Isabella’s POVAs I stepped out of my car and walked toward the hospital complex, I instantly felt that familiar switch in the air again.It was that same switch I observed in the air just yesterday.And I only had to take just about three steps forward before my suspicions were confirmed.My heart stopped and my eyes widened in surprise as I saw yet another crowd gathered in front of the hospital entrance, just like the day before. But this time, they weren’t newsmen. These were protestors—angry-looking people, loud, and determined. I slowed my pace slightly, scanning their faces. Most of them were dressed in casual clothes, jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies, some even holding cups of coffee as if this was just another morning ritual.But their loud chanting voices were not casual.Another thing that wasn’t casual were the signs and placards; a bunch of them were waving from side to side.“No Nepotism at Our Hospital!”“Unfit to Lead!”“Harrington has to go!”“No more privileged leader
ISABELLA’S POVThe atmosphere in the boardroom grew tense the moment Robert stood up to make that statement.His cynical, rebellious voice was cutting through the air like a sharp blade.As soon as he suggested a vote to challenge my position as chairlady, I could feel that slight jump in my heart rate.I had not prepared for this, and seeing how Robert had taken advantage of the entire situation, I could not help but feel cornered.Refusing to yield to what he was asking for might end up proving him and the protesters outside the hospital right—that I was indeed a tyrant—and forcing myself on the board.But it could also lead to me losing my position as chairlady just like that and without any prior arrangement.Worse still, without the knowledge of my parents, who had appointed me in the first place.For a moment, the room fell into an unsettling silence, broken only by the faint shuffling of papers and a few muffled coughs.My gaze instinctively locked onto Robert, who stood at the
ISABELLA’S POVThe friction in the room jumped to greater heights from the moment my parents entered and from the moment those words escaped Robert’s mouth, betraying the fear in his voice.The question hung in the air, unanswered.And that made him shift even more uncomfortably on his seat, his eyes darting between myself and my parents.As they made their way in, their footsteps echoed, their unexpected appearance making every board member take on various masks of puzzled expressions.Nevertheless, they all rise in unison to receive them as a sign of respect.Robert was a little bit slower than the rest, but he finally stood, his fear and his bewilderment still etched on his face.Even James, who had been unnervingly calm since the meeting began, started to show the first signs of cracking.The impassive face he wore earlier started to twitch as he glanced at Robert, clearly unsettled by the turn of events. Meanwhile, Robert's focus remained fixed on my parents, his anxiety evident
GENERAL POVIsabella sat upright, her fingers intertwined.Now was the time to pull the veil off the elaborate performance of the past hour and reveal how every twist and turn had fallen into place. Robert had just been dragged away not too long ago; he was supposed to be gone now. She had played her part well—cool, calculated.But there was more to the smooth, well-played story, and the board deserved to know.Her eyes slid over to James once again. The theatrical or perhaps real anxiety into the had been etched in his face had begun to dissolve slowly.He stared at the at the door where Robert had been dragged through once more, then turned to her with a nod. There was something about that nod; this time it was an acknowledgment, a silent agreement between the both of them.Actually, James had been in on the whole act, too. That cold, distant expression from earlier was as much a performance as hers had been. Though she could not swear hundred percent yet.They had worked toge
GENERAL POVHis brows furrowed, and then he threw his cuffed hands up in a theatrical display of innocence.“And why would I do that? Isabella, won't you look for your rat in the right places for once? Must it always have to be anyone bearing your enemies’ surname?”The murmurs among the board grew louder, faces now turning in unison toward Isabella. Robert’s face tightened, but he pressed on, his voice lifting in an insincere plea. “How can you accuse me of all this when there’s someone else in this same hospital who had every reason to hurt you? Someone who treated you like trash, threatened vengeance, and now you wake up to point at me? Do you hate us Langstons that much?”The room fell silent, the weight of Robert’s words hanging like a fog.Even the officers stood still, watching with arms crossed.But Isabella barely flinched.“So who did it then... Dr. Langston?” She asked with a mocking shrug, her voice soft but cutting through the stillness like a blade.Robert chuckled, th
GENERAL POVThe afternoon sun started to dip down.Nathan and Owen arrived at Thompson’s hospital accompanied by about six police vans.Their father’s call had come to them not too long ago, informing them of everything going over there and the necessary action they were to take.And on their arrival, just like they had been told. There was indeed chaos waiting at its entrance.A sea of protesters swarmed outside, waving a wild array of colored placards, their chants rising and falling in a show of defiance and discontent. Their sister’s name is written boldly on a number of them.The air was thick with tension as police sirens wailed through the expansive vicinity, the convoy cutting through the crowd. The tires screeched as the vehicles came to a halt. The exhaust pipes are releasing smoke.Nathan and Owen leaped first, followed by tens of uniformed officers pouring from the vans, moving with swift precision."Clear them out." Nathan barked, his voice slicing through the noise. Hi
ISABELLA POVThe sun caressed my partially bare skin, warming me up as I lay back on the soft lounge chair.My legs were stretched out lazily, and my pink sarong clung loosely around my waist, a light breeze catching its edges, while my bikini top looked even brighter under the hovering sunlight. I could feel the weight of all the experiences that made up the past year.And this private beach was just the perfect place for that kind of reflection.It was so secluded, it felt like a dreamland, far removed from everything we had been through. There were only a few other people scattered along the sand, their voices distant, like whispers blending with the wind.I glanced toward an old couple nearby, laughing over something I couldn’t quite catch. For a brief moment, their laughter pulled me into their joy, and I found myself chuckling too before sinking back into my own thoughts.It was a surreal thing.It actually really was; it was sitting here, whole and alive. Thinking about the
ISABELLA POVThe ride into town felt like a breath of fresh air. The farther we drove, the more exhilarated I felt.Through the window, the sun added to the glow of the streets, and I let the breeze carry my thoughts away, watching as the scenery transformed gradually from open roads to bustling streets.When we finally reached the town, it was like stepping into another world; it was so lively and full of energy. The devoted vendors lined the sidewalks, their voices rising over the chatter of tourists and locals. Groups of school-aged children darted between people, laughter echoing as they played, while couples strolled hand in hand. I couldn’t help but smile, my heart swelling with the lightness of the moment.I glanced at Michael, who seemed just as absorbed in the scene as I was."This place is heaven," he murmured.I nodded so much more quickly, watching his hairy hands rest casually on the steering wheel."Yeah, I can see why you wanted this trip."In the minutes after, we p
ISABELLA'S POVA year had passed since our wedding ceremony, and as expected, so much had changed. And this change began from where we had chosen to start a family.A towering off white mansion.It was everything we had dreamed of as a couple: It really made the experience feel like what it was called—exactly settling down.Think about the spaciousness; think about meaningful layout. It was just perfect.However, our new home was one out of many of the positive developments. My career as the “Phantom Medic” had soared in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Over the past year, I could no longer count the number of lives, performing surgeries that others deemed initially impossible had saved.My renown had grown by twice, not just as a surgeon but as an advocate. Remember the foundation I had fought so hard to establish? It had also grown to become a beacon for research into rare diseases, and that had been a deeply personal mission born out of my own health struggles... my near-death
ISABELLA'S POVThree weeks had passed, and it felt like a lifetime since everything had come together so perfectly. I was standing at the entrance of the outdoor venue of Augustine's parish, it was the same church my maternal grandfather currently attended.The garden was so, so breathtaking.The large hall adjacent to the garden was filled up with family, friends and well wishers.The groom boy, Michael, my grandparents, cheerful as always, was sitting proudly among executives from his family's company. His own family mingled with the guests, their smiles radiating pride. My parents, always a picture of grace, were seated in the front row. My dad, Elliot Harrington, was wearing a navy blue suit that complimented his tall frame, while my mother looked radiant in an elegant gown. Owen and Nathan, my loving brothers, sat beside them. Owen, always the typical charmer that he was, wore a fitted burgundy suit.While Nathan opted for a classic black tuxedo, looking more reserved than
MICHAEL’S POVMy grandparent’s large living room felt like a theater of looming judgment this afternoon.Every seat was occupied, and none of us was sitting with ease. It was like we all had fire under our buttocks.At the head of the room, Grandpa Howard sat, his large frame rigid in his high-backed chair, his normal face was a mask of barely contained rage, lips pursed, eyes narrowed. He gripped the armrests, staring at Elsa, who, as usual, was sitting in the far corner of the room; this time, she was avoiding his gaze like it would burn her alive.Her posture was stiff, hands clenched tightly in her lap, her eyes moving about in every direction but Grandpa’s.I found myself also mirroring Grandpa’s expression, the same fire in my own eyes.I could feel my parents sitting on either side of me, their faces drawn tight with disgust, eyes locked on Elsa.My mother’s lips were twisted, and my father’s fingers twitched as though ready to lash out at any moment. The only person who wasn
ISABELLA’S POVI was sitting on my couch that afternoon, my TV tuned on some spaces away. The live broadcast had been on for nearly an hour, but my focus hadn’t wavered. There on the screen was Michael, seated among the press, his expression calm but resolute, just as we had rehearsed together the night before. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, and his eyes were sharp. Michael sat in the center of the long table, surrounded by journalists whose pens moved rapidly across their notepads, eager to catch every word.His posture was upright, shoulders squared, but I could of course feel the tension he bore.I leaned forward on the couch as Michael began speaking, his voice strong and unwavering despite the gravity of what he was about to expose."After months of working with Robert Carlisle, I’ve uncovered disturbing truths." Michael began, his voice steady but his eyes darkening with emotion."I discovered that he’s been altering the properties of our product to make it more addict
GENERAL POVOwen stood in front of the full-length mirror, tightening his tie with slow, deliberate movements. His reflection stared back.He brushed a few wrinkles from his collar, muttering under his breath, ticking off the list of meetings and cover-ups waiting for him at the office. After some time of thinking about the office and where he had to be, the same old thoughts crept back, uninvited and heavy.The same old sense of discomfort he had tried to bury for days now…his tangled feelings for Claire.Came yet again.However, his thought pattern was a little different this time.For reasons he couldn't explain, the scene from that fateful night replayed in his head.He had gone to meet her, intent on laying everything out his feelings, urge to speak his mind only to find her in the VIP section, lips locked with another man. Owen had frozen, his eyes startled and alarmed.But thinking about it now, what had haunted him more than the betrayal was actually her reaction. Claire ha
ISABELLA'S POVI sat at the edge of my couch, my mind a storm of thoughts.It's been three days. Three days since I’d stormed out of Scarlett’s place, a trip of reconciliation that had quickly developed into something else I didn't bargain for.Now, it was followed by her trying to reach out to me, forwarding. desperate and pleading in the text messages...I had ignored them all, as if refusing to acknowledge them would make the gnawing suspicion less real.My gaze drifted out of the window. Inside me, there was only a deepening gloom. The things I had seen that day, the contracts with Xander, strange inconsistencies in Scarlett’s defense—it had all begun to fester like an open wound.No, something isn’t right. The words escaped my lips in a low murmur, barely audible.I needed answers. And I needed them now. I picked up my phone, quickly dialing Claire’s number and agitation in my veins.“Good morning, Dr. Isabella,” Claire’s voice greeted me, bright and efficient as always.“Morn
MICHAEL’S POV The moment I stepped into the club,music hit me, vibrating floors dim lights, charged atmosphere…name it. I paused just inside the entrance, scanning the room casually, my eyes adjusting to the low lighting as I searched for Owen. We had agreed to meet here. The club was one of those exclusive spots, packed with people who knew they were being watched but pretended otherwise. As I looked around, I saw a few groups clustered in private booths, laughter merged with the hum of conversation, while some others wriggled their tiny waists on the dance floor. Taking a breath, I made my way in, walking slowly and moving through the crowd, my hands brushing past people’s shoulders. Owen would be waiting in the VIP section, and I needed not to rush to get there. However, the urgency of what brought me drove me. The VIP area was cordoned off by a velvet rope, guarded by a bouncer who gave me a curt nod of recognition before unhooking the rope. I slipped past without a
ISABELLA'S POVNathan had shared with me how Scarlett had been visiting him of late, lingering too long at his door, just enough to stir old wounds. And even reaching out to the estate security personnel whenever he wasn't around. At least it showed a level of desperation on her part. And that was why I was on my way there today.Despite the hurt, part of me hoped we could still talk this out. Even though restoring her back into his life wouldn't be all that possible.But we could still arrive at something that works. Just like James and I had done.After all, we had been friends for years. All I wanted was a hint of remorse from her, an acknowledgment of the line she had crossed.As I parked in front of the gallery, the emptiness of the space mirrored the hollow feeling in my chest. The lights were off, the windows dark, and not a soul in sight. I stood for a moment, staring at the locked door, a quiet sigh escaping my lips. So, she wasn’t here. And perhaps indoors or something
GENERAL POVOwen pushed the door to his apartment and entered.He shut the door softly behind him, pausing for a second, as though leaving the world outside was not quite enough.He moved with slow, deliberate steps, crossing the room with a weariness that had become second nature to him over the past few days.His face was hard to read; his brows were slightly drawn, lost in thought.When Owen reached his bedroom, he stopped at the center of the room, standing there as though uncertain of what to do next.His eyes were scanning the space, landing on nothing in particular, and for a long moment, he didn’t move.The room felt too big, too empty. It swallowed him whole.With a heavy sigh, his hand reached up to undo the buttons of his shirt, one by one, slowly. The fabric fell away from his body, and he carelessly tossed it onto the bed. He stood shirtless and then made to sit down on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped loosely as his head hung low.For day