AN ALLURING STRANGER

ISABELLA'S POV 

The sting of his words was unbearable, but I refused to break. “You bastard,” I hissed, my palm connecting with his cheek in a loud, satisfying slap.

“Isabella Sterling!” My father’s voice thundered, his control finally slipping. “Enough of this childishness! You’re humiliating us!”

I turned to him, my eyes blazing. “Humiliating? If anyone should be ashamed, it’s your precious soon-to-be son-in-law and your despicable daughter!” I pointed at Christabella who sprang up from her chair but mother held her hand and signaled her to sit back.

"So you're claiming we aren't married?" I turned to Daniel, whose hands were still soothing his cheek. "Then explain this" I slammed the financial report to his chest. "Explain how you've been taking huge amount from my law firm. Explain what you've been doing with my 10 million" 

I could see the confusion on everyone's face.

"What? Don't tell me you've been using my hard end money to plan your marriage to my sister?" 

Daniel snorted and tore the report "This means nothing, Isabella. It's obvious you forged everything to implicate me. Just give up, Isabella. I already told you, I don't love you anymore. Why are you desperately trying to ruin my life?"

That was the last draw for me. The shock I felt was so overwhelming, I bit my lips hard to make sure I wasn't dreaming, to make sure this was the same man I've spent twelve years with.

"Yes. Prove that those reports aren't forged. You've always been the type to do whatever it takes to get what you want. So how sure are we that this isn't one of your sick games" Christabella blabbered and that was all it took for everyone to stare at me in suspicion.

It drawn on me there was no point arguing this. There was no point fighting this because no matter what, even if I pile up evidence upon evidence, my family would rather trust a stranger than believe any word I say. The look on their face said it all.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Isabella? Cat got your tongue?" Christabella grinned. 

"Say something, Isabella! At least stand on your grand that none of this is true" Mother said, almost like she was pleading for me to say anything.

I let out a scoff knowing how much of a difference it wouldn't make even if I say anything.

"I don't have time for any of this" My reply made their eyes widen in shock. "I have an important event to attend instead of wasting my time on an incompetent bastard like you, Daniel. Enjoy your dinner" I hissed and turned, walking toward the door with my head up and eyes focused.

"Isabella Lucia Sterling!" My father's voice rang through the room but I didn't flinch. I didn't stop. "Don't you dare step a foot out of this room until you've clean up this mess you created!"

I stopped when I finally got to the door and without looking back, I snorted. "Why don't you say that to your beloved daughter? I guess she's too desperate to prove herself better, she went after my leftover. Well, congratulations, Christabella and I wish you a long, miserable married life" 

With that, I left not minding the voices yelling out my name. Outside, the cool air hit my face, and I sucked in a deep breath, leaning against a column for support. The world around me slowed, and I focused on steadying my pulse, inhaling and exhaling until my heart settled into a rhythm that wasn’t erratic.

"Mrs. Sterling" Anika rushed to assist me but I raised my hand. "I'll be moving alone" I mumbled and headed towards my car. 

My driver, Simon, scrambled to open the door, but I waved him off, gripping the handle and slamming the door shut behind me as I climbed in.

"Take me to Starlight Haven" I demanded, my voice sharp and cold.

Simon hesitated, his brows furrowing in the rear-view mirror. "Ma'am, are you—"

"Now," I snapped, cutting him off. The last thing I needed was a lecture or pity.

As the car pulled out of the lot, I pressed my back against the seat, my breaths still unsteady. My hand unconsciously went to my chest, fingers curling into the fabric of my dress as I tried to steady myself. My heart was aching, like someone was twisting a dagger into it. I pressed my head against the cool window, closing my eyes as flashes of the last few moments played over and over in my mind. 

The annulment papers.

How had I missed it? How had he managed to orchestrate all of this without me even knowing? My throat tightened as a fresh wave of pain surged through me, but I swallowed back the tears. 

"Not now, Isabella. Not here" I murmured to myself. There was no time for tears. I had a very important party to attend. I couldn't let the world see me like this. I have a reputation to uphold, a face to present that wouldn't crack under any weight.

The car slowed as we pulled to the hotel. I exhaled deeply, forcing the air out of my lungs like it would expel the lingering emotions. I stepped out of the car, smoothing my gown as I did. I pulled out the silver mask from my clutch, the filigree glinting like frost under the light. Slipping it on, I adjusted it until it framed my eyes perfectly, concealing just enough of my face.

The grand ballroom greeted me with a hum of chatters and soft laughter. My name was announced as I entered, turning all eyes towards my direction. I didn't falter, my posture remained flawless, my expression calm and composed. I was used to the attention.

But as I entered, I felt it—the weight of someone’s gaze, heavy and deliberate, settling on me like a tangible force. It was unnerving.

"Oh, Ms. Sterling!" My client, Mr. Wood exclaimed when he saw me.

"Mr. Wood" I flashed him a warm smile.

"I'm so glad you made it right on time" He took my hand in a shake.

"I don't make promises I don't keep, Mr. Wood"

"Of course! I can testify to that" He chuckled and turned.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may present Ms. Isabella Sterling who will say a few words to honor this wonderful party" He announced. The spotlight found me and I smiled. I made my way to the small podium, the crowd parting before me like waves.

"Good evening" I began, my voice steady. "It's an honor to celebrate this evening with all of you. Our host brought us to together not just to enjoy the beauty of tonight but to remind us of the connection we share, the memories we've built and the future we look forward to"

The applause that followed was polite but warm. I stepped down quickly but as I returned to the crowd with a glass of champagne at hand, I felt it again. The feeling of being watched.

Someone was definitely watching me. I had dismissed it earlier. In a room full of strangers, it was easy to imagine being the subject of someone's curiosity but even as I moved from one guest to another, exchanging polite smiles and meaningless pleasantries, the feeling didn't fade. It grew stronger, causing the hairs at my nape to rise. It was an unpleasant feeling.

I excused myself and left for the balcony. I needed to be alone, somewhere no one would be watching my every move. The cold breeze of the night hit my skin, sending a chill down my spine. As I closed my eyes, everything that happened today began to sink in.

Daniel. How could a man I've spent 12 years with, six years in college and six years married, deny our relationship that easily? What are the odds that I've been living and sleeping with a man who isn't my husband? That I've been struggling for years to bear him a child, taking any medicine he gave me and any treatment he suggested when our marriage never existed? So I've dedicated all these years to a stranger? How? Why did he do this to me?

A big lump rose to my throat and I gulped it back down with the glass of champagne. It burned enough to help me swallow back my tears. Betrayal had a way of clinging to you, digging its claws deep into your soul until you felt like you couldn’t breathe. 

 Then it came again, the feeling of someone's sharp gaze on me. It was closer this time, like the person was beside me. 

"Is it a habit of yours to stalk strangers?" I demanded, my tone sharp with annoyance.

A low, rich chuckle answered me, the sound curling through the air like smoke. "Surprisingly, no," he said, his voice deep and hoarse, with an edge that felt almost teasing. "You're the only stranger who’s ever captured my interest enough to make it worth the effort."

My head snapped to the source of the voice, and there he was, standing beside me. His presence was overwhelming. Tall and broad-shouldered, he exuded a quiet confidence that bordered on dangerous. The golden mask rested just above his sharp, angular nose, concealing enough to keep him mysterious but not enough to dull his striking features.

But it wasn’t the mask or the chiseled jawline that stole my breath—it was his eyes. Steel grey and piercing, they locked onto mine with an intensity that made me feel exposed, as though he could see through the carefully constructed facade I wore. Every crack in my armor, every fracture of my soul, felt laid bare under his unyielding gaze.

I hated it—how easily he unnerved me, how effortlessly he seemed to strip me of my defenses. But more than that, I hated how much it intrigued me. 

“Enjoying the view?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

One corner of his mouth tilted upward, but it wasn’t quite a smile. “It’s rare to see someone who doesn’t blend in.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

He leaned back slightly, his gaze steady. “Observation.”

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the heat crawling up my neck. “Well, maybe I don't want to be observed. You've been watching me since I entered this ballroom, like a creep" 

"Forgive my manners. I couldn't help it. That's the kind of attention you command" He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

“You seem like you’re running from something,” He observed, his steel-grey eyes locking onto mine.

The words hit harder than they should have. I felt my jaw tighten as I try to straighten my back. “And you look like you’re hiding from something,” I shot back.

His lips tilted in a faint smirk. “Maybe I am.”

"It's rare to see you in places like this, Mrs. Sterling" 

"You speak as though you know me" I scoffed.

"Maybe I do" His gaze bored into mine, unwavering. There was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel he knew me but I, on the other hand, couldn't fathom who he was.

"So, what are you running from, Mrs. Sterling?" He asked.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just curious" He shrugged. I scoffed. "Believe me, you wouldn't want to hear my sob story"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to, Isabella" There was something about the way my name rolled off his lips that made me almost choke on my drink. I gulped and I eyed him, trying to read what his intentions were.

"How about this?" he proposed, stepping closer, the air between us growing taut. "Tell me your side of the story, and in return, I’ll tell you what I’m hiding from."

His words hung in the air, daring me to trust him. I turned fully to face him, and that’s when I truly noticed just how tall he was— 6'5 if I could guess correctly. His imposing height made me feel small, almost fragile in comparison, but not in a way that unsettled me.

There was something about his gaze, steady and unflinching, that didn’t evoke fear. It was as if he was studying me, peeling back layers I wasn’t even aware I had, but it wasn’t predatory. It felt... safe.

I let out a slow breath, leaning against the cool metal of the balcony railing. The tension I usually carried, the armour I never left home without, seemed to ease off my shoulders. He was a stranger but for reasons I couldn’t understand, I felt like I didn’t need to wear a mask around him.

"Where do I even start?" A bitter chuckle escaped my lips, the weight of everything I had just experienced suddenly crashing down.

And so, I found myself spilling my heart to a man I had just met—someone who barely knew me. I ranted about everything that had happened, my words tumbling out, raw and unfiltered. And he listened. He didn’t ask questions, didn’t judge me. He simply listened, as if my words mattered.

I hadn’t noticed the tear that slipped down my cheek until his hand gently wiped it away. The touch was firm, warm—comforting in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. Maybe it was the vulnerability I was feeling, or the exhaustion from everything, but I didn’t pull away.

When I opened my eyes, his gaze was fixed on mine, intense and unwavering.

"I'm pathetic, aren’t I?" I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

"I don't think so." His voice was sincere. "You just went through a heart-wrenching betrayal, yet you came here. You commanded attention without asking, gave a speech, and stood your ground. I don’t think a pathetic person could do that."

I scoffed, my voice thick with disbelief. "If you're trying to make me feel better, don't bother."

"You're not as broken as you think, Wildflower."

The nickname hit me like a sharp, unexpected blow. It was too familiar, too personal. My breath caught in my chest.

"Why would you call me that?" My voice was softer now, hesitant.

"That's my perspective of you. A wildflower."

I studied his face, searching for any sign of insincerity, but his eyes were steady, his expression unwavering. There was no trace of mockery—only something far deeper, something I hadn’t seen in Daniel for a long time.

It made me lower my guard, just a little.

"Your turn." I asked, my voice barely a whisper now. "Tell me, what are you hiding from?"

His hand left my cheek, the warmth abruptly replaced by a chill. I almost whimpered at the loss. Was I really that starved for human contact?

"People," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

"You're hiding from people?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," he nodded, taking a slow sip from his glass.

I couldn’t help but scoff. "You’ve got to be kidding me. Don’t tell me you’re anti-social."

"I am." His eyes sparkled with a quiet amusement, the kind that made me want to smile in spite of everything.

"So, let me guess," I teased, "you came here to recharge after draining your social battery?"

"How do you know me so well, Ms. Sterling?" His lips curled into a faint grin, and the lightness in his voice made me want to laugh even more.

I burst into laughter, throwing my head back. The sound was raw and genuine, but it startled me. It sounded...foreign.

When was the last time I laughed like this?

I paused, the laughter dying in my throat for a moment as I processed the sound of it. Was this really me? Was this who I used to be before everything crumbled?

Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just this strange connection with him, but I couldn’t stop. I laughed again.

"You're hurting my feelings, Ms. Sterling." His tone was playful, but there was an underlying sincerity. "I didn’t judge when you told me your story."

"I'm sorry," I managed through my giggles, wiping my eyes. "I'm not judging. It's just..." I shook my head, still smiling "I can't believe I would ever see an alluring man who is anti-social" 

He leaned in, so close and sudden, it felt like the air between us had disappeared. His voice dropped to a low, sultry murmur that made my breath hitch. "You think I’m alluring?"

The question wasn’t playful—it was a challenge. My laughter died in my throat, replaced by the hard gulp that I barely managed to swallow. My tongue darted out to wet my suddenly dry lips, and his gaze followed, slow and deliberate, lingering on my mouth with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I can help you destroy him if you want," he said, his tone smooth, like a blade wrapped in silk.

"What?" I blinked, his words crashing over me like a wave.

"Your ex-husband," he clarified, his dark eyes locking with mine. "But the cost might be more than you’re willing to pay."

My heart thundered in my chest. "What kind of cost?" I wanted to ask but before I could utter a word, the sharp sound of glass shattering cut through the air like a jolt back to reality.

I spun around, my eyes darting to the source of the commotion—a waiter frantically picking up shards of glass, muttering apologies. When I turned back, he was gone.

All that remained was the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the breeze, His words echoed in my mind, relentless and heavy: I CAN HELP YOU DESTROY HIM.