DamienAs I stepped into Emilio Montenegro's house, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over me like a heavy cloak. The air was thick with tension, the atmosphere charged with the silent battle of wills between Emilio and myself.I had never been particularly fond of Emilio, and the feeling was mutual. Our relationship had always been strained, marked by a deep-seated resentment that simmered just beneath the surface. But as I glanced around the lavish surroundings of his home, I knew that I had no choice but to put aside my personal feelings for the sake of Isabella's safety.Emilio greeted me with a curt nod as I entered, his expression guarded and aloof. I returned the gesture with a tight-lipped smile, doing my best to conceal the simmering anger that churned inside me. But even as we exchanged pleasantries, I could sense the underlying tension that lingered between us, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken animosity that existed between us.As the days passed, I
Isabella As I made my way through the corridors, the heated voices outside reached my ears. Damien and my father, Emilio, were at it again. I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease knowing that they were arguing over my safety, over me. It was a constant battle between the two men who held such significant places in my life, yet seemed worlds apart in their beliefs and methods.I paused, leaning against the wall, feeling torn between the two. Damien, my husband, was determined to protect me at all costs, even if it meant facing dangerous adversaries head-on. His love for me was unwavering, but sometimes I feared that his recklessness would only lead us deeper into peril.On the other hand, my father, Emilio, was pragmatic and calculating. He believed that the only way to ensure my safety was to distance me from Damien and the dangers that came with him. His intentions were rooted in his paternal instinct to shield me from harm, but his methods felt suffocating, as if he was trying t
Damien As I attempted to settle into my role as a husband and provider, the tension between Emilio and me only seemed to escalate. Every interaction with him felt like navigating a minefield, with each step forward met by resistance and hostility.Before I headed to work, I found myself once again locked in a heated confrontation with Emilio. The air crackled with animosity as accusations flew back and forth between us, each word a barb aimed at the other's heart.I stood my ground, refusing to back down in the face of Emilio's relentless attacks. I accused him of trying to sabotage the legacy I was building for Isabella and our unborn child, of trying to tear down everything I had worked so hard to achieve.Emilio's eyes blazed with fury, his words dripping with contempt as he hurled insults at me. But I refused to let his venom penetrate my resolve. I knew that I had to protect my family at all costs, even if it meant standing up to the man who had once been my father-in-law.I cou
Isabella As I found myself residing in my estranged father's home, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of discomfort lingering in the air. Every moment spent alone with Emilio was fraught with tension, as the weight of our complicated relationship loomed heavily over us.We had spent so many years apart, estranged by his absence and my resentment. Now, thrown together by circumstances beyond our control, we were forced to navigate the awkwardness of our newfound proximity.It was during these moments of solitude with Emilio that I felt the full weight of my abandonment issues pressing down on me. Growing up, his absence had been a constant presence in my life, a silent reminder of his priorities and the void he left behind.As we awkwardly exchanged small talk and forced pleasantries, I couldn't shake the feeling of resentment bubbling just beneath the surface. Despite my efforts to bury the past and move forward, the wounds of my childhood remained raw and unhealed.I str
Damien "I hope you did not count on never seeing me again," Rose St. Dumas said as she gazed at me. I could not tell if she was happy to see me or angry. Rose St. Dumas was an old friend of my mom. When everything had gone to shit with my parents marriage while surfing through the teenage years, I had spent some time with her and her husband. Natalia was her daughter and we had both tried to get married but failed both times we tried. "I did not think that there was ever any reason for you to want to see me," I replied as I reluctantly closed the door behind me. I had no idea why she was here but I knew that she did not come in peace. Rose was sitting comfortably in my office chair with her legs sultrily crossed. Although she was way older, she was still very beautiful and attractive. "That is not a very nice way to think of me, Damien," Rose said. "I was not being deliberate hurtful," I told her. "But you were hurtful, and that is what it boils down to," Rose said. "I apolog
Isabella It could not be. I refused to believe it. I dropped the call and left a confused-looking Emilio where he stood. "What is it, Isabella?" Emilio asked with concern. I was too disoriented to answer as my heartbeat increased exponentially. I did not want to believe that it was who I thought it was. Maybe I had overreacted and it was somebody else entirely. I played the event of this morning in my head as I took a seat on one of the couches in the living room. I struggled to breathe as I tried to relax. "Isabella, who was it? You look pale!" Emilio came closer as I struggled. I did not want to admit that it was him but it was him. As I sat beside my father, Emilio, in the dimly lit living room, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions consumed my thoughts. The urge to confide in him battled against the deep-seated fear of vulnerability and betrayal. Part of me longed to unburden myself, to seek solace in his presence and share the weight of my troubles. Yet, another part hesitated
Damien 226I heaved a sigh of relief after Rose's departure, although her presence still lingered like an unwelcome ghost haunting the corners of my mind. Memories, both bitter and regretful, flooded back to me, reminding me of a time when I was young, foolish, and vulnerable.I couldn't help but dwell on the past, on the choices I made and the consequences that followed. Rose St. Dumas, with her alluring charm and captivating presence, had once been a significant figure in my life. She was the mother of Natalia, my ex-fiancée, and a woman whose influence had shaped my formative years in ways I couldn't fully comprehend at the time.My thoughts then turned to Isabella, my wife, the woman who had stood by me through thick and thin, despite the shadows of my past that loomed over us like dark clouds on the horizon. Isabella was my rock, my anchor in a sea of uncertainty, and I couldn't bear the thought of betraying her trust or jeopardizing our future together.But Rose's unexpected reap
Isabella 227I spent the next half hour telling my dad about the person who called. It felt so impossible as I spoke to him about Robert James. Robert was my first boyfriend before I met Damien.However, before I uttered any word to Emilio, I had to get myself together because hearing the voice of my presumed dead ex had rattled my world.Maybe if Damien had been here, things might have been a little better and his presence may have helped me calm down a lot quicker but he was not and I was unfortunately stuck with my estranged father who knew nothing about my life."I knew him before I met Damien," I started. "But then, I was working under Camilla, and she was the reason we ended things," I said.Emilio said nothing but the rapt attention on his face gave me the courage to continue."It turned out that Robert was somehow involved with Camilla but he would not let me know what was going on between the two of them," I recalled, getting angry as the countless scenarios kept on playing in