Isabel’s POVRobert overheard the phone call and noticed my despair. He gently placed a hand on my shoulder.“Are you okay, Isabel?” He asked, concern evident in his eyes.“I uh… My father is in trouble. He’s being summoned to court. But he’s unable to take their calls, since he’s in the hospital,” I explained.Robert overheard the phone call and noticed my despair. He immediately offered to drive me to the courthouse. "Let me help, Isabel. You shouldn't go through this alone," he insisted. We hurried to court, my heart pounding with anxiety.When we arrived, the staff informed me that if my father couldn’t pay off his debt, his house would be subject to foreclosure. The thought of losing my childhood home was unbearable. It was a large old farmhouse in the woods, filled with beautiful memories. My father had renovated it himself. Pouring blood, sweat and tears into the project. "This can't be happening," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I grew up in that house. It holds so many memo
Emerson's POVI felt a surge of anger when I saw Isabel smile at a strange man. How dare she flirt with someone else at my family banquet? How could she smile at another man so easily, but always show me a cold face?My anger intensified when I recognized him. He was the man who had carried Isabel to the car. He introduced himself as Robert Evans, the son of a prominent medical enterprise. How dare he try to steal my wife? When I confronted them, I never expected Robert to provoke me. He acted protective over her, as if he were Isabel’s husband.Turning away from Robert, I took Isabel by the arm and led her to a storage room. I pressed her shoulders against the wall, glaring at her. "What were you thinking, smiling at him like that?""We were just talking, Emerson," Isabel replied, her voice shaking. "Why are you so upset?""Upset?" I spat. "You’re still my wife, Isabel. You shouldn't be talking to other men.""We're about to finalize the divorce," she shot back. "And besides, you’re
Emerson’s POVSeveral years ago, I met Lilith during a volunteering activity at a local community center. I was drawn to her unique, exotic beauty. She was tall and slender, sticking out above the people around her. Her raven hair and green eyes stood out amongst the crowd. She had an elegance and grace about her that I hadn’t seen before.We got talking. She told me about her life. She didn’t have it easy. She was juggling multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. But her real passion was music - she was a pianist. Despite her tough life, she never complained.Her strong will and optimistic attitude were what initially drew me to her. We exchanged numbers. From then on, I often invited her to lunches and dinners. I couldn’t stay away from her. As we spent more time together, our bond deepened. I found myself increasingly captivated by her.During one of our conversations, Lilith mentioned receiving assistance from a businessman because of her outstanding grades and musical talent. Sh
Emerson’s POVLilith’s departure left a void in my life that I couldn't quite comprehend. I wasn't sure if my feelings for her were love or something else. It sure felt like love… Perhaps it was the shared moments, the mutual interests, and the resilience she displayed that endeared her to me. I considered that marrying Lilith wouldn't have been a bad choice. Although my family would prefer a higher social class marriage. Spending the rest of my life with someone with the same interests would be much nicer for me. But it was too late now. All because of Mr. White.One day, I received an unexpected invitation from Isabel White. I listened to her voicemail. “Hi, Emerson, how are you?” she started, sounding quite nervous. “It’s been a while. I uh… I’d like to go watch a movie with you. And… I have something important to discuss. Are you available tonight? I’ve emailed you the details.” Curious, I searched for information about the movie online. It turned out to be a romantic film. It wa
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s texts were relentless. He kept on warning me to reconsider the consequences of my actions. But I stood firm. I knew what I wanted. I deserved better than a man who didn’t want me with all his heart.I wasn’t going to let his threats sway me. Maybe he was worried about his family’s reputation or didn’t want Lilith to suffer from public scrutiny. But eventually, he realized I wouldn’t change my mind. He agreed to the divorce. We finalized it the same day. As I signed the papers, a heavy sigh of relief escaped me. Our marriage was over.As I left the courthouse, Emerson’s scornful voice called out after me: "You are as shameless as your father. You never deserved to be loved!" His harsh words stung. I turned back to him, shocked. "What are you talking about, Emerson? What happened between you and my father?" I demanded. “It’s time to tell me the truth, right now.”Emerson’s eyes flashed with anger. "Ask him what the hell he did to Lilith!" With that, he stormed of
Isabel’s POVEmma and Robert were my constant support during my chemotherapy. They made the unbearable bearable. Their friendship was like a comforting balm. Emma, ever the optimist, often suggested I start a new relationship. Her own new crush seemed to have reignited her belief in love.One evening, as we sat together, her phone buzzed incessantly. Annoyance flashed across her face as she checked the messages.“What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing her frown.“Alex invited me to a party. He wants me to meet his friends. But I don’t want to go. We’re not even dating,” she replied, sounding frustrated.“Why don’t you give it a try? You might have fun,” I encouraged her, though I wasn’t feeling very social myself.Emma’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Isabel! Let’s go together!”“Me? I’m not used to these kinds of occasions,” I protested.“Come on! Just accompany me. You don’t want your friend to be lonely, do you?”Reluctantly, I agreed. Her excitement was infectious. She dragged me to her spac
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t believe Emerson would do such a crazy thing! Could he really be so ruthless? Would he really hurt Robert out of jealousy? My mind raced, trying to comprehend the chaos unfolding around me.“Tell me, did you do it or not?” My voice shook with anger and disbelief.Emerson's eyes were hard as steel. “You care about him so much, huh? Do you love him?” he sneered. “Let me guess the status of your relationship. Hug? Kiss? Or have you already slept together?”“Shut up! Don’t use your nasty thoughts to insult us. Robert never crossed the line! He’s my oldest friend from primary school, you bastard!” I retorted, my voice rising with each word. “Stop the car right now or I’ll jump out!”Emerson’s face darkened, and he immediately locked the car doors. “Don’t move. It’s not him,” he growled.I turned around again, my heart pounding. My eyes scanned the scene outside. As I looked out of the rear window, I found that a strange man had already gotten out of the car. Relief wa
Isabel’s POVSlapping Emerson was not something I ever imagined myself doing. Yet the sound of my hand hitting his cheek echoed through the bathroom. His head jerked to the side. For a moment, he looked utterly stunned. “Isabel!” His eyes were wide with a mix of shock, anger and pain. He stepped back as if I had splashed cold water on his face.I stormed out of the room. He ran after me. “Isa, wait!” I turned around to face him. He seemed to have sobered up instantly. A clarity appeared in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. His lips moved, but whatever he wanted to express was trapped within."I'm going to sleep in the second bedroom tonight," I said, my voice trembling. "Take a break, we can talk tomorrow morning." Emerson nodded silently and walked away, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts.What did he want from me? Had he gone completely insane? His actions were erratic, and his emotions seemed to swing wildly
Isabel’s POVThe crisp autumn air slipped through the barely open door, sending a chill under my robe and up my spine. I folded my arms tightly around myself, standing in the doorway, facing the psychiatrist.I hesitated. Letting a stranger into my home—especially one I hadn’t asked for—felt intrusive. But standing here, shivering in the cold, wasn’t exactly productive either."Alright, well... come in," I finally said, stepping aside. "I just need a moment to get more... presentable."Dr. Hensley gave a small nod, stepping inside. "Of course, Miss Sullivan. Take your time."I closed the door behind him and walked upstairs, my thoughts racing. Emerson had sent this doctor without telling me. Did he really think I needed professional help? Was I unraveling so much that he didn’t trust me to handle things on my own?I took my time changing, pressing my hands against my temples in an attempt to clear my mind. The last thing I needed was to seem defensive or unstable in front of a psychia
Isabel’s POVLila took a small step back, bowing her head slightly. "I’m sorry, Miss. I heard you scream. I was worried, that’s all."I clenched my jaw, forcing my breath to steady. My pulse still pounded in my ears, the remnants of my nightmare clinging to me like a shadow. I didn’t want Lila to see me like this—vulnerable, shaken. I already didn’t trust her, and the last thing I needed was to give her more reason to think I was weak."I’m fine. Just a nightmare," I said flatly, willing her to leave. But she remained rooted in place, her wide eyes watching me too closely. The sight of her standing in my room, uninvited, made my skin crawl. "Is there anything else you needed to tell me?" I asked, breaking the awkward silence."Yes, Miss." Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Mr. Williams was called out for an emergency. It seemed to be serious trouble."I frowned, my mind quickly shifting from my own unease to Emerson. "I see. I trust he’ll handle it." But something about the way sh
Isabel’s POVThe little girl stood frozen . Her lower lip trembled, eyes glossy with unshed tears as she stared up at me. I could see the way my expression—sharp, unfiltered irritation—frightened her. But instead of softening, I felt an inexplicable surge of frustration bubbling inside me, hot and irrational. Why? It was just ice cream, just a dress. Why did it feel like something had snapped inside of me?Before I could figure out how to undo the damage, her parents rushed over. They took in the scene quickly—the vivid pink stain on my cream-colored satin dress, their daughter's terrified face—and instantly started apologizing."We're so sorry! She didn’t mean to, she was just excited and—"“We’ll cover the cleaning cost,” her father added quickly. “Or if the stain doesn’t come out, we’ll replace the dress.”Their politeness made me feel even worse. I finally realized just how out of line my reaction had been. My throat tightened with shame, and I forced my features to relax, though
Isabel’s POVThe moment Emerson’s words had left his lips, a cold sensation spread through me, crawling down my spine like ice water. I helped him pick out that tie? This morning? My mind scrambled to pull up any recollection. But all I found was a frustrating blankness where the memory should have been.Emerson’s eyes darkened as he observed my reaction. He placed a firm yet gentle hand on my arm. “Isa, you’re pale. Sit down for a moment.”I shook my head, resisting the panic threatening to rise in my chest. “I’m fine,” I said, though my voice wavered. “I just… don’t understand. I don’t forget things like this.”He exhaled slowly, as if choosing his next words carefully. “Maybe it’s stress. You’ve been through a lot, Isabel.” His thumb absently traced small circles on my wrist, grounding me. “It wouldn’t be surprising if your mind needed a break.”“But I don’t feel like I need a break, Emerson,” I said sharply, yanking my hand away. “I feel like something is slipping. Like I’m losin
Isabel’s POVThe crisp scent of fresh bread and brewed coffee filled the air as I took a slow sip from my cup. I felt better this morning—lighter, more like myself. The grogginess from last night had faded, and I chalked it up to exhaustion. Maybe I had just been pushing myself too hard lately.Across from me, Liam and Elena sat unusually quiet. Their small hands were resting on the table. Something about their solemn expressions made me uneasy. I set down my coffee cup and studied them."What is it?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. "Why are you two staring at me like that?"Liam pouted, glancing at Elena as if urging her to speak first. Elena let out a small sigh and tilted her head. "Mommy... don’t you remember?"My brows knitted together. "Remember what?"Elena’s shoulders slumped as she exchanged a crestfallen look with Liam. "You promised us.""Promised you what?"Liam crossed his arms, frustration flickering in his eyes. "You said you’d take us to the playground today!" he blurted,
Isabel’s POVI rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the lingering heaviness in my head. “I’m fine. Maybe it’s just grogginess from sleeping too long.”Emerson nodded, but kept studying me as if he wasn’t convinced. I decided to change the subject, if only to get his scrutinizing gaze off me. “The new scented candles are nice. Where did you buy them?" I asked, looking at Marianne.Her face lit up at the compliment. "Oh, I’m so glad you like them! They're handmade by my family. We’ve been making them for years, mostly for gifts and home use. But if you enjoy them, I could have them send more."I glanced at her in mild surprise. "Really? Handmade? That’s impressive. They smell so calming. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so soundly in a long time."Marianne beamed. "That’s wonderful to hear! Though, to be honest, we never made them with any sleep-inducing properties. Just natural ingredients and essential oils. But maybe I just spotted a new business opportunity!" she added with a playful
Isabel’s POVI stood frozen, my gaze still fixed on the doorway where Lila had disappeared. The weight of her words clung to me, an invisible force pressing against my chest."What did she mean by that?" My voice was sharper than I intended. "Is she implying that I have a delusional disorder? That I’m imagining things?"Emerson stepped closer, his hands resting gently on my shoulders, his thumbs brushing against my collarbones. "Isa, don’t let her get under your skin. She’s twisting things. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately. You really need to rest."I shrugged off his hands with a jerk of my shoulder. "Don’t touch me," I snapped, my irritation flaring unexpectedly. I wasn’t even sure if it was directed at him or at the tangled mess of thoughts in my mind. Lila. The gardener. Elena’s watch. Nothing made sense, and I hated it.Emerson sighed but didn’t press the issue. "Fine. But at least try to get some sleep."I didn’t reply. Instead, I turned sharply and strode toward my
Isabel’s POVEmerson and I stepped back into the villa. The tension between us was almost palpable. My mind was still racing, trying to make sense of everything. The gardener had stolen Elena’s smartwatch—yes—but that didn’t mean the deeper mystery was solved. There was something else at play, something that still eluded me.Marianne was the first to notice our discomfort. She stood by the grand staircase, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took in our expressions. “What happened?” she asked, a note of concern lacing her voice.Emerson and I exchanged a glance. We had no intention of explaining everything in detail—not yet—but telling her the bare minimum wouldn’t hurt.“The gardener,” Emerson said, his voice clipped, “he was caught trying to bury Elena’s watch. He… stole it.”Marianne’s hand flew to her mouth. “What? But—he’s been working here for years. He seemed so… honest.”That same thought had crossed my mind, but experience had taught me that appearances were deceiving.“He claim
Isabel’s POVThe crisp autumn air carried the scent of damp earth and the last lingering sweetness of summer flowers. The sun, pale but warm, cast long dappled shadows over the stone pathways where Emerson and I walked side by side.Golden leaves fluttered down from the towering oaks that lined the villa’s garden. Their rustling whispers fill the quiet morning.I inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the frustration knotting in my chest. Emerson had done everything possible to uncover Lila’s real identity, yet the answers we received only deepened the mystery. If the DNA test confirmed her story, why did something still feel… off?“I appreciate everything you’ve done, Emerson,” I said, running my fingers along the ivy creeping up the garden wall. “But I can’t help feeling like we’re missing something.”He glanced at me, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. “I know what you mean. The pieces don’t quite fit together.”Before I could respond, a sudden movement in the distance cau