Isla's hands trembled as she wrapped her coat tighter around her body. The night air was crisp, but the chill running down her spine had nothing to do with the temperature. It was fear. A fear she had lived with for years.
Emma glanced around before leading Isla to a secluded corner of the venue, away from the warm glow of the party and prying eyes. Her grip on Isla's wrist was firm but reassuring.
"Relax," Emma whispered, keeping her voice low. "No one is listening."
Isla let out a shaky breath. "You don't know that."
Emma sighed, crossing her arms. "You have to trust me. No one followed us out here. If they did, I'd know."
But Isla couldn't relax. Not when Lucas was back in her life, circling closer than ever. He wasn't the type of man to let things go, and if he had even the slightest suspicion that she was keeping something from him, he wouldn't stop digging until he uncovered the truth.
And that truth would ruin everything.
"If Lucas finds out—" Isla's voice broke, and she clenched her fists.
Emma softened, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "That's why you need to decide what you're going to do."
Isla looked away. "There's nothing I can do. I made my choice a long time ago."
Emma's expression turned serious. "That was years ago. Things have changed."
Had they? Isla wasn't so sure.
She had spent years carefully constructing a life where Lucas had no place. She had kept her past buried, convinced she would never have to face him again. But now, fate had thrown them back together, and she wasn't prepared for it.
Most of all, she wasn't prepared for him to find out about their son.
"He doesn't know," Isla whispered, almost as if saying it out loud would make it more real.
Emma exhaled. "Not yet."
Panic gripped Isla's chest. "And he can't ever know."
Emma's brow furrowed. "Isla, this isn't just about you. This is about him. Your son deserves to know the truth."
At the mention of her son, Isla's eyes burned with unshed tears. "I did what I had to do."
Emma studied her for a long moment before speaking. "I know. And I understand why you left. But Lucas is back now. Do you really think you can keep this a secret forever?"
Isla's stomach twisted painfully. "I don't have a choice."
Emma took a deep breath. "Lucas is smart. He's already suspicious. If he finds out the truth on his own, do you really think he'll forgive you?"
Isla's heart pounded. "He can't find out."
"But what if he does?" Emma pressed.
The question sent a wave of nausea through Isla.
Because deep down, she knew Lucas would find out. It was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Lucas was inside, sipping his whiskey, but his mind was elsewhere.
Something was off.
He could feel it in his gut. Isla had been acting strangely all night, whispering to Emma, sneaking glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking.
And Lucas Vance was not a man who ignored red flags.
He leaned against the bar, watching the doors Isla and Emma had slipped through moments ago. The two women were close—always had been—but tonight, their secrecy felt different.
Madeline appeared at his side, her sharp eyes following his gaze.
"You're wasting your time," she murmured, taking a slow sip of wine.
Lucas barely spared her a glance. "What do you mean?"
Madeline smirked. "Isla. Whatever you think you're going to find out, it's better left buried."
Lucas stiffened. "You know something."
Madeline only shrugged. "I know a lot of things."
His grip on his glass tightened. "Stop playing games."
Madeline tilted her head, amusement flickering in her gaze. "All I'm saying is, if you keep digging, you might not like what you find."
Lucas's patience thinned. He turned fully to face her, voice low and dangerous. "What aren't you telling me?"
Madeline chuckled, stepping closer. "Why don't you ask Isla?"
His jaw clenched. He would.
Because something told him that whatever Isla was hiding—it had everything to do with him.
Outside, Isla ran a shaky hand through her hair, pacing back and forth.
Emma watched her, concern in her eyes. "You can't keep avoiding him."
"I'm not—" Isla stopped herself. She was avoiding him.
And Lucas was relentless. He wouldn't stop until he had answers.
Emma hesitated. "If Lucas finds out about your son—"
"He won't," Isla cut in sharply. "I won't let him."
Emma sighed. "You can't control everything, Isla. You know Lucas. If he suspects something, he won't let it go."
A fresh wave of fear settled over Isla.
Because Emma was right.
Lucas wasn't the kind of man to walk away. And the way he had been watching her tonight… he knew she was keeping something from him.
"I can't let him take my son from me," Isla whispered, voice raw with emotion.
Emma's face softened. "You don't know that he will."
Isla let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know anything anymore."
Emma hesitated before speaking. "Do you still love him?"
The question hit Isla like a punch to the gut.
Did she?
She had spent years convincing herself that she didn't. That she had moved on. That leaving had been the right choice.
But the moment she saw Lucas again, everything had come rushing back.
"I don't know," she admitted.
Emma gave her a knowing look. "That's a lie."
Isla shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Loving him won't change what happened. And it won't change what's coming."
Because sooner or later, Lucas would find out.
And when he did, everything would fall apart.