ISABELLA'S POV I woke to the sound of running water. For a moment, I lay still, blinking at the soft glow of the bedside lamp, wondering if I’d imagined it. But then there was a noise—soft, frantic, and oddly repetitive.Frowning, I sat up. The bathroom door was open, a sliver of light spilling into the bedroom. Something didn’t feel right.I headed quietly toward the door, the sound growing louder with each step. The harsh scent of soap hit me first, sharp and medicinal, stinging my nose.And then I saw him.Nicholas stood hunched over the sink, his hands working furiously under the stream of water. My breath caught as I realized what he was doing—he was scrubbing not dirt, but his own skin. His hands were raw, red streaks swirling with soap suds in the basin. The water running turned pink as blood seeped from where his skin had broken.“Nicholas,” I whispered, horror prickling through me.He didn’t stop. His movements were mechanical, almost frantic, as if he was trying to erase so
ISABELLA'S POV I leaned closer, my heart aching for him, but I didn’t interrupt. He needed this. He needed to let it out.“He hated physical contact,” Nicholas said, his voice quieter now “He thought it was weak. If I so much as reached for his hand, he’d pull away like I was disgusting. He’d say things like, ‘Don’t cling to me. You’re not a child.’”His voice wavered, and his gaze dropped to the floor. “But it wasn’t just that. He said... people were filthy. He hated the idea of me being around anyone. He’d say things like, ‘You don’t know where their hands have been,’ or ‘They’ll ruin you with their germs and disease”I bit my lip, struggling to keep my emotions in check as he continued.“When I was ten, he started locking me in the house. Not just for discipline, but to keep me away from the world. He called it ‘preservation.’” Nicholas’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Preservation. Like I was some fragile object he needed to keep clean, untouched. Anytime I tried to step outsi
ISABELLA'S POV The weight of the night still lingered between us. Nicholas rested his forehead against my shoulder, his breath slow and steady, but his grip on my waist was firm, like he was afraid to let go. For a man so composed, so unshakable in the eyes of the world, he carried so much beneath the surface.“Nicholas,” I murmured softly, my other hand brushing against his hair. “You should take a shower. It’ll help you feel better.”His eyes, stormy and unyielding, looked up to mine, and a small, tired smirk tugged at his lips. “Is that your way of telling me I look terrible?”“No,” I replied quickly, trying not to smile. “You don’t. You just look… like you need it. Trust me, it’ll help.”He stared at me like he was debating something. Then, he mumbled, his hold on my waist tightening a bit “Only if you shower with me.”The request hit me like a physical force, and I froze. “What?”“You heard me,” he said, placing a kiss on my neck. “If I’m going to shower, you’re coming with me.”
ISABELLA'S POV Before I could catch my breath, Nicholas lifted me effortlessly, pinning me against the cool tiles of the bathroom wall. His strength was staggering. My legs wrapped around his shoulders instinctively, and I gasped as his gaze dropped to where I ached for him most. "Now it’s my turn," he said. "I want to hear you scream my name."He didn’t wait for a response. His mouth descended, and I cried out as his tongue parted me, his lips and teeth working in perfect harmony to unravel me. The sensations were overwhelming, his pace relentless. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as my body arched against him."Nicholas!" I moaned, the sound echoing off the walls. His name was the only word I could manage, the only thought that existed. His tongue thrust into me, his groans vibrating against my skin. He was everywhere, consuming me entirely. The pressure built and built until it was unbearable. My release crashed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me trembling i
DANIEL'S POV A sharp knock at the door pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. My head snapped up, eyes narrowing at the intrusion.“Come in,” I barked.The door creaked open, and one of my men stepped in, his face pale and drawn. He hesitated at the threshold, his gaze darting around the room like he was afraid of what he might find.“Well?” I snapped, motioning for him to speak.He took a cautious step forward, clearing his throat. “Sir, I managed to get away before the third warehouse was hit. I—I couldn’t stop it. Whoever they are, they knew exactly where to strike.”I straightened in my chair, my eyes narrowing. “And?”“I overheard Chase talking to someone on the phone,” he said. “It turned out he was an informant working for them. They weren’t just after the goods—they wanted to send a message. They knew your operations. Down to the smallest detail" My jaw tightened, my mind racing. Inside information? That was the only explanation to how everything happened so smoothly. The hi
CHRISTABELLA'S POV “Congratulations, Mrs West. You’re five weeks pregnant.”The words hit me like a bolt of lightning, and for a moment, the world around me seemed to tilt. Five weeks. My mind raced, calculating the timeline, and my stomach twisted with the realization.I forced a smile, nodding as if this was the best news I’d ever received.The doctor continued speaking—something about prenatal vitamins and follow-up appointments—but her words blurred. When the doctor and nurse left me alone to clean up, I stared at the ultrasound screen, the tiny flicker of life still visible. My fingers brushed against my stomach, the gel cool and sticky beneath my hand. A part of me wanted to cry—this was what I had wanted for so long. But it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.I wiped the gel off my stomach slowly, my hands trembling. Five weeks but this child wasn’t Daniel’s. It wasn’t conceived out of love or even lust. It was born of necessity, a calculated move in a game I couldn’t affor
CHRISTABELLA'S POVThe hospital waiting room was a pit of despair, filled with the muffled sounds of sobs and the sharp tang of disinfectant. Mother sat in the corner, her face pale and drawn, clutching a rosary so tightly her knuckles were bone-white. I leaned into her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and whispering empty reassurances.“He’s strong, Mother,” I murmured, stroking her hand. “Father’s a fighter. He’ll pull through.”She nodded absently, tears streaming down her face as she whispered prayers under her breath.I should have felt something—pain, fear-anything—but the only thing I felt was anticipation. The kind that made my chest tight with excitement. If all went well, this could be the moment everything changes for me.The doors to the waiting room burst open, and Daniel stormed in, his hair disheveled and his tie loosened as though he’d rushed all the way here. His eyes found mine, and I immediately let the tears flow freely, allowing the fear to fill my face as I
ISABELLA'S POV I sat up on the bed, my head resting against the headboard, my phone still clutched in my hand. The staff member's voice echoed in my head. "Your father collapsed. He’s undergoing an emergency surgery at the moment. It’s serious."A part of me felt numb. Another part—the one I tried so hard to suppress—felt a pang of worry, even guilt. No matter how much I tried to deny it, I couldn’t ignore the knot forming in my chest.Should I go see him? Would it even matter after everything he’s done?I let out a shaky breath, my fingers tightening around the phone as if it could anchor me. The answer wouldn’t come, no matter how much I wrestled with it. The memories of his disapproving glares, his dismissive words, and the moment he disowned me all swirled in my head, taunting me.The urge to call the hospital clashed with the overwhelming desire to do nothing at all. What would I even say if I went? Would he want to see me? Or would he turn me away, like he always did?Lost in m
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