Isabel’s POV“Margot? Are you in there?” I knocked gently on her bedroom door. Silence. No response.I opened the door. “Margot?” My eyes narrowed as I scanned the room. She wasn’t there.Margot was gone. An unsettling feeling in my gut told me something was wrong. It was strange—she was always meticulous about letting someone know her whereabouts. Especially with how things had been lately. I called her name again, hoping she was just in the bathroom or had simply stepped out for a moment. No response.Everything in the room seemed in order, except for her hairbrush. It was lying on the ground. My pulse quickened. The hairbrush was a gift from Sebastian; she cherished it. The thought of her carelessly dropping it didn’t sit right with me. I picked it up and noticed a crack along its handle, as if it had been thrown. Hard.Panic began to tighten its grip on me. Something was wrong. The air in the room felt heavy with tension, like the lingering remnants of a storm. I had to tell Seba
Isabel’s POVThe air was thick with tension as I stood there, vulnerable and exposed. I felt the weight of my decision pressing down on me like a storm. Was this the right choice?If nothing else, I had to save Margot. She stood there, trembling, with a gun pressed against her temple. This was not her battle to fight, nor was it Sebastian’s. This was between me and Emerson. I would not let these kind, innocent siblings get caught in the crossfire.Emerson’s bodyguards formed a barrier between me and Sebastian, while the soldiers stood watchful but uncertain. I knew this was my moment. If I didn’t act, things would spiral out of control. Emerson wasn’t the type to be patient for long. And Sebastian, despite his calm exterior, was on the verge of losing his composure. Margot’s life hung in the balance, and I couldn’t bear to see her suffer any more because of me.“Isabel, you can’t do this,” Sebastian said, his voice laced with disbelief. His eyes met mine, searching for some other s
Isabel’s POVAs I stood between Sebastian and Emerson, I felt a swirl of confusion. Sebastian’s sudden action—the cold, metallic object he had slipped into my hand—left me unsettled. I clenched my palm tightly, trying not to let my thoughts betray me. If Emerson noticed anything out of the ordinary, things could escalate quickly.The object felt familiar. Similar to the invisible headset I had used to listen in on their conversation, only smaller. Was it a communication device? One thing was clear—Sebastian wasn’t letting me go without a plan. We would stay connected.“I’ll keep my promise,” Sebastian said, his voice low but firm. There was a quiet intensity in his eyes as he glanced toward me. “As a return for all you’ve done for us.”He was referring to the investigation—Lilith, my father, the monstrous clinic, and everything we had unraveled. The look in his eyes told me that this wasn’t goodbye. Not completely. There was still unfinished business between us, and this small devic
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s estate loomed in the distance, a grand structure nestled in the quiet countryside. Its isolated location made it perfect for keeping secrets and avoiding prying eyes. “We’ll be safe here,” Emerson said with a cold certainty. His words felt more like a sentence than a reassurance. Safe? Being isolated with a man who had grown increasingly unpredictable didn’t exactly feel safe.His maid welcomed us in, and Emerson asked her to prepare a meal. As the table was set, the silence between us was suffocating. The warmth of the food felt out of place in the frigid atmosphere. I stared at my plate, barely touching the meal. I knew this was just the calm before another storm.It wasn’t long before Emerson spoke, breaking the silence with a question that dripped with thinly veiled bitterness. “What exactly is going on between you and Sebastian?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.I looked up, startled. “What are you talking about?” I asked, though deep down, I knew where this
Isabel’s POVAs soon as the door to Emerson’s study slammed shut, my anger flared. How dare he? What right did Emerson have to imprison me like this? To restrict my freedom as though I was his property? My fists clenched at my sides, and my heart pounded in my chest. I wanted to scream, to shout back at him through the thick walls of his study. But before I could do anything, a sharp pain shot through my head, making my vision blur for a second.Not now. Of all times for this headache to strike.I stumbled to the sofa, rubbing my temples in an attempt to ease the throbbing pain. There had to be some painkillers around here. Emerson kept me locked up, but he didn’t seem like the kind of man who would skimp on amenities for his precious estate. I started searching the room, trying to keep my frustration at bay, but before I could get very far, Michael suddenly appeared beside me, holding out a glass of water and a familiar bottle of painkillers.I jumped, startled by his sudden presenc
Isabel’s POVMichael’s words echoed in my mind, unsettling and ridiculous all at once. The idea that Emerson could have been so... desperate. The man who had always seemed invincible, cold, and calculating, brought to the brink because of me? It didn’t add up. But before I could dwell on it further, the doorbell rang. The sharp sound pulled me out of my thoughts.Michael glanced at me before heading to answer the door. His usually calm face twitched slightly, betraying a hint of discomfort. I watched him leave, trying to gather my scattered emotions. Emerson’s extremes—his anger, his possessiveness, his bizarre form of care—had left me off-balance. I didn’t like any of it.When Michael returned, he wasn’t alone. A familiar face stepped into the room—the housekeeper. My heart skipped a beat. Marianne.I hadn’t seen her in years, not since Emerson and I divorced. We had once gotten along so well. And now here she was, in this strange new chapter of my life, as if no time had passed.“We
Isabel’s POVI stared blankly at the two jewelry boxes in my hands. Why did Emerson want me to have them? How did he get them back from the auction? It was all so confusing.The weight of the rubies and emeralds pulled me into a flood of memories. My fingers absently traced the edges of the ruby necklace, a piece that had once belonged to my mother. I never thought I would see it again, let alone feel it rest in my hands. The deep red stones shimmered in the dim light, reflecting fragments of the past. Every time I looked at it, my mother’s radiant smile flashed before me, her warmth and elegance embedded in every facet of the jewels.But how could Emerson have gotten them? The necklace had been sold to someone else at the auction. As for the emerald brooch... it meant so much to the Williams family. And I had thrown it all away, leaving it in the hands of the highest bidder. I thought he would hate me for it, that he would immediately give it to Lilith. But instead, he had risked hi
Isabel’s POVThe sharp noise echoed through the hallway, and my heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong. “Emerson!” I called out, louder now, hoping he would answer. But the silence that followed was suffocating.A wave of dread washed over me. My hand shook as I pounded on the door. “Please, answer me.” It was a desperate plea, one I hadn’t thought I’d make after everything that happened.Marianne, hearing the noise, hurried down the hallway. The look on her face shifted from curiosity to concern as soon as she saw me. For a split second, her eyes flicked to my fancy dress and the ruby necklace glinting around my neck, a reminder of a life I had left behind. But she quickly regained her composure. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion.“I heard a crash,” I said, my breath coming faster. “I think something happened to Emerson.”Her eyebrows knit together as she assessed the situation. “The door’s locked. Do you know how to open it?" I asked, my voice rising in ur
Isabel’s POVCarter first sent a team of soldiers to probe the enemy’s defenses. The plan was simple: test the waters, gauge their numbers, and avoid unnecessary bloodshed before reinforcements arrived. But what they found was far worse than expected.“These are not just Alistair’s usual lackeys,” Carter murmured, lowering his binoculars. “The numbers far exceed our expectations. And what’s worse: these men are seasoned fighters. Most of them have appeared on international wanted lists… multiple times.”Emerson, standing beside him, clenched his fists. “That bastard really went all in.”I narrowed my eyes, straining to make out the details from our vantage point on the rocky hillside. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the rugged terrain. The distant compound was a maze of dilapidated buildings, high fences, and scattered patrols. From here, it was impossible to tell how many men were stationed inside. But it was clear we were up against more than just a handful
Sebastian/Elias’s POVI stood there, rooted to the spot, watching the scene unfold before me. The sterile, cold walls of the laboratory pressed in around me.Alistair’s voice broke the silence, a hint of pride echoing through his words. “This is my proudest work! Thanks to your potions, Scarlet.” His tone was a mix of admiration and satisfaction, as if he had just achieved the culmination of a long and arduous project.Scarlet’s gaze flickered to me, her sharp eyes assessing the situation with cold precision. There was no mistaking it: she was shocked I hadn’t escaped yet. She must be wondering if her antidote had failed.Then, without warning, she lunged forward, grabbing Alistair by the collar with a force that was both unexpected and dangerous. Her voice was low, a warning laced with venom. “I’m telling you, don’t touch my nephew! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you never stand again!” Her words were like a promise, a threat wrapped in maternal protection. But there was something more
Emerson’s POVI sat in the car, fingers drumming absently against the steering wheel as my mind churned through everything that had happened. The weight of it all pressed down on my shoulders like an iron grip. Lilith’s confessions, Elias’s predicament, the looming confrontation with Alistair—it was a tangled mess of threats and uncertainties. Every second that passed only heightened the tension coiling in my chest.A sharp knock on the window pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Carter standing outside, his sharp gaze scanning the area. I rolled the window down, and he wasted no time.“I heard you caught a woman? How is she involved in this?” he asked, his voice even but laced with curiosity.I exhaled and nodded, stepping out of the vehicle. My eyes swept the surroundings instinctively, old habits keeping me cautious even in relatively safe zones. Carter caught on immediately.“Margot’s with Isabel back at the base,” he assured me. “We can talk there.”I gave him a curt nod,
Isabel’s POVWe delayed our mission. Lilith's intel might be significant and give us clues on how to proceed.In the interrogation room, Lilith sat handcuffed to the chair, her face twisted with a mixture of defiance and resignation. I stood behind the mirrored glass, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, trying to steady my breathing. Emerson and one of his men sat across from her, their expressions unreadable. The tension in the room was thick, palpable."Talk," Emerson commanded, his voice cold.Lilith smirked, leaning back as if the shackles meant nothing to her. "Where do I begin?" she mused, tilting her head. "Maybe with the fact that I was Lila all along?"My stomach dropped. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay rooted to the spot. I knew it. But I’d never expected to hear her say it aloud. My mind reeled as Lilith continued."Alistair took me after you thought I’d died," she said, her tone shifting into something bitter. "He changed me—physically, mentally. His damned
Isabel’s POVCarter and Emerson bent over the map, their voices low but intense as they laid out the plan. The dimly lit tent smelled of sweat, gun oil, and the anticipation of an impending fight. My fingers tightened into fists at my sides. I refused to be left behind.“We move in small teams,” Carter was saying. “Margot and I will take a group to circle around and cover you. The reinforcements are still a few hours out, so we’ll have to be careful.”Emerson nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ll lead a team ahead to scout their positions.”“I’m going with you.” The words left my mouth before I could second-guess them.Emerson’s head snapped toward me, his brows furrowing. “No. It’s too dangerous.”I squared my shoulders. “I didn’t train for years on that island just to sit in the shadows while you go off to fight. I’m stronger than ever now, and you know it.”He exhaled through his nose, his fingers flexing at his sides as if fighting the urge to grab my arm and shake some sense i
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t shake the image of Eric’s disappointed eyes from my mind. The way he had looked at me—like I was making the worst mistake of my life—had been haunting me ever since I rejected his offer.Although returning home with him and bringing the twins sounded like a dream, I couldn’t risk any danger following us.“Isabel, do you even hear yourself?” Eric had asked, his voice thick with disbelief. He gestured at Emerson. “Haven’t you learned your lesson with him?”I had known this conversation would be difficult, but seeing the pain on his face still cut deeper than I had expected. To him, my decision wasn’t just reckless—it was a betrayal. He had spent so much time trying to protect me, trying to give me an escape, only for me to walk right back into the fire.“This isn’t about Emerson,” I had explained, forcing my voice to remain steady. “It’s about unfinished business, Eric. I can’t leave Rivermont. Not yet.”He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Isabel, I’m begging
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