CHAPTER 38

After laying Ember down in her crib, I stood over her, my heart swelling with love and a deep ache of sadness. She was so small, so innocent, and yet every time I looked at her, those familiar eyes made my chest tighten. Alexander's eyes stared back at me.

I hated that even in this moment, with my daughter safe and warm, Alexander was still here—etched into her features, haunting my every thought. He was the problem. He was the one who'd shattered me, betrayed me, and turned what should have been a moment of joy into something tainted.

I stepped out of the nursery, closing the door halfway, and sank into the couch in the living room. The silence of the apartment weighed heavily on me. Ember was my world now, but I couldn't ignore the storm raging inside me.

I picked up my phone and dialed John.

"Isabella," he answered almost immediately. "How are you?"

"I had her," I said softly. "A baby girl."

There was a pause before John spoke, his voice warm and filled with genuine happiness. "A girl? That's amazing. Congratulations."

"Her name's Ember," I said, my voice trembling slightly.

"Ember," he repeated, a smile in his tone. "That's a beautiful name."

Without hesitation, he added, "I'm coming over. I want to meet her."

"You don't have to do that," I said, though deep down, I was glad.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll be there in a couple of hours."

Two hours later, John arrived, carrying a bag of gifts. When I opened the door, he pulled me into a quick hug before stepping inside.

"Where's the little one?" he asked, his excitement palpable.

I led him to the nursery, where Ember lay peacefully in her crib. The moment John saw her, his face softened. "She's perfect, Isabella," he said, leaning over to get a closer look.

Carefully, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms. "She's got his eyes," he said quietly, glancing at me.

I froze, my nails digging into my palms. "Don't," I warned, my voice tight.

"I'm just saying," he replied gently. "It's hard not to notice."

I turned away, pretending to fuss with a blanket on the rocking chair. "It doesn't matter," I said firmly. "She's mine. That's all that matters."

John didn't push the subject, but his silence was heavy with unspoken concern.

Finally, I changed the subject. "Did you bring the laptop?"

He sighed, setting Ember back in her crib before pulling the device from his bag. "Yeah, I did. But, Isabella, are you sure about this?"

I nodded, my jaw clenched. "I've never been more sure. This isn't about Angelina—it's about Alexander. He's the one who deserves to lose everything."

John hesitated, watching me closely. "You really think this is going to make you feel better? Ruining his marriage, exposing his lies—what's it going to change?"

"It'll give me peace," I said, my voice hard. "He needs to pay for what he did to me, to Ember. He lied to me, made me believe I was the only one. He pushed me to get rid of her." My voice broke, but I quickly composed myself. "He doesn't deserve the perfect life he's built on lies."

John ran a hand through his hair, clearly conflicted. "I get it. I do. But this could get messy, Isabella. You have a baby to think about now."

"I am thinking about her," I shot back. "This is for her. Alexander doesn't get to walk away unscathed while I pick up the pieces of the mess he made. He needs to know what it feels like to lose everything."

John sighed again but didn't argue further. He opened the files I'd sent him—the messages between me and Angelina, the information about her past, the details of the fire.

"This is heavy stuff," he said, his voice subdued. "If this gets out, it could destroy him."

"That's the idea," I said coldly.

John hesitated for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. Let's do this."

We worked together to upload the files to an anonymous account, ensuring there was no way to trace them back to me. As we finalized the upload, a sense of grim satisfaction settled over me.

"It's done," John said, leaning back in his chair. "There's no turning back now."

"Good," I said, my voice steady.

Afterward, we ordered takeout and sat together on the couch. The tension in the air gradually eased as we ate, the heavy conversation giving way to lighter topics.

"You know," John said between bites of his burger, "you're like a little sister to me. I've seen you at your worst, and now…you're a mom. You're strong, Isabella. Stronger than you realize."

His words caught me off guard, and I looked away, blinking back tears. "Thanks, John," I said quietly.

We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing, the weight of the day temporarily lifted. John had been there for me through everything—my first heartbreak, my darkest moments, and now this. He always had my back, and I couldn't be more grateful.

As he left later that night, I stood at the door with Ember in my arms.

"Thank you," I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

"Anytime," he replied with a smile. "Take care of that little girl, okay?"

"I will."

After he was gone, I looked down at Ember, her tiny face peaceful in sleep. "It's just you and me now," I whispered. "And I promise, I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."

Alexander might not know it yet, but his perfect life was about to crumble. This was just the beginning.