How can someone be this cruel to their child? Drop your thoughts on Isabella's family and don't forget to vote and like. ☺️
NICHOLAS POV TAPTap, Tap, Tap... My fingers drummed four times against the armrest of the leather chair in Dr. Fiona Clarke’s office.It’s been five days since Isabella moved in, and my mansion has been anything but the same. My once quiet, cold sanctuary now feels invaded, as if her presence alone is enough to disrupt the carefully maintained order in my life. Even Odessa has taken a liking to her. Five days ago was also the last time I saw her. That is how long I've managed to avoid her. It was out of cowardice, no. It was a strategy.I needed time to gather my thoughts together. Having her move in was a huge decision and I wanted to some time to myself. To figure what was happening to me when it comes to her and to regain control of my mind.Across from me, Fiona Clarke tilted her head slightly, studying me for some time before speaking up."What's with the sudden visit, Mr. Montgomery? We don't have a session today" She gave her usual warm smile. "I believe I can come wheneve
NICHOLAS POV I didn’t hesitate for a second—I knew exactly where Isabella must have gone. Gathering some of my men, I took off without delay.The car screeched to a halt as we arrived at our destination: the Sterlings' Mansion.As I stepped out and approached the gate, the guards stationed there moved to block my path.“Marcus,” I called sharply, and one of my men immediately stepped forward.“Deal with them.”It was a simple command, and with that, I strode through the gates, leaving the commotion behind me.I was entering the enemies territory and I wasn't about to take any chances. I wanted to come alone but after Odessa told me it's been hours since Isabella left and she wasn't answering her calls either. I didn't need to be told something was wrong. As I entered the majestic mansion, they were all there, gathered in the extravagant living room. The entire Sterling family. The air around them was tense and bitter. The moment I realised Isabella wasn’t among them, my fear solidif
ISABELLA'S POV Days flew by, and before I knew it, a week had passed since the incident. Since that day, Nicholas and I hadn’t talked about what happened. I wasn’t ready to face it, unwilling to relive the horror that gripped me that day, and he, as though he understood, didn’t push the matter. Things settled back into how they were the moment we returned home. We avoided each other—or rather, I avoided Nicholas because I couldn’t bear to face him after he’d seen me in that vulnerable state. He, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care much and didn’t press me. I didn’t expect him to. If anything, I was grateful he’d saved me, even if it was just to fulfil the terms of our contract. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me. The champagne gown I wore featured a deep V neckline adorned with fancy sequins and beadwork that shimmered under the light. The gown hugged my figure perfectly, cascading into a soft, floor-sweeping hem with a bold slit at the front. My hair was styled in a
ISABELLA'S POVLooking over, my eyes was quick to spot them among the crowd- The Sterlings. They were all glaring at me, waiting for even the slightest stutter in my voice.“We met at one of his tech conferences,” I instantly came up with a lie, my voice smooth. “I was there on a case, representing a client suing a rival company. Let’s just say our paths crossed… rather dramatically. It was kind of embarrassing” I chuckled, trying to sound like I was too shy to share our story.Nicholas was quick to pick up the lie “She walked into the wrong presentation and accused me of stealing her client’s ideas in front of an entire boardroom.”The woman gasped, then laughed. “Oh my, how awkward!”Everyone else laughed.Nicholas smiled, his gaze locking with mine. “Not really. I knew right then that I’d found someone who wasn’t afraid to challenge me. It was… refreshing.”"I tried to avoid him the best I could after that. I was too embarrassed to face him and prayed we wouldn't see each other agai
ISABELLA'S POV The world seemed to fall silent the instant Nicholas' lips met mine. I froze, my eyes growing wide, caught off guard by the warmth of his touch. His lips, soft yet firm moved against mine deliberately and gently. The faint scent of his cologne enveloped me, mingling with the sensation of his hand brushing against my back, pulling me closer. My body vibrated, heat running through my veins. I didn't mean to respond but my body betrayed me and I leaned into him, my hand instinctively grasping the front of his suit for support. But he pulled out almost immediately and his eyes met mine, intense and searching, as if he was trying to read every thought racing through my mind. My lips tingled, the feeling of his lips still lingering as I try to catch my breath. I swallowed hard, my voice failing me as I tried to speak. Nicholas leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear and sending a sensation down between my legs. "Your family is watching" He whispered. The sound of appla
ISABELLA'S POV Heat rushed to my face, burning like fire, and I could feel my pulse roaring in my ears. The air, all of a sudden, became too heavy, pressing down on me. My hands flew to my sides in a desperate attempt to cover myself, but the damage had been done.I slowly looked up at Christabella who was snickering, her grin wide enough to haunt me."Oh my God, Sis. Are you o..." She made to approach but I raised a hand for her to stop, glaring at her as I swallowed the burning bile rising in my throat. Before I could spiral further, Nicholas moved swiftly. Soon his jacket was off him and he covered me with it, shielding me from the eyes of onlookers. "My fiancee and I will excuse ourselves for a moment. Everyone, please continue with the party" He announced before gently taking my hands. "Let's go" His word made me tear my gaze from Christabella as he led me out of the ballroom. My reflection stared back at me, pale and shaken, as I splashed cold water onto my face. My body tr
NICHOLAS POV The boardroom was silent except for the quiet hum of the air conditioning. Eleven faces stared back at me, some curious, others skeptical. The inherit committee had gathered, their power reflecting in their sharp suits. At the end of the table, sat him, Victor Montgomery, his glare more intense than the rest.I sat at the head of the table, unbothered by their gazes. This wasn't the first time being scrutinized and it certainly wouldn't be the last."Mr. Montgomery" Mr. Wills, the committee head, who had served as my grandfather's legal advisor for decades began. "We called this meeting to address recent developments regarding your engagement with Miss Isabella Sterling"I inclined my head slightly, leaning back in my chair. "Your sudden engagement has raised some questions among the committee. While it fulfills the marriage clause outlined in your grandfather's will, the timing has drawn some concerns""Concerns?" I repeated, my tone neutral. Another man, Mr. Hughes ju
WEDDING DAYISABELLA'S POV Every woman's dream is to walked down the aisle one day with the man of their dreams waiting at the alter. Which is why statistics has proven that the wedding day is the second happiest day of a woman's life. But as my reflection stared back at me on the huge mirror, all I felt was a shallow emptiness. What was I expecting? There's nothing particularly exciting about walking down the aisle a second time especially if the first time you did, thinking it was the happiest day of your life, turned out to be nothing but a lie. And what's worse? This second time is also a lie. I have already come in terms with the truth. Love isn't meant for someone like me. My eyes trailed lazily over my wedding gown. A masterpiece designed to captive and exude elegance. The bodice was hand embroidered with shimmering silver thread and adored with thousands of crystals and seed pearls. The veil dropped softly over my exposed shoulders, it's lace edged and tiny gemstones addin
The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. I stretched lazily in bed, savoring the warmth of the covers and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. Somewhere down the hallway, faint bursts of laughter echoed—a sound that filled my heart in ways I could never fully explain.“Mommy!” a sweet, high-pitched voice broke through the tranquility.I turned just in time to see a small blur of auburn curls barreling toward me. My daughter, Chloe, climbed onto the bed with a delighted giggle, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “Mommy, Daddy’s being silly again!”Hot on her heels was her twin brother, Caleb. He shared her curls but had Nicholas’s sharp, gray eyes—the kind that seemed to see through everything. He scrambled up beside her, his grin so wide it threatened to split his face. “Mommy, Daddy said we could have pancakes with chocolate chips today!”My heart swelled as I pulled them both into my arms
ISABELLA'S POV"Now!"Nicholas' voice rang out cutting through the tension like a lifeline. Before I could process what was happening, his arms were around me, pulling me into the safety of his embrace.The gun Daniel was holding clattered to the floor as Nicholas's men, who had been pretending to work for Daniel, lunged forward. Their movements were swift like they’d been waiting for this exact moment. They tackled Daniel to the ground, pinning him there as he roared in frustration, his curses echoing through the room.Victor, always the snake, was quicker to react. His sharp eyes darted to the pile of documents he’d gathered, and in one smooth motion, he scooped them up and tried to flee from the scene until uniformed officers emerged from the shadows, guns drawn, their commanding voices booming.“Hands in the air! Drop the documents and get on the ground!”Victor froze mid-step, his face contorted with fury as he realized there was no escape. His gaze darted around, desperate for an
ISABELLA'S POV The rough hands dragged me forward, my shoes scraping against the jagged rocks. My heart thundered in my chest as I caught sight of the open expanse before me—a cliff, rocky and treacherous, with nothing but empty air beyond its edge. The chilling sound of the wind howling against the cliffs made me shudder.Then I saw him.Nicholas.He was standing at the other end of the cliff. Relief crashed into me like a wave, and tears immediately welled in my eyes."Nicholas!” I cried, my voice breaking as I tried to rush toward him but the cold barrel of a gun pressed against my temple stopped me in my tracks."Ah, ah, ah," Daniel's voice came. "Not so fast, Isabella."My breath hitched. Nicholas yelled from the other side of the cliff.“Isabella, stay where you are! Don’t move!”I froze, looking to him for reassurance.But then I took in our surroundings. There was no one else here—no police, no backup, just Nicholas on one side and Daniel, Victor, two of Daniel’s men, and me
NICHOLAS POV "Explain to me what the fuck you mean by you didn’t come back with my wife?!” My voice thundered loudly. I stared down the group of bodyguards standing in my office, their heads bowed in shame. “Your only job was to protect her. To make sure she was safe. And now you’re standing here—without her!”"Where the fuck is my wife?!" I roared, fury blinding every bit of reasoning.The lead guard flinched but managed to stammer, “Sir, we—there was a commotion. We tried to—”“Tried?” I slammed my fist onto the desk, making it shudder under the force. “You tried? Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with? Who you were supposed to protect?!” My mind was spiraling into chaos, painting horrifying images of what could be happening to Isabella. Was she hurt? Was she terrified? My stomach churned at the thought of her crying out for me, needing me, and I wasn’t there.I pointed at one of my men, my finger trembling with rage. “Lock them up,” I barked “I don’t care how you do it. Ho
ISABELLA'S POV The grand ballroom buzzed with polite conversation, the soft clinking of glasses, and the occasional hum of excitement as bidders raised their paddles. The silent auction had brought together an array of high-profile attendees, from CEOs to philanthropists, each trying to outshine the other with their charitable contributions. I, on the other hand, didn't care much.Life has been good—better than I had ever expected after Daniel was no longer a part of it. My law firm was now soaring to unimaginable heights. Cases came pouring in and with every victory on my part, my reputation as the greatest lawyer only grew stronger.It felt surreal sometimes, standing here in my designer gown, exchanging pleasantries with people who once doubted me, envied me, or outright hated me. Yet here I was, proving them all wrong.I glanced at my phone, briefly wondering what Nicholas was up to. The thought brought a small smile to my lips. He’d encouraged me to attend this event, insistin
ISABELLA'S POV The moment I stepped into Starlight Haven, I was struck by how different it felt. The familiar lobby, usually bustling with quiet elegance, was now glowing with a soft, romantic light. Flowers—white lilies and lavender roses—and pictures of me, lined the path ahead, their fragrance mingling with the faint scent of candles. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes followed the illuminated trail leading toward the rooftop.I took a deep breath, gripping my clutch tightly as I ascended the staircase. Each step seemed to echo in the quiet, heightening the anticipation swirling in my chest. When I reached the top, I paused.The rooftop garden has been transformed into something out of a dream. Strings of twinkling lights crisscross above, casting a magical glow over the space. An orchestra was nestled in one corner, their instruments gleaming as they played a soft, familiar melody. The music seemed to wrap around me, pulling me forward.And then I saw him.Nicholas stood at the
DANIEL'S POV The guard’s voice grated against my ears as he approached my cell. “West, you’ve got a visitor.”A visitor? My heart skipped, but not from joy. Who could it be?Christabella’s face flashed in my mind and I beamed at the thought. Maybe she couldn’t resist the pull that bonded us together. Maybe, just maybe, she had come crawling back, realizing she still needed me. After all, she's head over heels for me.I rose to my feet, ignoring the ache in my bruised ribs, and followed the guard out of the cell block. My steps quickened as the thought of Christabella visiting me filled my mind.But as I stepped into the visitor's room and caught sight of the man waiting on the other side of the thick glass, my blood ran cold.Victor.That smug bastard sat there, his posture relaxed, his hands folded neatly on the table as if he owned the place. Rage bubbled up inside me.“You son of a bitch!” I roared, slamming my fists against the partition between us. The sound reverberated through
ISABELLA'S POV I opened the door to find Christabella standing there, her expression a mix of nervousness and hope. She looked different—less polished, less poised. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and she clutched a small wicker basket in her hands like it was her lifeline. “Hi,” she said softly, offering a nervous smile.I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “What are you doing here, Christabella? What do you want?”She hesitated, shifting on her feet before holding the basket out to me. “I, uh... I brought this for you.”I glanced at the basket and back at her, my brow arching skeptically. “A basket of what?”Her chuckle was uneasy “Dark chocolate with raspberry. I remember it was your favorite when we were kids, so I thought...you know, it’d be a nice gift.”I couldn’t help the incredulous laugh that escaped me. “So you just came here to hand me some chocolate? What are we, five?”Her smile faltered, and her gaze dropped to the ground. She bit her lip, her grip tighten
ISABELLA'S POV Six Months LaterSunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, painting soft golden patterns across the room. The sound of birds chirping outside drifted in with the warm morning breeze. I blinked against the brightness, slowly stretching beneath the covers.It's been half a year since I woke up from surgery, since I felt Nicholas’s hand on mine and heard him whispered my name like I was his entire world. Since I realized that, despite everything, I was still alive.And not just alive. Thriving.I pushed the blankets off and stepped toward the window, my movements no longer hesitant or weak. The first few weeks after the transplant had been grueling. My body had fought against exhaustion, against pain, against the overwhelming weight of recovering.But Nicholas had been there for all of it. Every doctor’s appointment. Every sleepless night. Every moment of doubt when I thought I wouldn’t make it.Now, my reflection in the glass wasn't of a fragile woman barely holding