ISABELLA'S POV“Are we even still friends anymore?”My voice was like an arrow, so unexpected yet so piercing, not just to her but to me; my breath trembled in my throat.For a second, she couldn't respond. She wasn’t prepared for me to say that.Her eyes widened briefly before narrowing, her lips parting as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. Her fingers twitched at her sides, her shoulders stiffening, almost like she was bracing herself for the impact of something hard.I took a step closer, swallowing hard as I held her gaze with mine.She could feel the judgment in my eyes—the hurt that had been growing for months, finally breaking free. “Like... Did you even know I was sick, Scarlett? Or were you too busy with your so-called actor boyfriend?” I asked.“Talk to me!” I shouted.Scarlett inhaled sharply, her hands flying to her waist. Then she let out a scoff."Come off it, Bella; I knew that bitch Lilian would tell you that." She spat, shaking her head."That gi
JAME'S POVThe glass of Macallan Rare Cask in front of me remained untouched.The club lighting was a little too dim—as usual, not enough to tell the actual color of what I was drinking.I looked around casually. I had lost track of how long I have been sitting here, waiting for just one person... Gregory.A quick glance at my watch reminded me... It was about forty-five minutes since I arrived here.The noise around me was deafening, laughter and conversations blending into a single vibrant hum.I pulled out my phone despite doubting that it would help.The first call didn’t go through.I cursed under my breath and tried again. Nothing.The third attempt met the same fate, and frustration began to knot in my chest, tightening with every passing second. I rubbed a hand down my face, clenching my jaw. What the hell was going on? Why would Gregory decide to be unreachable now of all times, especially at such a crucial hour of the day? I know what I had to abandon to be here myself.O
THIRD POVDr. Robert Langston stood before the full-length mirror in his room, meticulously adjusting the knot of his tie.He straightened his suit jacket, fingers brushing over the half-grey hair at his temples as a satisfied smile showed on his face.His reflection stared back at him, sharp and confident, embodying everything he had worked toward.His plan was finally coming together far more smoothly than he had anticipated.He let out a soft chuckle, remembering the exact moment when James had fallen for his proposal last night.It had been effortless, like a house of cards collapsing with the lightest touch. "Executive board member indeed," he muttered under his breath, his lips twisting into a devious mocking grin. But in all honesty, who wouldn't have taken the bait? It was a perfect offer, tailored to perfection, and James, from his history as an opportunist, had lived up to expectation.With a nod of satisfaction, Robert swiped at an invisible stain on his jacket, his moveme
MICHEAL'S POVThe large, luxurious hall was just the perfect one of this grand moment I have been planning.Rows of chairs were perfectly arranged around beautifully adorned tables.Centerpieces gleamed under the soft lights above.Already, a number of guests had taken their seats, dressed in their finest attire, chatting amongst themselves, laughter bubbling through the hall like faint echoes.At one corner of the hall, I was standing with my hands on my waist, taking in the view.The space was enormous, far bigger than I had imagined when planning this. A few guests were already seated, chatting softly, their I spotted familiar faces in the crowd.my grandfather, with his dyed hair, sitting stoically in his favorite navy suit, and beside him.I also picked out my mother, wearing an elegant black dress matching the pearl necklace she always wore for big events like this. Across the room, Nathan and Owen leaned in towards each other, deep in conversation.Nathan, ever the gentleman,
JAMES POVI was lying slumped on the central chair in my office; exhaustion was making my bones feel like soaked foam.My breath was shallow, a reminder of the six hours that I just spent in the operating room.One thing about complicated surgeries like the one I just saw through was that same-old feeling of weariness that would settle on top of you hours after it was over. It was like paralysis.Indeed, today had been a tough one. It was actually an arterial graft surgery I handled.And in the few times I have done it, I have always managed to pull through, yet something about it always gnawed at me.I sometimes hate these surgeries, to be honest.Not because of the technical complexity, but because of what they represented as human fragility.And the bluntness of physical rigor.Nevertheless, the successes always made it worth it.I stared vacantly into space, my mind replaying the delicate moments of the procedure all over again.Then, with a heavy sigh, I leaned back further, st
JAMES POVI readjusted as I waited with bated breath, each ring feeling much longer than it ordinarily was.The last echo faded before Dr. Langston’s familiar voice finally broke through.“James.”The older man’s tone was light, almost mocking, as though he knew I was going to call back sooner than expected after dragging my feet the last time. I inhaled deeply, the action more ceremonial than needed; I was already decided... My mind was so made up.“I’m ready,”I said, my voice unwavering, mirroring the resolve I felt within.A small pause followed, just long enough for me to wonder if he was still there.But Dr. Langston’s voice came soon enough, still sounding slightly amused but also slightly skeptical.“Are you sure about this?”My jaw tightened, but I stayed firm. “Lets just go on, sir.” I blurted, the impatience in my voice umistakable, so great that it triggered laughter from the doctor. His chuckle from the other end was faint and fleeting, then it stopped to give way to
ISABELLA'S POVI was in my sitting room, legs stretched out comfortably, head resting against the cushion.The armrest held my phone, and everything felt calm, at least for the moment. But then I heard the soft vibration of my phone. My gaze dropped casually, my head barely moving, expecting another notification or a meaningless message.But the tiny icon that caught my eye wasn’t a call or text; instead, it was a barrage of notifications from my social media app.The casualness in my posture disappeared, and I sat up sharply, my hand darting for the phone.I unlocked it quickly, as I wondered what could be behind such a sudden surge of activity.My fingers moved almost automatically, logging me into the app.And then, with an automatic quickness, my face tightened with confusion as I saw the unbelievable number... over a thousand mentions of my username on the app.I clicked on one of the notifications, my heart rate quickening.It didn’t take long before the cold, paralyzing shock
GENERAL POVThe room was suffocating in its silence. Owen's expression shifted as his gaze remained locked on Isabella, who sat hunched, her fingers twisted together on her lap, barely holding back the tears pooling in her eyes.The longer he stared, the harder his face became—a rage in his eyes.His eyes moved to Claire, who stood several paces away, rigid and uneasy, her arms tightly folded as if to protect herself from something.Owen’s voice cut through the oppressive quiet like a blade. "Did you say let it die down?" His words were sharp, almost incredulous, as he spoke, his eyebrows drawing together in disbelief.Isabella flinched at the sound of his voice, her shoulders tensing. like a child being scolded."What do you mean, let it die down?" His voice escalated, each word sharper than the last, and the sudden rise in volume made Isabella shrink further into herself. She couldn’t face him, not like this.Owem, sensing the crack in the moment, now spoke a little bit gently, a