Isabel’s POVDays had blurred into an endless nightmare. The hunger pains were unimaginable. I had no idea how long it had been since I was dragged to this dark “backstage” area.The headache was a dull roar that never left. It felt as if my brain was being slowly crushed. The cancer was growing worse—much worse. With the lack of treatment and nourishment, my body was slowly giving up. The sickness was winning with every passing second. They hadn’t laid a hand on me in days, but I was still dying—starvation and neglect were just as cruel as any whip or chain.I heard the familiar shuffle of feet outside the door. The kidnappers were arguing, their voices low but tense. They were worried. They needed me alive, at least for now. But I was slipping.The door creaked open. One of the men stepped in, holding a small glass of water. He had that same indifferent look, like I wasn’t even human to him. Just property. A thing.“Here. Drink,” he ordered, thrusting the glass toward me. I could ba
Emerson’s POVI paced the hospital room for what felt like the hundredth time that day. My muscles ached. Not from the injuries I was recovering from, but from sheer frustration. The sterile smell of the hospital clung to my skin, and the endless beeping of machines nearby grated on my nerves. I couldn’t stand being trapped here another second, but I had no choice. They insisted I stay under observation.It had been weeks since Isabel disappeared. Every minute that passed without a lead felt like a knife twisting deeper into my gut.I had sent my best men out, scouring every corner of the city for her. But every day, the answer was the same—nothing. No one had seen her. It was like she had vanished into thin air. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had orchestrated this. That her disappearance was no accident. My mind spun with possibilities, all of them darker than the last.Suddenly, my phone rang. I grabbed it, my heart racing. On the other end was Sam, my lead inve
Isabel’s POVThe van’s engine hummed beneath me as we sped down the winding road. My wrists ached from the cold steel of the handcuffs biting into my skin, but I stayed quiet. I had learned the hard way that showing weakness only invited more cruelty from my captors. One of them was driving, and the other was sitting next to me, making sure I behaved.My physical condition had improved slightly after receiving some medication at the hospital. But I still felt the weight of exhaustion pressing on my chest.I glanced out the window, the passing trees blurring into a dark green smear. My kidnappers seemed at ease, or at least, less tense than before. Maybe they thought the worst was over. After all, I hadn’t tried anything since they dragged me out of the hospital. I had been silent, compliant even. But every moment I stayed quiet, I was thinking, calculating.I shifted in my seat, my fingers carefully tracing the edge of my handcuffs, feeling the rough metal bite into my wrists. Ever
Isabel’s POVFor a moment, everything was black.Dizzy and disoriented, I opened my eyes. The world slowly came back into focus. A blur of blood, broken glass, and twisted metal. I was still alive—barely. My heart pounded in my chest as I took in the mangled wreck of the car. The two kidnappers were groaning in pain. Their bodies were contorted at awkward angles. The air was thick with the smell of gasoline and blood. I tried to sit up. But a sharp pain shot through my legs, and I gasped.Broken glass had pierced my skin. My legs were smeared with blood. I swallowed back a cry. My mind was racing as I tried to assess my situation. I had to get out of here. If I didn’t move now, I wouldn’t survive. I gritted my teeth, bracing myself as I reached for the car door. I pushed it open with trembling hands. Each movement sent another wave of agony through my body. But I forced myself to keep going.Suddenly, I felt a hand wrap around my ankle, its grip wet and sticky with blood. My heart
Isabel’s POVI was still gasping for air as if I had just surfaced from drowning. The pain in my body flared with every breath, sharp and searing. But it was the fear—the deep, bone-chilling fear—that gripped me the most. My hand brushed against something cold and stiff. The kidnapper’s lifeless body lay beside me, his eyes glazed over in death.I willed myself not to look at his face, but my eyes couldn’t help it. He looked as if he were frozen mid-scream, the rage and desperation still etched into his features. A wave of nausea hit me. I had to force down the bile rising in my throat.What just happened? Who saved me?My mind raced back to the moment of the gunshot—the figure standing in the distance, shrouded in shadows. I hadn’t seen their faces, but the cold precision of that single shot haunted me. Who were they? Friend or foe? I tried to lift my head to search for them, but the exhaustion in my body dragged me down. I slumped back against the ground, my vision fading in and ou
Isabel’s POVSebastian rushed out of the room so fast, I could hardly believe it was the same man who had been calm and collected just moments ago. His usually steady demeanor had shattered in an instant. The urgency in his movements left me unsettled. I watched him disappear down the corridor, the sound of his footsteps fading. What could have made him react like that?Woods…The name the soldier had mentioned lingered in my mind like an echo I couldn’t ignore. “Miss Woods,” he had said. The familiarity of it gnawed at me, pulling me deeper into a fog of memories.Suddenly, it dawned on me. Miss Woods, the military, a familiar officer trying to save the innocent girls… It all made sense now.It’s Margot! A voice inside me screamed.Could it really be her? Could she have survived, too? If she was here, I had to find her!My heart pounded in my chest, urging me forward. I got out of bed, despite the nurse’s objections. I grabbed the sleeve of the soldier who had delivered the news, my
Isabel’s POVWhen I woke up, I was back in my familiar room at the infirmary. My body felt heavy, as though a thick fog had settled into my bones. My excursion to find Margot had led nowhere. I hadn’t even made it past a few corridors before everything had gone dark. I let out a slow breath, trying to make sense of the gnawing disappointment I felt. But, in a strange way, I supposed I should be grateful. I had been lost, and the soldiers were starting to get suspicious. Perhaps my headache, for once, had saved me from worse consequences.My eyes drifted toward the far corner of the room. The soldier who had found me with Sebastian was deep in conversation with a military doctor. The lines of their faces were tense, their postures rigid. As though they were discussing something far more serious than my brief collapse. Anxiety prickled at the back of my mind. What now?As soon as the soldier noticed I was awake, he excused himself and approached my bedside. His expression was grim, al
Isabel’s POVThe request had been jarring at first. But as I sat in the cold infirmary room, the reality of it began to sink in. What use would I have for my eyes after I was gone? The thought swirled in my mind, weighing heavily yet feeling almost... obvious. Of course I would agree. Even if it had been a stranger who needed my help, I would've made the same decision. But this wasn’t just anyone—this was Margot. She was the only reason I’d escaped that nightmare alive. She had been the anchor that kept me sane through unimaginable horrors.The military doctor remained quiet, giving me space to process. He’d asked me to consider donating my corneas posthumously, but it wasn’t a hard decision. The memories of Margot's kindness, her bravery, flooded back to me. How could I deny her now?I couldn’t let her go blind because of those terrible drugs—the ones she saved me from ever swallowing.“Yes,” I finally said, voice calm but resolute. “I’ll do it.”The doctor gave me a short nod, then
Emerson’s POVI must have drifted off in the chair beside Isabel’s bed, exhaustion finally overtaking me. The steady rhythm of the machines and her breathing had lulled me into a restless sleep. But then, her soft mumbling pulled me from the haze of slumber. Incoherent words tumbled from her lips as she stirred against the sheets.The moment I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong.The first thing I noticed was the heat radiating off her. She was drenched in sweat. Her breathing was shallow and rapid. My heart sank as I realized something was terribly wrong.“Isa, wake up. You have a fever!” I whispered frantically, my voice trembling. I gently shook her shoulder. But her head lolled to the side. “Fever?” she muttered, struggling to regain consciousness.Panic surged through me like a lightning strike. I hit the emergency call button. The shrill beep echoed in the room as I pulled her into my arms. Her body was frighteningly hot, and her face was flushed to an alarming shade of
Isabel’s POVCaleb swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled to form words. His face had gone pale. His usual self-assured demeanor was crumbling before me. "I... I understand," he said at last, his voice barely a whisper.I exhaled, turning away from him. The weight of the conversation felt suffocating. “Good,” I said curtly. “Then we have nothing more to discuss.”The words felt cold, even to me. But I couldn’t bring myself to soften them. My emotions were frayed, and I needed space. Walking to the window, I gazed out at the darkening sky. The fading light painted the horizon in shades of purple and orange, but its beauty did little to soothe the storm raging inside me. My heart felt heavy—with guilt for hurting Caleb, with frustration for the mess we were all entangled in.Behind me, Caleb shifted uncomfortably. “I never meant to hurt you or anyone else, Isa,” he said, his tone low and weighted with regret.I didn’t respond, letting the silence stretch between us.
Isabel’s POV“Excuse me? Are you threatening me, Caleb?” My voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. The words felt foreign coming out of my mouth, but his behavior left me no choice. Caleb stood there, his head hung low. As though the weight of my accusation had crushed him.He didn’t respond right away. His lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he exhaled deeply, shaking his head. “No, Isabel. I wouldn’t threaten you.” His voice was low, almost broken. “But... I can’t pretend anymore.”“What are you talking about?” I asked cautiously, my heart beating faster.Caleb’s shoulders slumped, and he took a hesitant step toward me. “I’m jealous, okay?” His voice cracked on the last word. “I’m jealous of him, whoever he is. I thought... I thought I had a chance, Isa.”I stared at him, stunned. “What?”“When you divorced Emerson,” he began, his words tumbling out in a rush, “I thought—at least—I could stay by your side. Even if it was just as family. I told myself that was enough. But if yo
Isabel’s POVMy eyes widened as I studied the photo. Its edges were worn as though it had been handled countless times. I reached out instinctively, my fingers trembling as they brushed the air between us. "Where did you get this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.Caleb stepped back quickly, moving the photo away from me with a smooth, deliberate motion. His eyes met mine. For the first time, there was something unfamiliar in his gaze—something secretive. My stomach twisted. Was Caleb more involved in these conspiracies than I thought? Could I still trust him?“Caleb,” I said, my voice lowering as I stepped closer, “give it to me.”I tried to reach for the photo, which he now held high above his head. He was much taller than me, so I jumped to reach it. “Caleb! This is not a game. Give that photo to me, now! You have no idea what you’re doing,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice raising with each word.But Caleb shook his head. A sly smile played at the corners of h
Isabel’s POVI stared at Dr. Vargas, the words he had just spoken reverberating through my chest. My heart raced with a mix of confusion and dread. “Is Sebastian in danger?” My voice wavered as the question escaped my lips before I could stop it. The image of Elias flashed in my mind—him slipping away from my view, his enigmatic presence lingering just long enough to stir unease.Dr. Vargas nodded solemnly, a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze. “Yes, he is. But Sebastian’s not one to back down. He’ll find a way to get back at the traitors, no matter what. You shouldn’t be worrying about him right now.” His voice was steady, but his eyes searched my face for something I wasn’t sure I could give. “Focus on your own survival, Isabel. Take care of yourself.”His eyes were sharp, but there was a layer of weariness beneath them. He wasn’t just giving advice—he was issuing a warning. A warning that the path we were all walking was fraught with peril. What Dr. Vargas really meant wa
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Emerson’s sudden outburst had left both Caleb and me startled, and the air buzzed with unanswered questions.“Emerson,” Caleb said, his voice steady but laced with concern, “what’s going on? You’re acting like we’re in the middle of a war zone.”Emerson was already moving, grabbing my belongings with frantic urgency. “We don’t have time for questions, Caleb. We need to get Isabel out of here. Now.”“Emerson!” I snapped, forcing as much authority into my voice as I could muster. “Stop. You can’t just uproot me like this without explaining. What’s happening?”His jaw tightened, his eyes darting toward the window as if he expected danger to come crashing through at any moment. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck before finally meeting my gaze.“I saw a man,” he said, his voice low. “He was in the hallway earlier, wearing a coat with Alistair’s family badge embroidered on it.”My breath caught in my throat. “Alistair’s badge
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t shake the unease settling in my chest. Margot was giving out her contact information—was she being careless, or had she judged Caleb trustworthy? Did she know he was connected to me? It seemed unlikely, but Margot was sharp. Perhaps too sharp to let something like that slip by accident. Still, the possibility worried me. She’d suffered enough already, and the thought of her inadvertently drawing danger closer made my stomach twist.“Her name?” Caleb repeated, frowning slightly. He scratched his head, looking sheepish. “Well, uh… no. She didn’t tell me. Said she wanted to keep a sense of mystery.” His face lit up with a wry grin. “An interesting girl, though. Made me feel like I was the one being studied.”He chuckled, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice. Caleb was many things, but overly confident wasn’t one of them. He seemed to be replaying the encounter in his head, wondering if he’d done something wrong—or maybe if he hadn’t been charming enough.I
Isabel’s POVCaleb’s casual words sent a jolt through me. My heart raced, and I felt the blood drain from my face. A blind girl in the area—what were the chances? Could it be?I forced myself to act natural, masking my growing unease. "A blind girl?" I asked lightly. "What was she like?"He tilted his head, trying to recall. "She had this serene presence, you know? Like she’d figured something out about life the rest of us haven’t. She was wearing big sunglasses and a hat—kept her face pretty covered—but she had a radiant smile. Oh, and her voice… it was kind of unforgettable. Gentle but strong. She seemed so at peace."His words struck a chord deep inside me. It had to be her. Caleb was oblivious to my inner turmoil and continued, "Oh, wait, I think I have a picture.""A picture?" My voice cracked slightly, but Caleb didn’t notice."Yeah, it’s funny, actually. I took a selfie in the flower shop—don’t ask, I was bored—and she accidentally ended up in the background. That’s how I notic
Isabel’s POV"Doctor, you can't be serious. Surgery?" Emerson's voice cracked slightly as his gaze darted between me and Dr. Vargas. He looked more terrified than I had ever seen him. As though the word itself could unravel him.Dr. Vargas cleared his throat, his professional demeanor steady. “Surgery is one option, but only if the tumor progresses to a stage where it becomes necessary. For now, we focus on non-invasive methods and assess as we go.”Before Emerson could spiral any further, I placed a hand on his arm. “Emerson, stop. It’s not as dire as you’re making it out to be.”He turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Not dire? Isa, this is brain surgery we’re talking about!”I sighed, pulling his hand away from his temples where he had been rubbing in frustration. “Tumors often require removal. It’s standard, not catastrophic. I’m just preparing for all possibilities. That doesn’t mean you need to overreact.”Emerson looked at the report in his hand, his brow furrowed deeply