She sat carefully, folding her hands on her lap.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, his tone calm but firm. "It's time you moved forward with your studies. I've made arrangements for you to attend law school in the States. You'll leave soon, so you should prepare yourself."
Isabella blinked, surprise flickering across her face. "Law school… in the States?" she repeated softly.
"Yes," Adrian said, his eyes steady on hers. "You're capable, Bella. I trust you can take care of yourself. This will be a new chapter for you, one that will give you strength and independence."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice in a way that carried both authority and fatherly concern. "If you ever need anything, anything at all, you can always call me. I'll make sure you're supported no matter the distance."
Isabella's throat tightened. She nodded slowly, though her chest ached with the thought of leaving everything—and everyone—behind.
"Thank you, Father," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Adrian gave her a small smile, satisfied with her response, though he could not read the storm that silently raged inside her heart.
The moment Isabella stepped out of her father's office, her heart felt like it was carrying an unbearable weight. She had smiled politely while Adrian spoke, nodding at the right times, pretending to be the obedient daughter he believed she was. But the second the heavy door shut behind her, her legs nearly buckled.
Law school in the States… The words echoed inside her mind, cold and sharp.
On the surface, it was a dream—what many would envy. A chance to step into independence, to live her own life. Her father trusted her, believing she was strong enough to manage herself. Anyone else would be proud. But deep inside, Isabella wasn't proud. She was terrified.
Her chest tightened as a single name whispered itself into her thoughts—Ava.
The idea of leaving Ava behind gnawed at her. She pictured Ava's smile, the way her laugh filled every empty space around them, the warmth of her touch when their fingers brushed. How could she trade all of that for an ocean's distance?
What if this is his way of completely separating us as if what he's already done was not enough? The thought hit hard. Adrian wasn't a fool—he had seen them,he had made someone take pictures. That night outside, the stolen kiss, the closeness they hadn't been able to hide. Maybe this wasn't just about school. Maybe it was about pulling her away before things went further.
Her pulse raced, her throat aching with the effort not to cry. Will I ever see her again? Will Ava wait for me… or will time and distance change everything between us?
A thousand questions spun through her head, each one sharper than the last. She wanted to scream, to run back and beg her father to let her stay and school here, to explain that she still loved Ava —that she was her everything. But the words never left her lips. They stayed locked in her chest, heavy with fear.
A soft sigh slipped past her lips as she leaned against the cold marble wall of the hallway, her shoulders sinking beneath a weight she couldn't set down. The house seemed too vast, too quiet—every polished corner a reminder of what she was about to lose.
"How am I supposed to live without you?" she whispered, her voice trembling into the silence. She thought no one was there to hear. But the Hart mansion had a way of carrying whispers, as though its walls were alive with secrets.
Behind her, the door creaked softly. Ruth stepped into the hallway, her gaze steady. She had watched Isabella grow— had seen her laugh, cry, stumble, and rise again. And now, she had seen the look on her face after leaving Adrian's office: the look of a girl whose world was being rearranged against her will.
Without a word, Ruth crossed the hall, reached for Isabella's hand, and tugged gently. "Come," she said softly. She guided her toward Isabella's bedroom, closing the door behind them with a quiet click.
"Bella," Ruth said carefully, her eyes scanning her face. "What did he say? Why do you look…" she hesitated, searching for the right word, "…like the ground just gave way beneath you?"
Isabella's throat tightened. Her voice was flat, almost mechanical, as if saying it aloud made it heavier. "He wants me to go to the States. To study law."
Ruth blinked, her lips parting in surprise. "But… Bella, isn't that what you wanted? To be a lawyer? I've heard you talk about it since you were little."
Isabella's eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall. Her fingers curled against her palm as she shook her head slowly. "Yes. That's what I wanted. But not far away from here. Not like this."
Her voice broke on the last word, and Ruth already knew why.
"Is it Ava?" she asked quietly, her eyes darting to the door to make sure they were still alone. The name fell between them like a forbidden spell.
Isabella's head snapped up, her eyes wide, the pain in them raw and unguarded.
Ruth softened, her voice low but steady. "I know you still love her. Bella, I've been here since you were brought from the States as just a baby. I've seen every smile, every scar, every shadow. I know you, and I know that face." She paused, her hand brushing gently against Isabella's cheek. "Nothing has changed in you. Not one bit. Ava's still here." She tapped a finger over Isabella's heart.
Something in Bella snapped at the sound of her name spoken so boldly. She stepped forward and pressed her hand over Ruth's mouth, her eyes flashing with both fear and desperation. "No more, Ruth," she whispered, trembling. "Don't say it out loud. If he hears… if anyone hears…"
Her voice faltered, the unspoken threat of Adrian's wrath choking her into silence.
Ruth's eyes glistened as she wrapped her hand gently over Isabella's trembling one and lowered it from her lips. "Then let me ask for nothing more. Just this." Her voice cracked, pleading. "Can I go with you? Wherever he sends you—at least let me stay by your side. Don't face this alone."
Isabella stared at her for a long time, her breath shaky, her eyes searching Ruth's face for the truth of her promise. And for the first time, a flicker of warmth cut through the cold despair.
Her lips parted, whispering, fragile but firm. "I'll talk to him. I'll ask."
Ruth exhaled in relief, a faint, trembling smile breaking through. She pulled Isabella into a fierce embrace, her arms wrapping tight around the girl she had raised as much as cared for.
For a moment, Isabella let herself melt into that embrace, eyes closing, wishing she could believe that Ruth's presence could shield her from Adrian's plans, from the distance, from the loss of Ava that loomed closer with every passing second.
But deep inside, she knew—no matter how far she was sent, no matter what path her father carved out for her—her heart would never stay behind. It was already bound, claimed, and waiting for a girl she might never see again.