Benjamin Gomez fixed his gaze on her, eyes cold and unblinking. After a tense moment, he let out a low scoff and traced his thumb along her chin.

“Isabella, I see you've grown quite bold in the years since we last met.”

Isabella felt her face drain of color. She couldn't help but take his words as criticism, as if he was chiding her for her recklessness.

She drew in a shaky breath. "Benjamin, I just lost my head for a moment, that's all. I swear, it won't happen again. Never."

"Please, you have to believe me," Isabella pleaded, her voice trembling. "I know I was wrong."

Benjamin studied her for a long beat, then suddenly gave a soft laugh. "Isabella, you really are something, aren't you?”

She blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

He released her, his hand falling away. "I mean you really were being foolish."

Isabella pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

"But you don't need to apologize to me," Benjamin said evenly.

She looked up at him, searching his face for a hint of what he meant.

He held her gaze. "I told you before you don't have to say sorry, not to me."

What did it mean to love someone?

Benjamin didn't know what it looked like for anyone else, but he knew exactly what it meant for him.

To love someone was to love her entirely-her kindness, her pride, her tenderness, and yes, even her darker sides: her jealousy, her ruthlessness, her flaws.

When Benjamin first fell for Isabella Austin years ago, he'd already known what kind of woman she was—a woman willing to do whatever it took to get what she wanted, even if that meant making hard, cold choices, even if it meant turning her back on her own daughter.

In the eyes of the world, Isabella was unforgivable.

But in Benjamin's eyes, she was simply the woman he loved.

Even after she abandoned both him and their daughter, he couldn't help loving her, couldn't help accepting every part of her. Even now, with Isabella married and raising a son with another man, he was still drawn to her, still tangled up in her life.

So whatever she'd done, he could accept it.

Isabella's eyes shimmered with tears. “Benjamin..."

He reached out and ruffled her hair, a sudden laugh bubbling from his lips. "Don't get all emotional just yet. I can help you—but just like before, it comes with conditions."

A knot twisted in Isabella's stomach. "What kind of conditions?"

His hand lingered on her hair, his voice dropping to a low, coaxing murmur. “I want you to be my wife. In every real sense of the word. For one month-that's all."

Isabella's face went white as a sheet. She staggered back, swatting his hand away. "No, absolutely not! I'm married, Benjamin!”

Panic flickered in her eyes as she stared at him. "I'll never divorce Andrew-never!"

The smile faded from Benjamin's lips. “I'm not asking you to divorce him. I just want you to be my wife for one month. After that, you can go back to your life, your family."

Isabella's breath hitched. "You-"

Benjamin cut in, his voice cool. "Or is it that you love Andrew Lane so much you won't even give me a single month?"

Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe, her face growing paler with every second. “Benjamin, we don't have to do this. We can work something out. There's got to be another way."

He let out a soft, almost mocking sound. "I don't want to negotiate. That's my offer. Take it, and I'll help you. Refuse, and you can wait for the police to come knocking."

"No!"

She rushed to him, grabbing his hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "Benjamin, please you're the only one who can help me now. I'm begging you, don't make this harder than it already is. Please..... if you ever cared for me, show me some mercy..... I know you love me..."

The Lane family wouldn't help her.

Neither would the Austins.

Years ago, her parents and relatives would have rushed to her aid without a second thought. But those days were long gone.

Her voice grew softer, desperate. "You love me, Benjamin. Please, just this once... help me."