Chapter 4 THE CALL

Isabella could no longer live in uncertainty because the decision was now clear. She needed to face Sebastian and force him to accept the reality. Without a solution, the upcoming months would be challenging enough. However, a feeling of dread overcame her as she stood outside her flat, holding her phone.

She inhaled deeply before dialing Sebastian's number, her fingers shaking a little as she hit the call button. Before the phone finally clicked and Sebastian's voice answered, it rang a few times.

"Isabella," he said in a flat voice. "This is not what I expected. What is happening?

Despite her heart pounding, she said, "I'm pregnant," in a steady voice. "And I need you to face it."

She could practically hear him processing the words during the lengthy pause on the other end. However, his silence made her question his genuine concern. Although she hadn't anticipated him being so happy, she hadn't anticipated him being so aloof either.

"I see," he finally said. His tone didn't change. They seemed to be talking about an impersonal business transaction rather than a child's future.

"I'm not ready for this," he said, his voice colder than ever. "And frankly, I don't know what you want me to do about it." He hung up after that.

With trembling hands, Isabella stared at her phone before dropping it onto the table. Her mind replayed the sound of the disconnected phone call. His tone of indifference was unbearable. Even though he had left her before, the moment felt like the last time, leaving her feeling hollow and broken on the inside.

Her chest constricted, and for a while she could only gaze at the surrounding walls, as though they might provide some kind of explanation for how things had happened. This was what she had anticipated. Had she not? The pain was still fresh, though.

Her phone buzzed again, interrupting her thoughts. Her father had left her a message.

"You're making a big mistake, Isabella. This child has the potential to ruin all our hard work. Concentrate on the important things.

She would rather not acknowledge how much his words affected her. Although her father had always been her pillar of support, he now appeared to be more of an anchor pulling her down into a sea of guilt and responsibility.

"This child will ruin everything we've worked for." As those words replayed in her mind, she became acutely aware of her isolation.

Isabella was in a daze the rest of the night, trying to figure out what was going on. When her phone rang again, it was her father's voice, stern and uncompromising.

"Isabella, I'm not asking anymore. You need to terminate this pregnancy. You're too young and too focused on your career. You don't have the luxury of making mistakes."

His words had a profound impact on her. Although she had always respected her father's opinion, his insistence now felt suffocating. She wasn't a child anymore. His harsh words could no longer control her as a little girl.

However, his pressure continued to weigh on her, with the future of the family legacy, the business, and her success all in jeopardy.

"Think about it carefully," he added, his voice low and almost pleading.

Isabella's mind spun as she thought about the choices ahead of her. Could she live with the consequences of defying her father?

As the days passed, the weight of her decision seemed to grow heavier. Isabella found herself questioning everything: her career, her future, and the love she had always longed for. She had always been so driven, so focused on her path. But now, the path had become tangled with the expectations of others.

Her father's words echoed in her mind, yet a part of her couldn't resist the maternal instinct that was forming within her. She could feel the baby growing, a presence that made her rethink everything. Was this the life she wanted to give up for the sake of her family's name? Was it worth sacrificing everything she had worked for?

The emotional toll was overwhelming. She had spent her life building her reputation, proving herself in a world dominated by men, and now, she was faced with a choice that could undo it all.

As she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection, Isabella's hands trembled. Isabella needed to make a decision quickly, yet she was uncertain about her choice.

One evening, Isabella found herself standing outside the house she had grown up in, looking at the familiar structure that once felt like home. It was a place of security, a place where she'd learned everything she knew about life, business, and ambition. But tonight, it felt cold, distant.

She couldn't ignore the pull of her desires any longer. She couldn't keep living for someone else's expectations. This was her life, her future. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that the future she wanted didn't belong to her father or anyone else; it was hers to create.

She had made her decision. She couldn't let anyone control her decisions anymore. She could no longer allow her father to dictate her decisions. Not Sebastian. The present was her moment, her choice.

With a deep breath, she reached for her phone again and dialed Sebastian's number. She didn't know what to expect this time, but she had to make him understand.

"I can't let them control my life anymore," Isabella whispered to herself as she pressed the call button, her heart pounding in her chest. Might Sebastian be available to respond this time?