Isabel’s POVI sat in the waiting room of the private hospital, my mind still reeling from the good news about my tumor. But my thoughts were quickly overshadowed by Emerson’s angry, suspicious voice.“I couldn’t answer the phone during my gynecologist examination now, could I?” I said smoothly, even though I could feel my nerves rising. It was a lie, but a necessary one.There was a pause on the other end of the line. Emerson’s voice, when it came, was tight, still edged with suspicion. “Well… Why did it take so long?”I swallowed, quickly coming up with an explanation. “There are some complications because of the miscarriage,” I said softly, adding just enough vulnerability into my tone to disarm him. “I’m still awaiting the results, but they might have to run additional tests and treatments.”I wanted to plant the seed of a future cover—an excuse for any medical visits that Robert would arrange for me. This was all about buying time, staying under the radar while I figured out what
Isabel’s POVI scooped Liam off the floor just in time, as the heavy bookshelf came crashing down behind us. I felt a sharp sting as the shelf scraped against my arm. But the pain was nothing compared to the terror that gripped me just moments before. If I had been a second later, the shelf would have crushed him.The sound of the crash brought Emerson and two maids rushing into the hallway. I sat on the floor, my arms wrapped tightly around a trembling Liam, as the heavy cupboard lay sprawled beside us.“Isabel! What happened?” Emerson’s voice was laced with panic as he knelt down beside me, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene.Still catching my breath, I managed to explain. “He pulled the shelf down... it was falling... I just grabbed him in time.” My voice trembled, my pulse still racing from the near disaster.Emerson’s face softened, relief flooding his features. “You saved him, Isa…” His voice was quiet, almost reverent. He crouched down beside me, staring at Liam as if the real
Isabel’s POVKiss me? The words echoed in my mind, twisting my gut in disgust. Every fiber of my being recoiled. But I quickly remembered the delicate game I was playing.If I wanted to win Emerson over, to buy my freedom bit by bit, I couldn’t let my true feelings show. Not now. Not after I’d spent days carefully maintaining peace between us. The only way to get what I wanted was through calculated patience.I forced a smile, gentle but firm. "I don’t think that’s a good idea right now," I said, keeping my voice calm.Emerson blinked, caught off guard. I’d never seen him speechless before. He stammered, “Oh… okay, sorry… It’s just—I thought—”The sight of him stumbling over his words would’ve been almost comical if the situation weren’t so dire. It was strange seeing this side of him—vulnerable, unsure. For years, he’d been nothing but cold, controlling, calculating. Now he stood before me, clearly embarrassed. As if he wasn’t sure how to proceed."It’s fine," I said, adjusting the
Emerson’s POVI stared at Isabel, trying to make sense of what she’d just said. My mind spun in confusion, uncertainty gripping me tighter than I cared to admit. Did she really mean it? If I found a doctor for her father, she might... kiss me? The idea sparked something deep inside me—a jolt of excitement I hadn’t expected. But it also brought a flood of emotions I wasn’t prepared for. Ones I wasn’t supposed to feel.Swallowing hard, I nodded. “I’ll find him,” I said before I turned and left the room. Isabel’s words echoed in my mind as I made my way through the villa.The next morning, as I prepared to leave for work, I couldn’t shake the image of Isabel from my mind. The way she’d tied my tie the day before, her fingers moving with a delicate tenderness I hadn’t felt in years, lingered like a ghost. Before everything had gone wrong between us, Isabel had always been the one to pick out my suits. To make sure everything was in order before I stepped out the door. She had cared for
Isabel’s POVThe villa felt emptier than usual tonight. Emerson hadn’t come back since he left for work, and I hadn’t heard a word from him all day. At any other time, his silence would be inconsequential. Perhaps even peaceful. But tonight, it stirred an uneasy feeling that settled deep in my chest, filling every quiet corner of the house. Something was wrong. I couldn’t shake the nagging thought.I lay in bed, the hours ticking by as I tried to force myself to sleep. But I kept replaying the last conversation we’d had. I had practically dangled myself as a reward for him finding a doctor for my father. A kiss held out like a promise I wasn’t sure I’d ever keep. Was I making a mistake? Was manipulating him the right way to get what I needed?A sigh escaped me. I turned over in bed, pulling the covers tightly around me, hoping that sleep might finally claim me. But each time I closed my eyes, I saw Emerson’s face. The way his eyes had softened when I adjusted his tie. The confusion
Isabel’s POVThe butler and I struggled to get Emerson to his feet. I steadied Emerson as best I could. My arm was wrapped around his waist while the butler supported him from the other side. His weight pressed heavily against me. The heat radiating from him was tinged with a discomforting dampness. My hand brushed against his arm, and I felt the sticky warmth of fresh blood seeping through the bandage. A pang of concern tightened my chest; he must’ve been losing blood for hours.As soon as we had eased him onto the couch, the butler hurried to contact the private doctor. He muttered reassurances about discretion. I could barely focus, though. My eyes were fixed on Emerson’s blood-soaked arm. The crimson stain was spreading across the fabric. There was something terribly wrong here.The doctor arrived swiftly. The man looked too calm given the urgency of the situation. He unwrapped the bandage carefully, revealing a wound deep and raw. “A puncture wound,” he explained. His expressio
Isabel’s POV“Emerson,” I began, but the words felt trapped in my throat. Was he serious? Did he expect me to kiss him right here, right now? Was he using his vulnerability to manipulate me?“You don’t have to say anything now, Isa.” He tilted his head, that glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes intensifying. “But… tomorrow morning, perhaps?” His smile held a lingering challenge. One that made my stomach twist in a way I wasn’t sure I liked. I was angry at his frivolity, yet I couldn’t allow myself to lose my temper with Emerson. Not while he was in this state. My mind raced. It was all too confusing, too layered with unspoken feelings.“Perhaps…” I said evenly, hoping he wouldn’t press further.And he didn’t. He closed his eyes instead, his pain and exhaustion obvious. “Good night, Emerson,” I said as I retreated quietly.“Night, Isa,” I heard his weak voice behind me.As I returned to my room, the silence enveloped me. But sleep still eluded me. My mind was racing with thoughts. Wha
Isabel’s POVThe weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on me as I walked through the hospital corridor. Emerson’s guards were following my every move. But this time, I didn’t care about my lack of freedom. My mind was racing with unanswered questions. Why did the doctor stop mid-sentence? What was he going to tell me? What happened last night?I couldn’t shake the feeling that Emerson was caught in something dangerous. And I was left in the dark. Did he risk his life to find the doctor? Or were the events totally unrelated?I needed to find a way to uncover the truth. But how could I approach him without raising his defenses?And then, there was the kiss. I had promised him something I was still grappling with. Would I be able to go through with it? Could I trust him? And why didn’t he claim it this morning?I arrived at the gynecologist's office and left the guards behind. Through the back door, I slipped into another doctor's office for my secret treatment. Robert was already waiti
Isabel’s POVDays passed, stretching into an unspoken eternity, and Emerson’s condition could no longer be kept from Liam and Elena.One afternoon, I was sitting by Emerson’s bed, my hand gently brushing his, when the door to the hospital room creaked open. My heart skipped a beat."Liam, Elena, what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice thick with emotion. I hadn’t expected them today, and the sight of their small faces brought a surge of overwhelming love and guilt.Eric stood behind them, his expression apologetic, his eyes soft with understanding. “They begged me, Isabel. They wouldn’t stop asking to see him... I couldn’t say no anymore.”Liam’s face was drawn, his usual bright energy dimmed with concern. Elena clung to her brother, her eyes wide with fear as they both hesitated in the doorway.Before I could say anything else, another figure appeared behind them, stepping into the room. My heart stopped for a moment as I looked up to see Emerson’s mother, Estelle, walking towards
Isabel’s POVA month had passed. One whole month, and still, no sign of life from Emerson. The machines beside his bed beeped steadily. A monotonous rhythm that I had come to know too well. A rhythm that seemed to mock the stillness of his body. I sat by his side every day, watching him, praying for some miracle—some sign that he was still there, still fighting. But each time I whispered his name, there was nothing. Nothing but the soft hum of hospital machinery.“Emerson,” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my attempts to sound steady. “Don’t you want to be with me? If you wake up, I promise we can live happily as a family of four.”I meant it, every word of it. The thought of a future with him, of raising our children together, was the only thing that kept me going. I needed him to hear me. I needed him to wake up.But Emerson remained unresponsive.He looked like a prince charming, trapped in an eternal dream—strangely peaceful. I combed his dark hair back neatly after gently
Isabel’s POVThe world blurred—shouts, chaos, the metallic scent of blood thick in my nostrils. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I clung to Emerson, his labored breaths hot against my skin.I didn’t dare move. The slick warmth of his blood drenching me was unnerving. His chest rose and fell in erratic, shallow breaths. But then, amid the cacophony of battle, a stunned silence emerged. Orders were shouted. Weapons clicked into position. Something had changed. I forced myself to glance up from Emerson’s chest, my pulse hammering.Alistair stood frozen, his face contorted in pain. Blood dripped from his hand—the very hand that had been pointing a gun at me just seconds before. His grip slackened, and the weapon tumbled to the ground.A sniper.Alistair’s men immediately scattered, taking defensive positions, frantically searching the area. But before they could react, several of them suddenly dropped to the ground.They were convulsing violently, frothing at the mouth. One by one, the
Isabel’s POVMy wrists ached from the tight ropes binding my hands behind my back as I was shoved forward. The rough ground beneath my boots felt unsteady, my knees weak with exhaustion. The air smelled of blood, gunpowder, and sweat. The night was still alive with distant gunfire, but here, in the heart of the enemy’s grasp, there was only the sound of my ragged breathing and Alistair’s mocking laughter.“Stop resisting, Emerson,” he drawled, his voice filled with smug amusement. “You’re in over your head. Oh—look who finally decided to join us.”Emerson was holding back several opponents, bruised and bloodied from the fight. His head snapped up at Alistair’s words.He turned, and when his eyes landed on me, something in his face shifted. Shock, then rage, then a devastating kind of fear. He lunged forward, but a guard was faster. A rifle butt slammed into Emerson’s ribs. The sickening crack echoed in the night, and he crumpled to the ground, gasping for air."Emerson!" I screamed,
Isabel’s POVAt first, Emerson and I managed to escape the building, slipping into the shadows like ghosts. The night was thick around us, swallowing our hurried footsteps as we navigated through the wreckage of Alistair’s camp. The distant gunfire and shouts of battle echoed behind us. But just as we reached the edge of the compound, the world seemed to shift.From the darkness, figures emerged—silent and predatory, their weapons gleaming under the pale moonlight. They moved like shadows given form, their presence an unspoken promise of violence. My breath caught in my throat as a dozen, no, more than two dozen enemies surrounded us, blocking every escape route. The sheer hatred in their eyes sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. These weren’t just guards; they were fanatics, men who thrived in the chaos of bloodshed and terror.Emerson moved instinctively, stepping in front of me, gun raised. “Stay close,” he murmured, barely audible over the wind. I nodded, steadying my grip
Sebastian/Elias’ POVScarlet’s scream echoed through the dimly lit room, raw with disbelief and fury. “You’re lying!” she spat, her eyes blazing with denial. The restraints binding her wrists rattled as she struggled, but I didn’t move to stop her. There was no point—her fight wasn’t with me. It was with the truth.I let out a slow breath, pulling a small, timeworn pocket watch from my coat. The silver casing had dulled over the years, but the engraved initials remained clear. I clicked it open and held it out to her, revealing a faded family photograph inside.“My father gave this to me before he died,” I said evenly, my voice softer than before. “He cared about you, Scarlet. No matter what you believe, you were never forgotten.”Her breath hitched. For a moment, the fire in her eyes flickered, replaced by something rawer—uncertainty. “How could it be?” she murmured, barely more than a whisper.All the pieces had finally clicked into place as Scarlet unraveled her story. The tangled
Scarlet’s POVTelling my story, I was flung back into the past. Lost in the grip of memories that had never truly left me. The present moment faded, and I found myself reliving those painful years. As vivid and raw as the day they had happened.I had been young, hopeful, foolish. Despite the years of neglect, I had still wanted my parents' love. But when I overheard them denying my very existence, something inside me snapped.Disheartened, I had returned to the countryside, burying myself in my studies. Medicine became my refuge, my salvation. I dedicated myself to understanding the human body—not just how to heal it, but how to manipulate it, how to break it. My hands, once weak and trembling from years of frustration, became steady, precise instruments of control.The first time I killed a lab mouse, something dark and exhilarating bloomed inside me. Power. The ability to decide whether something lived or died. The ability to take control of what had always been out of my grasp.
Elias’ POVI watched from the shadows as Isabel and Emerson disappeared into the night, their figures swallowed by the chaos of battle outside. I clenched my fists and tried to push down the sharp, aching weight that settled in my gut.Maybe it had been foolish to think I ever stood a chance with Isabel. Emerson had always been the one she turned to in the end. The one she trusted in the heat of battle. The one she looked at with that fierce determination in her eyes. And me? I was just a shadow lingering on the edges of her world, never quite stepping into the light.A slow clap echoed through the dimly lit room."Are you just going to let them go?" Scarlet’s voice slithered through the shadows like a snake.I turned away from the exit, my expression unreadable as I faced the woman bound to the chair before me. Her wrists were tied behind her back, her face partially obscured by strands of disheveled hair. Even restrained, she exuded a sickening confidence, her smirk unwavering.I m
Isabel’s POVI had to stop Margot.There was no time to think, no time to call for backup—just raw instinct and the desperate need to prevent her from making a terrible mistake. My boots pounded against the forest floor as I sprinted after her, weaving through the pine trees in pursuit. I knew why she was doing this. I understood the desperate, reckless pull of wanting to save someone you love. But charging straight into enemy territory? Alone? It was suicide.“No!” I hissed under my breath, pushing my legs harder.Margot moved swiftly, her figure barely a shadow in the dim light. She reached the edge of the enemy’s perimeter and, without hesitation, hoisted herself up onto a low window ledge. She pulled her body through with practiced agility. She was inside before I could even call her name.Damn it.I skidded to a halt near the building, pressing myself against the rough exterior. The compound was crawling with patrols. My heart pounded as I scanned the area, calculating the be