Isabella turned off the shower tap and stepped out of the cabin. It was ten o'clock at night, and she wanted to go to bed early to be well-rested and prepared for Jed's arrival the next day. As she thought about it, fear washed over her. She looked at herself in the mirror and wrapped her thin body with a robe. How long would she continue to be slim? She had to tell her boyfriend that she was pregnant.

Jed Salvatore was a successful financier and also had the power behind the Salvatore Corporate empire. They had met a year earlier when Isabella worked as a waitress in a well-known restaurant. Jed had come for lunch with some investors, and as soon as he entered the restaurant, he noticed the girl standing at the bar. He couldn't help but observe her; her wavy blonde mane fell over her shoulders, and her exquisite body couldn't be hidden by the black skirt and white blouse she was wearing as she walked on the marble floor, flaunting legs that would stir the imagination of any man.

He followed her gaze until she reached a table and approached the next customer with a smile. Her smile took his breath away, and at that moment, he was not seeing anyone else. He sat at his table and requested her to serve him, and as expected, nobody contradicted Jed Salvatore. Isabella approached the table as she had been instructed to do. When she got closer, she smiled kindly, and he noticed that she was even more beautiful up close. She had an oval face, fair skin, bright blue eyes, and sensual lips. He smiled back, and when their eyes met, she blushed.

Jed asked her to have dinner with him that night. Surprisingly, she rejected his proposal, stating that she wasn't allowed to go out with clients. She desperately needed that job to support herself while studying History at university. Jed handed her his card, offering her the possibility of a better job.

From the bar, Isabella observed Jed. He was perfect, with black hair, brown eyes, perfect lips, and a prominent chin. He was any woman's dream.

Isabella returned to the present, grabbed a towel, and bent down to start drying her hair. "Ah!" she exclaimed as someone grabbed her shoulder. "Jed, is that you?" she shouted.

"Do you expect anyone else in your bathroom?" he teased, gripping her shoulder.

"I've missed you, Jed," Isabella said, nestling herself in his arms.

He held her tight and led her to the bedroom.

"Wait, Jed. Would you like something to drink? You arrived before your trip," Isabella asked.

"I couldn't spend another day without you. All I want is you," he said, laying her on the bed and positioning himself beside her.

Enthusiastic about the desire he showed for her, Isabella began caressing him, and what happened that night was unparalleled.

He made love to her slowly, with so much passion, exploring every curve of her body, bringing her to climax.

Hours later, as she lay in his arms, Isabella wondered if their child would resemble Jed. She had dreamt of getting married before getting pregnant. He had mentioned having a surprise for her. Could it be a ring?

Jed got up and went in search of Isabella's surprise.

"Sit down and take this," he said, handing her a box for her graduation. She opened it, revealing a diamond necklace. "Thank you, Jed. It's beautiful," she said, trying to hide her disappointment.

The next morning, while they were having breakfast, Isabella began to feel unwell. It was her morning sickness. She rushed to the bathroom as Jed asked what was wrong. After she came out, Jed asked what was happening, his gaze reflecting concern and tenderness. She smiled, approached him, and placed her hand on her abdomen.

"I'm pregnant."

Pregnant! How could Isabella be pregnant?, he thought. He took all precautions but... Isabella had betrayed him.

"Jed, calm down, I'm fine and I understand that it took you by surprise," she said.

"But of course you think you are fine with a diamond necklace and pregnant. I suppose you'll say the child is mine!" he exclaimed.

"Of course, it's yours! You know you're the only man I've made love to. We're a couple, I love you, and I thought you loved me," she replied.

"I don't want anyone, and I won't burden myself with someone else's child. I didn't expect my lover to get pregnant," he said coldly.

"I'm not your lover, I thought we were a couple," she retaliated.

"Supposedly, you were taking the pill, what happened?" he asked.

"That night I went with you to Rome for your work, I forgot to take it; it was an accident," she explained.

"Haha, of course, the only time I invite you to accompany me, and you forget to take the pill. You are a very wicked woman," he remarked.

Jed grabbed his briefcase, "I have an urgent meeting, we'll talk later," and he stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door.

Isabella sat at the foot of her bed, lost in thought. Lover? Wicked? Someone else's child? How could he think that after sharing a whole year of their lives together?

Isabella got ready for work, a job Jed had helped her secure. It would be her last day since she had already graduated and hoped to dedicate herself to teaching.

Jed arrived at his office in a furious mood. He would never forgive Isabella for her betrayal. Why had she betrayed him? He angrily slammed his fist on the table.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, grabbing the phone and calling his assistant. "Marixa, bring me some painkillers and cancel the meetings. I am not available for anyone today."

"Right away, Mr. Salvatore," Marixa responded.

Isabella showed up at Jed's office. As expected, Marixa informed her that Mr. Salvatore was unavailable and unable to see her. But she wasn't willing to wait any longer and forced her way in.

"Mr. Salvatore, I apologize! I know you said you couldn't see her. I'll call security," Marixa insisted.

"Leave, Marixa, I'll handle this," Jed dismissed her. "What the hell are you doing, Isabella?"

"I haven't been your lover. I thought we were in a relationship, I thought..." she started, but he interrupted her.

"Enough! You're not that innocent. I gave you a car, jewelry, clothes. You could have anything, except a ring. I never proposed to you. You're too wicked," Jed responded.

"Wicked? How can you say that to me?" Isabella pleaded.

"If you ever thought you could trap me with an unwanted child, you should have thought twice. But don't worry, I'll talk to Roberto, he's a great doctor and a close friend of mine. He'll take care of your pregnancy, and I'll pay for it. Now, leave. I don't have time for this," he stated firmly.

Isabella returned home feeling terrible. Everything now made sense. He never introduced her to his family or friends, the expensive gifts. What would she do now? He didn't want a child. He believed she only wanted to trap him, and he would talk to Roberto... for what? Did he want her to have an abortion?

Now she saw Jed for who he really was—a cold, heartless womanizer who only wanted to get his way. She made a decision; she had to leave the apartment and end things with Jed. She wouldn't sacrifice her child. She stood up and headed towards the bedroom, tripping over the rug.

Jed Salvatore finished the video conference he had been having with someone on the other side of the Pacific, it had been a success. It was eight o'clock in the evening and he was done working. He ran his hand through his hair and thought about Isabella. He had managed to not think about her for a couple of hours, but now he had no more excuses.

At that moment, Marixa, his secretary, entered the office.

"Do you need anything else from me?" she asked.

"No, you can go," he replied.

"You seem tired, Jed. Let me bring you some whiskey and I'll give you a massage if you want. It will help you relax."

"Whiskey, yes. Massage, no," he said, looking surprised that she was offering him a massage. He must have looked awful.

Marixa was a very attractive and efficient brunette. He considered himself lucky to have her as his secretary. She never made mistakes. She would have never gotten pregnant like Isabella did.

Isabella was much younger, only 21 years old, and she had been his first love. Perhaps her pregnancy had been a real accident?

"Here's the whiskey," Marixa said, placing the glass on the desk and the bottle next to it. Then she stood next to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want a massage?"

"Yes, Marixa, leave. I'll be fine," he replied.

"Alright," she leaned down and whispered in his ear, "don't forget that we're going to Paris tomorrow. Try to get some rest!"

"She's just concerned about me," he thought as she left the office. Then he remembered how little he had cared about Isabella that morning.

He picked up the glass and took a sip. When had he turned into a cynical and stubborn demon?

He never wanted to get married, but he knew that someday he would have a child, an heir to his fortune. He had been a happy child with a beautiful family, parents who loved him, and two sisters who adored him.

At least that was the case until his mother passed away fifteen years ago when he was 20. He had a few clashes with his father after he married a much younger woman following his mother's death—a climbing trollop who flirted with Jed whenever he visited his father.

He poured himself another glass. He didn't trust women, except for his mother and sisters. He had never thought about getting married, but he also knew that his child wouldn't be a bastard.

Isa, his beautiful and sexy Isabella. Would it be so hard to marry her? They had been together for a year. He pursued her for a month after meeting her at that restaurant, and it took another month to finally sleep with her. To his surprise, she was still a virgin. They got along well until that morning when she informed him about her pregnancy. Sexually, she had been his most receptive lover, and as far as he knew, she had never been unfaithful. The idea of her being with someone else disgusted him.

He had made up his mind. If everything went well, he would make Isabella a respectable woman.