ISABELLA'S POV I opened the door to find Christabella standing there, her expression a mix of nervousness and hope. She looked differentâless 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. âHi,â she said softly, offering a nervous smile.I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. âWhat are you doing here, Christabella? What do you want?âShe hesitated, shifting on her feet before holding the basket out to me. âI, uh... I brought this for you.âI glanced at the basket and back at her, my brow arching skeptically. âA basket of what?âHer chuckle was uneasy âDark chocolate with raspberry. I remember it was your favorite when we were kids, so I thought...you know, itâd be a nice gift.âI couldnât help the incredulous laugh that escaped me. âSo you just came here to hand me some chocolate? What are we, five?âHer smile faltered, and her gaze dropped to the ground. She bit her lip, her grip tighten
DANIEL'S POV The guardâs voice grated against my ears as he approached my cell. âWest, youâve got a visitor.âA visitor? My heart skipped, but not from joy. Who could it be?Christabellaâs face flashed in my mind and I beamed at the thought. Maybe she couldnât 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.âYou son of a bitch!â I roared, slamming my fists against the partition between us. The sound reverberated through
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. Flowersâwhite lilies and lavender rosesâand 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
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 goodâbetter 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. Heâd encouraged me to attend this event, insistin
NICHOLAS POV "Explain to me what the fuck you mean by you didnât come back with my wife?!â My voice thundered loudly. I stared down the group of bodyguards standing in my office, their heads bowed in shame. âYour only job was to protect her. To make sure she was safe. And now youâre standing hereâwithout her!â"Where the fuck is my wife?!" I roared, fury blinding every bit of reasoning.The lead guard flinched but managed to stammer, âSir, weâthere was a commotion. We tried toâââTried?â I slammed my fist onto the desk, making it shudder under the force. âYou tried? Do you have any idea who youâre dealing with? Who you were supposed to protect?!â 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 wasnât there.I pointed at one of my men, my finger trembling with rage. âLock them up,â I barked âI donât care how you do it. Ho
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 meâa 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!â 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.âIsabella, stay where you are! Donât move!âI froze, looking to him for reassurance.But then I took in our surroundings. There was no one else hereâno police, no backup, just Nicholas on one side and Daniel, Victor, two of Danielâs men, and me
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 theyâd 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 heâd 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.âHands in the air! Drop the documents and get on the ground!âVictor froze mid-step, his face contorted with fury as he realized there was no escape. His gaze darted around, desperate for an
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 echoedâa sound that filled my heart in ways I could never fully explain.âMommy!â 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. âMommy, Daddyâs being silly again!âHot on her heels was her twin brother, Caleb. He shared her curls but had Nicholasâs sharp, gray eyesâthe kind that seemed to see through everything. He scrambled up beside her, his grin so wide it threatened to split his face. âMommy, Daddy said we could have pancakes with chocolate chips today!âMy heart swelled as I pulled them both into my arms
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 echoedâa sound that filled my heart in ways I could never fully explain.âMommy!â 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. âMommy, Daddyâs being silly again!âHot on her heels was her twin brother, Caleb. He shared her curls but had Nicholasâs sharp, gray eyesâthe kind that seemed to see through everything. He scrambled up beside her, his grin so wide it threatened to split his face. âMommy, Daddy said we could have pancakes with chocolate chips today!âMy 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 theyâd 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 heâd 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.âHands in the air! Drop the documents and get on the ground!âVictor 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 meâa 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!â 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.âIsabella, stay where you are! Donât move!âI froze, looking to him for reassurance.But then I took in our surroundings. There was no one else hereâno police, no backup, just Nicholas on one side and Daniel, Victor, two of Danielâs men, and me
NICHOLAS POV "Explain to me what the fuck you mean by you didnât come back with my wife?!â My voice thundered loudly. I stared down the group of bodyguards standing in my office, their heads bowed in shame. âYour only job was to protect her. To make sure she was safe. And now youâre standing hereâwithout her!â"Where the fuck is my wife?!" I roared, fury blinding every bit of reasoning.The lead guard flinched but managed to stammer, âSir, weâthere was a commotion. We tried toâââTried?â I slammed my fist onto the desk, making it shudder under the force. âYou tried? Do you have any idea who youâre dealing with? Who you were supposed to protect?!â 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 wasnât there.I pointed at one of my men, my finger trembling with rage. âLock them up,â I barked âI donât 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 goodâbetter 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. Heâd 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. Flowersâwhite lilies and lavender rosesâand 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 guardâs voice grated against my ears as he approached my cell. âWest, youâve got a visitor.âA visitor? My heart skipped, but not from joy. Who could it be?Christabellaâs face flashed in my mind and I beamed at the thought. Maybe she couldnât 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.âYou son of a bitch!â 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 differentâless 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. âHi,â she said softly, offering a nervous smile.I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. âWhat are you doing here, Christabella? What do you want?âShe hesitated, shifting on her feet before holding the basket out to me. âI, uh... I brought this for you.âI glanced at the basket and back at her, my brow arching skeptically. âA basket of what?âHer chuckle was uneasy âDark chocolate with raspberry. I remember it was your favorite when we were kids, so I thought...you know, itâd be a nice gift.âI couldnât help the incredulous laugh that escaped me. âSo you just came here to hand me some chocolate? What are we, five?âHer 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 Nicholasâs 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 doctorâs appointment. Every sleepless night. Every moment of doubt when I thought I wouldnât make it.Now, my reflection in the glass wasn't of a fragile woman barely holding