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A Touch of Madness 30
"Study well, Ace. Daddy will pick you up later." Sebastian said to Ace when we were in front of his school.I was beside him, kissing Ace gently on the cheek before standing up and running a hand through his hair. He looked up at his father. "Really? Are we going to the playground?" I shook my head. "No, you're not. You've been playing too much." Ace's face immediately pouted while Sebastian laughed amusedly. "Daddy's taking you somewhere." "Where?" Sebastian squatted in front of Ace and whispered in his ear. I frowned at both of them and shook my head. Ace nodded quickly and put his index finger before his lips while Sebastian laughed. "Where are you guys going?" I asked them. "Confidential." I snorted and asked again, "Mommy not invited?" "No, Mommy can't come." Ace shook his head, then kissed the cheek of his father, who was still squatting in front of him. He waved goodbye to both of us before going inside. "I'm going to school first. Bye-bye Daddy Mommy." He said cheerfu
A Touch of Madness 31
I brooded in my office for as long as possible, with everything surrounding my head like flies surrounding rotten meat. I contemplated everything. About a lot of things. About the future, how I'd be when this damn deal stopped, about what would happen if I followed Killian, Ace's future, and how I'd end up in old age. That uneasiness and insecurity always haunted me, and I always dragged on in that fear—the same dark lake that could drown me and bring me to its faint end. Later, I tried to occupy myself with organizing and planning what I would do. There are new breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu recipes, new coffee variant recipes, and some new snacks. My family is Italian, and we have a fondness for cooking our own specialities or legends, so I wrote down some simple menus on my laptop and then searched the internet for foodstuffs to keep myself busy. It almost worked before the arrival of Owen and Belle, which ignited my emotions. I looked at Belle, who was looking at me like she
A Touch of Madness 32
I can't remember the last time I was given a festive birthday greeting. It was probably when I was seven years old, and then there were just the usual greetings without a surprise party. Today was the first time in my adult life, and it really surprised me. I often forget my birthday, but this time, I really forgot because I was too wrapped up in what was going on in my life, which was definitely more important than my birthday. I didn't even realize that it was already mid July when my birthday happened. The few people close to me are here: my parents, Kate, Owen, Beau, my café staff, and, of course, Ace and Sebastian. No Killian here, no need to be surprised. Sebastian couldn't have brought him. "This is really too much," I sigh softly. Kate chuckles as I hug her. "It's not. You've never celebrated your birthday. Celebrating once in a while is no big deal." "Thank you so much." "Thank your ex-husband, he organized everything." She replied with an amused giggle. I hugged each
A Touch of Madness 33
I woke up to the sound of curtains being drawn and sunlight hitting my closed eyes. I blink and stare at Sebastian's silhouette with his back to the sun, a black t-shirt hugging his sexy, athletic upper body, and his legs hugged by gym pants. I winced, moaning softly and moving my naked body under the covers, but the pain instantly shot through every bone in my body. The bed moved as he sat on the side of the bed, right next to me. His hand in my hair tempted me to sleep again. "Continue your sleep," "You just finished working out?" I asked hoarsely, my throat a little dry and sore. He mumbled, agreeing. I immediately glared. "Ace..." "It's already nine o'clock, Sweetheart." He said. "He left two hours ago." "Oh my god." I groaned, looking at him in annoyance. "Why didn't you wake me up?" "You were tired from our activities last night," I glared at him. He chuckled and continued. "And you were so sound, I didn't have the heart to wake you up. You don't have to worry. I prepared
A Touch of Madness 34
The sound of enthusiastic shouting from downstairs startled me. It was Ace's voice, and he was downstairs. The library doors were still open, and if I didn't get out of here fast enough, Sebastian would be here. With trembling hands, I had to recover from my shock and put the document book back into place. Whatever questions came to my mind, I pushed them down. I didn't want my curiosity to show on my face. Sebastian could be suspicious. He was such a meticulous and accurate observer that he could instantly know the contents of my head if I was like an open book in front of him. I rubbed my face roughly before going out and putting on my most polite face. I was half-dead, but I kept myself calm even though I had just read my friend's name in Sebastian's casualty book. I closed the library door and descended the circular staircase to the main floor. I painted a big smile when I found them in the kitchen. Ace was sitting on the counter enjoying the sponge cake I had made earlier, and
A Touch of Madness 35
"Is something wrong?" the question made me turn to Sebastian who was sitting behind the wheel. I looked at him with a frown. "Nothing. Why?" He looked at me with narrowed eyes and shook his head slowly. "You just look a little different from last night. You look like you're deep in your own thoughts." I opened my mouth, and was slightly dumbfounded by him watching me since yesterday. Did I look so obvious in his eyes? "I'm fine," I retorted. The deepening frown on his forehead and his eyes narrowing at me made me realize that he didn't accept that excuse. "Do you want something else for your birthday? Or do you want a big party? Or do you want another present from me?" he asked persistently. I gave him an annoyed glance. "I don't want any of that, Sebastian," I press him. "So what's wrong with you?" "I said I'm fine," I bit out. "That's what all women say when they're clearly not fine. It's a ticking time bomb." I snorted as I rolled my eyes. "Well, maybe you don't need to kn
A Touch of Madness 36
I visited my family's house—my home, my real home—after picking up Ace with the driver Sebastian had sent. Sebastian had an important meeting today, so he couldn't pick Ace up. He wanted us to come to his office and eat lunch together, but I refused. I had my own business to attend to, and I didn't wish to have twenty-four hours of interaction with him either. "Grandmaaa," Ace exclaimed enthusiastically as he got out of the car and saw my mother in our small chili plant garden. My mom, who had been looking down, immediately stood up, and her face widened with surprise and delight when she saw Ace. After thanking driver Sebastian, I carried his schoolbag and my own bag out of the car. "Hey, my dear." Mom hugged him immediately after taking off her gloves and planted small kisses on his cheeks. "Why didn't you say you were coming here?" she asked the two of us. "Just randomly." I hugged Mommy briefly. "How are you, Babby boo?" She asked Ace. Ace nodded with an adorable face. "I'm
A Touch of Madness 37
My heart felt like it was about to jump out. Trembling took over my entire body with a terrible tremor. My legs were still frozen, preventing me from moving as I felt his closer presence. The darkness placed its claws on my back, pawing at my skin with a horrible imaginary rough touch. His presence was darkness itself, and I could do nothing but surrender to it. I swallowed heavily, breathing heavily when his exhale was felt on my head. "What exactly are you looking for, Isabella?" he asked in a cold, heavy, terrifying voice. I opened my mouth, trying to get my voice out despite the cold jolt coursing through my blood. "I'm not looking for anything," I replied softly. "I didn't mean to. I really just wanted to see your library." The lie flowed smoothly from my mouth. "I accidentally found this when I wanted to touch this strange painting." He sneered at me, and then chuckled coldly. "You think I believe you?" he asked sarcastically. "You called me, pretended to look out for me
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A Touch of Madness Epilog
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
A Touch of Madness 113 : War is Over
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
A Touch of Madness 112
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
A Touch of Madness 111
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
A Touch of Madness 110
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
A Touch of Madness 109
"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
A Touch of Madness 108
"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
A Touch of Madness 107
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
A Touch of Madness 106
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. "
