Chapter 5: A Life He Never Knew

Morning came quietly.

Soft light filtered through the curtains, resting gently across Isabella’s face.

For a moment…She didn’t move.

Because waking up meant remembering the divorce, the mansion and Andrew.

Her eyes slowly opened.

The ceiling above her was unfamiliar,plain and simple.

Not the high, elegant design she had gotten used to.

But somehow…

It didn’t feel cold.

It felt… real.

Isabella sat up slowly, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach.

Still there, still real.

A quiet breath left her lips.

“I’m okay,” she whispered softly.

And for the first time…

She almost believed it.

In the kitchen—Daniel stood by the stove, sleeves rolled up, preparing breakfast.

Nothing fancy.

Just something warm.

Something normal.

He paused briefly, glancing toward the hallway.

Listening.

As if making sure she was still there.

That she hadn’t disappeared overnight.

A faint smile touched his lips before he turned back to what he was doing.

A few minutes later—Isabella stepped into the kitchen.

She stopped.

Watching him.

For a moment, she didn’t say anything.

Because this, this quiet, simple scene—I felt unfamiliar in a different way.

Peaceful.

“You’re awake,” Daniel said without turning.

She blinked.

“How did you know?”

He smiled slightly.

“You walk quietly, but not that quietly.”

A small silence followed.

Then…..“You didn’t have to do this,” she said softly, glancing at the food.

Daniel shrugged.

“I know.”

Which made it harder to respond.

She stepped closer, hesitating slightly before sitting down.

“Thank you,” she added.

This time….She meant it more. Daniel placed a plate in front of her.

“Eat first. Then we figure things out.”

Things, her future, her life and everything.

Isabella nodded and picked up the fork.

For a moment, she just stared at the food.

Then slowly…She began to eat.

Across the city.

Andrew Collins sat in a boardroom surrounded by executives.

The atmosphere was tense.

Focused.

Mr. Collins, we need your final decision.

“No.”

The word cut through the room.

Everyone fell silent.

Andrew leaned back slightly, his expression cold.

“We’re not proceeding with that deal.”

“But sir, we’ve already invested….”I said no.”

His tone didn’t rise.

But it didn’t need to.

It was final.

The meeting ended shortly after.

But as everyone filed out…

Andrew remained seated.

Still and unmoving.

His fingers tapped once against the table.

Then stopped.

Something wasn’t right.

He had reviewed that deal multiple times.

It was solid, profitable and strategic.

So why did he reject it? His jaw tightened slightly.

His focus was off.

And he knew why.

Back at the apartment.

“Do you have any plans?” Daniel asked, leaning against the counter.

Isabella shook her head.

“Not yet.”

She placed the fork down slowly.

“I’ll need to find a place. A job… something stable.”

Daniel nodded.

“You can stay here for now.”

She hesitated.

“I don’t want to rely on you too much.”

“You’re not.”

His response was immediate.

“You’re just… taking time to get back on your feet.”

The way he said it Simple and Normal.

Made it easier to accept.“…Just for a little while,” she agreed quietly.

Daniel smiled slightly.

“That’s fine.”

A brief silence settled between them.

Then “Do you regret it?”

The question caught her off guard.

Isabella looked up.

“What?”

“The divorce,” he clarified. “Do you regret leaving?”

For a moment…She didn’t answer.

Her mind drifted back to the mansion.

To Andrew.

To everything she had endured.

Then to now, to this small apartment.

To this quiet peace.

“No.”

The answer came softly.

But but stady.

“I regret staying that long.”

Daniel didn’t respond immediately.

But something in his expression softened.

As if he was expecting this answer.

Later that day—Isabella stood by the window, looking out at the city. Everything feels different now.

Even though nothing about her situation was easy.

Her phone rings.

This time…She answered.

“Hello?”

“Isabella.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Andrew.

Her grip tightened slightly around the phone.

“Yes?”

There was a brief pause on the other end.

As if he wasn’t expecting her to answer.

“You left some documents behind.”

His tone was neutral, document-like.

Of course.

Nothing personal.

“Throw them away,” she said calmly then silence followed.

Then “You should come get them.”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“Why?”

“They might be important.”

A small, bitter smile touched her lips.

If they were important, you would’ve mentioned them yesterday.

That wasn’t the response he expected.“…It’s still your responsibility,” Andrew said.

“No.”

Her voice was calm and steady.

It stopped being my responsibility the moment I signed those papers.

Another silence, This time it was longer.

He wasn’t used to this version of her. The one who pushed back. Where are you staying? he asked suddenly.

The question caught her off guard.

She frowned slightly.

“That’s none of your concern.”

Andrew’s expression darkened on the other end. But you were my wife.

“Was.”

The correction came instantly.

Deliberately and another pause came.

Then I’ll send someone with the documents, he said.

“Do whatever you want.”

And before he could say anything else she ended the call.

The room fell silent.

Daniel has heard everything.

He didn’t say anything.

But his eyes shifted slightly.

Curious and thoughtful.

“You didn’t tell him,” he said after a moment.

Isabella shook her head.

“No.”

And she wasn’t going to.

Miles away….

Andrew lowered his phone slowly.

His expression is unreadable.

But something had changed.

Because for the first time Isabella Carter had walked away…

And didn’t look like she was coming back.