The Billionaire's Pretend Wife (Isabella)
Chapter 87 Eighty Seven

Isabelle had thought she knew what heartbreak felt like. But even when she had caught her ex in bed with her sister, it hadn't hurt this way. Not even close. All of a sudden, sitting at the kitchen table with her shoulders drooped and her sobbing face in her hands, she realised the true extent of her feelings for Jacob.

All along, she had held her feelings for him back because she had known she was lying to him. She hadn't allowed herself to take a moment to feel their depth. Now...they hit her like a tornado.

She was in love with her pretend husband.

But it didn't matter, because she had lost him.

She had known from the beginning he didn't belong to her. She had known a day would come when her deception would come between them. And, she had known she would hate hurting him. But she hadn't thought she would be left with a broken heart.

She squeezed her eyes shut as an image of the photo Naomi had sent her shuttled through her mind's eye. She couldn't stand it. She couldn't bear the thought of seeing him with her sister.

The one man who had shown her so much care, with the woman who hated her more than anything in the world? It was too bitter a pill to swallow. Too much. She had to leave.

Go away, forget about them. If she stayed, she didn't know how she could have a peace of mind. Heavens only knew what Naomi would do if she found out Isabelle was carrying Jacob's child. "I'm sorry, baby," she whispered softly, pressing her palm to her stomach. "I think it has to be just you and me. Don't worry, mama will work hard. As long as we are happy."

She had lost Ruth, who had felt close to her like a real family. But she wasn't alone anymore. Now she had her baby. Her real family. Who would never desert her. They would always have each other. Breathing shakily, she rose from her seat and went to the bathroom. It was already late. She had to go back to her place. Then she had to start thinking about what to do once again. She wished she hadn't withdrawn her resignation earlier that day. She should have waited until she found out what Jacob's reaction was. But now, it didn't matter, did it?

When she went back to the kitchen, she found that she had a missed call from Seth. There was also a message alerting her that she had a voicemail. Sitting down, she dialled to listen to the message. 'Hello, Isabelle. Did you get home safely? Have you eaten? About what I told you about in the morning...about moving with me, I wanted to tell you that the company is opening a new office in X city. I've been offered a promotion to become the COO over there. So I have to move. If you felt like you'd be troubling me by accepting my offer...just know I'm moving soon anyway, so it won't be any trouble to me at all. Isabelle...I just want you to be happy. I'm also choosing a team of five to take with me. I can help you get a transfer so you can keep your job. I understand if you want to stay close to the baby's father. Just..... please think about it, Isabelle. I won't bother you about this issue again. Goodnight.'

Isabelle swallowed as Seth's message ended. She had promised herself to not take advantage of his concern for her.

But if she could get a transfer, even if through his assistance, then she could start a new life in a new city without having to depend on anyone. Without having to put her baby through unnecessary struggle. Taking a deep breath, she typed a message in response.

***

After sixteen days in a coma, Jacob opened his eyes. Kevin was sitting on a sofa in the private ward, flipping through a business magazine when his boss's scratchy voice reached him.

"Isa...Bella?"

Kevin shot to his feet, the magazine tumbling from his hands. He rushed to Jacob's bedside and couldn't believe it when he found the man looking back at him. Looking, and talking.

"Where is Isabelle?"

Talking and forming complete sentences.

"Sir, I'll...I'll call the nurse right away." He proceeded to press the call button. "Please sir, don't move," he said frantically as Jacob tried to get up.

The door opened and the nurse rushed in. "Is something wrong?" Before he could answer, she saw that Jacob was up and trying to move. "Oh my God, you are awake. Perfect. I'll get the doctor right away," she said, taking out a pager. "While he gets here, please tell me how you are feeling, sir."

Kevin stepped back as the nurse got busy asking questions and checking Jacob's monitor. But even as he moved back, Jacob's eyes followed him. "What are you doing here, Kevin? I asked you to keep an eye on Isabelle."

Kevin wondered whether he knew he had been in a coma for over two weeks.

"Your reflexes are good," the nurse commented, "that's good. That's very good."

"Can you get this thing off my arm?" Jacob asked, fiddling with the IV line stuck in his vein. "I need to go. Get the car ready, Kevin.”

"No sir, you cannot leave. You had a

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traumatic brain injury and have been unconscious for two weeks. We need to monitor you closely and ensure that you're fully recovered. You might also need physiotherapy before-"

"I feel fine," Jacob claimed. And then he paused. "Did you say two weeks?"

"Yes, sir."

Jacob's gaze went back to his assistant. "I've been here for two weeks?"

"Yes, sir. You crashed your car that night on your way home."

Jacob frowned and shook his head. "You mean it's...it's been..." He made a fresh effort to leave the bed. "Is Isabelle still at the apartment? She didn't run away, did she?"

The nurse tried to keep him from leaving the bed. "Sir, please wait for the doctor. He'll be here in a minute."

Just then, the door opened and the doctor rushed in. His eyes went straight to Jacob, and relief washed over his face.

While the doctor and nurse convinced Jacob that leaving his hospital bed soon after waking up from a coma wasn't a good idea, Kevin stepped away and called Jason.

Jason arrived a few minutes later, and Jacob instantly asked about Isabelle's whereabouts. "Is she coming to work?"

Jason, who had received information the previous day that Isabelle had cancelled her resignation notice, assured him that she was still around.

"I have to see her," Jacob said.

"And you will," Jason assured him.

l.net

"Soon after you get discharged. Listen to the doctor and don't do anything to jeopardise your recovery. Do you know how lucky you are? What the fuck were you thinking, running a red light?"

"You can get lost if you came here to lecture me," Jacob said. He looked away, a faraway look on his face. "I thought I was never going to see her again." "You didn't tell her about your true identity. Why?"

"Something came up."

"Why did she give back her ring?" He wasn't going to mention that Isabelle had wanted to leave the city. Not now.

Jacob looked back at Jason. "Why are you...wait. Where's the ring? Did they replace it? I had it in the car."

"Right here," Jason said, opening a drawer on the bedside cabin and reaching inside for the ring. He frowned when he didn't see it. "Wait. Where is it?" Kevin moved in to peek into the drawer too.

"You kept a million dollar diamond ring in a hospital ward bedside cabin?" Jacob asked, exasperated.

"Sir, I assure you that none of the staff would dare touch your personal belongings," the nurse said, looking worried. "Please check well, sir," she asked Jason. Jason shook his head. "It's really missing."

"I apologise, sir. I'll notify the matron right away and we'll do whatever it takes to get it back."

"Please do so Jason told her,

leading her away from Jacob before

his nasty temper showed up and the

sweet nurse suffered. "Mr. Garcia

would not like it if there were unscrupulous staff at the hospital who were bold enough to steal from him."

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As the nurse left, the hospital director appeared at the door and walked in. Jacob sighed, getting ready for a round of boot licking. All he wanted was to see Isabelle.