Chapter 160 EERILY

Chapter 160 EERILY
ISAIAH

I tried to walk past him but he didn't move. For a second, I was almost grateful. Because if he held me back right now, I honestly didn't know what I'd do with the anger simmering beneath my skin.

"Isaiah." His voice was calm. "He still loves her."

My steps stopped. I didn't turn around immediately.

"I think..." Collins continued quietly, his eyes fixed across the room, "deep down, you already know that."

Slowly, I looked back. His gaze wasn't on me. It was on Owain and Karima. Standing together on the other side of the ballroom.

"We can't stop that."

My jaw tightened. I glanced briefly toward Julian. The little guy was still completely absorbed in his iPad.

Good. He didn't need to hear any of this. I stepped closer until Collins and I were barely an arm's length apart.

"What the fuck do you want?" My voice stayed low and controlled.

"To talk."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Funny. We have nothing to talk about." I turned to leave again.

"I'm telling him tonight."

The words stopped me instantly. I looked back. Collins slipped both hands into his pockets. "Owain deserves the truth. He shouldn't spend the rest of his life paying for someone else's betrayal."

For a long second… I simply stared at him. My fists slowly curled at my sides. Every instinct told me to end this conversation. Instead, I forced myself to stay calm.

"What happened between the two of you isn't my problem." Each word came out harder than the last. "But if whatever you're planning hurts Karima..." I took another step closer. "...I swear neither you nor Owain will get away with it." I leaned close enough that only he could hear me. "And whether he finds out about Julian tonight or never does… doesn't change a damn thing."

I pulled a little and held his gaze. "She's with me now.” Afterwards, I straightened.

Collins didn't flinch. If anything… He looked almost disappointed. "And what about Karima?"

His question caught me off guard.

"What happens when she's the one who learns the truth?"

A frown settled on my face. "What truth?"

He held my eyes. "What happens when she finds out the man she believed abandoned her was locked away inside a prison cell for four years… for a crime he never committed?"

My chest tightened. Collins took a slow breath before continuing. "And the moment he walked out, the first person he wanted to find was her."

For the first time since this conversation began… I had nothing to say.

KARIMA

No matter how hard I tried to focus on the conversation… My thoughts kept drifting back to Owain. I hated that they did. It wasn't because I wanted to know if he was alright. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. But something about him felt... off.

His face looked paler than it had only minutes ago. And every now and then, he'd press a hand subtly against his side as though trying to hide whatever was bothering him.

I forced myself to look away. Whatever was wrong with him wasn't my concern anymore. Besides… The last thing I wanted was for Isaiah to think tonight meant anything other than what we'd agreed.

Baron was saying something now, and I tried to pull myself back into the conversation. Then, midway through his sentence, his attention shifted past me.

I frowned and followed his gaze. It was Isaiah. He stood a few feet away, hands tucked casually into his pockets, wearing that smile… The same one that somehow managed to melt every wall I'd ever tried to build around my heart.

His eyes found mine first. Then the rest of the group. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he said politely. "May I steal my wife for a moment?"

My wife… The words settled warmly inside my chest. I completely didn't expect it though, but somehow, it sounded more dangerous than it seemed.

Before I could stop myself, my eyes drifted toward Owain. He'd been only half listening moments ago. Now… He was looking directly at Isaiah. His expression didn't change. But something in his eyes did.

"Oh?" Craig chuckled, looking between the two of us. "So you're the lucky man who managed to win Ms. Heart?"

Isaiah smiled with quiet confidence. "I guess I am." His eyes briefly met mine before returning to Craig. "Some of us just get lucky."

I blinked. There was something different about him. A confidence that hadn't been there earlier. Then he stepped closer. Without taking his eyes off mine, he held out his hand.

"Shall we?”

I smiled and slipped my hand into his. Isaiah led me toward the dance floor before stopping just a step away, leaving a dramatic little gap between us. Then, with an exaggerated bow, he held out his hand. "May I have this dance, my lady?"

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I raised an eyebrow. "And where exactly is this coming from?"

He clutched his chest dramatically. "Come on, Karry. You're ruining the moment."

I shook my head, still smiling. "What's going—" Before I could finish, he closed the distance and pulled me gently into his arms. "Isaiah..." I laughed as my free hand landed against his chest. "What's gotten into you?"

His grin only widened. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this dance."

I narrowed my eyes playfully. "Just the dance?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." The innocent look on his face was so convincing it almost worked.

I traced a finger lightly along the collar of his suit. "I caught you staring at me twice."

He looked down at me. "And?"

"Don't tell me you weren't jealous."

A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You're playing a dangerous game, Karry."

"Oh?"

"You keep teasing me like this… and I might forget we're in public."

I laughed, wrapping my arm more comfortably around his neck. "You know you have absolutely nothing to worry about."

For a moment… He didn't answer. We simply swayed together while the music carried us slowly across the dance floor. When I looked up again, something had changed.

The teasing was gone. His eyes looked... quieter. "Karry..." The way he said my name made my smile fade.

He gently spun me beneath his arm before drawing me back against him. His gaze searched mine. "Can I ask you something?"

My brows pulled together. "What is it?"

He hesitated long enough to make my stomach tighten.

"What if..." He stopped again, choosing his words carefully. "What if you were wrong about him?"

I blinked. "Wrong?"

His fingers tightened ever so slightly around mine. "Owain." The name alone made my chest stiffen.

Isaiah held my eyes. "What if… one day you found out that he never actually chose to leave you?"

The music kept playing. People kept dancing around us. But for me… Everything seemed to fall eerily silent.

I could only stare at him. "What do you mean?”