That was the most satisfying payback. Drop your thoughts guys
ISABELLA'S POV The screen in front of me flickered with the live broadcast of Christabella Sterling’s public disgrace. My heart pounded—not with fear or apprehension, but with a dark, consuming satisfaction. She was there, crumpled on the pavement outside the agency she’d ruled like a queen, her designer dress smeared with dirt, her sobs wrecking her body. Just like it had happened to me. Just like they did to me.Cameras flashed on her, capturing her tear streaked face.Ethan sat beside me, his laptop open on the coffee table, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "She’s really falling apart," he muttered, leaning back into the couch.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen. Every curse, every accusation hurled at Christabella felt like a balm to the wounds she had inflicted on me. She and Daniel had stolen everything from me once—my career, my dignity, my life. Watching her crumble now was like reclaiming a piece of myself. “She deserves every second of this,” I whispered, more
NICHOLAS POV The roar of the engine was a steady hum in my ears as I gripped the wheel, my eyes locked on the winding track ahead. The sleek curves of Alex's car were just visible in my rearview mirror, his pace matching mine.A soft crackle sounded through the car's built-in comm system—a feature I had designed myself. “Let me guess,” Alex’s voice drawled lazily over the line “You’re angry.”I clenched my jaw, refusing to respond. My foot pressed on the accelerator, and the car surged forward.Alex’s laugh cut through the static. “That’s a yes. Let me guess again—it’s about your wife. What did you do this time, huh? Or better yet, what happened?”I grumbled under my breath. “You don’t need to know.”“That bad, huh?” Alex’s tone was amused, and I could practically see the grin on his face as his car edged closer to mine on the track. “Come on, Nicholas. You’re driving like you’re running from something. Spill it.”I tightened my grip on the wheel. “I’m not running from anything.”“Ye
NICHOLAS POV The air was cool against my face as I leaned against my car, parked just outside Westhaven Tower. I couldn’t sit inside, not with the restless energy pulsing through me. My foot tapped against the pavement, and my arms were crossed tightly over my chest as I kept my eyes trained on the building’s entrance.Why was I even here? After my race with Alex, I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to see her. Needed to see her.It didn’t make sense. None of this did. Yet here I was, waiting outside her meeting like some damn fool, as if just catching a glimpse of her would make everything in my head stop spinning.The doors slid open again, and this time, it was her. My heart skipped. She was walking out with that determined stride of hers, a quiet fire in her posture, her bag slung over one shoulder. Her hair fell over her face as she looked down at her phone.I stiffened, my chest pounding. God, she was beautiful. Too beautiful.And then she looked up, her gaze scanning the street.
ISABELLA'S POV The day was finally going according to plan. It's been one week since I secured Mr. Arlington as a client and things with the case were moving perfectly fine. I spent the past week study everything I needed to know about the case, gathering evidence and witnesses to support my claim. As I sat back in my study chair, a soft sigh escaped my lips as I allowed myself a small smile. It felt euphoric to be able to do what I loved the most again. It's been just months but it felt like it's been so long since I last drowned myself in work like this with files waiting for my attention. To finally challenge my sixth sense and gut feelings again. Mr. Arlington case was a huge and complicated one but I never learned, in all my years of working as a lawyer to back down.Some things were slowly falling back to place. Not everything though. Christabella was still facing blackash from her scandal and watching her try so hard to rebuild her career and fail miserably wasn't something I
ISABELLA'S POV The ride to Mr. Arlington's office was a blur. Mr. Arlington was waiting in his office, pacing back and forth when I entered. He didn’t greet me with the usual pleasantries."What's going on with your firm, Isabella? I just saw the news. It's everywhere and I'm confused. How is it that the firm is no longer in your hand? How long were you planning to hide that truth from me?"I let out a sign and sat down "It is true, Mr. Arlington. The firm is no longer run by mine at the moment. I apologized for not telling you sooner but it is complicated"I went on to summarize everything that had happened between Daniel and I, excluding the part of my marriage with Nicholas being fake. Mr. Arlington stopped pacing, his eyes wide in disbelief by the time I was done. I set my jaw and continued "Daniel is behind all of this. He orchestrated this whole thing to ruin my reputation because he probably figured out that I wouldn't just stand back and watch him ruin my hard work. I'm doin
ISABELLA'S POV Three days quickly went by since the scandal had hit and in those three days, I had done nothing. Nothing to stop the lies from spreading, no clue on how to gather evidence that it were all lies. What's worse? More employees from the firm came forward, spreading more lies and glorifying Daniel while pantinge as the villain. But I really didn't care about any of that. What gnawed at my chest was the deadline I had given Mr. Arlington. ×. ×. ×The once familiar walls of my law firm now felt suffocating. The glass windows that once showed the bustling city outside was now empty and cold. I sat at my desk in the middle of my office but something didn't feel right. An unsettling feeling sank to my chest and I frowned. What am I doing here?The lights flickered out of nowhere, then went out. I glanced around in confusion. I couldn't hear anything now- not the busy chatters of my employees nor the clicking of keyboards or shuffling of papers. Everywhere went eerily quiet a
ISABELLA'S POV I paused, swallowing back the lump rising in my throat. "At first, I learned law because I was desperate. Desperate for my father’s approval, his love and his support. But eventually, I fell in love with it. It wasn’t about my father anymore. It wasn’t about proving myself to him or anyone else. Law became my anchor. Providing justice to people who’d been treated unfairly—people like me—it gave me a sense of peace. A sense of purpose. Because I’ve spent my entire life being treated unjustly, and I thought... maybe if I couldn’t find justice for myself, at least I could bring it to others.""The moment I graduated, I started building my firm. God-It wasn’t easy. It took me six years. Six long, grueling years to get it off the ground." My voice cracked. "No one supported me. Not even my father. He was against it from the start. He said I was only a lawyer to work for him, but I didn’t want to be someone else’s lawyer. I didn’t want to live in someone else’s shadow. I wan
ISABELLA'S POV Nicholas didn’t deny it, his gaze steady and unwavering.The air between us shifted and I gulped."Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I managed to ask."Because it didn't matter"My blood pounded in my ears. We were so close that I didn't know whether I was hearing the loud thumping of my heart or his. I tried to will myself not to look up, because it would be a bad decision at the moment. But I couldn't help it.I looked up to see him already staring down at me, his eyes filled with a darkness and desire that almost unraveled me."We should go to sleep" My voice trembled slightly. "It's...Late""We should" he mumbled, his gaze traveling down to my slightly parted lips.“Mr. Montgomery…” I breathed out, my voice barely audible.Before I could say more, he closed the space between us, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that stole the breath from my lungs.The kiss wasn't gentle unlike earlier. This time, it was raw, desperate, filled with the kind of intensity that left me t
ISABELLA'S POV Nicholas withdrew his fingers, coated with my release, and brought them to my lips. “Taste yourself, Sunshine,” he demanded softly. I obeyed, sucking his fingers clean, my gaze locked with his.“Good girl,” he growled, pulling me into a searing kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting me as though he couldn’t get enough.My hands fumbled with the button of his pants, tugging them down and wrapping my fingers around his hard length. “Fuck, Isabella,” he groaned as I stroked him, his breath hitching.His hand went to my thighs and he parted them. He stepped back, staring at me like I was a work of art, something meant to be worshiped, explored, and pleasured. I bit my lips, my cheeks burning red. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his gaze filled with unrestrained desire.“Stop teasing,” I pleaded breathlessly, tugging him closer.Nicholas grinned, lowering his head to place a long, teasing lick against my soaked folds. “Impatient, are we?” he teased “Come on, tel
ISABELLA'S POV The Ravioli was finally ready, its aroma filling the kitchen. Nicholas stepped back, his arms crossed as he leaned against the counter, watching me with a small, expectant smile.“Well, Sunshine,” he said, his voice carrying that familiar teasing lilt, “the honor is all yours. Let’s see if my hard work can impress you.” I stared at the plate in front of me, my heart racing—not just because of the food, but because of the man who had made it with me. The Ravioli looked perfect, and I wasn’t sure if it was the dish or Nicholas's piercing gaze that made me feel so warm.“You’re really building this up,” I murmured, trying to play it cool even as my hands trembled slightly.His grin widened. “You’re stalling,” he teased, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine. “Come on, Sunshine. I’m on the edge of my seat here.”I swallowed hard, cutting into the Ravioli and bringing the fork to my lips. The moment the flavors hit my tongue, my eyes widened. The ri
ISABELLA'S POV Before we even started cooking, Nicholas stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “First things first,” he said, reaching for a hair tie and a hair net resting on the counter.“What are you doing?” I asked, arching a brow at him.He smirked. “Making sure your hair doesn’t end up in the Ravioli, Sunshine.”I opened my mouth to protest but froze when he stepped closer, his fingers brushing lightly against my shoulders. “Turn around,” he murmured, and I hesitated for a moment before obeying, letting out a shaky breath as I felt his hands gather my hair.His movements were deliberate. His knuckles grazing the back of my neck as he pulled my hair into a neat ponytail. My skin tingled where he touched me, a shiver running down my spine when his thumb accidentally swept over the nape of my neck.“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and rough, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.“I'm fine,” I said quickly, though my voice c
ISABELLA'S POV I hummed softly to myself as I rummaged through the cabinets, gathering the ingredients I needed. The kitchen was quiet, save for the occasional clatter of pots and the soft rustle of packaging. Breakfast wasn’t my forte, but I could manage my usual—white pasta with tomato sauce. Simple, safe, and familiar.I had just placed the box of pasta on the counter when I felt it. A presence. My movements stilled, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I turned, and there he was.Nicholas stood at the kitchen entrance, his broad shoulders leaning casually against the doorframe, but there was nothing casual about the way his eyes raked over me. A deliberate inspection that started at my face and moved downward with agonizing slowness.His gaze paused at my chest, and my breath hitched when I realized why. The thin fabric of my shirt did little to hide the outline of my peaks beneath, visible in the soft morning light. His eyes darkened, the grey in them turning s
ISABELLA'S POV The meeting had gone better than I expected. Watching Nicholas handle the presentation with his usual precision and authority had been a sight to behold. Even Mr. Franklin, who initially seemed hesitant, was visibly impressed.As the executives left, I lingered by the hallway. Nicholas was still speaking with Mr. Franklin, their voices low as they discussed final details. I clasped my hands in front of me, a soft smile tugging at my lips. For the first time in a while, I felt like I’d contributed something meaningful.“Mrs. Montgomery?”The deep, confident voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see a tall man in a perfectly tailored navy suit approaching. He looked to be in his early thirties, with striking brown eyes and an easy smile that was undeniably charismatic.“Yes?” I replied, tilting my head slightly.He extended a hand, his voice warm. “Ryan Caldwell. COO of Franklin Industries. I couldn’t leave without introducing myself.”“Ah, Mr. Caldwell,” I said,
NICHOLAS POV The conference room was a fortress of efficiency—sleek, modern, and perfectly calibrated for business. The faint hum of the holographic projector filled the room as I stood at the head of the table, presenting what I knew was a flawless pitch. Across from me, Mr. Franklin Darnell, a man with silvering hair and sharp eyes, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he studied the display.I didn’t blame him for being cautious; projects like this weren’t mere investments—they were legacy. His plans to build an amusement park were ambitious, aiming to create not just a destination but an experience for families and children across the region.And that’s where I came in.“As you know, Mr. Franklin, Neuro-Corp specializes in integrating cutting-edge technology into large-scale projects. We have designed systems that will redefine the operational efficiency of your park,” I said, gesturing to the virtual blueprint hovering in midair. “Our autonomous safety protocols are state-o
Isabella's POVThe rooftop terrace was like something out of a dream. The glittering city below stretched endlessly, a sea of twinkling lights dancing beneath the darkened sky. Above, the stars shone faintly, as if whispering secrets to one another. A gentle breeze rustled past, cool but not biting, carrying with it the faint hum of the city far below.Leaning against the edge, I let out a soft sigh. It was breathtaking, every inch of it—the lights, the breeze, the quiet serenity that seemed so impossible in a world as noisy as ours. For a moment, I closed my eyes, letting the stillness sink in. When I opened them, I couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips.“This is incredible,” I said softly, more to myself than to him.I didn’t hear Nicholas move, but I felt him before I saw him, his presence unmistakable as he stepped closer. He was quiet, as always, but there was something different about him in this moment—something softer. The usual edge he carried seemed dulled by the
ISABELLA'S POV "Let's make this more interesting, Mr. Montgomery. Winner gets to demand a favor" "A favor?" His tone was skeptical but I caught the glint of amusement in his eyes. "Any favor?" His gaze darkened in mischief."What's wrong? Afraid I'll beat you to it?" I teased leaning against the counter as the vendor handed a set of darts.Nicholas’s expression shifted, his usual calm replaced by something sharper. He wasn’t the kind of man to back down from a challenge, and I had clearly stoked his competitive side.The reward were low, just a stuffed animal prize but Nicholas had too much pride to back down.“Prepare to lose, Mrs. Montgomery,” he said, his voice laced with confidence.He stepped up to the line, his posture perfect, and movements precise as he put on some gloves. I winked at him as he took aim, watching with quiet amusement. The first dart sailed through the air, landing in the outer ring of the target with a solid thud. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t impressive eith
NICHOLAS POVThe street fair loomed before us like a chaotic storm I had no interest in weathering. The air was thick, the sound of laughter and chatter blending into a noise that clawed at my nerves. Bright colors blurred before my eyes. The crowd swarmed in eaves- shouting, the distant hum of music, the smell of street food mixing with the unmistakable scent of warm bodies and sweat. It all felt too close. Too loud. I stopped at the edge of the pavement, my muscle muscles stiffening as the rush of bodies pushed by. My stomach churned. My throat tightened. I could feel the heat of people brushing past me, their voices rising each passing minutes. My breath faltered as I glanced around, scanning the crowd with precision, calculating every exist, every opportunity to retreat because the closer people got, the harder it became to breath and my chest tightened with the old familiar pressure- like hands were closing in on me. Memories I thought I had long buried resurfaced. A differe