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Chapter 149 - A Subtle Game
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2024-10-27 13:19:46Related chapters
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 150 - Secret Appointments
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
Last Updated : 2024-10-28His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 151 - Shadows in the Night
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
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 152 - Rewards & Promises
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
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 153 - The Plot Thickens
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
Last Updated : 2024-10-30His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 154 - Demanding Answers
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
Last Updated : 2024-10-31His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 155 - Planning a Confrontation
Isabel’s POVAs the bodyguards drove me home, my mind raced with ideas. Each one more outrageous than the last. How could I get into Emerson’s office? Should I bring him lunch and pretend to be a delivery courier? No, that wouldn’t work; I’d get caught before I even got to his office. My thoughts flickered back to a conversation I’d overheard him having on the phone. His current secretary had been fired, which meant they were taking applications. Yes, that could work!Once I was home, I hurried to rummage through my closet filled with luxurious clothes. Many of the gowns reminded me of parties and galas Emerson had taken me to. This closet was like my old life staring back at me.I searched for something that looked professional and secretary-like. I had to make my fake application look as real as possible.I finally settled on a crisp white blouse paired with a gray pencil skirt. I straightened my golden bob and fastened it half-up with a clasp, giving myself a quick once-over in th
Last Updated : 2024-11-01His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 156 - An Office Visit
Isabel’s POV“Mr. Williams!” The receptionist’s voice trembled as she greeted Emerson. Her face had drained of color. “I—I thought I shouldn’t let any women through without an appointment.” She forced a nervous smile, as if hoping he would understand, perhaps even commend her caution.Emerson didn’t even look at her. His gaze was hard, unyielding. “She’s not just any woman,” he said coldly. “You’re fired.”A shocked gasp escaped her lips. I turned to him in surprise. Not just any woman? The words echoed in my mind, stirring something I didn’t want to name. More and more, Emerson’s recent actions hinted that he might actually have feelings for me. But how could that be possible?“Please, Mr. Williams,” the receptionist stammered, rushing to follow him. “I didn’t mean to offend—really, I was only trying to protect—”Michael stepped in, blocking her from coming any closer. “I’d suggest you leave with your dignity intact,” he murmured. His voice was calm but resolute. She hesitated, cas
Last Updated : 2024-11-01His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 157 - Playing with Fire
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s amused expression flickered. There was a crack in his usual control that intrigued me. He leaned back against his desk, folding his arms across his chest in a casual stance. Though his eyes betrayed something else—a touch of unease, or maybe hesitation.“What do you mean?” he asked, feigning ignorance. But I knew better.“You know exactly what I mean.” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t regret it. His half-hearted evasions, the careful mix of attentiveness and indifference—it was all wearing thin."One moment, you’re cold and distant, practically pushing me out of your life. The next, you’re telling me I can come and go as I please. You send Lilith away, ask me for… a kiss, and then act as though it never happened. Why, Emerson? Why are you doing all this?”For a long, heavy moment, Emerson didn’t respond. He held my gaze. The amusement was gone from his face. Replaced by something harder to read. His silence drew out. The seconds stretched
Last Updated : 2024-11-01
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His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 277 - Veil of Helplessness
Isabel’s POVI froze. The nurse’s cold and detached voice echoed in my mind like a warning bell. My gut twisted with an inexplicable dread. Something was very, very wrong. I tried to get a good look at her face, but her cap and mask obscured her features. Her head was bowed so low I couldn’t even see her eyes.Who was she? Why was she acting so strangely?Fear clawed its way into my chest as I felt my body weakening. My hands trembled, then went limp. A numb heaviness crept through me, making my head swim. My words came out slurred and frantic. “What… did you give me?” My voice barely carried, thin and fragile like paper in the wind.The nurse didn’t answer. Instead, she moved with brisk, calculated efficiency. Her gloved hands gripped me under the arms. Her strength was surprising, almost mechanical. I couldn’t fight back—I could hardly lift a finger. She hoisted me onto a gurney and pulled a white sheet taut over my body. The weight of the fabric against my face felt suffocating.
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 276 - The Weight of Tomorrow
Isabel’s POVI felt an unsettling unease gnawing at me as the minutes ticked by. Half an hour had passed since Robert had left, and yet Emerson had not returned. That wasn’t like him at all. Emerson rarely left me alone for this long. His overbearing presence was usually a constant shadow. Something was off. My nerves prickled with unease, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.Finally, I decided to step out of the ward and check. Just as I reached the door, it swung open, and Emerson appeared on the threshold. “Oh!” His sudden entrance startled me, and I instinctively stepped back.“Where have you been?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even, though suspicion flickered in my mind.“I got held up on a company call,” he said. His tone was casual, but his expression was anything but. There was a rigidity to his stance, a flicker of something uneasy in his eyes.He’s lying, I thought immediately. But what could it be about? My heart leapt with a mix of curiosity and anxiety. Still, I knew be
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 275 - Between Love and Lies
Robert’s POVAs I stepped out of Isabel’s ward, I couldn’t quiet the storm of worry inside me. The looming surgery hung like a dark cloud over my thoughts. She was so calm about it, but I couldn’t share her composure.Dr. Leighton had assured me that everything was as prepared as it could be. But the risks were undeniable. Isabel’s condition was fragile. The thought of losing her made my chest tighten. I didn’t want to imagine a world without her. I glanced back toward her door, as though I could will away the danger just by lingering nearby. Despite everything, the fire in her sapphire blue eyes hadn’t dimmed. That fire had drawn me to her all those years ago. And it still burned brightly now, even in her weakest moments.Isabel was a force of nature, enduring so much pain and heartbreak while somehow holding herself together. How could I not still love her? But that love wasn’t simple anymore. Emerson had built walls around her. Walls that were almost impenetrable. Almost.A memor
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 274 - Change of Plans
Isabel’s POVRobert leaned against the wall, arms crossed. His face was a mixture of determination and fatigue. “Dr. Leighton has made all the necessary preparations for your surgery,” he began, his voice steady. “You don’t need to worry about that part.”The words should have been comforting, but a question lingered in my mind. “Was this all instructed by Sebastian?” I asked cautiously, my heart quickening.He nodded. “Yes. Sebastian contacted me weeks ago, in secret. He’s the one who helped me build a connection with Mateo. Without him, none of this would’ve been possible.”I stared at him, the enormity of the situation sinking in. Elias—though for his own safety, I had to call him by his alias—had been working behind the scenes to protect me, even while I’d been cut off from the world. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? Why didn’t you try to contact me?” I asked, confusion building in my chest.“I couldn’t risk it,” Robert explained. “Not with Emerson watching your every move.
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 273 - The Price of Mistakes
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s reaction was immediate and explosive. His hand shot out, seizing Robert by the collar with a force that made me flinch. “Are you kidding me?” he roared, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “More than once? You know what craniotomy entails better than anyone!” His eyes burned with fury. But beneath that, I saw something deeper—raw panic, the kind that comes when control slips through your fingers.I pressed my back against the headboard, anxiety rising in my chest. “Emerson, let go of him!” I shouted, but my voice cracked. He was hesitating, though. His grip tightened and loosened as if his emotions were at war.Robert, surprisingly composed, twisted Emerson’s wrist away with a sharp motion. His calmness wasn’t indifference—it was laced with disdain. “Yes, I do know. But that doesn’t change the reality of her situation,” Robert said, his voice sharp as glass. His eyes narrowed. “And if you want to talk about responsibility, let’s discuss how she
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 272 - Fragile Truces
Isabel’s POVMy heart sank as I stared into Emerson’s intense gaze. The weight of his words still lingered. I couldn’t afford to risk my friends—not Elias, not Robert, not anyone who had worked so tirelessly to help me. Yet, I also knew the precarious nature of my situation. One wrong move, one slip of truth, and Emerson would tighten his grip in the name of love. He would trap me at his side like a bird in a gilded cage.The thought made my stomach churn. It wasn’t love—it was control, suffocating and inescapable. If he discovered the true extent of my illness, my chances of escaping with Liam would vanish.For Liam, I needed to be free.“Emerson, I—” I began, my voice faltering as doubt crept in. Was I really prepared to keep fighting this battle, knowing how high the stakes were?Before I could say another word, a familiar voice cut through the tension like a blade.“Isa, long time no see!”I whipped my head toward the door, startled. There he was—Robert—leaning casually against th
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 271 - Bottom Line
Isabel’s POVI sat propped up in bed, trying to read Emerson’s expression. He had always been sharp, but I hadn’t expected him to piece things together this quickly. Despite all Robert’s and my attempts to keep the details of the surgery planning under wraps, Emerson had unraveled the threads effortlessly.I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was relentless when it came to matters he cared about. And right now, that matter was me.Still, I didn’t react dramatically. This was Emerson, after all. It was natural for someone as intelligent and observant as him to sense when things didn’t add up. And despite his anger, I knew he wouldn’t jeopardize the efforts of the people working tirelessly to save my life. Whatever his feelings about Robert or Elias—or even Mateo—he wouldn’t risk doing anything that might hurt me. That, I was sure of.Emerson stood stiffly at the foot of my bed, his gaze boring into me. He was waiting for an explanation, but I wasn’t about to offer one on a silver platt
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 270 - The Unavoidable Decision
Isabel’s POVMy heart thudded painfully in my chest as Mateo’s words hung in the air. The air in the room was so thick with tension it was hard to breathe. Emerson stood stiffly beside my bed, his face a storm of anger and fear. His voice thundered, breaking the fragile silence.“What?! How could this happen? Didn’t you say the tumor was benign? Or have you been lying all along?!”Dr. Mateo Vargas’s calm demeanor cracked under the strain of Emerson’s fury. “I understand how shocking this is, Sir. However, this is not the time or place for accusations.” He gestured toward me, indicating the fragile state I was in.“I did say it was benign,” Mateo countered, his voice rising. “But I also warned that surgery might become necessary if her condition worsened.”Emerson’s fists clenched, and I feared he might explode. His worry wasn’t misplaced, but it wasn’t helping either. I reached out to him weakly, my fingers brushing against the fabric of his sleeve. “Emerson,” I whispered, my voice b
His Betrayal, His Regret Chapter 269 - Worst Case Scenario
Isabel’s POVI could feel there was an unspoken chemistry building between Caleb and Margot. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but I could tell that Caleb was starting to focus his attention elsewhere. Maybe it was just my imagination. But I hoped it would take the edge off his lingering feelings for me.It wasn't that I disliked Caleb—he had been a constant presence in my life for so long. Always reliable, always there. But his feelings for me… I was certain they were just an illusion. At least, that’s what I told myself. He was clinging to memories from the past, to a version of me that no longer existed. I believed he would eventually realize what real love looked like, and it certainly wasn’t bound by the past. I didn’t point it out to him; he had to figure it out on his own. Love wasn’t something that could be forced.As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, Emerson returned with food, breaking through the quiet. He didn’t ask what Caleb and I had been talking about, thank
