🌸 CHAPTER FORTY 🌸NICHOLAS POVI rip off my tie and dumped it on my dresser before making a quick work of my button. I pulled at my head and groaned, wanting desperately to distract me from how hard my dick was in my pants. I was so mad- not at Isabella, but at myself, for wanting her the way that I do. Her curves, her scent, and her legs-fuck those sexy legs. Only God knows how many times I'd imagined them wrapped around my waist as I thrust deeply into her. I can already feel my dick getting harder by the thought of it. I took off my shirt and pulled my pants down, alongside my boxers, freeing my boner from its restraints and headed straight to the bathroom.The cold water poured over my head, drenching my hair and running down my tensed body as I stood under the shower but it did nothing to calm me down–or rather my boner. I tried to think of something, anything that could make me less horny, but my thoughts kept going back to Isabella. Of what could have happened if we had pus
CHRISTABELLA'S POV The club pulsed with the rhythm of the music, the neon lights flashing in time with the beat. I leaned back against the bar, a glass of champagne in my hand, and a satisfied smile tugging at my lips.The laughter around me was intoxicating, and I reveled in it, in the glow of the club’s lights and the praise from my circle of friends. The last few days days had been about photoshoots, interviews, and extravagant events. Tonight, however, was for me. I finally got to take a break and enjoy myself, enjoy what I loved doing the most instead of thinking about that loser, Isabella.I raised my glass to the crowd, smirking at the way the attention shifted toward me. "Cheers to me!" I exclaimed and everyone cheered. I laughed before knocking down the champagne in one smooth gulp. The alcohol burned, but it felt like freedom.Here, I didn't need to put on an act. I didn't need to pretend I care about anyone. I get to be my true self and not that stomach turning angelic ima
CHRISTABELLA'S POV The room seemed to close in around me, and I struggled to breathe.How did he find out? Who snitched on me? Who did this?I shook my head, my throat tightening with panic. “I—I didn’t... I didn’t do this. I would never—”Director slammed his fist down on the desk, cutting me off. “Don’t lie to me, Christabella! I’ve worked in this industry long enough to know when someone is trying to pull the wool over my eyes. You sabotaged other women’s careers. You’ve made enemies everywhere. You thought you could play us all, but now it’s over!”My breath hitched and I tried to stand but my knees weakened beneath me. “No... this can’t be happening.” My voice cracked, desperation flooding me “Please... Director, I’ve worked so hard to get here. You can’t just throw everything away over some lies. You know me. You know I would never—”The director didn’t flinch “I’ve seen the hidden camera footage too, Christabella.” He slid a USB drive across the desk, and the click of it on the
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
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