Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 48

48 Chapter 48–A Taste of Devotion. A Vow Under Moonlight

48 Chapter 48 – A Taste of Devotion, A Vow Under

Moonlight

The afternoon sun bathed my office in golden light as Roman sat across from me, his fingers nervously drumming against his knee.

“So you’re saying…” he began cautiously, “the distributorship will remain exclusively mine? Even after this meeting with the Hawthornes and Prescott’s group?”

I nodded, taking a sip of tea. “Your performance has been exemplary, Roman. I have no reason to change our arrangement.”

Relief washed over his face. The poor man had been fidgeting since he arrived, clearly terrified that I’d been using him as bait for bigger fish. In truth, the thought had crossed my mind–but loyalty deserved reward in this cutthroat world.

“The meeting is merely to establish boundaries,” I explained. “Let them understand that the Soul Nourishment Pill exists and will continue to exist in the market, regardless of their interference.”

“And Sebastian Hawthorne?” Roman’s voice dropped to a whisper, as though the name itself might summon the man.

“Leave him to me,” I replied, my tone hardening. “Focus on distribution and nothing else. Can you do that?”

Roman straightened in his chair. “Absolutely. I won’t let

you

down.”

After seeing Roman out, I checked my phone to find three messages from Isabelle. The last one simply read: “Dinner tonight? I’m cooking.”

A smile touched my lips. Isabelle Ashworth–cooking? This I had to see.

By evening, word of Roman’s continued distributorship had spread through Havenwood City’s business circles like wildfire. My phone buzzed constantly with calls from numbers I didn’t recognize–desperate attempts from various entrepreneurs to secure secondary distribution rights.

I ignored them all as my car pulled up to the Ashworth Estate. The grand mansion

48 Chapter 48–A Taste of Devotion, A Vow Under Moonlight

stood illuminated against the darkening sky, a monument to old money and influence. Yet tonight, it felt different, more welcoming.

Isabelle greeted me at the door herself–a departure from protocol that would have scandalized her household staff. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she wore a casual blouse rather than her usual designer outfits.

“You came,” she said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice as she led me inside.

“You cooked,” I replied with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Her eyes brightened as she guided me past the formal dining room toward a smaller, more intimate space. A table for two had been set near large windows overlooking the garden, complete with candles and fresh flowers.

“I dismissed the staff for the evening,” Isabelle explained. “Except for Mrs. Liu, who refused to leave the property while I attempted to use the kitchen.”

I laughed. “Probably wise.”

The kitchen told the story of her culinary battle–flour dusted every surface, vegetable peels cluttered the counter, and something dark and crusty clung to the stovetop. In the midst of this chaos stood Isabelle, looking proudly at several covered dishes.

“I hope you’re hungry,” she said, carrying a platter to the table.

I was starving, but that sentiment quickly died as she unveiled her creations. What appeared to be some form of pasta had congealed into a grayish mass. Beside it sat vegetables charred beyond recognition and bread that could double as a doorstop.

“I made pasta carbonara,” Isabelle announced, her voice tinged with hope. “With garlic bread and roasted vegetables.”

I stabbed at the pasta, which resisted my fork with surprising tenacity. The first bite required all my willpower not to grimace–the sauce was simultaneously raw and burnt, with pockets of pure salt that ambushed my taste buds.

“It’s…” I searched desperately for words that weren’t outright lies, “unlike anything I’ve had before.”

Isabelle watched me anxiously. “Is it terrible? You can be honest.”

I looked at her hopeful expression, at the flour smudged across her cheek, at the

<

48 Chapter 48–A Taste of Devotion, A Vow Under Moonlight

kitchen disaster behind her–all evidence of genuine effort from a woman who had probably never cooked a meal in her life.

“It’s perfect,” I said, taking another heroic bite. “Because you made it.

Her smile was worth every painful swallow. We ate–or in my case, strategically rearranged food on my plate–while discussing the upcoming meeting with Havenwood’s business elite. Eventually, I steered the conversation toward safer topics.

“What made you decide to cook tonight?” I asked.

Isabelle’s expression turned thoughtful. “I realized I’ve never done anything purely for you–something that required effort rather than money.” She looked down at her plate. “Though perhaps my effort would have been better spent ordering takeout.”

I reached across the table, taking her hand. “No. This means more.”

After dinner, we escaped to the garden. The night air carried the scent of jasmine as we strolled beneath a canopy of stars, the full moon casting everything in silver light. “My stomach may never recover,” I admitted with a laugh.

Isabelle bumped her shoulder against mine. “Next time I’ll stick to what I’m good at.”

“Which is?”

“Business, Intimidating people. Supporting you.”

We stopped beside a small pond where koi fish drifted like living shadows beneath the surface. Isabelle turned to face me, suddenly serious.

“Liam, I’ve been thinking about us–about the future.” Her voice was soft but determined. “I have resources, connections. I can help you build whatever empire you envision.”

I watched her carefully. “And what would you want in return?”

“Nothing. Everything.” She hesitated. “You. Us.” (2)

“You’re offering to financially support me?” I asked, surprised by her directness.

Isabelle nodded. “Is that so strange? I could arrange our wedding within weeks. We could build a life together while you focus on your research and cultivation.”

48 Chapter 48- A Taste of Devotion, A Vow Under Moonlight

The offer stunned me–not just the practicality of it, but the vulnerability behind it. This woman, who could have anyone, was essentially proposing to me.

I took both her hands in mine. “Before I met you, I was just drifting through life. But now…” I paused, searching for the right words. “You’ve given me purpose, Isabelle. Something worth fighting for.”

Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. “Then accept my help.”

I shook my head. “Not like this. I want to earn my place at your side.”

“You already have,” she insisted.

“Give me one year,” I said firmly. “One year to build something worthy of you. And then. I promise you a proposal and wedding that will make the whole city talk for decades. Isabelle studied me for a long moment. “Is my impatience so obvious?”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify