It was getting harder for Marcus to focus as the party began. He kept glancing at the door, his mind racing every time someone walked in. But it was never Isabella.
Marcus clenched his jaw and forced a smile as another relative came over to offer congratulations.
Bianca was by his side in her red dress, smiling sweetly as if she hadn’t just had a near–death experience a few hours ago.
She leaned in to whisper into his ear. “You’re distracted.”
Marcus blinked and looked down at her.
“I’m not,” he said, though it was a lie.
Bianca narrowed her eyes a little. “You haven’t even complimented my dress.”
“You look beautiful,” he said, giving a smile as he kissed her temple.
She grinned, nodding her head.
Marcus exhaled slowly. He needed to compose himself. Everyone was watching. Bianca was pregnant, and didn’t need anything that would upset her.
So he placed his arm around her waist and focused on the party around him.
“Marcus,” his father called from behind him, and he turned to face him.
“Father,” he greeted, bowing his head slightly.
“Mr. Pierce,” Bianca greeted, smiling at him sweetly.
His father ignored her. “Where’s Isabella?” He asked Marcus.
Marcus forced a smile, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “She’s running late, but she’ll be here
soon.”
His father glanced at Bianca and his hand over her waist. “And who is this?”
Marcus slowly removed his hand from her waist. “This is Bianca, Isabella’s sister.”
His father narrowed his eyes slightly at the both of them,
“Hmm,” he murmured.
He looked around the room, as if expecting to see Isabella. Then he sighed.
“You know Isabella is a very special young lady,” he said softly.
Marcus’s brows furrowed.
His father smiled thoughtfully. “The gift she gave me last month. Do you remember it? That antique compass from the 1800s? Priceless.”
Marcus remembered that Isabella had surprised his father on his birthday with a gift that had left the old man in tears.
“She tracked it down from a collector in France. She made a dozen calls.” His father shook his head with admiration. “Not many young women would put in that kind of effort.”
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9:27 pm
His eyes drifted to Bianca, who had already started looking bored.
His father wasn’t fooled. He knew something was fishy.
Marcus said nothing, swallowing hard.
Then his father leaned in closer. “Don’t take her for granted, Marcus.”
Marcus tensed instantly.
His father tapped him lightly on the shoulder, “Isabella is a rare gem. If you don’t hold on to her, someone else will.”
Marcus stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest.
His father had never given him such advice or warning before.
Did his father know something that he didn’t?
He opened his mouth to ask, but the doors burst open.
Marcus’s breath caught in his throat. His eyes snapped to the entrance, with hope in his chest.
But it wasn’t Isabella.
It was a delivery man. He looked exhausted and out of breath.
He held several small packages in his arms.
‘Delivery for Mr. Marcus Pierce.” He called, his eyes scanned the room.
‘What is it?” Marcus asked, stepping forward.
‘Oh, are you Mr. Marcus Pierce?” He asked.
Marcus blinked. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “What is this?”
‘Delivery for you. From Miss Isabella Reed.”
Marcus’s heart pounded faster in his chest as he stepped closer. Reed was Isabella’s maiden
name.
The delivery man began setting down the packages on a nearby table.
The first box was labeled “The Day We Met.”
Marcus stared at it mutely, but he didn’t touch it.
The second said “Our First Apartment.”
The third, “Your Mother’s Birthday.”
His father stood at his side, looking into the boxes. “What are these?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
He recognized all these things. There were little insignificant things, but they were very significant to Isabella.
The delivery man was still holding one last item. He hesitated for a moment, then he stepped forward slowly, clearing his throat. “There’s… one more thing, sir.”
Marcus turned to the delivery man.
“This is the final one.” The delivery voice said cautiously.
He handed it over.
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9:27 pm GO
Marcus took the document with trembling hands
Immediately, he glanced at the heading on the document, and he paled.
“What?” He murmured in disbelief.
9:28 pm GOD
