Oh, someone is jealous 😏😏 Calm down Nicholas 😂😂 What are you thoughts on this chapter? Don't forget to like, comment and vote Love y'all
ISABELLA'S POV I froze the moment Nicholas pulled me against him, my chest colliding with his head frame. The heat the body seeped into mine, the familiar scent of him- ambergris and vetiver, wrapped around me and made relief wash over me. I tilted my head to meet his gaze and my breath hitched. Even behind the half mask, his eyes blazed with an intensity that stole the breath from my lungs. "Mr. Montgomery?" I whispered. His jaw clenched and his hands tightened around my waist. "Did you enjoy it?" His question made me blink in confusion. "What?""Did you enjoy him touching you?" His nostrils flared in disgust. I frowned "What are talking about, Mr. Montgomery? I was...""You were doing what?" he cut me off. "Letting another man touch you? Letting him put his filthy hands on you?" he glared. "It was part of the plan..." The words got stuck in my throat when his fingers trailed up my spine sending goosebumps down my skin. "Does the plan include you grinding against him, huh?" he h
NICHOLAS POV I Touched Something Forbidden.Something that should have never been mine to claim. I tasted sin. The kind of sin that rips apart every ounce of restrain I've spent years building, the type that drags you deeper into an abyss you wouldn't want to climb out. And who could have known that sin would taste so goddamn intoxicating, like heaven wrapped in hell. The cold water poured over my head, drenching my hair and running down my tensed body as I stood under the shower. I leaned against the cold tiles, bracing my palms against the wall as my head dipped forward. My breath came out shallow and ragged, the heat burning inside me refusing to cool despite the torrent of water cascading over me. I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the memory but the image came playing vivid in my head. The way her lips had felt under my thumb was soft and swollen. And her body, Jesus Christ, her body... I groaned, my fingers curling into fits as memories of her body burned into me like a brand.
CHRISTABELLA'S POV By the time the shoot was over and I was done for the day, it was dawn. I grabbed my phone and headed straight to my car with my assistant trailing behind me. I dialed Daniel's number. It rang several times but he didn't pick up. Not the second, third, fourth, fifth, or even seventh time. My frustration grew but I managed to keep a smiling face, even though the corners of my mouth felt like they would snap under my skin. By the time I arrived home, my blood was boiling. I still couldn't reach Daniel. My housekeeper, whatever her name was, greeted me at the door. "Welcome, Madam. What would you like to have for dinner?""Just make something light" I snapped curtly. I retreated to my room, slipped out of my designer clothes into a silk robe, and plunged into my bed. I rubbed my temples, my head pounding out of frustration. A knock came a moment later, and the housekeeper entered with my food. I barely tasted it, my thoughts still consumed by that video, by the auda
ISABELLA'S POV The grand hall was filled with men and woman known for their power and luxury, the type of atmosphere Daniel had always wanted to thrive in. He stood in the stage, a proud smirk on his face. The air was alive with anticipation, marked by the clink of glasses and whispers.Today was Daniel's moment—the day he had long awaited. A turning point in his career: the launch of his stock exchange empire.Investors from far and wide had gathered, eager to stake their claims. The Sterlings were present too, their faces glowing with pride for their son-in-law. Nicholas was also among the attendees, though he’d never shown any interest in investing. I knew Daniel had invited him purely to flaunt his success and rub it in my face. Now I know what he has been using those millions from my law firm for.A few days ago, Anika, my former secretary, and Madelyn, my accountant, sent me an updated report on the firm. Even though I was no longer officially their boss, I’d instructed them to
ISABELLA'S POV The air in the room was suffocating, the tension so thick, one could literally be choke by it. Daniel sat at the long table in Dominic Sterling's study room, his composure barely intact. His jaw clenched tightly, his hand trembling as he tried to contain his anger and frustration. Christabella sat to his right, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. She was glaring at Daniel, holding back the urge to slap him hard across the face. At the end of the table sat Dominic, fury radiating off him. I, on the other hand, leaned back in my chair waiting eagerly for the drama to unfold. I was present because Dominic had summoned me and even though I wanted to turn his summon down, I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to witness Daniel squirm. Dominic slammed his fist onto the table and everyone flinched, except me. "You better start explaining what the fuck just happened, Daniel! Explain to me how an entire room of potential investors just watched a video of my son-in-law dealing
DANIEL'S POVHow Dare She? The thought burned in my mind, searing hotter with each passing second as I stormed into the house. The door slammed shut behind me. My eyes darted around the lavish living room and landed on the vase perched on the fireplace shelf. Without a second thought, I grabbed it and hurled it against the wall. The porcelain shattered, it's fragments scattering across the floor but it did nothing to calm the fury boiling inside me.Isabella.That despicable, cunning woman.She ruined everything. My years of planning, years of hard work. She destroyed it all in one day!I paced back and forth, my fist clenched and jaw tightened. My mind reeled back to years back, when all of this started, the day I decided to charm my way into Isabella's life. It was never about love. The reason I approached her wasn't because I loved her in any way. It was all about power and control. She was a Sterling and the Sterling owned me everything.My father, James West, used to speak so hi
ISABELLA'S POV The faint smell of coffee drifted through the house as I descended the stairs. When I reached the kitchen, Odessa was already there, bustling about and humming to a song, her apron tied around her waist. When she saw me, her eyes instantly lightened up.“Good morning, dear,” she greeted with a warm smile that reached to my heart.“Good morning, ma’am,” I replied softly, almost instinctively, though I didn’t feel guarded with her as I usually did with others.“Come on, my dear. Haven't I told you to drop the ‘ma’am'. You’ll make me feel like an old woman.” she teased. A smile drew up my lips. "Good morning, Odessa" I corrected, feeling a faint warmth in my chest."That's so much better" she chuckled "I was about to make breakfast. Care to join me? Or you can wait a little bit at the dinning. I'll be done in minutes"I froze for a moment. Breakfast. Food. The thought alone made my stomach twist with unease. I swallowed."I... don't usually eat breakfast" I mumbled, lower
ISABELLA'S POVAfter the delightful breakfast with Odessa, she mentioned that Nicholas was in his study. So, I made my way back upstairs. Now standing in front of the rich, dark wood door, I hesitated. I had never stepped foot inside Nicholas’s study before, and I rarely saw Odessa or Alfred venture in there either.As I pushed the door open, my eyes widened at the sight before me. Everything about the room screamed luxury and advanced technology. From the glass floor to the sleek table at the center of the room. When I stepped further inside, running my fingers along the smooth surface of the desk, the faint scent of leather and cedar lingered mingling with the faint scent of Nicholas' cologne but he wasn't in the room. The walls were lined with shelves that stretched to the ceiling and as I got closer, my eyes widened a bit at how meticulously arranged the books were. They were arranged precisely by size, cover, colour and even alphabetically. I also noticed how the books were in f
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