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A Touch of Madness 42
Isabella I stood in front of the full-body mirror in Sebastian's spacious dressing room. I'm dressed in a simple pink dress that hits my knees, with a halter style on my chest. I've done my makeup naturally and casually, nothing too over the top. I let my hair down after drying it with a hair dryer and tidying it up briefly. I was ready. And Sebastian is waiting for me outside. But indecision creeps into my blood. I'd never been to any of my grandfather's parties. The thought of being in the midst of so many people bored and sickened me, but now... it was different. I would be in the midst of the Sanchez family circle. Where some of their business colleagues knew of our marriage, and our divorce. What would they say if I showed up with him again? I sighed heavily, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My expression was so troubled, it was noticeable. I should have rejected this idea. But I realized that I couldn't. I wanted to use Ace to hold me back, persuade him to play
A Touch of Madness 43
"Let me take you back to Sebastian's arms," Kennan's exaggerated words made me glare. "Or do you want to hug me instead?" he grinned playfully. "Do you want to die?" I retorted sharply and walked back through the hallway to the ballroom. He walked beside me, strangely carefree and very relaxed. It seemed to be because of his pleasant personality. "Do you want to know the story of how you left Sebastian five years ago? It's fascinating." He offered. I shook my head. "No, thank you. I don't want you to tell me anything from five years ago." "Why?" he sounded disappointed. "Nothing," I replied, snorting. "Nothing matters anymore." I looked forward to where Sebastian was talking to the man I recognized as Kenneth, his best friend. His eyes immediately found me, even though we were at a distance. He looked at me with worry, as well as annoyance... I didn't want to know. I looked at Kennan and spoke, "Thanks for that. I'll make sure to come to Ivory." He smiled. "Glad to help you, mad
A Touch of Madness 44
"She'll be fine." Someone's heavy voice came to my ears. I felt a tangible darkness surrounding me, which coaxed me to sleep in its comfort zone. "Be patient, Sebastian. She will wake up." A woman's soft voice followed. Then, I heard nothing. I was still looking into the absolute darkness, at the absence of light that should have been frightening but wasn't. It calmed me, and it protected me. I seemed to want to stay here in the darkness that protects me with all its warmth and safety. As I sniffed the air, I felt a familiar scent—the smell of fresh grass, the fragrance of flowers in the distance, and the gentle breeze. Everything felt so close, even in the darkness that enveloped me. "You must remain rational about everything. Sebastian," the soft voice said again, breaking through into my mind like sunlight through dark clouds. Yet, somehow, I still felt glued to this darkness, like I was bound by something invisible, even though the voices were trying to lead me out. "Ace
A Touch of Madness 45
Sebastian: flashback."You can't marry her just because of Papa's offer," Sierra said lowly, her eyes looking at me seriously. "There's a woman's life that will suffer. I'm sure you'll be fine with it, but her? She'll be tormented being stuck with you." She continued.I snorted. "I can't refuse."Sierra scoffed. "You couldn't or didn't want to because the offer he made sounded tempting to your ears?" she quipped. "I never knew you were this power-hungry." "Maybe you don't know anything about me," I retorted, biting every word out of my mouth to get her to stop advising me. "I am indeed power-hungry. Can you leave now? Because I'm sick of you."Undeterred, she rolled her eyes. Like the Sanchez, Sierra was never afraid of anything. The danger, all the obstacles, grandfather's anger, father's anger—none of it ever bothered her. Like me, she can be smarter to counter threats. She won't be fragile. So, what can I expect her to do? Well, she'll leave happily when she's had her fill of maki
A Touch of Madness 46
"Sebastian," my voice was bitter on my tongue as I looked at him, who had just returned.He just glanced at me lazily while I put on my biggest smile. "You're home early," I said kindly, trying to be more familiar with him."Hmm," he replied briefly. He handed over his suit and briefcase to me unceremoniously. His expression seemed reluctant to linger with me. "How was your work today? Is it good?" "Yes.""Do you want to shower first or have a dinner? I've prepared your favorite menu, it's-""Shower." He cut me off."Okay. I'll prepare warm water for you and your clothes, then. Wait a minute-""Isabella, please stop babbling." Sebastian's voice dripped with coldness. "I can take care of myself. So, please. Instead of you being busy with useless things like this. It's better for you to get out of my sight."I squeezed my fingers tightly. Pain hit me as my nails dug into my skin. "But, Sebastian-""I don't want to hear anything from you." He cut in again, looking at me sharply.I took
A Touch of Madness 47
I don't know what I'm doing right now. Adrift in the uncertainty of my life, I didn't want to live my life continuously in the shadow of being my grandfather's tool to rise to power, being Sebastian's doll. My status as Ace's mother didn't strengthen me. It only oppressed me the same way it had five years ago. The difference now was that Sebastian used his soft and romantic tricks to trap me. I don't know why he bothered to pretend like that. I'm sure I wouldn't be fragile if he treated me like he did five years ago.I walked out of the hospital. Beside me was Sebastian, who hadn't let go of my waist. He hugged me so possessively. Earlier, we had to argue about him urging me to use a wheelchair when I didn't want to. It's not my legs that hurt. Only my head was injured, but it's fully healed. I won that argument by looking at him flatly for a few seconds. Sebastian couldn't argue with me. Instead, he was like this. His one hand had never moved from my waist since we walked out of the
A Touch of Madness 48
I'm still uncomfortable after our fight that time and the accident that happened to me. Like I said, I wanted my own peace of mind. I wanted to calm myself by being away from him for a while to recover mentally and be healthier. Having Sebastian on my radar didn't improve that. His presence was like annoying cigarette smoke.I smiled at Ace, who was busy in my mother's greenhouse at the back of our house. My mom had a greenhouse in the backyard for all her flower collections and a small hydroponic mushroom that she regularly tended to. I don't know how she can be so passionate about caring for everything.And me? Like Dad, I never really liked plants, gardening and taking care of them. I was more into cooking and experimenting with food. That's my craze. Belle was like Dad too, but she loved math and counting. That's why she became an audit clerk at Dad's company. Speaking of Belle, she didn't meet me at the hospital. I only heard that she was outside my room, but she didn't see me. W
A Touch of Madness 50
I didn't realize that this problem was that big, that there were more dangerous things beyond everything I knew that concerned my world."Does everyone... in the mafia know me?" I asked.Vito leaned back in his chair and nodded. "You've been the object of several conversations. But the Cosa Nostra protects you from everything. You're untouchable by people who intend to do bad things to you."I swallowed, staring blankly at the sponge cake on the table. "How come I just found out about this?"All I knew so far was that my father stayed away from my grandfather because he didn't agree with my parent's marriage and that my mother wasn't born rich. But now, another reality was more dangerous and nightmare-like."Everyone was intent on keeping everything from you because granpa thought you'd rebel and run away. Do more than your father.""Dad should have taken us away from the United States or Europe." I muttered, feeling pain in my chest."You can't run away from him. Your father realized
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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. "
