«William,» he answered on the second ring. «What happened?»

«Someone scratched my car, and I just got a threat.»

His silence lasted only a second before his voice came out firm. «I’m on my way.»

Fifteen minutes later, William pulled up next to her car. He studied the scratches on the window, his expression hard. «Are you okay?»

«Yes,» she said, crossing her arms.

«You know you can’t ignore this, right?»

«I know.» William pulled out his phone and called one of his private security contacts. «I need footage from the cameras in this area. Find out who did this now.»

Isabella watched as he took control of the situation, handling the problem with the ease of someone who had dealt with threats before. As much as she didn’t want to rely on anyone, in that moment, she felt an odd sense of relief that he was there.

When William hung up, he turned to her. «Until we find out who’s behind this, I want you to have extra security.»

«William, never.»

The following days were filled with tension. William managed to find out that the attacks on Isabella’s company were being orchestrated by one of Olivia’s former associates who was trying to block her rise. When Isabella found out, she didn’t hesitate. She scheduled a meeting with the man and, alongside William, made it clear that she wouldn’t be intimidated.

«Did you think you’d scare me?» she said, keeping her voice calm. «Let me be clear. I’ve lost everything before, but now there’s nothing that will make me back down.»

The man swallowed hard. He knew he had lost.

After that confrontation, the attacks stopped. Isabella proved she was not an easy opponent, but her victory had an unexpected side effect. She realized that throughout this entire time, William had been by her side not to protect her from something she couldn’t handle, but to support her. And that made her question why she was still trying to keep her distance.

One evening, Isabella was in her office, lost in thought when William walked in.

«It’s been three months since you opened the company,» he said, tossing a small box onto the desk.

She picked it up and opened it. Inside was a silver keychain with the letter ‘I’ engraved on it.

«To celebrate,» he said.

She smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. «Thank you.»

He watched her for a moment before speaking. «Will you ever stop running from me?»

She held her breath. «William…»

«I’m not asking for anything. I just want to know if there’s a chance.» Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew the answer but couldn’t say it yet.

He noticed. «It’s okay,» he said, stepping back. «Like I said, I’m patient.»

When he left the room, Isabella let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She knew she was close to giving in, but when she finally made that decision, it would be for good. And that scared her more than any threat she’d ever faced.

The next day started like any other. Isabella arrived early at the office, immersed in reports and meetings. Since the attacks on her company had ceased, she was finally able to focus on growing the business. But throughout the morning, something began to bother her: William didn’t show up.

That was unusual. William always found a way to drop by, even if just for a few minutes, with some work excuse or simply to tease her. But that morning, he didn’t call, didn’t send any messages, and didn’t show up. At first, Isabella tried to ignore it, but as the hours passed, the unease grew inside her.

By eight o’clock in the evening, she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her coat and left the office, driving to William’s penthouse. When she arrived, she rang the doorbell several times. No answer. Her heart raced. She took out the spare key William had given her for emergencies and unlocked the door.

The lights in the apartment were dim. The place was silent except for the low hum of the television. That’s when she saw him. William was lying on the couch, covered with a thin blanket, his face pale and his breathing heavy.

«William!» Isabella ran to him, placing her hand on his forehead. He was burning up.

He opened his eyes slowly, surprised to see her there. «Isabella.»

«Oh my God, you have a fever.» She held his face, worried.

«It’s just the flu,» he murmured, his voice hoarse.

«I’m taking you to the hospital,» Isabella said, already grabbing her phone. But William held her wrist, stopping her.

«No, I just need to rest.»

«William, you’re burning up.»

He tried to smile. «If I go to the hospital, they’ll take my blood. I hate needles.»

Isabella sighed in frustration. «You’re impossible.»

William closed his eyes, exhausted. Isabella got up and went to the kitchen, preparing hot tea and grabbing a damp cloth. She returned to the living room, kneeling by the sofa and placing the cloth on his forehead. «This will help bring down your fever.»

He opened his eyes, looking at her softly. «You didn’t have to come.»

«Yes, I did.» The silence between them was heavy with meaning. Isabella didn’t want to admit it, but seeing him like that tightened her chest.

She spent the entire night taking care of him. She made tea, changed the cold cloth on his forehead, and stayed by his side. At some point during the night, exhaustion took over. She fell asleep there, sitting on the floor with her head resting near his chest.

The next morning, Isabella woke up to the gentle touch of William’s fingers in her hair. «Did you stay here all night?» he asked, his voice stronger.

She blinked a few times before lifting her head. «You were in bad shape. Someone had to take care of you.»

He smiled, running a hand over his face. «I feel much better. I think I had the best nurse in the world.»

She chuckled softly and stood up. «I’ll make breakfast.»

Isabella went to the kitchen and carefully prepared everything: fresh bread, neatly sliced fruit, orange juice, and strong coffee. When she returned with the tray, she found William sitting on the couch, watching her with a different expression.

«What is it?» she asked.

He took a deep breath before speaking. «I love you, Isabella.»

She froze for a second. «William…»

«I know you feel the same. I saw it last night, the way you were worried about me.» She bit her lip, her heart pounding. This time there was no reason to deny it.

«I love you too, William.»

His eyes lit up with happiness. «Finally,» he murmured, pulling her into a tight embrace. She laughed against his chest, feeling ridiculously happy.

«You’re so persistent.»

«And it was worth it.»

They pulled apart, and Isabella served breakfast. William watched her every move as if memorizing everything. «I want you to take the day off,» he said suddenly.

She raised an eyebrow. «What?»

«I want to take you somewhere special.»

She hesitated, but after the night before, she didn’t want to be away from him. «Alright, where are we going?»

«It’s a surprise.»

William took her to a secluded cabin on a private beach. As soon as they stepped out of the car, Isabella was speechless. «William, this is beautiful.»

He smiled. «I knew you’d love it.»

They spent the afternoon walking along the shore, feeling the ocean breeze and talking about everything. Then William sat on a rock and looked at her thoughtfully.

«What is it?» she asked, sitting beside him.

He took a deep breath before speaking. «Before I met you, I was arrogant and ambitious. I only cared about power and myself.» Isabella stayed quiet, listening intently. «But then you came along and started challenging me. At first, I found it irritating, but then I became intrigued.»

He looked at her. «You were the first person who wasn’t afraid to stand up to me. And that made me realize I was surrounded by people who just said yes to everything I wanted. You made me see the world differently.»

Her heart tightened. «I never wanted to change you, William.»

«But you did. You made me a better man—more human, more humble. And I fell in love with this version of you.» He took her hand, his eyes locked onto hers. «I need to ask you something.»

She frowned slightly, confused. «What?»

William stood up and pulled something from his pocket. Isabella’s eyes widened when she saw a small box. He opened it, revealing a sparkling diamond ring.

«Isabella Devereux, I want to do this the right way. I want to love you the way you deserve—with respect, with patience, and with all my heart.» Tears filled her eyes. «Will you marry me?»

She didn’t have to think twice. «Yes.»

William smiled and slipped the ring onto her finger before pulling her into a passionate kiss. At that moment, Isabella knew there were no more barriers between them and that this was only the beginning of something even greater.

The sun was setting over the beach as Isabella and William returned to the cabin. The air was still warm, and the scent of the ocean mixed with the gentle breeze that made her hair dance. William held Isabella’s hand firmly as if afraid she might disappear. But there were no more doubts; they belonged to each other.

«I still can’t believe we’re engaged,» Isabella said, looking at the ring sparkling on her finger.

William smiled, pulling her closer. «I knew this would happen. You just took your time accepting it.»

She rolled her eyes, laughing. «You never give up, do you?»

«Never. Not when it comes to you.» Her heart warmed at his words. She had never imagined finding a love this deep, this real.

Later that night, William prepared a special dinner for them on the cabin’s terrace. Candles lit the table, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore created the perfect atmosphere.

«You’re cooking?» Isabella teased, looking at the perfectly plated dish.

«I wanted to impress my fiancée,» William replied, pouring wine for both of them.

She picked up her glass and raised a toast. «To us, to our future.»

William clinked his glass against hers. «To the love of my life.»

They toasted and enjoyed dinner, sharing laughter and loving glances. When they finished, William took Isabella’s hand and pulled her in for a dance under the stars.

«Do you remember the first time we danced?» he asked, guiding her slowly.

«At that business event. I remember. You were insanely jealous.»

He chuckled. «I was, but now I know I never had to be. You were always meant to be mine.»

Isabella smiled and rested her head on his chest. There, dancing under the starry sky, she realized she would never have to run from her feelings again.

Months later, the big day finally arrived. Isabella had never imagined she would dream of a wedding, but there she was, dressed in white, about to say «I do» to the man who had changed her life. The ceremony took place in a beautiful garden by the sea. White flowers decorated the altar, and elegant chairs were neatly arranged for the guests. The sound of the ocean in the background created a magical atmosphere.

William stood at the altar in a sleek black suit. When Isabella appeared at the aisle, his heart stopped for a second. She was stunning. Her hair fell in soft waves, and the delicate dress highlighted her beauty in an ethereal way. But what captivated him the most was the sparkle in her eyes.

Isabella walked toward him with an emotional smile. When she reached the altar, William held her hands and whispered, «You look beautiful.» She smiled, feeling tears welling in her eyes.

The officiant began the ceremony, speaking about love, partnership, and the meaning of building a life together. When it was time for the vows, William took a deep breath before starting. «Isabella, from the moment I first saw you, you challenged me. You never bowed down to me, never blindly accepted my decisions, and that’s what made me fall in love with you.»

Isabella’s eyes filled with tears. «You taught me to be a better man. You made me see that power and money mean nothing if I don’t have someone by my side to share life with. I promise to love, respect, and make you happy every day of my life.»

Isabella could barely contain her emotion as she began her vows. «William, I spent my life fighting alone, thinking I could never trust anyone. But you were persistent. You never gave up on me, and today I know I never want to live without you.»

They exchanged rings, and when the officiant declared them husband and wife, William pulled her into a passionate kiss as the guests applauded. It was official. They were husband and wife.

The honeymoon was perfect. They traveled to beautiful destinations, enjoying every second together. And when they returned, their life as a married couple started even better than they had imagined. William insisted on spoiling her, bringing coffee to bed every morning, while Isabella returned the favor by preparing romantic dinners. Their love only grew stronger.

But something began to change in Isabella. She felt strange, constantly tired and nauseous. One morning, while in the bathroom, her heart raced as she looked at the pregnancy test in her hands. Two lines. She was pregnant. Emotion overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face. She and William were going to have a baby.

But when she went to the doctor for confirmation, the surprise was even bigger. She was expecting twins.

When she got home, William found her sitting on the couch, holding the ultrasound. «Isabella? What’s wrong?»

She looked at him, her eyes shining. «William, I’m pregnant.»

He froze for a second. «What?»

She smiled, taking his hands and placing the ultrasound in his palm. «We’re having twins.»

William’s eyes widened before a huge smile spread across his face. «Oh my God.» He laughed, pulling her into a strong hug. «We’re having two babies?»

«Yes.»

He held her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. «You just gave me the best news of my life.»

She laughed through her tears. «I love you so much, William.»

«And I love you more.»

The following months were an emotional rollercoaster. William became even more protective, spoiling Isabella constantly. He talked to the babies before bedtime, gave her foot massages, and insisted she didn’t overdo it. Finally, at the baby shower, surrounded by friends and family, they revealed they were expecting a boy and a girl.

William held Isabella and whispered, «We built an empire together. Now we’ll build a family.»

She smiled, her heart overflowing with happiness. «And it’ll be the best one ever.»

At that moment, Isabella knew she had everything she’d ever dreamed of: a home, true love, and now a growing family. And she would never be alone again.