Chapter 44 A Game of Lies
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The grand iron gates of Blackwood Manor groaned as they opened, revealing the long, winding driveway that led up to the imposing estate. A biting wind rushed through the towering oaks, rustling the last remnants of autumn leaves as Hallie stepped forward, one hand resting against the curve of her growing belly. She was larger now—at least six and a half months along—and the weight of her pregnancy only added to the weight of her intentions.
By the time she reached the front steps, the grand double doors swung open, revealing Isabelle Blackwood. Tall and elegant, Chase's mother carried herself with an effortless grace, but today, there was steel in her spine and ice in her gaze. She had once adored Hallie, welcomed her into their home like the daughter she never had. That was before the betrayal. Before Chase had come to her, gutted and disillusioned, laying bare the truth of what Hallie had done.
"Hallie," Isabelle greeted, her voice smooth but edged with unmistakable frost. Her eyes swept over the young woman's swollen belly, lingering just long enough to acknowledge it before snapping back to her face. "This is unexpected."
Hallie let out a shaky breath, masking her irritation with well-practiced vulnerability. Her eyes shimmered, the perfect balance of regret and desperation. "I know," she whispered. "I'm so sorry to just show up like this, but... I didn't know where else to go."
Isabelle's lips pressed into a thin line, unimpressed. "Cut the theatrics. What do you want?"
Hallie flinched at the bluntness but recovered quickly, her hands cradling her stomach as if to emphasize her plight. "I just need to talk to Chase. I know things have been complicated, and I don't blame you for how you must feel about me right now, but please... I just need to see him."
A humorless smile curved Isabelle's lip. "You don't blame me? How gracious of you." She tilted her head, studying Hallie like one might an insect under glass. "Let's stop pretending, shall we? You're here because you think you still have some hold over my son. That you can manipulate your way back into his life. But let me be very clear—Chase has suffered enough because of you. That ends today."
Hallie blinked, momentarily thrown off. "I don't want to hurt him, Isabelle. I swear, I—"
"Save it," Isabelle interrupted sharply, stepping forward, her voice lowering to a chilling softness. "Let me offer you something better than another performance. Money. Enough for you to disappear. Name your price, Hallie. Take it, walk away, and never contact Chase again."
Hallie's breath hitched, not in shock, but in barely contained fury. Her nails dug into her palms as she forced a wobbly laugh. "You think you can buy me off? Like some gold-digging cliché?" She scoffed, eyes flashing. "That's rich coming from you. Always so perfect, so refined. Tell me, Isabelle, does it burn you up inside knowing your son still loves me? That no matter how much you throw at me, he'll never stop wanting me?"
Isabelle didn't flinch. Instead, she let a slow smirk curl her lips. "If you truly believed that you wouldn't be standing here, begging for scraps."
Hallie's expression twisted, her carefully composed facade cracking. "You self-righteous b*tch," she spat, venom dripping from every syllable. "You think Chase is yours to control? That he'll just fall in line because mommy says so? Guess what—he's not a little boy anymore, and he sure as hell isn't yours to keep."
Isabelle merely arched a brow, unimpressed. "You're right. He isn't mine to keep. But he's also not yours to use. And when he finally sees you for who you really are, you'll have nothing. No Chase. No Blackwood fortune. Just the consequences of your own choices."
Hallie's jaw clenched so tightly it ached. For the first time in a long time, she was at a loss for words. She had expected resistance, sure. But this? Isabelle was unmoving, a wall of iron where Hallie had once found warmth. And that infuriated her beyond reason.
"This isn't over," she hissed, stepping back. "Chase isn't done with me. And neither are you."
Isabelle let out a small, almost pitying laugh. "Oh, Hallie. You were over before you even knocked on my door. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a family to protect."
With that, Isabelle turned on her heel and strode back into the house, slamming the door shut behind her.
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The force of it echoed through the grand estate as she inhaled deeply, composing herself before making her way upstairs.
She knocked lightly on Chase's door before hearing his muffled, "Come in."
She stepped inside to find her son lying on his bed, hunched over his laptop.
The glow from the screen illuminated his face, highlighting the exhaustion etched into his features. Papers were scattered around him, old text messages printed out and highlighted, files from his private investigator stacked neatly at the bedside. He looked less like a man recovering from heartbreak and more like a detective piecing together a crime.Isabelle folded her arms, studying him for a moment before speaking.
"The snake just showed up."Chase looked up sharply, surprise flickering across his face. His mother was known for her grace, her unwavering kindness—even toward those who had wronged her. To hear such venom in her tone was jarring.
"What did she want?" he asked casually, though his fingers twitched. He had just received new information from his investigator—Scarlett Evans' contact details, recent photos of Hallie at Ryder Evans' second home. His chest tightened. He should have known. The pieces were all there, scattered before him like a puzzle he had been too blind to solve.He clenched his jaw, staring at the images on the screen.
Hallie, slipping into Ryder's home late at night. Hallie, laughing with him at a private estate miles away from here. He had been a fool. A weak, spineless fool who hadn't had the strength to say no when it mattered most. And because of that, he had lost the only woman who had ever truly loved him. Emilia.
"She refused my offer to walk away," Isabelle said, watching her son carefully.
"I offered her money to leave and never contact you again. She turned it down. And trust me, Chase, it wasn't out of love. She's a viper. She wants something."
Chase exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Mom. I know. And the worst part? I should have known this all along. I had the perfect woman at home, waiting for me, loving me, trusting me. And I threw it all away for... this."
Isabelle sat beside him, placing a gentle hand over his. "You made a mistake. But mistakes don't define you—how you handle them does. So, what are you going to do?"Chase's eyes darkened with resolve as he closed his laptop.
"I need to hear what she has to say. But not for the reason she thinks. I need to know for certain that Ryder is the father. And once I do... I'll end this for good."Isabelle nodded, squeezing his hand.
"Then we face her together. And this time, we don't let her win.
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As Isabelle called for the butler to let Hallie in, she quickly helped Chase gather the investigator's documents, stuffing them into his desk drawer just as they heard the approaching footsteps. The door creaked open, and Hallie stepped inside, wearing the same pitying expression she had used so many times before. But Chase didn't buy it anymore.
"Whose baby is it, Hallie?" Chase finally demanded, his voice sharp as a blade. "You said he was abusive. If that's true, I want to see him arrested so you can be free. Tell me. Is it Ryder Evans? Did he hurt you?"
Hallie's eyes flickered, and for a split second, something calculating crossed her face before she gasped, her lower lip trembling. "Chase, please, I didn't want you to find out like this." Her voice quivered as she stepped closer, pressing a hand to her stomach. "I was scared. I still am. Ryder... he's dangerous. You don't know what he's capable of."
Chase's jaw tightened. "Then let me help you. I can get the authorities involved. I can—"
She cut him off with a soft, desperate laugh. "Oh, Chase. You're so sweet. Always trying to be the hero." Her fingers brushed his arm, lingering. "That's what I've always loved about you."
"Enough," Isabelle snapped, eyes narrowing. "We're done playing this game, Hallie."
Hallie stiffened, but her expression smoothed over almost instantly, her lips curving into something close to amusement. "Game? Oh, Isabelle, you always think you're in control, don't you? But tell me, what happens when Chase finds out what you've been hiding from him?"
Isabelle froze for half a second, but Hallie caught it. She smiled, slow and satisfied. "Oh yes, I know things too."
"Whose baby is it?" Chase repeated, his patience razor-thin.
Hallie turned back to him, her eyes flashing. The facade of fear melted into something cruel. "You just want to humiliate me! You think you can corner me and ruin my life? You are a pathetic, spineless little boy!" Her voice dripped with venom. "Yes, it's Ryder's! And guess what? He's leaving his wife for me! He's ten times the man you'll ever be!"
Chase barely flinched, but Isabelle had heard enough. With a swift motion, she slapped Hallie across the face.
"You insolent girl! Get the hell out of my house!"
Hallie gasped, clutching her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. But then, she laughed—soft at first, then cold and mocking. "Enjoy this little victory while it lasts," she murmured. "Because this? This isn't over."
She turned sharply and stormed out, the echo of her footsteps fading into the silence she left behind.
Chase exhaled, his shoulders sagging. "It's over."
Isabelle squeezed his shoulder. "Yes. It is."
Or so they thought.