ISABELLA"You do," He replied with no expression across his face.I knew he was familiar, but I just didn't know where I had seen him before. Maybe in Camilla's office? Was he perhaps a shareholder?"We met in a club, we had a little session and now we are getting married, that's how you know me," He replied and a frown grew on my face. I looked outside at the houses we passed. We still weren't out of the estate.I wanted to decorate his cheeks with my palm! He just had to take everything lightly!But I couldn't do that, what if he was a mafia? I still have no idea where his source of income is from. I had two guesses, either he was manipulating his boss to do this or he was probably in the mafia.Yes, that could be the only explanation. I threw a glance at him and his dominant eyes were staring back at me. My voice got stuck in my throat but I never broke away. He had to do it first, I couldn't surrender. His warm palms came to my face and my breath hitched.Look away! Isabella, wh
ISABELLAI stood stunned as the slap resonated around the house. For the first time in my life, my mother hit me.Damien tried to move forth but I stopped him. It was a reflex reaction. There had to be a reason for this slap. My mother would never slap me."I am sorry," She apologized with remorse across her face."I couldn't control myself, I'm terribly sorry," She apologized at the brink of tears.I moved towards her and wrapped my hands around her." I understand, it is okay, can we get in? Let's talk?" I requested and she nodded before she gave way.She threw a blank stare at Damien before she walked away. I didn't blame her for this reaction, if my child came to me with a strange man I would also slap her face.I watched from across the chair and I could feel Damien's stare beside me. I looked up at her. She looked beautiful in the yellow dress she had on. She let her grey and black hair fall over her shoulders."Mom, like I said earlier. This is my fiancee, Damien," I introduced
ISABELLAWhat was I supposed to do in such a huge house? I placed the neatly washed shirt on the table. I planned to personally give it to him when he came back."Sir insisted you ate before you decided to do anything and the doctor will soon be here," The head maid said."I see, I just want to get a view of the gardens, nothing much. Or perhaps did he restrict me from going in there?" I asked."You are free to go anywhere around the house," She said with her head down."Why are you looking down?" I asked and she didn't respond."I'm not some sort of god, you can look at me," I chuckled and she looked up at me.Her eyes were pale blue, and she had the most beautiful face I had ever seen."Good, Can I ask a question?""Yes, ma'am," She replied."What does Damien do for a living?" I asked and she shrugged."I'm in no position to tell you, I can only talk when my boss asks me to speak," She replied and I scoffed."The doctor is here," The Butler came in with a young man. I expected to se
ISABELLAI sat in the middle of the restaurant as I watched them leave. I tore the papers into pieces."Ma'am, the bill," The waiter came before me. I dropped a twenty bill before I rose from my chair.I had to get to work nevertheless.I walked out of the restaurant and to my surprise I saw a familiar car waiting.The car's window slid down and I saw Damien in the driver's seat. My jaw fell to the floor.Did he perhaps have a tracker on me? How did he know that I would be here?"Get in, let me drive you to work," He said and I obeyed immediately."How did you know I would be here?" I asked as we left the restaurant."Instinct perhaps?" He replied with a short glance."Do you know the address of the company?" I asked but he didn't give a reply.Did something happen? Did I do something bad?We arrived in front of the company, without any further conversations."Thanks," I muttered as I grabbed my bag.The man who I recognized as Billy stood at the entrance, he rushed to take my bag.
DAMIENI rested my hands on my face as I stared out the window. The door opened and Jackson walked in."What got you lost in thoughts?" He asked as he settled on the table beside me."She went to see her ex-boyfriend behind my back," I said as I looked up at him."Are they back or what? I thought he cheated. Man, I am so sorry," He placed his hands on my shoulders and I slapped it away."No, it means she still has something for him, and if he did get to rectify himself she would go back to him with hands open," I explained."I have some information on the guy by the way," He said as he placed a red file on the table.I scanned through it before I looked up at him."It is little, but it is something," He said.The door opened again and Mia walked in."I knew I would find the two of you here," She said."What are you guys talking about?" She asked as she sat on the desk.Jackson threw me a short glance before he stared at his sister."Girl issues," He said."Tell me, maybe I can be of h
ISABELLAI occasionally checked my phone to see if I got any message. A sack letter or anything. I pulled my knees underneath my face as I stared at the clock. It was past ten and I was waiting for Damien to come back.He would help me, he had to know someone, after all he got me in, in the first place.My phone blared, breaking my line of thoughts. I checked the caller id. It was a private number. My hands shook as I picked it up to my ear. My soul and body were on the verge of separation."Hello?" I answered.It was a voice I knew, I was relieved, happy and angry at the same time."I thought I told you to call me when you got back home?" Roberts' deep voice echoed from the other end."Who do you think you are?" I asked pouring all my anger on him."Baby, I am sorry, I promise I will make it up to you," He said and I wanted to slam the phone on the floor."Don't tell me that, I think I have heard enough of your lies! If you truly loved me like you claimed, on my birthday you would
DAMIENToday I worked late, I was still tense from the Camila situation. Basically, everyone had already gone on. Jackson had a date. Mia called to tell me that the wedding dresses were ready and Isabella had to come for testing and I had to be present.It was only me and my secretary. She occasionally checked in to tend to my needs.I checked the time and it was already past nine. From what I studied about Isabella. She was still probably awake.I stood up to pack my things but the peaceful silence that existed got disrupted by the song of my phone.It was an unknown number.I placed my phone on my ear and a familiar voice spoke to my ear."Haven't you missed me?" She asked with amusement in her tone."Why would I miss you?" I asked."Oh come on, it has been a year, you are bound to," She said with a small chuckle."What do you want from me?""Oh nothing, just checking up on you, and I heard the news, you found your girl, the same person you left me for, twice,""I compensated for ev
ISABELLAI stood outside the house in a white silk dress and a flat sandal. It was the perfect dress for shopping.The world knew it was my real wedding, so did my other best friend Willow. I told her about the Camila and Robert fallout situation.She said she was coming to town tomorrow, but we weren't going to be able to make it for the shopping. The sun was bright in the sky, but it was only there to illuminate the skies as the cold winds blew harshly on my skin.It had been more than quarter an hour since I stood here. Damien told me to wait outside.My legs were beginning to weaken and there was still no sign of that man."Sorry to keep you waiting," I heard his voice behind me and a frow found itself across my face.But I could not say anything, I just followed him instead."We are first heading for the wedding dresses," He said as I just nodded.He helped me into the car. The smell of his aftershave was strong in his car."Is Mia going to be there?" I asked, I wanted to be ar
Isabella As I lay on the floor, bound and helpless, a whirlwind of emotions swirled within me – fear, uncertainty, and a desperate longing for safety and freedom. But just when it felt like all hope was lost, the door burst open, and there he was – Damien, my husband, my savior.Relief flooded through me as I saw him stride into the room, his presence a beacon of strength and determination amidst the chaos. With him was Jackson, his trusted ally, who had helped orchestrate our rescue. I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards both of them as they quickly moved to untie me and Ava, their movements swift and efficient.As the ropes fell away and I rose to my feet, I couldn't suppress the overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude that washed over me. Damien enveloped me in his arms, holding me close and whispering words of reassurance and comfort as tears of relief streamed down my cheeks.Together, we made our way out of the room, leaving behind the nightmare that had thre
Damien My gaze never wavered from Vito's face as I listened to my arch nemesis. The gravity of the situation got more and more deadlier as the night wore on. The papers were still in Vito's hand as I kept the phone to my hear.My father had an inquisitive look on his face as he watched me closely. The line went dead and I put the phone back into my pocket. I collected the the contract and without breaking eye contact, slowly tore it up right in front of him.Vito's eyes widened in shock and utter disbelief. "What the fuck are you doing?" He yelled maniacally as he knelt on the floor trying in vain to join the piece of paper together in a futile attempt.For the first time in my life, I saw him for what he was. An empty barrel of a man, a pathetic and sorry excuse for a husband to my mother and a fucking dead beat piece of shit of a father. I felt nothing but contempt and disgust as I watched him scrambled across the whole floor."Do you know what you have done?!" He yelled at me as h
Isabella As Ava was pushed into the room, I felt a rush of relief flood through me at the sight of her, mingled with a fresh wave of fear for our uncertain future. She stumbled slightly, her eyes wide with shock and confusion, but when she saw me, her expression softened with a mixture of relief and concern."Isabella, darling, are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion as she hurried to my side.I reached out to her, my hands shaking as I clutched hers tightly, drawing strength from her presence despite the terror that still gripped me. "I'm scared, Ava," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's going to happen to us."Ava's eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around me, holding me close in a comforting embrace. "We'll get through this together, sweetheart," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."But before we could say another word, the door swung open once again, and Camilla e
Damien As I waited anxiously for Camilla's instructions, every second felt like an eternity. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one more frantic than the last. Where was she keeping Isabella and Ava? What did she want from me? And most importantly, how could I save them from whatever danger they were in?The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow, the silence of the room weighing heavily on my shoulders. I felt a surge of frustration building within me, the urge to take action and do something, anything, to rescue my wife and mother from the clutches of their captors.Finally, the sound of my phone buzzing broke the silence, and I quickly grabbed it, my heart pounding in my chest. It was Camilla, her name flashing on the screen, and I answered it without hesitation."Damien," her voice came through the line, smooth and composed as ever. "I trust you've had some time to think about our situation."I clenched my jaw, my grip on the phone tightening with barely contained anger. "W
Isabella As consciousness slowly seeped back into my mind, I found myself engulfed in darkness. Panic surged through me as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings, the weight of my own fear pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket.My heart thundered in my chest as I became aware of the rough bindings cutting into my wrists and ankles, the coarse fibers digging painfully into my skin. Panic tightened its grip around my throat as I realized the full extent of my helplessness, the stark reality of my captivity crashing down on me with brutal force.Frantic thoughts raced through my mind as I struggled against my restraints, the panic threatening to consume me whole. Where was I? How had I ended up here? And most importantly, where was Ava?A wave of despair washed over me as I realized that I was completely at the mercy of my captors, whoever they were. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I imagined the worst, my mind conjuring up horrifying scenarios of what fate awa
Damien As I strode through the familiar corridors of the office building, my mind raced with thoughts and plans. Natalia's brazen attempts to undermine me only fueled my determination. I had come too far to let her or anyone else stand in my way.But it wasn't just about me anymore. My family – Isabella, Ava, our unborn child – they were my driving force. I would do whatever it took to protect them, to ensure their safety and security. And that meant taking down anyone who dared to threaten what was mine.And now, as I sat there, surrounded by the trappings of power, I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. I wouldn't rest until the Founder's Association was dismantled until my family was safe until Renaissance was secure.With a steely resolve, I reached for my phone and began to formulate my next move. There was no turning back now. The game was on, and I intended to win. Immersed in the intricate details of my plan, my phone suddenly rang, jolting me out of my focused s
Isabella Chopping vegetables for the lasagna, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over me. Cooking had always been a soothing activity for me, a way to channel my thoughts and focus on something tangible amidst the chaos of life.Ava, my ever-supportive mother-in-law, stood beside me, offering gentle guidance as we prepared dinner for Damien. "Now, Isabella, remember to slice the vegetables thinly for the lasagna layers," she instructed, her voice warm and reassuring.I nodded, taking her advice to heart as I carefully wielded the knife. "Like this?" I asked, holding up a perfectly sliced zucchini for her inspection.Ava smiled approvingly. "Just like that, dear. You're a natural," she praised, her encouragement filling me with a sense of pride.As we worked side by side, Ava shared her secrets for creating the perfect steak marinade, imparting her culinary wisdom with the patience of a seasoned chef. "The key is to let the meat marinate for at least an hour," she expla
Damien I was watchful during the conference meeting. I took my time to really look at the board members sitting at the table to see if I could see a member of the Founder's Association but none were seated at this conference. Even Rose St Dumas was not present. Maybe she was preparing her cronies of corrupt businessmen and women for the final show down.Camilla Valdez was also not present but Natalia was. I could not tell what was going on in her head as she gazed at me. If her mother was one of them, did that not make her automatically part of tht fold? Was I over reaching? If the plan with the detective worked, it meant that a lot of people will inevitably get hurt. "What is the profit margin for today?" I asked as I got down to business. "Eight percent since last year," Natalia said in a professional manner. "That's lower than last two years," I said with a frown. "That was due to the Al Vegas controversy," One of the board members said. "You mean the embezzlement," I replied
Damien Returning to the office after the recent turmoil felt like stepping into a minefield, each step fraught with the risk of detonating hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. As I walked through the familiar halls of Renaissance, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me like a vice, a constant reminder of the precarious balancing act I was now forced to perform.Every interaction, every word spoken, had to be carefully calculated and measured, lest I inadvertently reveal the truth lurking beneath the facade of normalcy I presented to the world. I couldn't afford to let slip even the slightest hint of my alliance with Michael, for fear of the consequences it could bring crashing down upon us both.My colleagues greeted me with smiles and nods as I made my way to my office, their cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me. Behind their friendly facades, I couldn't help but wonder who among them could be trusted, and who might be secretly wo