Isabella's POVI was drowning in an ocean of invading thoughts, and Xander was at the centre of it all. It felt like he was the only thing I could think of lately, even when I knew I didn't want to.I was with Manny in the car right now, but it felt like I wasn't.'' Are you okay babe,'' I soon heard Manny ask.'' Yes, I am,'' I smiled, looking up at him.'' Are you sure because you have been very quiet and you are never this quiet,'' Manny let out and I shook my head.'' I am fine, I just have a little headache, that is all,'' I lied.'' Oh my, do you want us to go to the doctor first,'' Manny asked and I shook my head.'' No, don't bother yourself, It is just a headache,'' I said and Manny nodded as he held onto my hand, kissing it softly.'' Don't worry, we will soon get to where we are going, and I am sure if you see where I am taking you too, you will feel much better,'' Manny let out, and I forced myself to smile.'' I can not wait,'' I lied again as I turned my head to look out
Isabella's POV''Do not say those words to me again,'' I whispered, and Manny looked at me confused.'' Isabella why? why shouldn't I tell you that I love you?'' Manny asked.'' Because you can not love me,'' I let out as my eyes trailed to the floor.'' Isabella, why is that? Remember we do not choose who we love,'' Manny asked.'' You can not love someone like me, Manny, when all this is all over, I will leave this place and I don't know if this love you have for me will survive the outside world,'' I answered, but I knew that was not the real reason.'' Isabella, look at me,'' he said as he lifted my head to look at him.'' I do not care, I love you and that is all that matters, and when all this is over we will figure it out okay,'' Manny said.'' But what if,'' I wanted to protest but Manny stopped.''As I said before, you don't have to say those words back to me right now, I will wait for as long as it takes because you are worth it. And this love I have for you is big enough fo
Isabella's POV I just told Mia about my feelings for the Draco, and she was so happy about it, but now she is looking at me with an unreadable look in her eyes.'' Mia say something please.'' I let out because what she just said was not what I wanted to hear.'' Isa what else do you want me to say, like I said it was about time you finally recognized your feelings for him, so tell me what are you going to do now, are you going to tell Manny that you are in love with the Draco,'' Mia said and I shook my head.'' That is the problem, Mia. I am in a dilemma right now. How do you expect me to tell Manny that? He has been nothing but good to me. I can not bring myself to break his heart,'' I said and Mia rolled her eyes.'' So what are you saying? Are you going to stay with a man that you don't love?'' Mia asked.'' I never said that I didn't love him,'' I let out and Mia laughed.'' You didn't have to, it is written all over your face,'' Mia said and I breathed out heavily.'' I care ab
Isabella's POV''I am sure it will all work itself out,'' Mia said, and I smiled.'' I hope so because it feels like my world is currently taking a 360 turn,'' I let out, and Mia rolled her eyes.'' How can you say that when your life is just like those we see in the movies, it is so exciting, you know,'' Mia said, and I shook my head.''Nothing is exciting about my life right now; it is filled with constant fear and uncertainty,'' I said.'' But, anyways, why don't we go in? I feel like my bed is calling me right now, thanks to the alcohol,'' I said, and Mia smiled as we both got out of the car, making our way inside.'' What about work? Wouldn't Dan be mad that you didn't show up? I know how he can be,'' I asked.'' Don't worry about it, because when I mentioned my absence had to do with the Draco, Dan was as quiet as a church rat,'' Mia answered, and I smiled.We got into the house, and it was so dark and quiet, so we slowly made our way upstairs, but then I heard Xander's voice wh
Xander's POV It is not news anymore that I was shot at the charity ball. It all happened so fast that I didn't see my attacker's face because all I wanted to do was protect Bella, and I did, and don't regret taking a bullet for her because she was everything to me, and that kiss we shared was something that can win even a thousand men's hearts.But to my greatest surprise, I saw her back in Manny's arms when I woke up.It was impossible to contain my anger and jealousy, but I had to because I knew she was not mine to keep, and maybe that kiss we shared was not as different as I thought it was.But there was this look in her eyes that had me wondering if being with Manny was what she wanted.At first, I wasn't sure about it, but every time I saw her in Manny's arms, that look was there.And that was when I knew I had to talk to her. I needed to decipher that look in her eyes.She was out with Mia all day, and I couldn't wait for her to return because, honestly, I wouldn't say I liked
Xander's POV When she said those 3 words to me, I didn't know what to do or what to believe.''Was she saying the truth, does she love me?'' I asked myself because even though she had finally said those words that I had always wanted to hear from her, I still had this hint of doubt in my heart. Because deep down I never really thought someone so pure and innocent could love someone like me.'' There I have said, is that not what you want to hear, Xander? I love you. I still don't know how it happened, but I fell helplessly in love with you,'' she said, and there it was, the confirmation I had been looking for in her eyes.She wasn't saying this because she thought this was what I wanted to hear, she was saying this because that is what she truly felt.'' Xander this.....'' Bella wanted to say, but before she could say another word, I grabbed her, pulling her to myself as I claimed her lips, kissing her so fervently, wanting to possess every inch of her for myself.We kissed, drowning
Isabella's POV''What did you just do,'' I heard Mia scream as I walked into the room.'' I don't understand what you are going on about,'' I said as I sat on the bed breathing out heavily, as my heart was currently feeling like I was carrying the weight of the whole world.'' Don't play dumb, you know very well what I am talking about. Why did you say all that to the Draco,'' Mia let out.'' Were you listening to our conversation?'' I asked.'' No, okay, yes I was just curious, I was happy when you told him that you loved him, but why did you tell him that you could not be with him?'' Mia let out and my heart raced profusely in my heart.'' I had to, I had to tell him the truth because it was weighing heavily on my mind. I love him, that is the truth, but I can not be with him, that is also another truth.'' I said and Mia looked at me as if I had gone mad.'' Why, why can't you? You love him, right? So why are you doing this to him, and most importantly why are you doing this to your
Isabella's POVI was frozen in shock and fear, as I looked at my spilt food on the floor and then back into the space where Ruby stood. Her dreadful words kept running over and over in my mind, as I didn't know what to think or what to do.'' Next time I will not miss,'' Those words of hers were the ones that stood out in my mind, as I thought to myself what she meant by that.Deep in thought, I didn't know how long I had stood there, but soon I heard Mary and Mia's voices calling out to me.'' Isa, are you okay, what happened?'' Mia asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.'' Yes Isabella, what is going on? Why are all these in front of you?'' Mary asked.'' Uhmmm, Hi Mary... Hi Mia,'' I let out nervously, but that was not what they wanted to hear as they continued to look at me waiting for answers.'' I tripped,'' I lied and Mary nodded but Mia looked at me, maybe knowing that there was more to it.'' Oh my dear, this is my fault. I know you were wondering why I didn't bring food for
Isabella's POVI never believed that saying about your life flashing before your eyes when you're about to die. It always seemed cliché and stupid. But everything changed when I stood face-to-face with death, and my life replayed before me, both the good and the bad.---One Month LaterXander Diaz, known as "the Draco," was killed in a shoot-out with the police. The most dangerous man in the city was gunned down. There has been no statement from his family, and the police urged citizens to celebrate this victory, claiming peace had been restored."The chief of police assures us that the Draco will no longer wreak havoc in our city. We now head to the cemetery where the notorious mafia king is being laid to rest," the reporter said before the TV went black."Hey, I was watching that," I yelled, turning to see Xander holding the remote, and smiling."Aren't you tired of watching the news about my death? That's all they talk about these days. I didn't know I was this important," Xander
Isabella's POV:Three weeks had passed in the blink of an eye. Here we remained, entrenched in the safety of our secluded hideout, while Xander and Javier meticulously plotted their next move against Xavier. Despite the passage of time, my unease around Javier persisted like a stubborn shadow, casting doubt upon every whispered plan and stolen moment of respite.Xander and I got back together like the separation had never happened. Yet beneath the veneer of our rekindled love lay a constant churn of uncertainty. Thoughts of Judith, and the callous manner in which Xavier had snatched her away from me, haunted my every waking moment like a relentless specter."Thinking won't change a thing, you know that right," Xander's voice broke through the suffocating silence, pulling me back from the brink of my spiraling thoughts."What's on your mind?" he inquired, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine as his lips brushed against mine in a tender caress."Judith," I confessed, my voice b
Isabella's POV It felt like we were trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea, caught in a vortex of danger with no escape in sight. Xavier's relentless pursuit loomed over us like a shadow, while the sudden appearance of Javier, Xander's longtime enemy, only added to our peril. "We're done for now. I don't think we'll ever get out of this alive. If Xavier doesn't get to us, Javier will," I murmured, my voice laced with resignation as I scanned the bleak horizon. As I braced myself for the worst, I closed my eyes, steeling myself for the inevitable confrontation with either of them. But his unexpected offer of salvation shattered the silence, his words cutting through the suffocating tension like a ray of hope. "Get in if you want to live. You can't outrun them," Javier's voice broke through the chaos, his tone surprisingly sincere. Doubt gnawed at my insides as I grappled with the sudden turn of events. "Was Javier actually trying to save us?" "No, this must be a trick, a
Isabella's POV"I didn't stutter. Did I? Marry me, and I'll be your saviour," Xavier's voice oozed with a sinister charm that made my skin crawl. Each syllable felt like a dagger aimed straight at my heart."How can you even ask that? Why would I marry you, Xavier, when it's clear you hold nothing but disdain for me?" My voice quivered with a mix of fear and defiance, unable to hide the loathing simmering beneath the surface."I don't despise you. You're merely a pawn in this twisted game," Xavier's words slithered out, his gaze piercing through me as he closed the distance between us. "Marry me, and I'll bestow upon you a life beyond your wildest dreams.""What about Ruby? You made promises to her too," I challenged, my voice trembling with the weight of betrayal and hurt."Ruby was a foolish distraction. It was never my intention to marry her. Say yes, and you'll stand by my side as the Draco's queen," he urged, his smile sending shivers down my spine as his finger brushed against m
Xander's POVHearing the gunshots, I swiftly turned around, my gun clenched tightly in my hands, ready to defend myself and my men. To my dismay, I found them sprawled on the ground, incapacitated, while Xavier stood tall beside them, a smirk of satisfaction etched on his face.The revelation shook me to my core. My own cousin, the perpetrator of such a betrayal? I had spared his life once; was this the gratitude I received in return?"Hi, Cousin. It seems you've decided to join us. I was anticipating your arrival," Xavier greeted, his voice dripping with malice as he surveyed the chaos he had orchestrated."Xavier, damn you! So, it was you all along. How could you sink so low?" I exclaimed, a mixture of shock and rage coursing through me as I leveled my gun at him. But Xavier's response was a mocking laugh, his eyes gleaming with a dark amusement."Oh, dear cousin, you've yet to fathom the depths to which I can sink," he taunted, his smirk widening into a sinister grin. I prepared to
Xander's POV"What do you mean she's been taken?" I roared, my anger surging like a tidal wave, crashing against the shores of my composure."I'm sorry, boss. I was knocked out cold, and when I came to, she and her guardian were gone. I went back to their house, but it was empty. I fear the worst, Draco," the man confessed, his voice trembling with fear, his eyes darting nervously around the room as if expecting my wrath to materialize into physical force."How dare you return with such news!" I bellowed, the force of my voice reverberating off the walls like thunder. I seized a glass from the table, hurling it against the wall behind him. It shattered into a thousand glittering fragments, mirroring the shattered pieces of my control. He cowered before me, his knees shaking in terror, a stark contrast to the facade of toughness he usually wore."I-I'm sorry, boss," he stammered, his fear palpable, his hands trembling as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of my rage."W
Xander's POV Days turned into months, each one a relentless reminder of Bella's absence. The gaping void she left behind refused to be filled, a constant ache in my chest that I couldn't shake. I understood why she had to leave, though. Agustin's actions were a stain on our family name, an unforgivable betrayal that tainted everything it touched. But despite the pain, a flicker of hope lingered in the depths of my heart, a desperate wish that Bella could find it in herself to forgive me for the sins of my father. "Son, stop torturing yourself over her. It's better this way," Agustin's voice grated on my nerves, each word a reminder of his role in driving her away. "Why are you still here? Didn't I ask you to leave?" I snapped, frustration boiling over. "Xander, you're my son. I can't just abandon you in your time of need," he replied, his tone almost pleading. "This man is pushing me to my limits," I muttered under my breath. "Look, Agustin, I don't want you around. You've caused
Isabella's POV Many months slowly passed by, and I gradually settled in my hometown.I still thought of Xander, because his ring reminded me of him. I knew I couldn't forget him even if I tried, so I stopped forcing myself to.I frequently visited my father's grave, as being with him greatly helped me.So today, I wanted to visit him as well.'' Judith, I am going to see my father,'' I said, and she nodded.'' Alright, why don't I come with you today? Judith suggested, and I looked at her surprised because she never wanted to come with me in the past.'' Don't look at me like that, I just want to go with you.'' she rolled her eyes.''I know you always want to be alone with him, but I would like to come and pay my respect as well.'' Judith let out.'' Are you sure?'' I asked, and she rolled her eyes yet again.'' I am an old woman, don't you think by now I would be sure of what I want to do,'' she replied.'' Okay, that will not be a problem. I would be happy if you came,'' I smiled a
Isabella's POVI got back to my hometown and everything still felt the same, even the air had the same feeling that it had before.The memories of why I left came flooding but, the demons I was running away from were still lurking at every corner.But not everything remained the same. The guilt I had about my father's death was all gone now that I knew who truly took him from me.I hated Agustin with all of my heart, how I wish I could put a bullet in his head.'' So why didn't you? Because no one would blame you if you did, not ever Xander,'' the voices in my head said to me.''No, even though I wanted so badly to end his life just like he ended my dad's life, I couldn't do it, because it would make me just as guilty as him,'' I said to the voices as I dismissed that thought immediately.Getting out of the airport, I took a taxi to Judith's house.A lot of emotion took over me as the car stopped in front of her house. I got down and walked to her front porch, taking in a deep breath,