Isabel’s POVI was taken aback by Sebastian’s suggestion to eavesdrop on his conversation with Emerson, but grateful for the opportunity. It was the closest I could get to knowing what Emerson wanted without putting myself directly in his path. As the weight of everything began to settle on me, I felt a strange mixture of dread and hope. Just as I was about to return to Margot’s room, Sebastian stopped me.“You should let the doctor check you again, considering your condition. You don’t look well,” he said, his voice firm but gentle.I opened my mouth to protest. But he raised a hand before I could utter a word. “I’m not taking no for an answer. You’ve been through too much to ignore your health.”Reluctantly, I followed him to the medical office. Inside, the sterile scent hit me like a wave. The doctor, a man with sharp eyes and a compassionate smile, greeted us. Sebastian explained why we were there, and the doctor wasted no time in beginning the examination.After what felt like
Isabel’s POVMargot, not one to give up easily, nudged me under the table with a playful grin. “Come on, Isabel! Don’t you think my brother deserves a chance at happiness too? He’s been so focused on revenge, he hasn’t even thought about romance. Someone needs to snap him out of it.” Her teasing tone belied the seriousness of her words. Sebastian shot his sister a glare, though it lacked real anger. “Margot, enough.”“What?” she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes as if she had said nothing out of the ordinary. “I’m just saying, you deserve more than this endless chase for justice. You deserve love, too.”Her words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. The room went quiet. Sebastian cleared his throat, his discomfort evident.“I’m not looking for that right now,” Sebastian said, his voice quieter. As if he was trying to convince himself more than us. “There are more important things.”“Are there?” Margot challenged gently. “Or are you just afraid to live again?”I lowered my eyes
Isabel’s POVI woke up early, long before the sun had fully risen. My mind was already racing. Today was the day I would see Emerson—my ex-husband, the man who had once been everything to me. Who was now a source of fear and uncertainty. I hadn’t seen him since I was kidnapped from the hospital. My thoughts spiraled as I tried to piece together what today’s meeting would bring. How had he been recovering? Did he know that Lilith, his fiancée, was involved in the very scheme that had me kidnapped? And even if he did, would he leave her?I knew the answer in my heart. No, he wouldn’t. But I still feel heartbroken for such a known answer.Emerson was too calculating, too determined. Our past wouldn’t be enough to make him discard Lilith. Not with her power and influence at his side. The weight of this truth pressed against me, making my chest tighten as I threw the blanket off and got ready.A knock at the door pulled me out of my anxious thoughts. It was Sebastian, standing in the doo
Isabel’s POV“No, Emerson. Don’t be impulsive. Control yourself,” I screamed inwardly, watching through the glass. I gripped the arms of my chair tightly. Tension radiated through my body as I anticipated what might come next.Sebastian remained calm, unfazed by Emerson’s looming anger. It was as if the heat rolling off Emerson’s glare was invisible to him. But I could feel it, even from this distance, as if it were directed at me.Sebastian, with a faint smirk, continued his bold provocation. "I’m sorry. Did I misspeak? Is Lilith not your fiancée? Strange, because I can’t recall anyone of such significance in your life—at least, not based on what I’ve found." His tone was polite, almost apologetic, but dripping with intent.Michael, Emerson’s loyal assistant, shifted uncomfortably beside him. "Mr. Sebastian, I’d suggest watching your words," he cautioned, though his voice lacked authority. It was clear who held the reins in this confrontation, and it wasn’t him.For a heartbeat, I fea
Isabel’s POVI was frozen. Emerson knew. Somehow, he had pieced it together, connecting dots I didn’t even know existed. Sebastian’s secret, Margot’s safety, my very presence—it was all in jeopardy. My first instinct was to burst through the door, offer myself up in exchange for their freedom. But then, through the one-way glass, I caught a subtle gesture from Sebastian. His fingers shifted. It was a barely noticeable movement, but one I recognized immediately.Don't move.I clenched my fists and forced myself to stay still. Despite every nerve in my body screaming to act. The tension between Sebastian and Emerson was palpable, like the air had thickened with an invisible force. Neither man was backing down. The room seemed to hum with danger.Sebastian’s expression remained calm, his poker face impeccable. "I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said, his voice laced with false innocence. "Woods is a common name. The General's family name, not mine. You must be mista
Isabel’s POVAfter Emerson left, the tension in the room hung heavy in the air. His presence still lingered like a storm cloud threatening to break. I waited a while to make sure he was truly gone. I watched quietly as Sebastian paced the room with clenched fists, muttering curse words under his breath. After a few minutes, I left the small room behind the mirror and joined Sebastian. His normally calm demeanor was shattered. His chest was still heaving with frustration and anger."Are you okay?" I asked softly, unsure of how to ease the storm brewing inside him.He just shook his head, his jaw tight, and said nothing. His silence spoke volumes, though. I could feel the weight of everything we had just endured pressing down on him. I couldn’t blame him—Emerson had come armed with far more knowledge than we had anticipated, and the danger was now more real than ever.I found myself studying Sebastian more closely, suddenly aware of the man behind the disguise. His square jawline was
Isabel’s POVI stood frozen, ready to scream for help. Michael raised his hands, trying to signal peace. His expression softened, and he spoke gently. As if I were a frightened animal about to flee.“Miss Isabel,” he began, his voice calm but insistent, “I’m not here to hurt you. Emerson sent me. He’s been worried sick about you, more than you know.”My eyes narrowed. I didn’t trust him. Michael stepped forward cautiously. “Emerson had me keep watch on the barracks, hoping we’d find you,” he admitted.I suddenly remembered the look I’d seen pass between him and Emerson in the room earlier. Michael wasn’t here by chance—this was planned. I should have known better than to wander off like this. I clenched my fists, internally cursing my recklessness.“I never expected to see you this soon, but now that I have… Please, come back with me,” Michael said softly.I took another step back, feeling the cold bite of the wind as my heart raced. “No. I won’t go anywhere with you,” I replied, my vo
Isabel’s POVSebastian and I walked side by side, heading back toward the military camp. The air between us was thick with unspoken tension. He hadn’t said a word since the fight with Michael and the bodyguards. His face was hard as stone, eyes distant. I figured he was preoccupied, calculating his next steps. Emerson wasn’t someone to give up easily, and I knew Sebastian was already thinking about how to stay ahead of him.I kept my distance for most of the walk, staying just a step behind him, unsure of what to say. But as we neared the camp, something felt… off. His usually brisk pace had slowed considerably, so much so that without realizing it, I’d caught up to him. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, and that’s when I noticed it: the slight tremble in his steps, the shallow rise and fall of his chest, and the sheen of cold sweat forming on his forehead.My stomach twisted as I looked closer. His normally composed face was pale, his lips tight and colorless. Then I saw
Sebastian/Elias’s POVScarlet’s voice was razor-sharp, slicing through the tension-laden air. “I never meant for my nephew to be dragged into your web of danger, Alistair.” Her eyes burned with a fury I hadn’t seen before. Yet there was something else lurking beneath it—regret. Guilt.Alistair, as always, was unimpressed. He gave a dismissive wave, his mouth curling into an infuriating smirk. “Spare me the theatrics, Scarlet. He dragged himself into this when he started meddling with my operation. You want to play the remorseful aunt now? Too late.” His gaze turned to me, and his voice took on a condescending edge. “You should be thanking her, Elias. She’s the one who made those delightful little concoctions running through your veins.”Scarlet stiffened, but she didn’t deny it. “I never gave you permission to use them on my family members.“And since when do I ask for permission?” Alistair sighed, as if the conversation bored him. “Since you’re so concerned, why don’t you give him
Sebastian/Elias's POVThe basement was the same as ever—cold, damp, and stinking of rust and decay. Dust swirled in the dim light from the single flickering bulb, casting erratic shadows on the cracked stone walls. But this time, I wasn’t the one in chains.“Kill him.” Alistair’s voice was sharp and commanding, his outstretched hand pointing at a young man kneeling a few feet away. He couldn’t have been much older than nineteen, his face drawn and gaunt from fear. His chains rattled as he tried to inch backward, but there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.I didn’t hesitate.I lunged forward, my foot connecting with his chest before he could react. He crumpled to the ground with a strangled gasp. Without missing a beat, I dropped to one knee, my hands locking around his throat. His pulse fluttered beneath my fingers, his breath hitching as I tightened my grip.He struggled—weakly at first, then more desperately, his fingers clawing at my wrists. But I was stronger. Faster. Bette
Lilith’s POV"What? You want to change back to your old face?"The woman in front of me didn't even look up as she spoke, her voice laced with contempt and utter boredom. She was in her fifties, yet not a single wrinkle marred her flawless skin. Her body, toned and striking, was a testament to her wealth and vanity. She sat elegantly on the edge of a metal counter, her fingers idly playing with a small vial of serum. The dim, sterile light of the underground lab reflected off the glass, casting eerie patterns across the walls.I clenched my fists. Of course, she wouldn’t take me seriously—not at first. But I was done playing games."I’ve completed the task my father gave me," I said, my voice steady, though my stomach twisted with unease. "I no longer want to bear this disgusting face."That got her attention. Scarlet finally turned to face me, a slow, amused smirk curling her lips. She tilted her head slightly, as if studying me for the first time."Completed?" she repeated mockingl
Isabel’s POVThe small, dimly lit room felt heavier than the weight of the secrets we were about to unravel. Eric, Emerson, and I sat in silence, the air between us thick with unspoken tension. I could hear the faint sounds of the hospital outside—the distant beeping of machines, the soft murmur of nurses passing by—but inside this room, time had stalled.Eric was the first to break the silence. "I suppose it's time you know everything," he said, his voice laced with something unreadable—anger, perhaps, or sorrow. "I've been looking into your past for a long time, Isabel. I never told you because I wanted to protect you. But after everything that has happened, I can’t stay quiet any longer."I swallowed hard. My past was something I had learned to live with, but never something I had entirely faced. There were too many wounds, too many buried nightmares I wasn’t sure I could handle revisiting.Eric met my eyes, his expression softening just slightly before he turned his gaze to Emers
Isabel’s POVElena sat on the hospital bed, her tiny legs swinging anxiously. Despite the exhaustion evident in her posture, she held her head high, determined to be strong. My heart swelled with pride and grief at the same time. She was so young, yet she had just given her own blood to save her brother’s life.The doctor assured us that while she couldn’t donate much due to her age, it had been enough to keep Liam stable until the blood bags arrived. Still, the knowledge that she had been put through such an ordeal made my stomach twist. She was only a child… Our child.Liam was finally out of immediate danger, but the doctor insisted he remain in the ICU for observation. I hated the sight of him lying there, so still, his small body covered in wires and monitors. It was unnatural. He should have been running around, laughing, causing mischief. Instead, he was fighting to recover from something no child should have to endure.Elena tugged at my sleeve. “Mommy… is Liam going to be o
Isabel’s POVThe doctor’s voice rang in my ears like a distant echo. "Does anyone here have a matching blood type? The boy needs a transfusion immediately."My breath hitched, and in an instant, I was dragged back in time—to that moment in the hospital when I had first learned the truth. When my blood had saved Liam’s life, and in return, had revealed that he was my son. I had gone so long believing my son was dead. But then, in the stark coldness of a sterile hospital room, fate had thrown me the truth. That moment had changed everything. And now, standing here again, staring down a doctor who needed my blood to save Liam, I felt history repeating itself.But this time, it was so much worse. Liam’s life hung in the balance.“I’m a match,” I said quickly, stepping forward. There was no hesitation. No doubt. I would give him every drop of my blood if it meant he would open his eyes again.The doctor nodded briskly and took me to be tested. My mind was racing the entire time. My pulse
Isabel’s POVA chill ran down my spine. My body went rigid as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. My mind was racing faster than I could voice.The memory of the jewelry store confrontation resurfaced with haunting clarity. It hadn’t been a hallucination from the drugs—I had seen through Lila’s disguise, seen the truth lurking beneath. I had seen her.Lilith.“Emerson,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute, “listen to me. I’m completely clear-headed right now. I need you to hear me.”He turned to me fully, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. “I’m listening, Isa. I know—the drugs have worn off. What is it?” His voice was steady, but I could sense the tension beneath it. The way he braced himself for whatever I was about to say.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to slow down, to make the words come out in a way that made sense. “It’s Lilith,” I said, the name tasting like poison on my tongue. “Lila was never just Lila. She was Lilith all along.”His brows furrowed, confusion flic
Isabel’s POVThe hospital corridors stretched endlessly before us, sterile white walls closing in like the cold grip of fate. The sharp scent of antiseptic stung my nostrils, and my heart pounded so violently in my chest that I feared it might burst. Emerson’s grip on my wrist was tight as we rushed forward, weaving through doctors, nurses, and worried families. But there was only one person I wanted to see—Liam. My baby. My son.As we rounded the corner to the surgical ward, my breath caught in my throat. Caleb sat hunched on a bench outside the operating room, his face buried in his hands. His usually confident posture was shattered, replaced by a shell of a man drowning in regret. The fluorescent lighting above cast a sickly glow over his slumped figure.Before I could speak, Emerson charged forward and yanked Caleb up by the collar."How the hell did this happen?" Emerson's voice was raw with fury, shaking with barely contained rage. "You were supposed to keep him safe!"Caleb di
Isabel’s POVThe room felt like it had been stripped of oxygen. My breath hitched, and my fingers tightened around the edges of the table."Alistair is back?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.Emerson nodded grimly. "It was only a rumor at first, but now it’s confirmed. He’s been moving in the shadows. We don’t know exactly what he’s planning yet."I looked at Margot, who had gone pale. Her fingers trembled as she gripped the back of a chair. The color drained from her face, but her expression hardened in determination."It has to be him," she said, her voice breaking with restrained fury. "He took my brother. I knew something felt off... Elias wouldn't just disappear without leaving a trace."My mind was reeling. Elias had been missing for almost two weeks. His silence had been deafening. Now, knowing that Alistair was involved, any hope we had left was beginning to wither.Margot’s breathing quickened. "I have to find him. Now. Every second I wait—""Margot, stop!" I grabb