Isabella 184.I was anxious to get home not because I wanted answers this time, but I could not stop being afraid for my husband. I knew that there was no way to dissuade him from his pursuit of the truth but it did not mean that I did not have to try. There was something disturbing about the puppet I had seen at Ava's place. The image of the ragged wooden stringed up puppet with an almost life like imagery of Ava's fade made me suddenly unsettled.This was because I had seen something like this before and it was way bloodier and very sick. I used to be unfairly picked on by a sister in the covenant that had taken me in. Sister Monica.She would deliberately starve me and called me a child of sin. I had no idea what I did to her to get such treatment. One day, she had beaten my knuckles red and swollen because I failed to recite a part of the book she was teaching about.I was just twelve and I had cried myself to sleep. The next morning, sister Monica was f
Damien 185.I woke up with a slight headache and running stomach. I groaned uncomfortably as I looked over at my wife. We had not officially done the whole wedding thing yet but she was my wife by choice and calling.We just had not yet officiated the wedding yet. Too much had been happening and it got the both of us distracted. Who could blame us? Our lives were in perpetual danger unless I did something about it and fast.Ever since Jackson told me about my father in law being the root cause of my problems, it had filled me with unadulterated rage and dismay.Emilio Montenegro came into out lives, unwanted and not needed. He was the long lost estranged father of my wife and he believed that I was not the perfect fit for his daughter. We had even met earlier in a bar in the city where he threatened thunder and fire upon me.I gently nugdeg Isabella awake."Morning, my Cara," I whispered softly into her exposed ear as I woke her up.Isabella woke up and sn
Isabella 186.It was still morning and Damien did not feel like going to work after what my dad had done. We walked slowly back to his car after the nasty confrontation that took place moments ago between him and my father.Damien had no actual destination in mind so he just drove aimlessly."What is going on in your head?" I asked him as he watched the road, a grim expression etched on his face."You don't want to know," He gruffly replied."Damien, you are shutting me out again," I let him know. "And that makes you no different from my father," I added and quite frankly, I had no idea where those words came from."I am thinking of punching your dad in the face, I want to wrap my hands around his neck and keep squeezing," He curtly replied.I raised my eyebrows, mildly surprised that he told me."I told you that you did not want to know," Damien said when he saw my shocked expression."That is not it, I am actually shocked that you told me," I replied."Which part? About me kicking y
Damien 187I sat at my desk, the weight of recent revelations pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. Despite my best efforts to focus on work, my mind kept drifting back to the dark secrets lurking within Renaissance, and the role my father-in-law, Emilio, played in it all.I tried to bury myself in reports and emails, but every word on the screen blurred together, the letters dancing before my eyes in a mocking dance of distraction. I needed to clear my head, to find some semblance of clarity in the chaos that threatened to consume me.Just then, a soft knock echoed through my office, followed by the sound of the door swinging open. I looked up to see Camilla Valdez standing in the doorway, her presence as unwelcome as ever."Damien," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to maintain a neutral expression despite the rising tide of anger and frustration building within me. "Wha
Isabella 188.I stayed over at Ava's where the security was tightened and my father was banned from entering the premises. It was safer that way and I had no current desire to ever see him again. Ever since he came into my life, it had been one lie after another.I could not even deny that I was not impressed by how he emotionally insinuated his way into my life and tried to turn me against Damien by painting him in a bad and mysterious way. He sounded almost accusatory whenever he mentioned Damien.It was as if he had a personal issue with Damien's existence. I had never understood why he was not in acceptance of my husband but he could take his concerns to hell. I could not believe that I even consoled him when he shed those tears of regret.Were the tears. even real?"Earth to Isabella, my dear you were long gone," Ava said as she joined me at the backyard porch.I smiled sheepishly."Just lost in thoughts, that's all," I replied."I understand perfectly what
Damien 189.I sat in my office, staring blankly at the computer screen, the cursor blinking mockingly as if taunting me with my own indecision. Camilla's words echoed in my mind, her insistent demand for me to attend the meeting with Senator Kelly ringing in my ears like a relentless drumbeat.I had never been one to trust politicians, and for good reason. In my line of work, corruption ran rampant, and those in power often wielded it like a weapon, using their influence to further their own agendas at the expense of the innocent.But Camilla was relentless in her pursuit, her persuasive arguments leaving me with little choice but to acquiesce to her demands. She had a way of twisting words, of painting a picture so compelling that it was almost impossible to resist.With a heavy sigh, I pushed back from my desk and rose to my feet, the weight of Camilla's expectations heavy on my shoulders. Despite my misgivings, I knew that I had to tread carefully, to play
Isabella 190.As Natalia's piercing gaze met mine, I felt a shiver run down my spine, the memory of her tumultuous relationship with Damien still fresh in my mind. She was a force to be reckoned with, her confidence bordering on arrogance, her beauty a weapon she wielded with deadly precision. But beneath the facade of glamour and allure, there lurked a darkness, a shadow of manipulation and deceit that made my skin crawl.I glanced over at Ava, my mother-in-law, her expression tight with barely concealed disdain as she regarded Natalia with narrowed eyes. She had never been shy about her feelings towards Damien's ex-girlfriend, always quick to voice her disapproval at the mere mention of her name.Natalia's lips curled into a smug smile, her gaze flickering between Ava and me with a hint of amusement. "I heard Damien was in town, so I thought I'd come and say hello," she replied, her tone sweet but laced with a subtle undertone of malice.I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails dig
Damien 191.I was calling it a day after the meeting with Senator Kelly. There was something sinister about the man that I could not put my finger on but I was certain that I did not trust him one bit. I closed the door to my office and headed for the elevator."Who are you?" I asked as went out of my office to see a lady sitting behind a desk meant for the secretary.The seat had been vacant ever since I took the position of CEO but I had not appointed a secretary ever since nor did I ever have the intention to."I am your new secretary," The lady replied."I did not hire a new secretary, why are you here?" I curtly retorted."Ms. Camilla Valdez, she gave me this job, I am just doing what I am told," The lady said."What's your name?" I asked."Gia," She replied.I was willing to bet that Gia here was a spy sent to keep an eye on me. And it was obvious that I could not trust Gia. It was foolish to do so.As I settled into my office chair, the weight of the day's responsibilities bear
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