ISABELLA POVAs we continued to hold each other, I sensed a shift in the room. My father and the others were watching us.All of them are going completely silent. Their eyes, though touched by the moment, were also asking questions. Their faces were a bit puzzled by the strong emotion I was displaying for what was supposed to be a normal family meetup. When I finally pulled away from my mother's embrace. Her eyes—those deep hazel gloves of hers, locked onto mine. They saw the little streaks of tears hiding inside them; they almost saw the pain I was nursing.I looked away. “What’s wrong, Bella?” She asked, her voice soft and searching.I opened my mouth to say what I had planned to say an hour ago, but it was too heavy. My mouth bowed to the
ISABELLA'S POVI couldn’t keep my eyes off Lilian, studying every line of her face for a clue, a hint of what she was about to say. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her eyes darted back and forth as if she were second-guessing the decision.My patience was wearing thin; the silence stretched unbearably.“What is it, Lilian? What did Scarlett do?”I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. My heart thumped a little too loudly. Wondering if she was somehow in trouble, I just saw her about an hour ago, with my family, crying out loud.Lilian took a deep breath, glancing away for a moment before her gaze locked back onto mine. "I saw Scarlett... with another guy," she finally said, her words slow and careful."I saw her in the club. They were... close in a romantic way. This was just minutes after Scarlett confronted Nathan and me at the restaurant."My facial rumpled on their own accord, and my shoulders fell.The world seemed to tilt for a second. “Scarlett?” I whispered.
ISABELLA'S POVLilian’s suggestion was like a punch in the face, an insolent slap.I tilted my head to the side, trying to process it, but the more I thought about it, the worse it sounded. “No way.” I shook my head firmly, my resolve hardening with every passing second.“That's impossible,” I said aloud, my voice sharp and definitive.“I won’t do it.”I could feel my hands gripping the edge of my chair, my legs holding firmly to the ground.Go back to James? Seduce him? Even if he were just a normal ex, it would be humiliating enough, let alone after what his family had put me through. After the way they had thrown me out of my matrimonial home like some piece of garbage?I could still hear their voices in my head, the cruel words they had hurled at me. "You’re not good enough! Hopeless beggar! Eating James's wealth! Parasite!" They had cursed and cried, their faces twisted with disdain. “Never!”I muttered again, almost choking on the word.“I’d rather die than go back to him.
ISABELLA'S POV Three days after learning about the poison, I made my way to the meeting with the research team, just as I had told Evelyn. The room was modest but functional, filled with a long oval table where several researchers were seated. They were all dressed in various shades of white and blue. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me. It had been close to an hour since I came, and a lot of helpful connotations were being made. "We’ve reviewed all the data we have so far, and there are several theories on how the poisoning could have occurred.” Dr. Patel, the lead researcher in the room, was saying. "We believe it could have been administered through inhalation, perhaps in a confined space." he suggested, with his hands hanging halfway. I nodded, keeping my face neutral, though my ears were literally standing. "And what about ingestion?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. A woman with a short blonde bob and a sharp face who sat across from me chimed in.
ISABELLA'S POV I turned away from Amanda, my stomach knotting with disgust at the arrogance in her tone, and glanced back at Sarah, still on her knees in the middle of the restaurant floor. Her face was still wet with tears, her breaths hitching as if each one might be her last. Around us, the murmurs grew louder, a wave of whispers and speculative glances sweeping through the room. Lilian's eyes met mine across the table, her expression clouded with confusion. She seemed to be silently asking "What is going on here?" But I barely had time to acknowledge her gaze before Amanda's voice boomed again, her words filled with venom and self-righteousness. "If you don't compensate me immediately," Amanda ranted, "I swear, I will see you in court! You won't get away with this. None of you will!" Her voice cut through the air like a blade. I wanted to laugh at the absurdity, but the scene was too surreal for humor. Finally, she revealed the cause of all this drama:
Isabella's POV I pedaled faster, feeling the tension slowly ease from my muscles. Morning rides were becoming a new ritual I had grown fond of lately; it reminded me of the uncomplicated days of my early adulthood. Those days when I would look forward to my mother's criticism and instead of remorse I would feel pride, I smiled again. And as time progressed, I found myself thinking about how the past few days; I was mostly at home, wrapped in silence, save for these kinds of rides, and the nights were mostly spent with Lilian. We would sip wine and vent endlessly about work, about the stress and pressures that came with hospital and office hours. But then there were the things I didn’t talk about with anyone yet. Like how I had been avoiding Michael, dodging his calls and messages, even changing my route to avoid the restaurants we used to visit together. I knew he must be feeling the sudden distance between us, but I couldn't let myself dwell on his hurt. I knew I needed
ISABELLA'S POVI sat across from James in the restaurant. The place was another of such cozy corners with dim lighting and delicious aromas in town that I was new to.The chatter around us was soft.James sat up straight, his hair neatly combed to the side, a small smile playing on his lips. He was literally dressed in a suit; he had prepared for this like it were our first date all over again, something he had not even done on our anniversary, but that was, by the way.His eyes darted toward me every few moments, as if trying to read my mood.I tried to relax, forcing a smile, hoping it looked genuine. My fingers fiddled with the edge of the linen napkin on my lap. Being here with him felt strange, almost surreal.I could feel the weight of his gaze, and I shifted in my seat, trying hard to look more at ease than I actually felt.James leaned forward, his brows drawing together in concern. "Hey… Are you okay?" He asked softly, his voice lined with an unexpected sincerity. His ey
ISABELLA'S POV Scarlett continued to stare, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and bewilderment. She watched as James’s car disappeared from view. And as I pressed the remote in my hand, the sound of the automated gate closing filled the space where words should have been. The gate swung shut, locking us into a silence I wasn't quite ready for. Our eyes met across the distance. Scarlett’s lifted her brows, her mouth hanging open as if she were searching for the right words. Finally, she made a gesture with her hand, repeating herself. "Together? You're really back together?" Her voice shook as she pointed sharply toward the gate where James had just driven out of "What was the meaning of all that, Bella?" I forced a casual smile, feeling my shoulders tighten despite my best efforts. “Nothing much; James just dropped me from work, that’s all.” I replied, trying to brush it off with a wave of my hand. Scarlett's expression didn’t change. She leaned cl
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