Rebuilding Trust

After her parents left, Isabella found herself conflicted. Though she had maintained her distance, their visit had stirred up emotions she thought she had buried long ago. The apology had been unexpected, and part of her wanted to believe that they were sincere, that they had changed. But a larger part of her resisted, remembering the years of rejection, the feeling of being an outsider in her own family.

Isabella stood by the window of her room, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The mansion was quiet, with only the faint sounds of the house staff finishing up their duties for the day. She took a deep breath, placing a hand on her growing belly. The presence of new life inside her brought a mix of joy and anxiety. She wanted to be a good mother, better than her own had been. But the fear of making the same mistakes lingered.

Alex walked in, noticing her deep in thought. He had been patient with her ever since her parents' visit, knowing that she needed time to process everything. Without saying a word, he walked up behind her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Isabella leaned back into his embrace, grateful for his steady presence. "I don't know," she admitted. "It's just... seeing them again after all these years. It's hard to know how I'm supposed to feel."

Alex nodded, understanding. "You don't have to rush to feel anything. They hurt you, and it's okay to take your time. But whatever happens, I'm here with you."

She turned around to face him, looking into his eyes. "Thank you. I don't think I could have handled this without you."

Alex smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're stronger than you think, Isabella. You've always been strong."

For a moment, the weight of her family's past felt lighter, knowing that Alex believed in her. But before she could say anything more, he kissed her gently on the forehead and led her to the bed. "You should rest. The baby needs you to stay healthy."

Isabella smiled, though there was a tiredness behind her eyes. "I think I'll lie down for a bit."

Alex helped her into bed, tucking her in as if she were delicate and fragile. He hovered over her like a protective shield, which sometimes made her laugh, but tonight she appreciated it.

As she closed her eyes, the events of the past few days swirled in her mind. The visit from her parents, their apologies, their plea for forgiveness—it was all too much to process at once. But she knew one thing for sure: she was not the same girl who had left Brazil. She was stronger now, and she had Alex by her side. Whatever came next, she would face it with him.

The next morning, Isabella woke up feeling a little more at peace. Her conversation with Alex had helped, and she felt ready to move forward. She still had reservations about her parents, but she was determined not to let their sudden reappearance disrupt the life she had built.

As she got dressed, Alex came into the room with a tray of breakfast. He smiled as he placed it on the table beside her. "Good morning," he said. "I thought I'd make you something before I head into the office."

Isabella laughed softly. "You're spoiling me."

"You deserve it," Alex replied, sitting beside her. "And I like spoiling you."

She took a bite of the toast, smiling at the gesture. "Are you heading to work today?"

"Yeah," Alex nodded. "But I won't be gone long. I'll be back by dinner. You'll be okay here, right?"

Isabella nodded, though a part of her was still wary about staying at the mansion without him. "I'll be fine. Your parents have been really kind since I got pregnant. It's just... Sophie."

Alex frowned slightly, his protective instincts kicking in. "Sophie? Has she said anything to you?"

"No, not really," Isabella admitted. "But she's been coming around more often, and I can tell she's not happy about the way your parents have been treating me."

Alex sighed, shaking his head. "Don't worry about her. She'll get over it."

"I hope so," Isabella said quietly. "But I'm not going to let her intimidate me. I've decided to be strong."

Alex looked at her with admiration, pride shining in his eyes. "That's my girl," he said, leaning in to kiss her. "I knew you had it in you."

The day passed uneventfully, with Isabella spending most of it in the garden or reading in the sunroom. Alex's parents continued to be warm and welcoming, especially his father, who seemed genuinely excited about becoming a grandfather. Mrs. Zhou, though still somewhat reserved, had also softened considerably, and her earlier hostility toward Isabella had all but vanished.

Isabella couldn't help but wonder if it was because of the baby or if they had genuinely come to accept her as part of the family. Either way, she was relieved that there was no longer the tension that had once plagued their interactions.

In the late afternoon, as Isabella was sitting in the garden, enjoying the last rays of sunshine, Sophie appeared. Isabella looked up, surprised to see her.

"Sophie," she said, keeping her tone neutral. "I didn't expect to see you today."

Sophie smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I thought I'd stop by. I heard Alex is out on a business trip again."

Isabella raised an eyebrow. "He's actually back. He'll be home for dinner."

"Oh," Sophie's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "That's good."

There was an awkward silence between them, and Isabella could feel the tension building. She knew Sophie had been upset about the way Alex's parents had started treating her after the pregnancy was announced. Where Sophie had once been the golden child in their eyes, she was now treated more like a guest, and it was clear that it bothered her.

Isabella decided not to let the silence linger. She stood up, brushing off her dress. "If you'll excuse me, I have some things to take care of before dinner."

Sophie watched her go, her expression unreadable.

Later that evening, Alex returned home, and the moment he walked through the door, Isabella felt a sense of relief. She had missed him, and though she had grown stronger, having him by her side made everything easier.

As they sat down to dinner with his parents, Isabella couldn't help but smile. Despite the challenges they had faced, and the ones that were still to come, she felt a sense of peace. She was part of this family now, and with Alex by her side, she knew she could handle anything.

Even Sophie's growing resentment.