know everything, do you?”

“How about this, I’ll tell you what I think happened and you tell me if I’m wrong,” he said with his eyes gleaming with challenge. “I’m guessing you played house with him, fell in love, and then he reminds you that you’re only playing house. Now, the game is over. You know what else I know, princess?”

“Stop calling me princess,” was all I could retort because everything he said was true.

Isaac huffed out a chuckle, a small smirk displayed on his annoying face. He stepped out of his car, walked toward me, and towered over me.

“Heiress,” the word rolled off his tongue. “I know your contract marriage has ended. It’s time you come home,” he said, his voice so monotonous and yet so mocking.

My brows furrowed. How did he know about the contract…? But then again, this man was sent by my father to spy on me. I just thought Callum would’ve done a good job at keeping things under wraps, but there was nothing Anthony Martins couldn’t get through, I suppose. It just made me despise him more; he had all the means. He probably knew my mother and I were struggling, but he had let us suffer.

“Heiress?” I mumbled. “Did you just call me heiress? What is this? Another silly joke from you, or is this your way of dragging me to see your boss?”

“You’re thinking too much into things. I meant it exactly how it’s meant. Since you don’t want to meet your father for this, I’ll break the news for you instead. He wants to leave everything to you. All he’s asking in return is for you to talk to him.”

“Heiress? Me? That old man’s successor?” I scoffed. Were they this desperate to gain my attention? I bet that man only wants to apologize to appease himself before he dies, then he’ll leave me a few titles for the sake of his conscience. “Give me a break. An illegitimate daughter can’t be an heiress. Especially when his other children are alive and living so luxuriously.”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but you have nothing to lose and a shit ton to gain. All you have to do is pay the man a visit,” he casually said as if it really was that easy.

“So he can find peace before his death? Is that it? When my mother died, she wasn’t at peace. She was desperate. She was scared for me. She received no help. I won’t give that man what I couldn’t give my mother.”

“He didn’t know,” Isaac said, his voice serious and sincere. “Your mother asked him not to meddle with her life after she found out he had a family. She asked her not to use his money to track her down or keep tabs on her. It was too late when he found out that she had died. He sent me to keep an eye on you. So, I did my research, and I’d been around enough to know that you’re tired of people looking down on you.”

“Then you should also know that I survived well on my own. I don’t need anyone now,” I said before turning away. “I’m not going to be fooled by another rich man who thinks they can do whatever they want,” I added before walking away.

My mother shouldn’t have trusted that man, so I wouldn’t trust him. I already made the mistake of trusting Callum. I would rather be alone than be played like a fool again.

“Wait–” he called out. “Let me drive you to wherever you plan to cry yourself to sleep tonight.”

I scoffed in disbelief, but didn’t bother giving him a reaction. I kept going until he caught my wrist. I glared back at him, but this time, my eyes felt hot as tears began to pool in them. I’d been trying to keep it together since Callum’s mother came over. Now, the thread I’d been hanging onto had finally snapped, and I hated how it chose right now. In front of this heartless bastard.

Isaac seemed taken aback, and I should be glad he seemed to have a bit of conscience. But I still didn’t like the fact that I was falling apart in front of him. Of all people. Him.

“I’m sorry. Not the time for jokes, I get it,” he gently said, if that was possible for a man like him. He sighed before letting go of my wrist. “Let me drive you. Take it as an offer from me, not your father.”

“You’re not aware that I equally detest you?” I hissed, still trying to keep up a front despite the tears threatening to pour out.

“Look, princess. You’re either getting in that car or I’m going to be tailing you all night. Let’s not make this hard, okay? I might sound like an ass, but I’m not as heartless as you think I am.”

I was about to argue when my world spun. I tried to blink it away, but it only got worse. Before I knew it, the world was fading to oblivion, and all I could hear was Isaac’s panicked voice.

“Yvonne? Yvonne! Wake up!”