I could hardly close my eyes, always open with anxiety and restlessness. My mind couldn't stop running. I was already wandering to images of Ace being snatched from my arms.I lay beside my son and held him, stroking Ace's thick black hair and handsome face as he slept peacefully. Can't imagine what would have happened to me if Sebastian had taken him away.Even my heart hurts now.I may not be able to breathe if the time came.I hugged Ace when the back of my eyes felt stung. I held it in because I didn't want to cry. If I cry, it wouldn't stop, and it would be a loud cry and disturb Ace. I didn't want him to see me crying. He would be sad, too.I kissed his forehead and held him while staring blankly at the blue window curtains in Ace's room. I'll be like this until my head is exhausted, and then sleep.But the vibration on my cell phone on the table made me pull my gaze towards it. What kind of crazy person calls at two o'clock at night? I sighed softly and moved slightly to reach
From: UnknownHow is My Princess doing today? Are you ready to surrender? Do I have to pick you up in a horse-drawn carriage?I read the message with resentment vaporizing in my chest. My heart was beating rapidly with annoyance. I deleted the message, and I am not replying to anything.The throbbing in my head became a terrible throbbing like there were a thousand needle pricks in there.I put down my phone, looked down, pressed my head firmly with my fingers. My eyes burned, and I cried out. There's no one here. Killian has gone home.And I can cry.I can scream.I do.Standing breathless, chest burning with emotion, I threw everything on my desk. Everything, including my laptop and my work tools. Everything was a mess as it fell on the floor.I collapsed on the floor, sat up and pulled my knees up to my chest.My head was buzzing.And I felt nothing a few seconds later.All I knew was the darkness that picked me up.***"I made you some honey tea, to calm you down. I hope it will m
People say we can't pin our hopes on someone. No matter how good they are. Humans are fallible creatures, and we can disappoint others unintentionally. We can also abandon others. Our hearts can flip. One second, we love someone. The next, we can hate them.So what can help? It's by not expecting anything from someone. I've done it before, and when it hit me my whole life, I was devastated. But I found hope in myself again, which comes from trusting myself and realizing that no one else but me can make me happy.Happy with someone else? That's a bonus. But now, I don't want to accept the idea of being happy with someone else because I'm still afraid to do so.Especially since out of all the men in my life, I've had to deal with the jerks. Like Killian Davenport, he's my best friend, but it's possible that it could happen. But he's last on the list because aside from being my best friend, he's also being the jerks boyfriend for his woman. He cheated on Lynsey, his fiancee, a few times,
"Are you still standing there until night?" Sebastian's voice was full of threats, but I didn't care.I'm still standing in the courtyard in front of Sebastian Sanchez's large and luxurious mansion. I've refused to enter since Sebastian's car brought me here. Sebastian passes through the large doors, shoving both hands into his pants pockets as he walks towards me. Narrowing the distance between us."Get in, Isa." he growled lowly.I shook my head, looking away as he approached. I really wanted to get away from him now because this was beyond what I had expected. Last night, he only said that I would be staying at his apartment, but this morning, he told me to get ready to take me to this place after Ace went to his school with his driver,He took me to his mansion. I would have been fine if we were in an apartment. It was in the middle of the city, and I could feel there was a lot of hustle around me, but this... this was far from the city. It was on the outskirts of the city and env
I opened my eyes, aches pricking my body. My eyes tried to adapt to the dim lights in the room. The lamp and the nightlight seemed to be turned off, with only sunlight coming through the gaps in the curtains.The smell of wood is the first thing I smell, and the dizziness in my head is not enough to make me lose my memory.I was still in this room, in Sebastian Sanchez's room."Ow, shit.." I pressed my head, remembering everything. What happened this morning... me and Sebastian's activities. Moreover, under the thick blanket, I was still wearing nothing.I pulled the blanket off, stepping down, intending to leave since Sebastian had already finished with our bussines. Ace must have gotten home from school by now, and he's looking for me. I can't stay here too long because if I don't watch him, he'll skip lunch and focus on his toys instead.But my body is too weak. I even wobble and fall to the floor. I can't stand up. My legs are too weak. Sebastian is a piece of shit. He really was
Once again, the weekend of fun and tranquillity that I had enjoyed for so long no longer seemed to go the way I wanted. Because just as I started to take a hot bath in my bathroom, I had to accept the arrival of my cheeky ex-husband.I didn't know why he could waltz in, but there was no need because I just remembered that he had pulled my father to his side."Here you are, robbing me of my peace so easily." I muttered with sharpness.Sebastian was really something, and I wasn't even surprised anymore when he opened my bathroom and entered casually."Don't you know there's someone in the bathroom?" I asked him, curled up in my bathtub, staring at him intently."You're not coming home,""I've only been in my own home for two hours, and you set a time for me like I did for Ace? You're really unpredictable." I frowned. "And what do you mean by 'home'? I'm in my own home right now." I replied.He leaned his shoulders against the wall and folded his arms, looking at me flatly. I submerged m
"Because, Isa..." he trailed off, taking a few steps forward, followed by my retreating steps. He erased the distance between us when my back hit the wall. "You should know that I'm in charge here."I didn't say anything but stared into his eyes. The demon that was behind everything inside him. That darkness was there behind his ocean-blue eyes. Everything was quiet there, just waiting for something from above to come and disrupt it.If I put in enough effort and courage to trigger his emotions. What would he do to me? Would he have the heart to physically harm me or do something worse than that... like kill me? I don't know.But my own little demon inside me was tempted to try it, and I suppressed that intention to the bottom, at the very core of my being because, well.. surely, I already knew worse. The consequence was that he will kept me away from Ace."You know what, Sebastian? If only you came with remorse in your eyes, apologizing to me about what you've done in the past...then
"Get away from Sebastian."My gaze lingers on his face for a few seconds. "I would, if I could.""I can do it. I'll do everything necessary and you'll get away from him. All you need to do is ask."I snorted, leaning back in my chair. "It's not that easy, Killian. Do you know who you're talking about? It's Sebastian Sanchez!""Yes, of course I know." He replies, sighing loudly as he looks away."And you're still fighting him? He could ruin your life.""Are you underestimating me?""No, Killian, no." I sighed softly. "It's just that no one can go against his boundaries. If I go against it. He'll... he'll take Ace away from me. He'll take us both away." I swallowed harshly. "You know that I can't live without Ace."Killian looked at me, contemplating. I don't know what he was thinking, but there was no longer a solution to bypassing my and Sebastian's agreement. I was already on my way to knowing that if I really stepped out of the line Sebastian set, then he would throw me off a cliff
Five years later.The sound of joyful laughter fills our warm living room. I rubbed my forehead, holding back a smile as I watched our twins, Athena and Azriel, run around yelling at each other. Both were still wearing the superhero costumes they got from Janet's birthday party, complete with fluttering red capes as they ran around the living room."Nana! Azzy! That's enough!" I called out, trying to be a bit chatty even though it was hard to hold back my laughter at their behaviour. "Stop chasing each other around the house. If you want to play superhero, do it in the garden!"Athena paused for a moment, looking at me with wide eyes full of innocence. But instead of obeying, the girl shook her head quickly, grinning as she turned to chase after her twin, who ran away. "I don't want to go outside! It's fun here!" she said, her cheerful laughter filling the room."Yes, but I will lose my sanity if you two keep shouting like this!" I tried to put on a angry face, but Azriel just jumped
Sleepiness strikes hard because I haven't slept in two days. It’s crawls over my eyes, making them feel heavy, yet every time I close my eyes, flashes of horror always appear, stopping me from falling into a comfortable sleep. The clock on the wall ticked softly, breaking the silence of the night that felt too quiet. But suddenly, a rumbling sound came from outside. The sound of slamming doors and hurried footsteps. It gets closer, echoing up to my bedroom door, then...The door opened with a bang, and Killian walked in with a tense face. Without a word, he grabs my hand, gripping it roughly. "We're leaving now," he said coldly, his voice low but filled with a frightening haste."What happened?" I demanded, resisting his grip even though there was barely any strength in the resistance. "Don't ask too many questions," he said coldly as he dragged me out of the room, his steps quick, almost running.We walked down the creaking stairs through the narrow, dimly lit hallways. I tried to
Isabella POV.I couldn't sleep. I couldn't close my eyes completely. I stared at the scenery behind the glass. I was expecting something. To someone to come and get me. Sebastian. I wish Sebastian were here.I hug my belly tightly, holding my babies. My chest feels tight, my heart beating wildly in the silence of the night that feels so foreign. Outside, the waves were constantly crashing against the cliff, making a sound that somehow made my body tense up even more. Beyond the windowpane, I could only see the dark, endless sea with no sign of life. Only my own shadow was faintly reflected, looking so fragile in the middle of this cold room.I rubbed my stomach lightly, trying to give warmth to my two unborn babies, hoping they could feel my false calm. "Everything will be okay," I whispered almost silently, more to calm myself than for them. But, I knew I needed to reassure them and tell them their mother would fight.My heart refused to calm down, pounding like it was rebelling
The broken glass on the floor scattered like the shattered remnants of my hope with each passing minute without Isabella by my side. I stared at Marc and Diaz with a sharp look to make them tremble. My chest was beating hard, each beat full of anger and fear that couldn't be suppressed."Useless," I hissed, my voice hoarse and low. They both looked down, not daring to raise their heads.Marc tried to speak, his voice sounding weak, like a child caught in the act. "We've checked the small ports, contacted everyone who might know their whereabouts—""But it came up empty, didn't it?" I cut in, hitting the table so hard that Marc jerked back. "My wife is missing somewhere, and you guys can only stand here like fools!"I looked at Diaz, who gulped, his eyes troubled as he looked at me. But I didn't give him a chance. Every second without news of Isabella made my blood boil. To think that she might be trapped in the hands of a bastard like Killian... my mind was filled with images of a t
My head throbbed violently as the harsh sunlight pierced my eyelids. Heavily, I sat up, trying to understand where I was. Rough wooden walls and small windows with dull curtains emitted light all around me, making this room feel even more alien and rough. My heartbeat quickened, panic creeping up from my toes to my head. This was not a room on our private island, not a place I recognized. The walls were weathered, and the overpowering scent of sea salt pierced my nose, mixed with the damp, unfamiliar smell of wood.The memories swirl, fragment by fragment, starting to return, like pieces of a nightmare creeping in slowly.The silent night on the island, Killian's sudden grip, the thin, cold smile on his face, then the hallways of the house echoing with unfamiliar steps. My memory stops at the moment he pulls me towards the boat, waiting at the dock, as I struggle, trying to escape. But all my efforts were in vain. Killian's grip was like an iron shackle I couldn't break.I stood uns
"I'll be back tomorrow morning before you wake up." Sebastian's voice sounded lazy from our connected call. "I have so many things to take care of. I promise we'll have a good time once I'm done with all this. But I feel bad leaving you alone there."I chuckled softly. "Yeah, that's okay. There's Janet here. I don't feel alone."He chuckled on the other end of the line, his low laugh almost drowned out by the slightly crackling signal. "Yeah, my cousin with her... unique personality," he continued, his voice trying to sound serious but instead sounding full of warmth. "She'll probably set your whole life in pink if you let her. Just make sure she doesn't end up redecorating our house or... suggesting weird names for our baby."I smiled, imagining Janet, who could vigorously transform the house into a sea of pink, complete with flashy accessories. It was like relentless energy ready to fill every corner of the room, chasing away any loneliness I might feel while Sebastian was away. "T
"It looks like your Abuelo has other ambitions."Apparently, he seemed to welcome me not because I was his grandson's wife but because we had a son, and two more twins were about to come out to greet the world. It was like he welcomed a treasure and an asset rather than a great-grandchild. It made me wonder how Sebastian's father had grown up under pressure from his father and how Sebastian had grown up under pressure from his grandfather.I nestled comfortably on his chest. He sat on a lounge chair, his hands cradling my growing belly. In front of us is a beach and a vast ocean.It was a beautiful sight. Sebastian tightens his arms around me, his warmth contrasting with the sea breeze gently brushing against my skin. In front of the calm blue sea, I can feel everything, as well as the freedom that has been almost foreign since meeting his grandfather.Sebastian bowed his head, his lips touching my head gently. "I want our kids to have a choice," he whispers, his voice almost drowne
Silence hung in the air as Sebastian's grandfather folded his arms, his eyes never leaving my face. With a small gesture, he nodded as if encouraging himself to continue the conversation that, perhaps, he had planned for so long."And... what about your son? Ace? Your father told me that he is a cheerful and smart boy." His voice was low, but his tone was unmistakable. Demanding an answer, he turned to Sebastian and to me.I let out a small sigh, trying to keep my smile genuine as I replied, "Ace is a wonderful boy. Smart, full of energy, and very curious." Talking about my son in front of someone who looked so critical felt strange, but I didn't want to show any doubt.Sebastian, who had been standing quietly beside me, shifted slightly. His arm slowly wrapped around my waist, signaling he wouldn't let me face this alone."Oh, really?" he looked at us, alternating between me and Sebastian. A faint light in his eyes showed interest, albeit with skepticism. "He must meet me one day. I
The phone in my hand vibrated softly, displaying a name that instantly warmed my chest. Ace's face appeared on the screen with one touch, and his wide smile greeted me. His hair was a little messy, as usual, and his school uniform was already rumpled here and there. "Momma!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "I just got home from school!" Seeing his face is always like a breath of fresh air in the thick Mexico City air. I smiled softly, adjusting the position of my phone so I could see him better. "How was your day at school, baby?" Ace shrugged his little shoulders, his face glistening with childlike satisfaction. "Good! I learned about dinosaurs today. They're cool, Mom. I like T-Rex, but my friends say I look like a velociraptor." He chuckles, his cheeks slightly flushed with excitement. I chuckled softly my feelings had drifted to a lighter place with his laughter. "Oh? Velociraptor, huh? You're fast like them." "I'm smart too!" he added quickly, his face full of confidence. "