Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

"You're not drinking? What, you think you're too good for your uncle now?"

Victor's face darkened, the veins on the back of his hand standing out sharply, but his tone was deceptively calm. "So what is it? Are you thinking about messing with the Fitzgerald bloodline now?"

Farrar met Victor's cold, unreadable gaze, and a cruel glint flickered in his eyes. The tension in the private room shot up, the air thick with hostility-like the calm before a storm.

Isadora broke the silence with a polite smile, refusing graciously. “Uncle, I'm pregnant. I really can't drink tonight, it's not that I mean any disrespect. Please, forgive me."

At her words, Farrar's expression finally softened. He slapped his forehead, as if only just remembering. "Oh, I'm getting old and forgetful. Didn't realize you're expecting. Don't mind me, all right?"

Victor shot Isadora a look, his voice low and commanding. "Let's go."

Isadora glanced at him, then took Nanette's hand and quickly led her out of the

room.

Once outside, Nanette's nerves finally betrayed her. "That didn't feel like a family dinner," she muttered. "It was more like a mafia negotiation. Did you see how many bodyguards were in there?"

She turned to Isadora, her voice still shaky. "Who was that guy? The way he looked at people-so cold and vicious. When you refused the drink, I thought he might actually attack."

"That was Victor's uncle," Isadora said evenly.

"Uncle? He seems downright unhinged."noveldrama

Isadora opened her mouth to reply, but just then, Kemp hurried toward them, bowing respectfully. "Ma'am, Mr. Fitzgerald asked me to escort you home."

Nanette, still bristling, snapped, "I can take Isadora home myself. I don't need Victor's fake concern."

Isadora looked thoughtfully at Kemp. "Is Victor busy with something important tonight?"

Kemp hesitated, then answered honestly. "Mr. Fitzgerald can't leave tonight, ma'am. He asks you to trust him he would never betray you."

Isadora nodded. "Alright. I won't make things harder for him."

*

That night, Nanette stayed over at Laurel Heights.

The two of them lay side by side in bed. Nanette pieced together what Isadora told her, finally understanding.

"So Farrar's the one who killed

Victor's father? No wonder... I knew he was bad news the minute I saw him. The way he looked at people—so cold-blooded, almost predatory. Just being near him gave me the chills."

“But Isadora, no matter what Victor's reasons are, calling you a baby machine...

You can't just let that go."

Nanette waited for a response, but

heard

ely silence. Turning her b

she saw Isadora covered in

sweat, her face pale as a set

Nanette bolted upright. "Isadora, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"

A sharp pain seized Isadora's abdomen. "I think I'm going into labor."

Nanette threw back the covers and saw a large wet spot on the sheets. Her voice

shook. "Your water just broke..."

Panicking, Nanette shouted for the housekeeper.

Thankfully the staff at Laurel

าวเ

Heights were well-trained. Within minutes, they had Isadora bundled into the car and on the way to the hospital they'd prepared in advance.

At the hospital, the OB-GYN team was already on alert, ready and waiting.

Isadora was drenched in cold sweat, damp hair sticking to her forehead, biting her lip so hard it turned pale from the pain.

Nanette hovered nearby, on the verge of tears. "It'll be over soon, Isadora. Don't be afraid, I'm calling Victor right now."

Isadora managed a nod, lips pressed tight in agony, before the doctors wheeled her into the delivery room.

Nanette tried to follow but was stopped at the doors.

She stared at the red light above the operating room, pacing anxiously. Fumbling through her bag, she called Victor.

The cold, sterile ring of the phone echoed in her ear, each beep colder than the last.

No one answered.

She called again and again, her frustration mounting until she nearly hurled her phone across the hall.