Chapter 2

Across the city, inside the towering headquarters of the Sterling Group, tension filled the executive boardroom.

Adrian sat at the head of the table.

Several senior executives were arguing nervously.

"That project was practically ours!"

"The Hawthorne family intervening at the last moment—there must be a reason."

"We need to negotiate with them."

Adrian remained silent.

His mind replayed Isabella's cold expression.

Finally, he spoke.

"Arrange a meeting."

"With the Hawthorne family."

That evening, Isabella arrived at the Hawthorne estate.

The mansion stood on a hill overlooking the city lights.

Servants lined the entrance.

"Welcome home, Miss Hawthorne."

It had been three years since she last stepped inside this place.

Three years ago, she had left everything behind for Adrian.

Now she had returned as someone entirely different.

At dinner, Edward suddenly asked,

"Do you still have feelings for him?"

The question was blunt.

Isabella set down her fork slowly.

"No."

Edward watched her for a long moment.

Then he nodded.

"Good."

"The Hawthorne family does not chase after men who betray them."

Meanwhile, Adrian received a shocking piece of information from his assistant.

"Mr. Sterling… there's something you should know."

The assistant placed a thick file on the desk.

Adrian opened it.

Inside were documents detailing the Hawthorne family's corporate empire.

Dozens of subsidiaries.

Global investments.

Assets that dwarfed even the Sterling Group.

At the very top of the family hierarchy stood one name.

Isabella Hawthorne.

Primary heir.

Adrian slowly closed the file.

His expression darkened.

For the first time since their breakup, regret began to settle heavily in his chest.

Late that night, Adrian drove alone through the city.

Without realizing it, he stopped outside the small apartment building where he and Isabella had once lived.

The place looked exactly the same.

But she was gone.

Back then, she had cooked dinner every night.

Waited for him.

Smiled at him as if he were her entire world.

Adrian clenched his hands on the steering wheel.

He had thought leaving her was easy.

Now he realized—

It wasn't.

The next morning, Isabella began officially taking over several Hawthorne business operations.

Her assistant reported,

"The Sterling Group has requested a formal meeting."

Isabella paused.

"For what?"

"They want to discuss cooperation on the project you acquired yesterday."

She smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

Three months ago, Adrian had treated her like someone insignificant.

Now he wanted cooperation.

"Schedule it," she said calmly.

"Make them wait."

Two days later, Adrian finally arrived at the Hawthorne headquarters.

The towering glass building reflected the morning sunlight.

Employees whispered as he entered.

"That's Adrian Sterling."

"Why is he here?"

"Something big must be happening."

Adrian stepped into the elevator.

His expression was calm.

But inside, his heart was beating harder than usual.

Because on the top floor—

Isabella was waiting.

The elevator doors opened.

Adrian walked into the executive office.

Isabella sat behind a wide desk, reviewing documents.

When she looked up, her gaze was cool and composed.

No warmth.

No familiarity.

Just the distant politeness reserved for business partners.

"Mr. Sterling," she said.

"What brings you here?"

Adrian studied her for several seconds.

Then he spoke quietly.

"I want to talk about the project."

Isabella leaned back slightly.

"Of course."

"But before that…"

Her eyes sharpened.

"I think you owe me an explanation."

Silence filled the office.

Adrian felt an unfamiliar tension.

He had negotiated billion-dollar deals before without hesitation.

Yet standing in front of Isabella now felt far more difficult.

Finally he said,

"I didn't know who you really were."

Isabella let out a small laugh.

"Is that your excuse?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"If I had known—"

She cut him off immediately.

"You would have treated me differently?"

Her voice was calm.

But the words carried unmistakable sharpness.

Adrian didn't answer.

Isabella stood slowly and walked toward the window overlooking the city.

Without turning around, she said,

"Mr. Sterling…"

"Business is business."

"Our past…"

She paused briefly.

"…is already over."

The sentence echoed in Adrian's mind like a door slamming shut.

Yet the woman standing by the window looked painfully familiar.

The same graceful silhouette.

The same quiet composure.

Except now she belonged to a world far above his reach.

Adrian finally spoke.

"We still need to discuss the project."

Isabella turned slowly.

Her expression had returned to its usual calm professionalism.

"Go ahead."

The meeting lasted nearly an hour.

Throughout the discussion, Isabella remained perfectly composed.

Sharp.

Precise.

Every negotiation point she raised was calculated.

Adrian realized something unsettling.

She had changed.

The girl who once relied on him had become a formidable businesswoman.

At the end of the meeting, Adrian asked quietly,

"Are you really planning to cooperate with the Sterling Group?"

Isabella closed her folder.

"That depends on your sincerity."

Adrian met her gaze.

"You'll have it."

News of the meeting spread quickly across the business world.

Headlines appeared that afternoon.

"Sterling Group Seeks Cooperation with Hawthorne Empire."

Speculation exploded.

Inside the Sterling headquarters, several executives were uneasy.

"Mr. Sterling, the Hawthorne family is far more powerful than us."

"Partnering with them might place us in a weak position."

Adrian remained calm.

"Then we'll simply become stronger."

But privately, he knew the truth.

His real reason had nothing to do with business.

It had everything to do with Isabella.

Meanwhile, Isabella attended a charity gala that evening.

The grand ballroom glittered with crystal lights and elegant guests.

When she entered, conversations immediately shifted.

"Is that Isabella Hawthorne?"

"She's stunning."

"I heard she returned to take over the Hawthorne empire."

Isabella ignored the whispers.

But another figure in the room was watching her closely.