The house was too silent. The kind of silence that pressed down on Isabelle like a suffocating weight. She sat in the kitchen, staring at the floor tiles, her mind racing. Her cheek still burned from Richard’s slap, but it wasn’t the physical pain that left her feeling hollow and hurt. It was the realization that this was her life; a gilded cage where her voice didn’t matter, her choices didn’t exist, and her dignity had long been stripped away. She made the mistake of believing she could reason with Richard, but all it had done was make him angry.
The slam of a door upstairs jolted her from her thoughts, followed by the heavy thud of Richard's footsteps. She stiffened and quickly gripped the edge of the counter for support. When Richard appeared in the doorway, his expression was cold and she could see the burning anger in his eyes, much more than before.
“Get up,” he barked.
“What now?” Isabelle asked quietly, not meeting his gaze.
“Upstairs,” he snapped. “Now.”
“I’m your wife, not your prisoner!” Isabelle snapped back, surprising even herself with the defense in her tone.
The slap came out of nowhere, a sharp sound that echoed in the room. Isabelle staggered but didn’t fall. Instead, she looked up at him with defiance in her hazel eyes.
“Don’t push me, Isabelle,” Richard warned, his voice a dangerous whisper.
“Or what?” she said, her voice shaking. “You’ll kill me next?”
He grabbed her wrist, yanking her closer. “Don’t tempt me.”
Her heart pounded as he forced her onto the wall side, his hand closing around her throat. Panic clawed at her as his grip tightened.
“You think you can humiliate me and get away with it? It somehow got out that I had another family, do you know the amount of money I wasted, so the news wouldn't get out?” he hissed. “You’ll regret this.”
At that point, Isabelle was running out of breath, she felt like was was on the verge of death and at that moment, something inside Isabelle snapped. Years of fear, pain, and submission melted away, replaced by a raw instinct to survive.
Summoning every ounce of strength, she brought her knee up hard, hitting him in the balls. Richard grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for her to escape and run away.
“You’ll pay for that,” he snarled, running toward her.
Isabelle was weak, so before she could even leave the kitchen completely, Richard caught up to her. He took her by her hair and dragged her back into the kitchen while she screamed from the pain. “You want to die by my hands, huh?”
He threw her against the counter, causing her to hit her stomach hard, against it. Isabelle held her stomach and cried in pain, little drops of blood falling from her mouth and down her legs.
Richard's eyes widened as he realized. “Isabelle... you... You were pregnant, why didn't you tell me?” He turned his back to her and ran his hands through his rough hair.
Her eyes darted around the kitchen, landing on the small pan on the counter. Without thinking, she grabbed it and swung, the base colliding with his shoulder.
Richard roared in pain, clutching his arm. Isabelle didn’t wait to see his next move. She bolted for the door, her bare feet pounding against the hardwood floor as she fled down the stairs and out the front door.
The cool night air hit Isabelle like a shock, but she didn’t stop running. Her breaths came in short, desperate gasps, her legs trembling with exhaustion. She didn’t know where she was going—she just needed to get away.
The city streets were eerily empty, lit only by the occasional streetlamp. She ducked into an alley, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. But the sound of heavy footsteps behind her sent her heart into panic. She knew the person coming.
“Isabelle!” Richard’s voice rang out, cold and furious.
She bit back a sob, pushing herself to keep moving. She kept running and Richard was relentless in the chase too. It wasn't until she reached the outskirts of the city that her legs finally gave out, causing her to fall to the ground. She tried to push herself up, but her whole body felt like heavy metal.
The loud screeching sound of an approaching car penetrated her ears and she turned her head weakly to see a pair of headlights approaching. The car came to a halt in front of her and the driver stepped out.
“Miss?” a deep voice called, before moving closer to her to look at her face.
“Isabelle?” the deep voice called again, now with a shocked expression on his face.
“Help me....” Isabelle managed to whisper before passing out.
“That's my wife. Who the hell are you?” Richard spat as he approached the duo.
The man didn’t flinch. “Someone who doesn’t like seeing women get hurt.”
Richard laughed. “This is none of your business, hero. Walk away.”
The man took a step forward, his expression calm but deadly. “Richard Carter. I'm sure you don't want the world to know that you've been abusing your wife to the extent of making her bleed like this.”
“How did you know me? You son of a—” Richard's eyes widened in shock and fear. One thing that he held dear to his heart was his public image.
“Leave,” the man growled, his voice low and menacing.
Richard glared at him, breathing heavily. “This isn’t over.”
“It is,” the man said coldly. “Get out of here before I change my mind.”
With one final glare, Richard stumbled away, disappearing into the alleyway.
---
Isabelle woke up to the soft beeping of a monitor. Her body ached like she had been hit by a truck.
“ You're awake.”
Isabelle turned her head towards the direction of the voice and there, a man was seated. Tall, broad-shouldered, body that probably hadn'tskipped a day of workout, dark hair, and piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
“ Who...?” Isabelle spoke, her voice barely audible.
“Liam Anderson,” he said simply. “ I found you on the road and now, you're in a hospital.”
Her memories came flooding back; Richard, the fight, her family's betrayal, her desperate escape. Tears filled her eyes as she came to the realization that she was alone and she had nowhere to go.
“ Hey,” Liam said gently, he was now closer to her. “ You're safe now.”
“No,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “ I'm not. He'll find me. He always does. ”
“Hey, hey, listen to me,” Liam said, grabbing her hand gently and caressing it. “I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to you, even if he finds you.”
Isabelle started shaking her head, rigorously. She feared Richard so much now. “ What do you know? You don't know him. He won't stop until he's ruined me. He said he'll never let me go, because I'm his. He won't stop until he kills me ”
The heart rate monitor started to beep loudly, scaring Liam himself. What had Richard Carter done to her for her to fear him so much?Liam quickly pressed the call button and held her hands.
“Isabelle, stay with me, please.”
The hospital room was quiet, except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. Isabelle stared at the ceiling, her body was too exhausted to move, and her was mind too overwhelmed to process everything that had happened to her.Her gaze moved to the man seated in the chair beside her bed. Liam Anderson. Thinking about it now, she’d heard that name before, long ago. But she really couldn’t place it. He sat there now, pressing his phone, his expression calm and composed.“Why are you still here?” she asked, her voice hoarse.Liam looked up at her, setting his phone aside. “Because you need someone to be here.”“I don’t even know you,” she muttered, turning her face away.Liam leaned forward, his voice, firm. “You didn’t know who I was when you asked for help, but I still stopped and brought you to the hospital. I could’ve just kept driving.”She sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just… I don’t know why you’re bothering to help someone you don't know. Plus, you look like a very
CHAPTER 5: A NEW START.Isabelle ran fast, her breath running out, her heart beating fast like crazy, her bare feet slamming against the pavement as Richard’s furious shouts echoed behind her. She didn't want to look back,but she had to see if she was close, her heart dropped as she saw him actually closing in on her. “ Isabelle, I told you before. You're mine and you can never get away from me.” His face was twisted with rage, his hand raised, ready to strike.“No!” Isabelle cried out, her voice trembling with fear. Her chest rose up and down restlessly and her breathing became shallow and uneven. The sound of a soft knock on her door pulled her back to reality. Her eyes snapped open, her heart still pounding in her chest.“Isabelle, dear,” Mrs. Aldric called gently from outside. “Are you alright?”Isabelle sat up, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. “Y-yes,” she stammered, though her voice betrayed her unease. She had been staying with Mrs Aldric for about two weeks now without
The next morning, Isabelle woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains, a huge difference from the unease that had settled in her chest the night before. She remembered the encounter with Dan, his smug grin and invasive questions lingering on her mind like a bad memory.She found Mrs. Aldric in the kitchen, humming softly as she stirred a pot of soup. Mrs Aldric greeted her with a warm smile. “Good morning, dear. Sleep well?”“Better than I thought I would,” Isabelle admitted, though she left out the part where she had tossed and turned at a point worrying about what happened with Dan and if he'll come back and cause trouble for her and Mrs Aldric.“Good,” Mrs. Aldric said, setting two bowls on the table. “You’ve got a busy day ahead. Saturdays are our busiest at the restaurant, especially with the tourists coming through. So we have to eat before setting out for work.”Isabelle nodded, grateful for the distraction. Sje needed to work to keep her mind occupied.---The restaura
Isabelle stood in the kitchen, rinsing out a few dishes as the older woman bustled around, preparing her things for the busy day ahead at the restaurant.Mrs. Aldric paused at the doorway, turning to Isabelle with a thoughtful look. “Isabelle, I want you to stay home today.”“What?” Isabelle blinked, setting down the dish. “Why?”Mrs. Aldric sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Dan’s got his sights set on you, and I don’t want to give him another excuse to show up at the restaurant. I don't think he's been so focused on something like this, it only just lasts for a while, but what he said yesterday sounded pretty serious and I don't want to put you in danger.”Isabelle frowned, a pang of guilt and frustration tightening her chest. “But I can’t just hide here. I don’t want to be a burden to you. With the way I told him off and rejected him, he would know that I'm serious and stay away too, wouldn't he?”“You’re not a burden,” Mrs. Aldric said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Isa
The evening sun cast long shadows across the quiet streets as Mrs. Aldric hurriedly locked the restaurant door, her hands trembling. Isabelle should have arrived hours ago. Something was wrong. Her gut churned with unease as she practically jogged home, her thoughts racing.“Please let her be home,” she muttered under her breath, her shoes clicking against the cobblestones.When she reached the house, she threw the door open, calling out, “Isabelle? Isabelle, are you here?”The silence that greeted her sent a chill down her spine. She checked the kitchen, the small sitting room, and even upstairs, her worry growing with every empty room. Isabelle’s bag and the ledger were gone, but the house was eerily quiet.Mrs. Aldric sank onto the sofa, her head in her hands. “Where could she have gone?” she whispered, fear tightening around her chest.She didn’t sit for long. With a resolve born from years of running her business and protecting the people she cared about, she bolted out the door a
The air was cool and damp as Dan pulled up to his secret house on the outskirts of the town, the small property cloaked in shadows from the surrounding trees. Isabelle’s unconscious form lay slumped in the passenger seat, her face pale in the faint moonlight. Dan smirked as he stepped out of the car, walking around to lift her limp body into his arms.“She’s lighter than I thought,” he muttered, adjusting her weight.He had just reached the porch steps when he noticed a figure standing near the doorway. The man was tall, dressed in dark clothing, and leaning casually against the doorframe. The dim light from the porch lamp didn’t quite reach his face, leaving it covered in the shadows.Dan tensed, his grip on Isabelle tightening. “Who the hell are you?”The man straightened, his movements slow and deliberate. “Just someone with a lot of interest in the girl you’re carrying,” he said, his voice smooth and low.Dan narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. “Is that so? What do you know about
Dan sat comfortably on his worn leather couch, a self-satisfied grin on his face as he sipped whiskey from a crystal glass. Outside his home, the muffled voices of the townspeople grew louder, their determined footsteps heading straight for his door, just like he had expected... or heard from Clara. He barely flinched when the knock came—a loud, insistent pounding that echoed through the small house.With deliberate slowness, Dan rose from his couch and strolled to the door. He opened it just enough to lean against the frame, his smirk widening when he saw Mrs. Aldric standing at the forefront of the group. Her face was lined with worry and anger, a combination that only fueled his amusement.“Well, if it isn’t the town’s matron saint,” Dan uttered, dully. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Aldric? And the others?”Her eyes narrowed. “We’re looking for Isabelle. Where is she?”Dan raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Isabelle? You mean your little stray? Haven’t seen her.”“Don’t lie to
Flashback: Hours AgoLiam Anderson leaned back in his chair, the weight of the boardroom’s discussions pressing heavily on him. The sleek conference room was filled with sharply dressed executives, their voices droning on about projections, prices and market trends. Normally, this would be his domain—strategic, controlled, predictable.But today, his mind was elsewhere.The vibration of his phone against the brown polished table snapped him from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw the name flash: Marcus.Marcus was his man on the ground, the one he’d hired to keep tabs on Isabelle from the moment he found her in that hospital and left her to go her own way. He didn’t trust the world enough to leave her alone, not with the shadows of her past looming all around her.“Excuse me,” Liam said abruptly, interrupting the executive that was speaking. He stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. The murmurs in the room reduced as all eyes turned to him.“Mr. Anderson, this is a crucial
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
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
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 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
Isabelle arrived at Polaris Tech that morning, fully prepared for a long day. The student discount marketing plan was in motion, and she had no room for mistakes. The moment she stepped into her office, a member of the PR team handed her a thick folder filled with reports and updates. She barely had time to flip through it before her phone buzzed with a meeting reminder.Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the conference room. Inside, the marketing and PR teams were already gathered, with Marcus seated at the head of the table. Greg, the head of marketing, was going over the discount structures they had decided on—tiered percentages for students based on their courses and subscription plans.After some final adjustments, Marcus turned to Isabelle and Selena. "Your job is to make sure students actually know about this. Partnerships, ads, outreach—whatever it takes."Selena crossed her arms. "Universities would be the best way to go. If we get academic institutions to endorse Polari
Isabelle took a deep breath before stepping out of her office. It was time for the meeting with the marketing team, and she had already put together a few ideas on how to boost Polaris AI’s public image. As she made her way toward the meeting room, she spotted Selena walking ahead of her, her posture stiff, her steps quick and purposeful."Selena," Isa called out.Selena didn’t stop.Isa frowned but quickened her pace until she caught up and gently grabbed Selena’s arm. The woman turned sharply, her eyes flashing with irritation."What do you want?" Selena asked coldly.Isa let go of her arm and met her gaze with calm confidence. "Look, I know you don’t like me here. You think I’m here to take your position, but you don’t have to worry about that. I have no intention of staying in Polaris Tech permanently."Selena’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes."I’ll be gone in three weeks," Isa continued, her voice steady. "I was brought in temporarily,
The towering glass building of Polaris Technologies loomed before Isabelle as she stepped out of the car. The sleek, modern exterior was almost like Anderson Corp’s, yet there was no sense of familiarity—this wasn’t her first time here. But today, everything was different. Today, she was not a visitor or a negotiator. She was an employee. Even if temporary.With a deep breath, she adjusted her blouse and made her way through the entrance. The moment she stepped inside, the air changed. Whispers rippled through the lobby like a wave, eyes discreetly flicking in her direction. Some employees murmured with excitement, others with skepticism."So that’s Isabelle Rivers? Liam Anderson's wife?""I heard she’s brilliant.""I heard she played a big role in the security breach scandal. She even held a press conference. What’s she doing here?"" Has she been hired permanently by Mr Carter?"Isabelle kept her head high, ignoring the murmurs as she reached the reception desk. The receptionist, a
Isabelle stood in front of the mirror, absently gathering her hair to tie it up. But the moment she lifted it, she froze.Hickeys.Deep, reddish-purple bruises littered the pale skin of her neck and collarbone, evidence of last night’s passion. She inhaled sharply, her fingers grazing over them.Her cheeks flushed.She should be annoyed—it was inconvenient to go around with these marks. But instead, a small, traitorous smile tugged at her lips.Liam was insatiable.She bit her lower lip, caught between amusement and frustration. There was no way she could wear her hair up today.Behind her, the door to the walk-in closet opened, and Liam stepped out, dressed in a sharp navy-blue suit. His hair was neatly styled, and he was adjusting his tie with practiced ease. The sight of him, so effortlessly put together, made last night’s memory even more vivid.Liam glanced at her reflection in the mirror and smirked. “What’s got you so happy this early in the morning?”Isa snapped out of her daze
Isabelle gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she maneuvered through the dimly lit streets. She wasn’t supposed to be doing this.Both Allison and Ethan had warned her—stay away.But how could she?The way Vivian had been dragged away, the panic in her eyes, the sheer weight of what had happened—it wouldn’t leave Isa’s mind. And Marcus... she had never trusted him completely. Something about him had always felt off.Now, more than ever, she needed answers.She arrived at the detention center, her heart pounding as she stepped out of the car. It was a grim-looking building, surrounded by barbed wire and guarded heavily. What the hell am I doing? she wondered. But it was too late to turn back now.After going through security and the necessary formalities, she sat in the visitation area, waiting. The fluorescent lights flickered above her, making the dull gray walls feel even colder.The door on the other side of the glass partition buzzed open.Vivian stepped in.I