Chapter 90
That evening, the mansion glowed brightly, buzzing with lively conversation. The Jones family welcomed an impressive mix of guests, including city elites, celebrities, and business partners who had traveled from afar to attend.
Now that my pregnancy was no longer a secret, I chose not to hide it. Instead, I wore my most comfortable evening gown- elegant and flowing, proudly showing my growing belly. As I moved through the mansion, many guests couldn’t help but notice my rounded figure.
“Isabella Prescott is pregnant?” the governor’s wife whispered to her companion, her voice soft enough to feign discretion, yet loud enough for me to catch every word.
“I’m just as surprised,” her companion replied. “Wasn’t it just a few months ago that she and Gabriel Sterling separated?”
“Do you think he’s the father?” another woman chimed in with a raised brow.
“Who knows?”
I ignored their gossip, pretending not to care as I sipped juice from a crystal glass. My phone buzzed in my pocket; it was a message from Grayson:
‘My private plane just landed in Charlotte. I’ll be there soon.’
As I was typing my reply to Grayson, an unexpected pair of guests stepped inside the mansion–Sabrina and Gabriel.
What surprised me even more was that Sabrina was also pregnant. My eyes caught the guilty expression fleeting across Gabriel’s face, but I merely gave him a soft nod–nothing more than a polite acknowledgment of his presence.
The tension in the room grew thicker, especially with the unspoken history between Sabrina, Gabriel and me. His discomfort was clear as the situation played out.
Sabrin
“Sabrina!” My cousin, a model and close friend of Sabrina’s, waved with enthusiasm. The glint of mischief sparkled in her
eyes.
“Thank you for inviting us. This is my first public appearance since… well, you know,” Sabrina replied; her eyes briefly darting to me, narrowing slightly as they lingered on my belly.
Was she assuming Gabriel was the father of my baby? It hit me then–this wasn’t a coincidence. My cousin had invited them on purpose, knowing their presence would make me look pitiful and pathetic.
I walked over to a group of acquaintances, offering polite greetings, but I couldn’t ignore the pity in their eyes.
One of them couldn’t resist asking, “How do you feel now that Gabriel and Sabrina finally ended up together?”
“Nothing,” I replied with practiced nonchalance.
Honestly, I didn’t care.
“You and Gabriel were together for so long. It’s okay if you’re hurt,” another chimed in.
Augh! These people!
I took a deep breath to steady my rising irritation and clarified, “I am married. My baby has no connection with Gabriel. He and I broke up a long time ago, so I hope you respect our current status.”
“But Isabella, everyone in the family knows how deeply you were in love with Gabriel,” commented one of my aunts.
“That was in the past,” I said firmly.
08:31 Mon, 14 Apr BB
Chapter 90
Unable to bear talking to anyone any longer, exhaustion from standing pushed me to find a couch near the foyer. Frustration weighed heavily on me.
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I leaned back, trying to relax as the soft music played in the background, sipping my water to calm my nerves. That’s when Gabriel approached.
“How are you, Issa?” he asked, settling into the empty space beside me.
“I’m great,” I answered before adding, “So you ended up with Sabrina…”
“Does it bother you?” he asked, guilt flickering in his eyes.
If he had asked me this question months ago, my answer would’ve been a resounding yes. Back then, the idea of him with Sabrina hurt me deeply. But now, after everything I’ve been through, all the pain and heartbreak, I’ve become numb to it. His relationship with her no longer affects me, not even a bit.
“The only reason it bothers me now is because of what people might think. Just look at them–they’re still talking about us.”
I gestured subtly toward the crowd. Some were openly watching us, others pretending to be engrossed in conversation while casting sidelong glances.
After all, just half a year ago, the three of us had been the hottest topic, our tangled drama plastered across every trending search.
“I’m really sorry. I’m the one to blame for putting you in this situation,” Gabriel said.
I appreciated his apology, but curiosity gnawed at me. Didn’t he promise before that he would stay away from Sabrina?
The question burned in my mind until it escaped my lips.
“If I count the timeline, the number of months she’s pregnant is almost the same as mine. You got her pregnant while you visited me, asking my forgiveness at SummitGlow’s office. So?”
He swallowed hard, his words stumbling out as he tried to justify himself. “Issa, I was drunk after I found out who your husband is. I wasn’t thinking straight, and-”
Before he could finish, Sabrina charged toward us, her steps fierce and determined, as if preparing for battle.
“You slut!” she hissed, her hand flying toward me in a slap, but Gabriel grabbed her wrist with a firm grip before she could make contact.
“Don’t make a scene here!” he hissed angrily, glancing around at the gathering crowd.
“Gabriel!” Sabrina shrieked, tears brimming in her eyes. “You promised me your attention would only be on me, that you’d forget about Isabella! So why are you still talking to her? We don’t even know who the father of her bastard child is!”
Her venomous words pushed me past my breaking point. Without thinking, I slapped her across the face. “I guess it’s true what they say; mistresses sure know how to talk.”
“You hit me!” Sabrina gasped, turning to the man in between us. “I’m not a mistress! Gabriel, I’m your partner now. Why aren’t you standing up for me?”
“Sabrina, this is your fault!” he snapped, clearly frustrated. “We agreed you wouldn’t cause a scene here. I’m just catching up with Isabella!”
My cousin, who had invited them both to the party, approached with a stern expression.
“Sabrina, calm down. You’re pregnant,” she said before turning to me. “Isabella, this is Grandma’s birthday. Are you not over Gabriel? Why are you causing all this drama?”
08:31 Mon, 14 Apr B B
Chapter 90
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Another cousin chimed in. “Sabrina and Gabriel seem happy together now. I know you’re still hung up on the past and how much you loved him, but it’s time to let go.”
One relative spoke up with a pitiful sigh, “I’m sure Gabriel will still take responsibility for the child you’re carrying
Sabrina sneered. “The baby she’s carrying isn’t Gabriel’s! Stop being a delusional bitch, Isabella! You two are over
The real problem now is that there are public figures at this celebration. This isn’t just a private family squabble anymore.
I spotted cameras aimed directly at us. If this is being livestreamed, it’s bound to trend on Chatter–three ex–celebrities, one father, and two pregnant women.
“What’s all this commotion?” Grandma asked as she approached, her brows furrowed in disapproval
This was supposed to be a celebration, and now it felt like the world’s most dramatic soap opera
I was seething with anger, ready to explode, but had to respect this event.
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