Years had passed since Christian Valerius had made the decision that would shape the lives of his unborn child and the Ashwell heir. Isabella had grown up unaware of the promise her father had made, living a normal life in New York, unaware of the destiny waiting for her across the ocean. Now, at twenty-one, she was independent, confident, and blissfully unaware of the secret that had shadowed her entire life.
It was a quiet, sunny afternoon in her apartment. The city outside hummed with life, but inside, everything felt calm and serene. Isabella was curled up on the sofa, flipping through a fashion magazine, letting her mind drift lazily.
A sharp knock at the door startled her. "Who could that be?" she murmured, rising to answer it.
On the threshold stood a courier, impeccably dressed, holding a sleek, black envelope sealed with gold. "For Isabella Valerius," he said politely, extending it toward her.
Her fingers tingled as she took the envelope, the weight of it signaling importance. The gold seal glimmered in the sunlight, and she felt an almost magnetic pull to open it immediately. Carefully breaking the seal, she unfolded the contents.
Inside were first-class plane tickets to Europe—for her and her family—and a beautifully handwritten invitation to a wedding. The ink shimmered slightly, the paper thick and luxurious. Isabella blinked, her heart skipping a beat.
"A wedding…?" she whispered. Her pulse quickened as she reread the elegant script. "And… this is from a CEO? One of the richest companies in the world?"
Her mind raced with questions. Who was getting married? Was it some prestigious corporate event? Why was she invited? Excitement, curiosity, and a touch of fear swirled in her chest. She sank back onto the sofa, staring at the envelope as if it might answer her questions by itself.
She examined the details again—the dates, the names listed (though unfamiliar), and the location in Europe. It was clear that this was no ordinary event. Isabella's breath caught. The grandeur, the elegance, and the mystery of it all were overwhelming. She couldn't help but feel a thrill, even as confusion gnawed at her.