Isabel POV The event was a total success and just like what Miguel had promised he never left my side the whole night. His hand were either draped around my waist or he was only few feet away from me. " I don't like the was your Ex husband is looking at you." He whispered softly into my ear making my breath hitch. The hotness from his mouth and the closeness of his lips to my ear turned me on but I had to suppress it." I don't like it either" he chuckled. When I turned to see Antonio. He was staring straight at us angry but I didn't care. I looked at Elena, she was also staring at us but not angrily. She had a smirk on like she had won. I could still remember the underground attack I had from Elena. I had begged Miguel and Talia not to get the police involved for any reason. I was greeting the president of Philippines when I got a glimpse of Elena and Antonio engaged in a heated argument before Antonio walked out on her. " Is everything ok?" Miguel asked" Yes everything is fine.
Isabel POV I was preparing for a meeting with the new investors when I got a message from Elena. I stared at the message for a long time without opening. There were a lot of questions I wanted to ask her but that could be me putting my life in danger too. " Ma'am?" Talia said nudging me. I was so distracted by the message that I wasn't even listening during the meeting. I looked at everyone in the room, they were all expecting me to say something but I had nothing to say. " I'm so sorry gentlemen I've been so busy lately so I would leave you in the hands of my able manager." I walked out of the conference room. I needed to clear my head urgently so I decided to go to the park down the road. At least that was the closest thing to nature. I sat there for a while just taking in the scene around me and enjoying the breezy evening. " I knew you would be here." She turned to see Talia. " Hey, I'm sorry for leaving you at the meeting like that. I just wasn't in the right mindset."" It's
Isabel POV I stared into a space of the hosas I remembered the good memories with Talia. I think I'm a curse, everyone I ever loved had died one way or the other. My eyes were swollen and at this point I think I was tired of crying. It's been three days since Talia passed on and I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she's gone forever. Just the thought of not hearing her annoying shrill voice made tears pouring down. The door opened and Mr Cruz came in. " I'm so sorry sir. I didn't mean to." I said sobbing as I knelt down in front of him. His eyes were red and you could tell that he had cried on his way here. " It's not your fault darling, it's not." He pulled me up to stand up." It is, I wanted her to eat burger. I could have told her to stay home." My tear kept dropping down. " It's better. At least I didn't have to lose both my daughters." He said as he wiped my tears. He always refers to me as a daughter but I never regarded him as my father. I wrapped my arms ar
Antonio POVI dailed Elena's number for the umpteenth time and it was still not connecting. It's been two weeks now and she still hasn't come home neither has she reached out to me. I have checked everywhere she could possibly be and called her friends but still no sign of her. I looked up when I heard a knock on my door. " Come in." I groaned, it's probably my personal assistant coming to tell me that she was going." Hello sir." It was the private detective I had employed to find Elena. " Any news yet?" " No not yet but we are on it." I slumped back on my chair exhausted. It was like she had completely vanished." Work faster and harder." " Mr Martinez also has people looking for her so we would find her in no time." " Mr Martinez? Of Martinez corporation?"" Yes sir." I nodded my head connecting the dots they are finally striking back and are trying to use Elena right. " Anything the problem sir?"" No not at all, you may go." I furiously marched into Martinez corporation bui
Isabel POVLife is one of the most fragile thing, one minute your loved ones are right there with you and the next minute they are gone. I stared at Gideon's picture that was placed close to his gravestone. He was dead. He always knows how to predict correctly. He had predicted when I wanted to get the contract with the Seoul brothers. He said I was going to get it and that was exactly what had happened. This time he had predicted his death and here he was six feet underground. I was about to enter my car to go when a nurse at the retirement home shouted as she ran over to me. When she got to me she held her chest trying to catch her breath. " Are you ok?" I asked concern laced in my voice." Gideon wanted you to have this." She said handing me a black old looking box " What is inside?" I asked curious. " It has a code lock. He said it was only you that knew the password so I should make sure you get it if he ever died." I looked at the black box confused." Thank you." I said with
Miguel POV " What is the meaning of this?" Isabel shouted as she barged into my office making me to stand up. " I tried stopping her sir." Jerry, my personal assistant said adjusting his eyeglasses." It's fine Jerry, you can go." I stared at Isabel who was fuming with anger. Immediately the door closed, she walked up to me before throwing a bunch of papers in my face. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion but i refused to react, I remained still. I picked up one of the papers and it was an old photo of I and Antonio. We were smiling widely at the camera. I picked up another paper that she had thrown and it was a non disclosure agreement. It had my full name and that of Antonio's. I looked at the picture and the document carefully as I thought of how she got hold of these documents." Wondering how I found them? It's none of your business. You fucking lair, you are no different from the rest of them." She spat out bitterly." Isabel, Calm down." " Don't tell me to calm down. You have b
Miguel's POVI paced from my wardrobe to the bed as I threw a bunch of shirt and trousers into my suitcase. " Miguel don't you think you're taking this too far." My mum said in a low tone beside me. I ignored her and just kept on packing clothes into my suitcase. " Miguel! I'm talking to you!" " Mum, I've done nothing but listen to you but you don't listen to me. I've told you to leave this man." " Miguel he changed and I know this was just a slip up. He apologised." I still wonder what exactly she sees in him that makes her remain in his space. At first I thought it was because of I was a kid and divorce might have a negative and traumatic impact on me. Right now I'm an adult, old enough to know how this works. " Mum, I love you so much but I can't stay here and watch him slip up." I said adding more stress to the 'slip up.' "I'm going to be at my pent house in town and would come here on the weekends. You wont even notice I'm not around." I said with my mind fully made up. " M
Isabel POV Trusting someone has proven to be the risky thing to do. You trust someone they either die or they betray you in way you thought could never be possible. I stood in front of Lawson industries now called Reyes industries. The exterior was exactly the same way I left it. Coming back here reminded me of when this used to be all mine and soon it would be all mine again. My red heels clicked on the shiny tiles as I made my way to the elevator. I pressed the button that had a seven engraved on it. The rage in my heart heightened when I saw the name that was now engraved on the CEO office door. Reyes Antonio. I cringed as I read the name in my mind. I twisted the knob of the barging in. My eyes met with Antonio in a very compromising position. He had a girl bent over on the table while he was behind her with his pants down. " What the fuck Esme!" Antonio shouted as he pulled his pants up while the girls pulled her gown down and walked out. I rolled my eyes at his childishness.
Isabel POVThe firelight danced in the rearview mirror as we sped away from the burning warehouse. "We hit them hard tonight," Miguel said, his voice breaking the tense silence.I glanced at him. "Do you think it's enough?""No," Marissa answered bluntly. "But it's a start."Miguel POV"We need to regroup," I said, pulling onto a side road. "Victor's safe house is compromised. We can't risk going back.""Where do we go?" Isabel asked, her voice quieter than usual.I hesitated, my mind racing through our options. "There's a place. Remote enough to keep us off their radar for a while."Isabel POVMiguel didn't elaborate, and I didn't press him. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, the adrenaline that had kept me going earlier now fading fast. I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass soothing against my skin. "We need to talk strategy. Gideon's going to retaliate, and it won't be subtle."Miguel nodded. "We'll rest when we get there. Then we plan our next move."I closed my eye
Isabel POVThe firelight danced in the rearview mirror as we sped away from the burning warehouse. "We hit them hard tonight," Miguel said, his voice breaking the tense silence.I glanced at him. "Do you think it's enough?""No," Marissa answered bluntly. "But it's a start."Miguel POV"We need to regroup," I said, pulling onto a side road. "Victor's safe house is compromised. We can't risk going back.""Where do we go?" Isabel asked, her voice quieter than usual.I hesitated, my mind racing through our options. "There's a place. Remote enough to keep us off their radar for a while."Isabel POVMiguel didn't elaborate, and I didn't press him. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, the adrenaline that had kept me going earlier now fading fast. I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass soothing against my skin. "We need to talk strategy. Gideon's going to retaliate, and it won't be subtle."Miguel nodded. "We'll rest when we get there. Then we plan our next move."I closed my eye
Isabel POVMiguel moved ahead of us, his eyes scanning the dark streets for threats, while Marissa brought up the rear, her weapon always ready."We need to find cover," Miguel said, his voice low but firm.Marissa nodded. "There's a construction site a few blocks from here. It'll buy us some time."Miguel glanced at me; his expression unreadable. "Can you keep up?"I nodded, swallowing the lump of fear in my throat. "I'm fine."Miguel POVThe construction site wasn't ideal, but it was the best option we had."Stay close," I said as we slipped through a gap in the chain-link fence.Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of dust and damp concrete. Marissa took point, her movements silent as she scouted ahead. I stayed close to Isabel, my hand resting on the grip of my gun."We'll rest here," Marissa said when she returned. "But not for long."Isabel POVI sat on a cold slab of concrete; my knees drawn to my chest as I tried to calm my racing heart. Miguel paced nearby, his eyes dart
Isabel POVThe door flew open. The sharp crack of gunfire filled the air almost immediately."Stay down!" he barked, his voice cutting through the noise.I bent low, my hands trembling as I held the knife Miguel had given me. Miguel POVThe ambush was worse than I'd anticipated. Gideon's men were already inside, their positions fortified. They weren't here to scare us—they were here to finish the job.I fired again, the shot hitting one of the men in the shoulder. He dropped his weapon with a grunt, collapsing behind a desk."Marissa, status!" I shouted over the din. "I'm pinned, but I'm fine!"I swore under my breath, scanning the room for Isabel. She was exactly where I'd left her, crouched behind the cabinet, her wide eyes watching everything."Hold on!" I called to her.Isabel POVThe air was thick with smoke and adrenaline, every second dragging on like an eternity. Miguel and Marissa moved.But Gideon's men weren't amateurs. They moved in calculated patterns; their firepower r
Isabel POVI sat on the edge of the couch, the weight of the past few days pressing heavily on my chest.Miguel and Marissa were huddled at the table, their voices low as they reviewed the plan Victor had laid out. It was straightforward in theory: expose the information in the ledger through multiple channels to ensure it couldn't be suppressed. But in practice, it felt like a gamble with stakes far too high.I clutched the coffee mug in my hands, the heat seeping through my fingers as I tried to focus."You're quiet," Miguel said, his voice breaking through my thoughts.I looked up, meeting his steady gaze. "Just thinking.""Care to share?"I hesitated, then set the mug down. "Gideon's too calm. He's always a step ahead. What if this plan isn't enough?"Miguel POVIsabel's words hit harder than I wanted to admit. She was right—Gideon wasn't the kind of man to let things unravel without a contingency plan.Marissa leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "We can't afford to secon
Isabel POVMiguel sat at the table; the ledger spread open in front of him. His brow furrowed as he flipped through its pages."What does it say?" I asked, breaking the silence. "It's not just numbers. There are names—people who worked with Gideon, who funded him, who stood by while he ruined lives."A chill ran down my spine. "Do you recognize any of them?"Miguel nodded slowly. "This one. Senator Halstead. If he's involved, it's bigger than we thought."Miguel POVEach entry wasn't just evidence—it was a ticking time bomb.Marissa paced near the window, her sharp eyes scanning the tree line. "Halstead is untouchable," she said, her voice low but firm. "If we go after him, we'll need more than this." She gestured toward the ledger.I leaned back, running a hand through my hair. "He's not the only one. Look at this—bank accounts, shell companies. Gideon didn't just work alone; he built an empire.""And we just cracked its foundation," Marissa replied.Isabel POVMiguel and Marissa's
Isabel POVThe room descended into chaos, but my focus stayed locked on the ledger in my hands. It was the only leverage we had, and I wasn't about to let Gideon take it without a fight.Miguel and Marissa moved, firing at the two men Gideon had brought with him. I dropped to the floor, crawling toward the table for cover."You're running out of time, Isabel!" Gideon shouted.I glanced up and saw him advancing, Miguel POV"Stay down, Isabel!" I shouted, firing at Alex. The shot missed.Marissa ducked beside me, reloading her weapon. "They're pushing hard," she said."No kidding," I muttered."We need to end this," Marissa said, her eyes narrowing.Isabel POVI tried to think, to plan, but the noise and chaos made it impossible.Miguel's voice cut through the din. "Isabel, stay where you are!"I peeked over the edge of the table and saw Gideon advancing."Gideon!" I yelled.He paused, his eyes snapping to me. "Finally ready to cooperate?""Not exactly," I said.Miguel POVIsabel's voi
Isabel POVGideon stepped inside. His gaze sweeping the room with cold detachment. He looked at me last, his smirk twisting into something cruel.“Well, isn’t this cozy,” he drawled, tilting his head as if he were examining a piece of art. “Miguel, Marissa, and the ever-elusive Isabel. What a delightful reunion.”Miguel shifted, placing himself squarely between Gideon and me. His gun was steady, aimed at Gideon’s chest. “You’ve gone too far, Gideon.”Gideon laughed, the sound low and humorless. “Have I? Because from where I’m standing, I’d say I’m right on track.”Miguel POVI didn’t lower my weapon. “Call off your men,” I said, my voice as sharp as the tension in the air.His smirk widened. “What makes you think I need them? You’ve already handed me everything I need.”He signaled subtly with his hand, and two more figures appeared in the doorway. I recognized Alex instantly. Beside him stood another man, someone I didn’t recognize but whose build and stance screamed trouble.“We’re
Isabel POVThe clearing erupted into chaos. My heart pounded as I pressed myself against the rough bark of a tree.Miguel stood just ahead of me, his body a shield, his movements sharp and precise as he fired toward the enemy. Each shot seemed to echo endlessly, blending with the shouts and screams of men falling."Marissa, right flank!" Miguel barked.She responded instantly, her smaller weapon spitting fire as she picked off attackers with unerring accuracy. But for every one they took down, two more seemed to materialize from the shadows."Isabel!" Miguel’s voice cut through the noise. He turned to look at me, his expression fierce. "Stay low!"I nodded; my throat too tight to speak.Miguel POVThe attackers were relentless, each one moving with deadly purpose. These weren’t ordinary mercenaries. Gideon had sent his elite.I fired again, the recoil kicking against my shoulder. Another man fell, but there wasn’t time to savor the victory. My focus shifted to Isabel, who was doing he