ISABEL’S POV.
The next morning, I woke up with a headache that felt like someone had been hitting my head with a hammer all night.
For a few seconds, I didn’t move.
I just stared at the ceiling, confused.
Then reality came rushing back.
The wedding, Victoria, Ethan, Damien.
My stomach tightened.
Yesterday had actually happened.
I was married.
The thought still felt impossible.
A quiet movement beside me made me turn my head.
My mother was standing near my closet, folding clothes into an open suitcase.
I frowned.
“Mom?”
She looked up immediately, and her face softened when she saw me awake.
“Good morning, baby.”
I slowly sat up, pressing a hand against my forehead.
“How long have you been here?”
She glanced at the suitcase.
“Long enough.”
I looked at the clothes around her.
My clothes.
She was packing them for me.
Because I was leaving.
The thought made my chest feel heavy.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
My mother gave me a sad smile.
“I know.”
She placed another shirt inside the suitcase.
“But if I didn’t do something, I would just sit here and cry.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
Because I understood.
We were all trying to find something to do.
Something that made us feel like we still had control.
Even when we didn’t.
I pushed the blanket away and slowly got out of bed.
My head immediately protested.
I closed my eyes tightly and waited for it to pass.
My mother noticed.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded slowly.
“Just a headache.”
She sighed softly.
“After everything yesterday, I’m not surprised.”
She walked toward me.
“Go shower and freshen up. Breakfast is waiting.”
I looked at her.
“I don’t think I can eat.”
Her expression changed.
“Isabel.”
The way she said my name made me look at her.
“I’m not hungry.”
“I know.”
She gave me a small smile.
“But you are still eating.”
Despite everything, a small laugh almost escaped me.
Almost.
“You’re really going to force me?”
“Yes.”
She pointed toward the bathroom.
“Now go.”
For a moment, I simply stood there.
Then I nodded.
“Okay.”
The shower helped.
A little.
The hot water washed away the heaviness from my body, but it couldn’t wash away the memories.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the church.
I opened my eyes and stared at the water running down my hands.
Today, I would enter his house.
His world.
His life.
I didn’t know what waited for me there.
And that scared me more than I wanted to admit.
After getting dressed, I walked back into my room.
The suitcases were packed and waiting.
Seeing them made everything feel real.
My mother picked up one of the smaller bags.
“Ready?”
I nodded even though I wasn’t.
Breakfast was quiet.
My father sat at the table, reading something on his phone, but I knew he wasn’t actually paying attention.
My mother placed food in front of me.
I stared at it.
“You need to eat,” she reminded me.
I picked up my fork.
“I’m eating.”
She gave me a look, and I sighed.
“Fine.”
I took a few bites.
My father finally looked up.
“Did you sleep?”
Everyone kept asking me that.
I nodded.
“A bit.”
He looked down.
“I figured.”
Silence followed.
The kind of silence where everyone had too much to say, but no one knew where to start.
Finally, my father cleared his throat.
“Isabel.”
I looked at him.
“Yes?”
He hesitated, then asked the question we were all waiting for.
“Are you ready?”
I knew what he meant.
I looked down at my plate.
“I don’t know.”
My father’s expression filled with sadness.
“I’m sorry.”
I swallowed.
“I know.”
It was the truth.
He was sorry.
My parents were sorry.
But sorry couldn’t undo anything.
A few minutes later, a maid entered the dining room.
“Miss Isabel.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
“There is a man named Carter waiting outside for you.”
My shoulders stiffened slightly.
Already?
I knew this moment was coming.
But knowing didn’t make it easier.
I stood up, and my parents did the same.
The goodbye was harder than I expected.
My luggage was already being placed inside the car.
The sight of it made my throat tighten.
My mother hugged me first.
She held me tightly.
“Call me.”
“I will.”
“No matter what time it is.”
I nodded.
“I promise.”
When she finally pulled away, my father stepped forward.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said quietly,
“Remember who you are.”
I blinked.
“Dad…”
“No matter where you go, no matter who you are surrounded by…”
He paused.
“Don’t let anyone make you feel like you are less.”
My eyes burned.
I nodded.
“I won’t.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed myself.
But I wanted to.
I hugged him one last time, then stepped away.
A few moments later, I got into the car.
I looked back through the window.
My parents stood there, watching me leave.
I forced myself not to cry.
The car moved forward, and slowly, my old life disappeared behind me.
The drive was quiet.
Carter sat in the front while I watched the streets pass by.
The longer we drove, the more different everything became.
The crowded streets disappeared.
The buildings became larger.
The roads became cleaner.
The houses became bigger.
Eventually, even the surroundings felt unfamiliar.
I looked outside.
“Is it far?”
Carter glanced at me through the mirror.
“Not much longer, ma’am.”
I nodded.
After a moment, he spoke again.
“Mr. Blackwood left for the office early this morning.”
I looked at him.
I didn’t know why that surprised me.
Maybe a small part of me expected Damien to be there waiting.
Not because he wanted me there, but because he knew this would be my first day in his house.
“Oh.”
Carter continued.
“Miss Elizabeth will help you settle in.”
I frowned.
“Miss Elizabeth?”
“The housekeeper,” he explained.
I nodded slowly.
“Does she live there?”
“She manages the household.”
I looked back out the window.
We had never needed someone to manage our home.
But then again, Damien Blackwood’s life was probably nothing like ours.
Everything about him seemed different.
A few minutes later, the car slowed.
I looked ahead and saw the gates.
They were massive.
Two security guards stood nearby, opening them immediately when the car approached.
My eyes widened slightly.
Beyond the gates was a long driveway surrounded by perfectly maintained gardens.
And at the end of it stood the house.
No.
Not a house.
A mansion.
A massive stone building with tall windows, elegant columns, and a size that made my parents’ home look small.
For a moment, I forgot to breathe.
This was where Damien lived.
The car continued forward, and I looked around silently.
Everything was perfect.
It looked like something from another world.
A world I didn’t belong to.
The car finally stopped, and Carter stepped out and opened my door.
“Welcome to Blackwood Mansion, Mrs. Blackwood.”
I stepped out slowly and looked at the mansion in front of me.
Then I looked down at my hands.
Yesterday, I had been Isabel Hart.
Today, I was standing here.
In Damien Blackwood’s world.
A world I knew nothing about.
The front doors opened, and a woman stepped outside.
She looked to be in her fifties, with a calm and welcoming expression.
“Mrs. Blackwood.”
I forced myself to smile.
“Hello.”
She gave a small bow.
“My name is Elizabeth.”
The housekeeper.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I nodded.
“Nice to meet you too.”
Her eyes studied my face for a moment.
Not in a judgmental way.
More like she understood something.
“Please come inside.”
I hesitated.
Then I stepped forward.
The moment I crossed the entrance, I knew one thing.
There was no turning back now.
As if she could hear my thoughts, Elizabeth turned slightly and smiled at me.
“Welcome to Blackwood Mansion, ma’am.”
I nodded slowly.
Indeed.
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