The next morning, Isabelle and Selena sat in Isabelle’s office, scanning an email from Professor Langston.Crestview University had officially agreed to host the Polaris AI demonstration next week.Selena grinned as she leaned back in her chair. “We finally got a big one. This could set off a domino effect for other universities.”Isabelle nodded, feeling a rare sense of accomplishment. “If Crestview endorses us, others will follow.”But before they could fully celebrate, another email arrived—one that wiped the smiles off their faces.Westford University, another top university on their list that they visited and pitched their ideas too had rejected their proposal outright. Worse, they had publicly warned students against using Polaris AI, citing “concerns over long-term data privacy.”Selena’s expression darkened as she slammed her hand onto Isabelle’s desk. “This is bad. If one university publicly doubts us, others will hesitate too.”Isabelle scanned the content of the email showi
By the time Isabelle finally walked through the doors of the house, exhaustion weighed down on her shoulders. The day had been long—Crestview’s success, Westford’s betrayal, and the revelation that Laura and Estella were behind the attack on Polaris Tech.And worse, the growing suspicion that Marcus had been orchestrating this entire thing from the start.She barely had time to gather her thoughts before she heard the deep, familiar voice from across the living room.“You’re late. Again, Isabelle.”She looked up to see Liam standing by the bar, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, and a glass of whiskey in his hand. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unreadable.Isabelle sighed, setting her bag down by the couch. “I know. I'm sorry.”Liam placed his glass down and crossed the room in three long strides. Before she could react, he cupped her face, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.“Are you alright?” His voice was low, laced with concern.She swa
The drive to Westford University was tense. Isabelle gripped the steering wheel firmly, her mind racing through possible ways to handle the situation. Next to her, Selena sat with her arms crossed, tapping her nails against her knee impatiently.“I still don’t see why we have to be nice about this,” Selena muttered, shifting in her seat.Isabelle sighed, keeping her eyes on the road. “Because we need them to trust us. If we go in there guns blazing, they’ll only become more defensive.”Selena scoffed. “That’s assuming they deserve any respect after what they pulled. They didn’t just reject our partnership—they publicly trashed Polaris Tech. If they had doubts, they could’ve kept it internal.”Isabelle nodded. “I agree. What they did was irresponsible. But think about it—did they say anything false?”Selena frowned. “Well—no, but—”“They didn’t outright lie,” Isabelle continued. “They didn’t fabricate anything. They just repeated what they thought was true. And whether we like it or no
The city lights flickered past in a blur as Frank maneuvered the car through the streets. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was tense, filled only with the steady hum of the engine and the faint tapping of Liam’s fingers against his iPad. His gaze was locked onto the screen, scanning through endless articles, reports, and anything remotely connected to the name Marcus Carter.Frank, who had been watching his boss out of the corner of his eye, finally spoke. “Alright, boss, where exactly are we headed?”Liam didn’t respond immediately. His brows furrowed deeper as he scrolled, his jaw tightening.Frank sighed. “And what are you looking at so damn intensely? I swear, you’ve been at it since we left the office. Did we get a project that I don't know about?”Liam let out a slow breath, lowering the device slightly. “I’m going through everything online that has Marcus Carter’s name on it.”Frank frowned. “Marcus Carter?” He repeated the name, searching his memory. “Can’t say it rings a bel
Isabelle stepped into Polaris Tech that morning, knowing it would be her last. A strange sense of relief mixed with an unsettling weight sat in her chest. She had counted the days until this moment, yet now that it was here, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was unfinished.Shaking the thought away, she made her way to her office for the final time. Her desk, once covered in reports and proposals, was now nearly empty. Only her laptop remained, along with a printed report detailing all she had accomplished during her stay at Polaris Tech. It was a summary of her work, her last official duty before walking away.She read through it one last time, ensuring everything was in order. The university partnerships, the PR strategies, the crisis management—all laid out for Marcus to see. Proof that she had done her job and was ready to leave.With a satisfied nod, she sent the digital copy to his email and placed the printed version in a folder. Then, she took a deep breath and sto
Isabelle walked briskly toward her car, heels clicking against the concrete floor of the dimly lit parking garage. The tension from her encounter with Marcus still clung to her like a second skin. She was finally done with Polaris Tech, with Marcus, with all the manipulation.Or so she thought.Just as she reached for the car handle, a firm grip closed around her wrist.She gasped and whirled around.Marcus.His fingers tightened, his signature smirk in place. "Leaving without saying goodbye, Isa? That’s not very polite."She exhaled sharply, trying to pull her wrist away. "What do you want, Marcus? Didn't I just leave your office?"He tilted his head, amusement gleaming in his dark eyes. "Oh, did you?, let's just have a little chat before we part ways. I told you before—this isn’t the end for us."She glared at him. "There is no ‘us,’ Marcus. Let me go."But he didn’t. Instead, he leaned in slightly, voice dropping into something almost conspiratorial. "You’re still curious, aren’t y
Isabelle walked down the stairs, the familiar quiet greeting her, but the air felt heavy. It was strange—Liam had left earlier to get her car, but now, hours later, he still hadn’t come home. She rubbed her temples, her mind racing. She was worried. The events of the day, the confrontation with Marcus, and most of all, the look on Liam's face when he had seen them together—it played over and over again in her head. The anger. The betrayal. The hurt in his eyes. She let out a long sigh and walked over to the couch, sinking into it as her fingers nervously tapped against the armrest. She couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at her insides. Had she made the wrong decision by not pushing Marcus away sooner? Should she have told Liam everything before the kiss? A deep breath left her chest as she stared blankly at the wall. She was torn between wanting to reach out to him and not knowing how. What if he didn’t want to hear from her? What if he’d already made up his mind? She
Liam groaned as his eyes fluttered open, his head pounding in a fierce reminder of last night. The dull throb of a hangover pressed against his temples, and the taste of whiskey lingered in his mouth like a thick, bitter fog. His chest was bare, and his muscles ached as though he had been in a fight. The memories were scattered—he remembered drinking, the anger, the hurt in Isabelle’s eyes… but everything after that felt like a fog.Liam sat up slowly and groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. He looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings, only to find himself on the couch in the living room. What happened last night? The anger, the frustration, the things they said—it all felt like a blur. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then reached for his phone to check the time. 12 PM. Shock ran through him. Twelve o'clock?Liam groaned again as he stood up to his feet, his head aching badly. He staggered towards the kitchen to drink water. He opened the fridge and grabbe
The living room was dimly lit, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only sound echoing through the space. Richard sat alone, nursing frustration in his chest like an old wound that refused to heal. A half-finished glass of water sat untouched on the table beside him. It wasn’t enough—not tonight.He stared blankly ahead, mind spinning with thoughts of Isabelle.She had gone to bed hours ago. Peaceful. Silent. Untouched.The problem was… he wanted to touch her. He wanted to kiss her until she remembered everything. Until she remembered him.But she didn’t. Or maybe she did—and was pretending.He wasn’t sure what was worse.Richard grabbed his phone and dialed a number he knew would answer. It rang only once.“Laura,” he said, his voice low, tired. “Can you come over?”A pause.“Now?” she asked, surprised.“Yeah. And bring something strong. Alcoholic wine. The kind that numbs things.”“I’ll be there in twenty.”---It was closer to fifteen.The doorbell rang, and Richard rose, brush
The air was warm, the scent of lavender faint and lingering. Isabelle stirred slowly, her lashes fluttering as she blinked her eyes open. A ceiling she didn’t recognize greeted her—a smooth white expanse with subtle carvings, the kind of detail that hinted at elegance and time. Her body was nestled into soft sheets, and as she shifted slightly, a faint sense of déjà vu pricked at her.She sat up slowly, confusion painting her face. This place—where was she?It wasn’t familiar… but it didn’t feel strange either.Her eyes scanned the room. Cream-colored walls, soft curtains swaying by the windows, a dresser lined with photos turned away, a full-length mirror positioned directly in front of the bed. Something about the mirror pulled her in. Her heartbeat quickened as a flicker of a memory danced through her mind—sitting in front of that mirror, smiling at her reflection. Then, a man’s reflection appeared behind her in the memory, lying on the bed, gazing at her with love in his eyes.Her
Sunlight filtered through the curtains of the unfamiliar room, warming the side of Isabelle's face as she slowly opened her eyes. Her lashes fluttered, then her eyes fully opened, and she stared at the pale blue ceiling above her. The sheets wrapped around her were crisp and smelled faintly of lavender. Her gaze swept across the room—white walls, minimal décor, a large mirror on one end, and a single framed photo on the nightstand. A wedding photo of her and Richard.That was the only photo in the room. In fact, now that she thought of it, the whole house seemed bare, emotionless, like a showpiece rather than a lived-in home.Isabelle sat up slowly, confusion clouding her expression. If I’ve really lived here for four years… why doesn’t it feel like home? She hadn’t even figured out where the toilet was without exploring yesterday. The bed, the furniture, even the scent of the room—it all felt foreign.Her eyes dropped to the handbag on the armchair beside the bed. She reached for it,
Isabelle looked at herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her wore soft blue jeans and a cream-colored blouse—finally something other than a hospital gown after weeks. It should’ve made her feel better. It didn’t.She forced a small smile and stepped out of the bathroom. Richard was seated on the couch in the hospital room, scrolling through his phone. He immediately stood up when he saw her."Hey, shall we go?" he asked, eyes lighting up.Isabelle hesitated. "Uhm, are you done with my whole discharge process?"Richard nodded confidently. "Yeah, I am. Why?"She frowned, feigning a pained expression. "Babe, I think I'm still having headaches. Can you tell the doctor and see if I can get some medicine from the pharmacy?"Richard's smile didn't falter. "Pain? I can't allow that. Let's go together, so you can explain to him well."She shook her head, pressing her fingers to her temple. "I'm a bit tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night. Can you go alone? I’ll wait here. J
Richard and Isabelle returned to the room, Richard still holding her protectively, like she would disappeare into Liam's arms if he doesn't hold her that way. Estella was in the room, pacing around, waiting for them. As soon as they entered, she sighed." When did you go out?! Do you have any idea how hard it was to look for you? I almost made a fool out of myself with the nurses." Estella shouted.Isabelle smiled slightly. " I told you I was stepped out for some air, you probably didn't hear me because you were so focused on your phone."Estella rolled her eyes. " If I didn't give you permission, you weren't supposed to step out! Isn't that how it works?"" Hey!" Richard shouted at Estella. " Don't talk to her that way. Because she's sick and you're watching over her for a while doesn't mean you're older or better. Know your place." He said with a stern expression on his face.Estella went quiet for a while before apologizing to Isabelle for speaking to her harshly, not that she me
Liam left Anderson Corporation the moment he got the information from Sarah. His heart pounded as he drove, thoughts racing. He had to see it with his own eyes—was Isabelle really there? Was she alive? Was she okay?He parked his car hastily and rushed into the hospital, bypassing the reception area entirely. There was no point in stopping there. Richard must have already instructed the staff to give no information about Isabelle and to deny her any visitors. So, instead of asking the nurses, Liam decided to observe. If he had to search every floor, every hallway, he would. But deep down, he had a feeling—something told him he would find her soon.He stood in front of the elevator, eyes fixed on the numbers descending. The doors slid open with a soft ding. Inside, a woman stood. She wore a hospital gown, her hair flowing freely over her shoulders, her face pale but serene. She walked past him without even a glance.Liam froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. That was her. Isabelle. The
One Week Later. Sarah moved around nervously in the living room. She had heard Estella on the call with someone, telling that person that she'd be there soon and will make it there quietly. Sarah had been talking to Liam the past week. He informed her that he couldn't find Isabelle and that she has left Meadow Central Hospital for Richard's home and Sarah promised to try and get the address from Estella, whether by following her or putting a tracker on her. Isabelle must be found by all means. She also heard that tracking Marcus didn't give them any leads on Isabelle's whereabouts. Marcus just went from Polaris Tech to his house. They also found out that it was only Marcus staying in the house. They had no choice but to trust Sarah to get information from Estella, no matter the method she would use. An idea crossed Sarah's head and she quickly acted on it. She brought out her phone and called an Uber. Estella was wary of her so she couldn't follow behind her. The taxi driver arr
Marcus walked cooly to the receptionist, he placed a hand on the counter and asked." Hi, there. Is Isabelle and her husband still around here?" The nurse looked at him and smiled. " Yes, they are. In fact, Miss Isabelle's friends just left here after asking about her."Marcus's eyes widened in shock. " Friends? What friends?" He shouted.The nurse started getting nervous as he raised his voice. "Uhm... Two men. They said they could not reach her and I..." " You gave them her room number?" Marcus interrupted. " Are you just stupid or do you not like your job? Is this how you all behave here? Sharing a patient information to strangers." " I'm so sorry sir. They said they were her friends and they seemed desperate so I helped them. I didn't know... I'm so sorry." The nurse trembled in fear." Shut your mouth and call the room real quick. Ask him to pull Isabelle out of that room quickly. Tell him that someone is here for her."The nurse scrambled to the telephone and quickly dialed t
Liam parked the car and got out quickly without hesitation. Ethan followed, trying hard to keep up with him. They entered the big hospital and went to the reception area." Good morning. I'm here to see a patient that was brought here on the day of the mass accident." Liam said immediately to the lady on duty.She looked at Liam and hesitated before answering. "Is this person related to you?" Liam nodded quickly. "Yes, she is. I've been looking for her for a while now." "Alright. Name please?" The lady said, her fingers on the keyboard, ready to type in her name."Isabelle Rivers" Liam replied impatiently.The nurse looked up at the mention of her name. It was a familiar name. " Ah... The lady that was in the major accident? I see why you haven't been able to reach her. She just woke up after surgery. But she's getting special treatment in the VIP ward. All thanks to her husband." Liam and Ethan looked at each other. " Husband?" They chorused." But I'm her hus...." Ethan hit Liam