Isabella's POV

I shoved the last suitcase into the back of my car and slammed the trunk shut with a loud bang.

The sound echoed through the quiet parking garage, making me flinch slightly.

My entire body felt exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

I leaned against the car for a moment and closed my eyes.

Everything still replayed in my head like a nightmare I couldn’t escape from.

Stephen’s hands were on her body.

Her moans.

The betrayal in his eyes when he realized he had been caught.

A painful ache spread through my chest again.

I quickly wiped the tears gathering in my eyes.

“No,” I whispered to myself firmly. “Enough crying.”

I had already wasted too many tears on Stephen Brock.

I refused to let him destroy me completely.

Taking a deep breath, I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The drive from London to Cornwall would take hours, but honestly, I needed the distance.

I needed to get away from everything that reminded me of him.

The city.

The company.

The memories.

I pulled out of the garage and drove into the busy afternoon traffic.

For the first hour, I tried focusing on the road.

But my mind refused to stay quiet.

Every memory came crashing into me one after another.

The first time Stephen kissed me.

The way he looked at me was like I was the only woman in the world.

The nights we stayed awake planning the future of Brock Enterprises.

Our future.

God, I had been such a fool.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

I had given that man everything.

My trust.

My love.

My money.

After my parents died, I inherited enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life. Instead of protecting it, I handed most of it to Stephen because I believed in him.

Believed in us.

Now look at me.

Heartbroken.

Humiliated.

Betrayed.

My grip tightened around the steering wheel.

“No,” I muttered again.

I couldn’t fall apart now.

Stephen might have broken my heart, but I refused to let him ruin my life too.

He was going to pay for what he did to me.

I didn’t know how yet.

But he would.

The thought gave me a strange sense of comfort as I continued driving.

Hours passed slowly.

The busy streets of London eventually disappeared behind me, replaced by quieter roads, beautiful countryside, and endless green landscapes.

The farther I drove, the lighter my chest began to feel.

Not healed.

Never healed.

But lighter.

Cornwall was beautiful.

I rolled down the window slightly, letting the cool breeze brush against my skin.

For the first time since catching Stephen cheating, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

Maybe Amelia was right.

Maybe I did need this trip.

Maybe I needed silence.

Isolation.

Space to think.

By the time I finally entered Cornwall, night had already fallen.

The town looked peaceful and almost magical under the soft glow of streetlights.

Small cafés lined the streets.

Beautiful cottages sat quietly near the cliffs.

The sound of distant waves crashing against rocks filled the air softly.

It was completely different from London.

And honestly…

I loved it immediately.

A small smile appeared on my lips as I followed the directions Amelia had sent me earlier.

Her family’s holiday home was located in one of the most expensive private areas in Cornwall.

Of course it was.

Amelia Blackwood came from billionaire wealth.

Her father, Sebastian Blackwood, was one of the richest businessmen in England.

The Blackwood family effectively controlled nearly half the country.

Even though Amelia never acted spoiled, her lifestyle always reminded people of her family's true wealth.

After driving for a few more minutes, I finally reached the property.

My breath caught instantly.

“Oh my God…”

The house was massive.

No.

House wasn’t even the right word.

It looked more like a luxury mansion, sitting proudly near the cliffs that overlooked the ocean.

The modern glass walls reflected the moonlight beautifully while soft golden lights glowed from inside.

The place looked expensive.

Elegant.

Powerful.

I slowly parked the car in front of the mansion and stepped outside.

The cool ocean breeze immediately hit my face.

The atmosphere was calm and peaceful.

Exactly what I needed.

I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk and walked toward the front entrance.

Amelia had told me where she usually kept the spare key.

I reached beneath the flower pot near the door.

Nothing.

I frowned.

Then I checked the small decoration beside the stairs.

Still nothing.

“Seriously, Amelia?” I muttered tiredly.

I searched around for another minute before finally giving up.

Maybe the housekeeper that she told me comes in every month had moved it.

With a sigh, I grabbed the door handle absentmindedly.

The door opened immediately.

I froze.

“What the…”

A strange feeling settled in my stomach.

The house wasn’t empty.

Slowly, I stepped inside.

The mansion was even more beautiful from the inside.

Everything screamed luxury.

But something immediately caught my attention.

A half-filled wine glass sat on the coffee table.

Beside it was an open bottle of wine.

My heartbeat quickened slightly.

Someone was here.

Confused, I slowly closed the door behind me.

Maybe Amelia forgot to mention someone else was staying here.

Before I could think further, I suddenly heard footsteps upstairs.

My body stiffened immediately.

The footsteps grew closer.

Then finally…

A man appeared at the top of the staircase.

And my entire brain stopped functioning.

Sebastian Blackwood.

Holy hell.

Water droplets slowly slid down his bare chest as he descended the stairs calmly.

His dark wet hair looked slightly messy like he had just stepped out of the shower moments ago.

A white towel hung low around his waist.

Very low.

My throat instantly went dry.

Dear God.

I had always known Amelia’s father was attractive.

Actually, attractive was an understatement.

The man was dangerously handsome.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Sharp jawline.

Dark intense eyes.

And now standing in front of me half-naked?

It should have been illegal.

I completely forgot how to breathe.

My eyes shamelessly traveled over his muscular chest before quickly snapping back to his face.

Unfortunately, he noticed.

One corner of his lips lifted slightly.

“ Isabella.”

His deep voice sent warmth rushing through my body embarrassingly fast.

I swallowed hard.

“Yes, Mr Blackwood …”

Wonderful.

Now I sounded breathless too.

Mr Blackwood slowly continued walking downstairs while staring directly at me.

The tension in the room suddenly felt unbearable.

“I didn’t know Amelia invited someone over,” he said calmly.

“I-I didn’t know anyone was here either.”

His eyes moved slowly over my body, making my skin heat instantly.

“I can leave if this is a bad time,” I said quickly.

Sebastian stopped directly in front of me.

Way too close.

The fresh scent of soap and expensive cologne surrounded him.

“No,” he said quietly. “You’re already here.”

My heartbeat became dangerously fast.

God.

This man was intimidating.

Not because he was rude.

But because his presence alone filled the entire room effortlessly.

I suddenly became very aware of how short my dress was.

And how exhausted I looked after crying half the day.

Sebastian glanced toward my suitcase.

“You drove all the way from London?”

I nodded.

“That’s a long drive.”

“I needed to get away.”

Something flickered briefly across his expression like he understood exactly what I meant.

Then his gaze softened slightly.

“Amelia mentioned your breakup but she didn’t tell me you were coming over.”

Embarrassment rushed through me immediately.

Of course, she told him.

They had the best father-daughter relationship with her dad as an only child.

I looked away awkwardly. “I’m sorry if this is inconvenient.”

“It isn’t.”

Silence filled the room for a moment.

And somehow, the silence felt intimate.

Dangerously intimate.

My eyes accidentally dropped to his chest again where water still glistened against his skin.

God help me.

I quickly looked away before he caught me staring again.

Too late.

A low amused chuckle escaped his lips.

Heat flooded my cheeks instantly.

“I’ll uh… just take my bags upstairs,” I mumbled quickly.

I bent down to grab my suitcase.

But before I could lift it, He reached for it first.

Our hands brushed slightly.

A sharp shiver ran through my entire body.

His dark eyes lifted slowly toward mine.

And the way he looked at me in that moment…

It didn’t feel fatherly.

Not even close.

My breath caught painfully in my throat.

Then Mr Blackwood stepped even closer and said softly,

“Careful, Isabella.”

I frowned slightly.

“Careful of what?”

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

“Me.”

My heart stopped.

And before I could respond—

His phone suddenly rang loudly upstairs.

But neither of us moved.

Neither of us looked away.

Because somehow…

Everything had just changed 

Isabella's POV My heart pounded so hard against my chest that I was sure Mr Blackwood could hear it. "Careful... of me." His deep voice echoed inside my head repeatedly. The way he looked at me while saying those words made heat rush through my entire body. God. This was Amelia's father. I needed to remember that. But standing this close to him while he looked half-naked and dripping wet was making it impossible for my brain to function properly. His phone continued ringing upstairs. Still, neither of us moved. Neither of us looked away. The tension between us felt thick enough to touch. Then finally, He stepped back slowly. The sudden distance allowed me to breathe again. "I should get that," he said calmly. I nodded too quickly. "Y-Yes. Of course." He stared at me for one more second before turning around and walking upstairs. And dear God... The view from behind was just as sinful. I quickly looked away and pressed my lips together. What the hell was wrong with me? I had literally caught my boyfriend cheating a few hours ago, yet here I was practically drooling over another man. A much older man. My best friend's father. This was insane. Completely insane. I took a deep breath and tried calming myself down. The sound of His deep voice speaking quietly upstairs reached my ears faintly while I looked around the living room awkwardly. The mansion was stunning. Soft warm lights illuminated the enormous room beautifully while the sound of ocean waves crashing outside created a peaceful atmosphere. Everything smelled expensive. Fresh wood. Wine. Masculine cologne. Sebastian. I swallowed hard again. Why did he have to look like that? I had seen attractive men before. Stephen was attractive. But Sebastian Blackwood was different. There was something dangerous about him. The way he carried himself. The confidence. The power in his eyes. He looked like the kind of man who could destroy someone completely without even trying. And somehow... That made him even more attractive. "You're staring." I jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. Mr Blackwood stood at the bottom of the stairs again, now wearing dark gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt that hugged his muscular body perfectly. Honestly, the clothes didn't help at all. If anything, they somehow made him look even hotter. "I wasn't staring," I lied immediately. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he walked toward me slowly. "Of course not." My cheeks burned. God, this man was impossible. "I'm sorry for intruding," I said quickly, desperate to change the subject. "Amelia didn't mention you'd be here." "She didn't know." I frowned slightly. "You came unexpectedly?" "Yes." There was something unreadable in his expression. Something heavy. But before I could ask further, he picked up the wine bottle from the table. "Drink?" I hesitated for a second before nodding. Honestly, after the day I'd had, alcohol sounded perfect. Mr Blackwood poured wine into a clean glass and handed it to me. Our fingers brushed again. Another dangerous spark shot through my body instantly. His eyes darkened slightly. And this time... I knew I wasn't imagining it. He felt it too. I quickly pulled my hand away and took a large sip of wine. Bad idea. The strong liquid burned down my throat immediately, making me cough softly. He chuckled deeply. "Easy." I glared at him lightly while trying not to choke. "This wine is strong." "It's expensive." "That explains it." A low laugh escaped him. God. Even his laugh was attractive. This man seriously needed to stop. I sat carefully on the edge of the couch while Sebastian leaned casually against the kitchen counter across from me. The atmosphere suddenly felt strangely comfortable. Like we had done this before. Which was ridiculous. I barely knew him outside of occasional dinners with Amelia or when I visit their home. Though if I was being honest... I had always noticed him. How could I not? Every woman noticed Sebastian Blackwood. Even at 40 he was still devastatingly handsome. The older he got, the more attractive he became. And now, my stupid attraction on him has been triggered. Wonderful. "So," he said quietly while sipping his wine. "You caught your boyfriend cheating." Straight to the point. I looked down at my glass. "Ex-boyfriend." He nodded once slowly. "How bad was it?" I laughed bitterly. "Bad enough." I hated how emotional my voice sounded. The memories immediately came rushing back again. Stephen is touching another woman. Kissing her. Lying to me. Pain twisted sharply inside my chest. Mr Blackwood must have noticed because his expression hardened slightly. "Men like that are pathetic." I looked up at him. "Men like what?" "Men who betray women who love them." Something about the way he said it felt personal. Like he understood betrayal far too well. I studied him carefully. "You sound experienced." A shadow crossed his face briefly before disappearing. "Experience teaches many things." Silence settled between us again. But this silence felt heavier. More intimate. I took another sip of wine slowly. The alcohol was beginning to warm my body pleasantly. Or maybe it was His intense stare. Probably both. "You know," he said suddenly, "Stephen is going to regret losing you." My heartbeat skipped. I stared at him. "What makes you say that?" His dark eyes moved slowly over my body before returning to my face. "Because only an idiot would risk losing a woman like you." Heat flooded my cheeks instantly. God. That should not have affected me the way it did. Especially coming from him. I looked away quickly. "You don't have to flatter me." "I'm not flattering you." The seriousness in his voice made my stomach tighten. Mr Blackwood pushed himself off the counter and walked toward me slowly. Every step he took seemed deliberate. Controlled. Dangerous. I suddenly forgot how to breathe again. He stopped directly in front of where I sat. Way too close. I could smell the wine on his breath now mixed with that addictive cologne. My pulse raced wildly. "You're beautiful, Isabella," he said quietly. The way he said my name sent chills through me. I swallowed hard. "This is wrong Mr Blackwood." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Call me Sebastian" "So what did say was wrong?" "This." I gestured weakly between us. "You're Amelia's father." "And?" My breath caught. "And I just got out of a relationship." "That man didn't deserve you." The intensity in his voice made my chest tighten. I should have stood up. I should have walked away. Instead, I stayed frozen while Sebastian slowly leaned closer. Close enough that I could feel his warmth. Close enough that one small movement would make our lips touch. My entire body tingled with tension. "Sebastian..." I whispered shakily. His gaze dropped to my mouth. "Tell me to stop." The room felt unbearably hot suddenly. I wanted to say yes. I needed to say yes. But the words refused to come out. Because deep down... I didn't want him to stop. Not at all. His hand slowly reached up and brushed lightly against my jaw. The touch was gentle. But it set my entire body on fire instantly. A soft breath escaped my lips before I could stop it. His eyes darkened dangerously at the sound. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath. The tension snapped completely. Before I could think properly, Sebastian grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. Then his mouth crashed onto mine. My wine glass nearly slipped from my hand. The kiss was rough. Hungry. Possessive. Nothing like the soft kisses Stephen used to give me. Sebastian kissed me like a man starving. And God help me... I kissed him back just as desperately. A deep groan escaped his throat as his hands tightened around my waist. Heat exploded through my body instantly. My fingers grabbed his shirt tightly while his tongue slid against mine skillfully, making my head spin completely. This was wrong. So wrong. But it felt too good to stop. The kiss grew deeper. Hotter. More dangerous. I could feel the strength in his body pressed against mine. Feel his control slowly slipping. Then suddenly- A phone started ringing loudly again. We both froze instantly. Breathing hard. Sebastian pulled back slightly while staring at me intensely. My lips felt swollen. My entire body trembled. My phone kept ringing somewhere nearby. But neither of us moved. Because the look in Sebastian's eyes right now terrified me. Not because he regretted kissing me. But because he looked like he wanted to do far more than just kiss me. My phone screen lit up on the table beside us. And the name displayed on it made my blood run cold. It's was Stephen. Sebastian's jaw tightened immediately. My heart dropped straight into my stomach. Because suddenly... Nothing about this situation felt accidental anymore.