ISABELLA'S POV“Is that really her?”Multiple people were speaking at the same time now, and the louder they were speaking, the closer they were getting to me.“Bella… I think we are getting mobbed.” Owen whispered.Before I could do anything worth while in response, we were already surrounded, this time not just by the people initially at the same scene but also the airport staff, incoming passengers, and even a couple of flight attendants. Conversations about me were flying about all around the hall.“I thought she was just a myth!”“Can you believe it?”“Oh my God, I think I touched her. She’s actually here!”“John… John, get a picture before she disappears again!” Cameras flashed like shooting guns, and the soft hum of phones captured this moment that I was sure would soon be all over the internet.Then, in the midst of the whole chaos, I suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere—a weird feeling that I was being watched. I looked around the hall, looking for traces of that energy I
GENERAL POVIsabella came out of the car almost too quickly. She barely looked up as she hurried into the building.Today was supposed to be just another routine day, one where she could lose everything to the rhythm of her work. She just got a call that an early conference meeting would be held in five minutes, and she needed to get that over with before going about anything else. She threw her legs quickly as she made her way down the narrow corridor.However, just as she reached the turn for the main office building, something pulled her from her thoughts; a sharp masculine voice, full of disdain, cut through the quiet air.“This is a hospital facility, not some charity ward! Thompson International does not cater to the poor. If you can't afford it, then get lost!”Isabella stiffened, and her pulse quickened. Her first instinct was to ignore it. These walls were no strangers to outbursts. Maybe it was just two doctors bantering? Or perhaps just another patient. But there was so
General POVLater that afternoon, the hospital vibrated to the hum of different conversations.Nurses, doctors, and other staff members clustered around tables, their voices blending into a murmur that swelled with each passing second. Today’s gossip was simply too juicy to ignore, and everyone had their own version of the morning’s drama to share.At one table near the windows, a group of Nurses leaned in close to each other, their faces animated as one of them recounted the story with wide eyes and dramatic gestures. “I swear, she just walked up to him like a superwoman! And Dr. Langston didn’t even know what hit him. He was just standing there, looking like a deer caught in headlights while she…”“Are you sure that’s what happened?” another nurse interrupted, her eyebrows raising. “I heard she just gave him this fierce look, you know, the kind that could curdle milk, and he practically withered to one the spot.”“Yeah, right!” laughed another, shaking her head. “Not possible
MICHAEL'S POVOne Week LaterSince I stopped using the wheelchair, the cane in my hand had become some sort of a strange companion, an extension of myself that I wasn’t yet fully comfortable with.Each step I took was deliberate and tentative like that of a baby, my muscles trying to remember how to function again after so much time confined to one spot.The yard outside the hospital was quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic and the rustle of leaves in the wind.The air was fresher out here. It was cleaner here.It was in this moment of standing outside and trying to observe some quiet reflection that I noticed a feminine figure standing a few yards away from me. There was something familiar about the way she carried herself, the slight tilt of her head, the poised but unhurried movements. It wasn’t until she turned slightly, allowing the light to catch her face, that I realized that it was my new friend…Isabella.My heart leaped, and I almost I forgot my cane and jumped.Joyf
Nathan's POV“Wow!” I whispered, looking around as I adjusted my tie, the sleek fabric smooth under my fingertips.My new office at the Harrigton’s headquater was a significant upgrade compared to my previous office at New Zealand, which was just a corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows. The sharp lines of the modern furniture, the understated yet elegant decor in this one, all reminded me of how much had changed. Dad and Grandfather told me to wait here not too long ago.In about five minutes, I would be meeting with the senior board members in the conference room. I straightened my suit jacket once more.However, inwardly It was almost like I was resuming at New Zealand all over again. The feeling was the same.The familiar streets were all looking foreign, the faces I once knew seemed distant. I was nervous, not just about stepping into this new role but also about confronting the past I’d left behind. The image of my parents that day before I left flashed yet ag
MICHAEL'S POVI kept my hands on the steering wheel as my car glided through the paved roads. Each turn brought me closer to Le Petit Amour restaurant, and it also brought me closer to the moment I have been rehearsing in my mind since yesterday.A part of me was wondering if I could still back out, find an excuse, or even convince myself that this dinner wasn’t going to end the way I’d planned.I eased on the brakes to navigate a few ruts ahead.The plan was simple, but executing it felt like it was going to be so much more difficult than expected.I couldn’t help but replay the conversation I was about to have, each version with different words but the same ending. I wanted to be as clear as possible but also kind. But how do you tell someone something so direct and blunt without causing them pain?In a few minutes, the restaurant district came into view, a round glittery building with a signpost in front.As I pulled into the lot, something I saw through the windscreen caught m
ISABELLA'S POVI ended the call, my fingers feeling stiff as I stared at the screen. I could feel Michael’s eyes on me, still watching, still waiting.I glanced up at him, forcing a smile that felt as fragile as glass. “Never mind," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The excuse tasted bitter on my tongue. Michael didn’t say a word. His gaze was steady, unblinking, as if he could see through the mask I was desperately trying to hold in place. I looked away, feeling the burn of his concern. The silence between us was heavy as I shifted uncomfortably, trying to act like everything was fine.But it wasn’t. The constant attempts by James to force himself back into my life was becoming tiring, and pushing him away was a little bit harder than it should be, knowing that his seed was growing inside of me. “Lets go,” Michael finally said, taking me by the hand again and opening the car door for me to enter.We left for the club, and the drive to the address was a quiet one. Th
ISABELLA'S POVI climbed down from the car and slammed my car door with a force, cursing under my breath as I stormed towards my apartment gate.The anger boiling inside me was barely contained, each step a testament to the frustration I have been trying to manage since we left the restaurant up to the incessant calls at the club.The last thing I needed now was James showing up at my new place unannounced. “What the hell are you doing here? Who gave you the address to my apartment?” I snarled, advancing slowly like someone addressing a snake.James shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze fixed on me. “Does it really matter how I found you? The important thing is that I did. We share a bond, Isabella, and we need to address it as soon as possible. We need to talk of my child inside you.”At that point, Michael, who had followed me out of the car, had stepped a little closer, standing just a few spaces away from us, keeping a wary distance. My face flushed at once in embarrassment. I cou