Isabel’s POVWe sat in silence in Emerson's vast office, perched at the top of the gleaming building. Its floor-to-ceiling windows opened up to the sprawling skyline of Rivermont. I could feel the quiet power of this space, with the leather-bound books, sleek decor, and polished surfaces. All of it whispered of authority and control. And there I was, seated in his imposing office chair. Today, it felt like I had finally gained a measure of that control myself. Or so I thought.But now, Emerson was seated across from me, seemingly lost in thought. He still hadn’t given me any answers. I tapped my fingers on the glass-topped desk, watching the clock as the seconds ticked by.Emerson’s eyes were distant. As if he was wrestling with something he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—share.After what felt like an eternity, I could no longer tolerate the silence. Every second he refused to answer me, I felt my patience wear thin. I sighed. He finally glanced at me, as if he just remembered I was still the
Isabel’s POVEmerson glared at her, clearly frustrated at the sudden interruption. The woman was flustered. Her gaze darted between Emerson and me. An awkward tension hung in the air. “Who gave you permission to enter my office like this? Without even having the decency to knock?” he asked, his voice low and threatening.Her cheeks turned bright red and her apologies came in a rush. "I’m so sorry to interrupt, Mr. Williams. I… it’s just—this is urgent.”Emerson’s mouth pressed into a thin line. He took a long, steadying breath before nodding curtly. “Alright. Go on.”“It's about the photographer, Claire,” the woman said, her voice tense. “She had an accident in the restroom—slipped and fell. The doctors are worried… she’s at risk of miscarrying. She’s being taken to the hospital now.”The news hit like a cold slap, the kind that ripples outward in icy waves. Memories of my own fall and miscarriage flooded me. I felt a pang of compassion for the woman and hoped she would meet a kinder
Isabel’s POVEmerson looked at me with a strange mix of disbelief and excitement. His mouth quirked up in a half-smile, as though he couldn’t fully contain his surprise. “Are you serious, Isabel?” he said, his voice both soft and eager, like he was afraid I might take it back. “We have… a chance?”I gave him a cool look, wary of showing too much emotion. “Only if things are different this time.”Emerson nodded quickly, his face lighting up. “Whatever you want. Tell me what it’ll take, and I’ll make it happen.”I let the silence linger for a moment, letting him think over his own promise. Then I said, “I want to work, Emerson. I need something real. My own freedom.” I didn’t tell him the full truth—that with the freedom to work, I’d be able to implement my plans more easily. That was for me alone to know.He seemed to consider this for a second, tilting his head in that familiar, calculating way. “Fine. But you’ll work here. In my company.” His gaze sharpened, studying my reaction. “T
Isabel’s POV“Excuse me, ma’am,” Emerson’s voice came from behind me, smooth but laced with a certain edge. “Isabel is part of my team,” he continued, adding just the faintest touch of authority. His gaze flicked to me, a possessive glint in his eye. “But I appreciate the interest.”The magazine editor glanced between us, her brow arching as if she could sense the simmering tension beneath the polished surfaces. She shifted her attention to me with a knowing smile. “Alright,” she said coolly, but as she turned, she slipped a card into my hand, her voice just above a whisper. “Call me if anything changes.”Emerson’s jaw tightened. The card in my palm suddenly felt like a rebellion, a small act of defiance I wasn’t sure I’d have followed through on, but it made his reaction all the more interesting.After the shoot, he insisted on driving me back to the estate himself. The car was quiet as we pulled onto the long driveway, the hum of the engine almost soothing—if it weren’t for the cons
Isabel’s POVHe hesitated, swallowing as if debating whether to go on, and finally took a deep breath.“Goodnight,” he said softly, letting his hand fall back to his side. And with that, he stepped back, allowing me to pass, but not without one last look that left me breathless.As I walked away, my mind raced, uncertainty and frustration weaving through me. I had a plan, I reminded myself. And nothing—no lingering glances, no fleeting touches—was going to pull me off course.I tried to shake it off as I moved through the hall, heading for the elevator. But as soon as I rounded the corner, I nearly collided with a colleague who’d been hurrying past.“Oh!” she exclaimed, pulling back. Then she offered a strange, knowing smile. “Late-night chat with the boss?”I managed a polite smile, though I could feel heat rise to my cheeks. She held my gaze a beat too long, as if searching for something I wasn’t offering. My cheeks flushed further, but I said nothing. After a pointed look, she walk
Isabel’s POVIn the break room, I glanced around at the gathered group, mostly women. They were all watching the confrontation unfold with expressions ranging from amusement to curiosity. I took a slow breath, setting my coffee down on the counter with a deliberate calm. The tension was palpable.“Let me clear something up for you,” I said, my voice even, though my heart beat like a drum. “I was offered this role because of my skills as a photographer. If you have any doubts, feel free to watch me work today. You’ll find I’m more than capable of handling the job.” I met their eyes one by one, daring them to say otherwise.The two ringleaders exchanged a glance. The taller of the two opened her mouth to retort. But before she could get a word out, a voice came from the back of the room.“Honestly, cut it out.” A woman stepped forward, crossing her arms. She was petite, with a sleek hazel ponytail and a no-nonsense expression. “Maybe you’ve all forgotten what professionalism looks like
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s gaze swept the room, taking in the tense atmosphere. His brow furrowed as he assessed the situation. His eyes found mine. They softened for a brief moment before his composed mask fell back into place.Beside me, Sarah cleared her throat, arms crossed tightly. Her irritation was practically radiating from her.“Emerson, I’ll be frank,” she said, a tightness to her voice. “The final edits Isabel submitted didn’t meet our standards. The lighting was off, there were typos—frankly, it was amateur work.” Her expression softened as she looked at Emerson, but it was clear she held no such mercy for me. “This isn’t what I expect from my team.”I opened my mouth to respond, to explain that I hadn’t completed the final edits. But Emerson interrupted with a calm nod.“I’ll handle it, Sarah,” he said with quiet authority. “Let’s meet with the client later and discuss compensations. For now, I’d like a word with Isabel.”He motioned for me to follow him out of the studio. Th
Isabel’s POVAs I watched Emerson’s figure fade down the hallway, I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh. It seemed that no matter what we did, we couldn’t escape the tangled web that lay between us. Everything felt too close, too intense. Despite the professional environment, our history together was impossible to ignore. For a brief moment, I wondered if it was always going to be this way—complicated, layered with memories that resurfaced, and heavy with the tension we refused to address.I shook my head and had a quick lunch, then returned to the studio. Sarah was standing by the editing screens, her brows knit in irritation as she reviewed the final edits that Eve had made. Even though she had been fired for her betrayal, Eve had left us with a mess that we couldn’t ignore—her disastrous work had offended one of our biggest clients.Sarah’s face was lined with frustration, and I could see the weight of the situation bearing down on her.“I can fix it if you need,” I offered gen
Isabel’s POV“Well, well. Long time no see, beauty.” A gravelly voice carried a dark satisfaction, the kind that sent a shiver down my spine. “Do you remember me?”A hulking figure loomed over me. His one good eye was gleaming with malice. The other was covered by a black eyepatch. His scarred face twisted into a cruel smile, revealing gold-plated teeth as he leaned closer.I didn’t want to, but the memories hit me like a freight train. The eyepatch was new, but I’d recognize that face anywhere—the auction boss.My stomach churned. No, not him. Not this nightmare again.“You,” I whispered, my voice trembling. My throat felt parched, the words barely audible.“Ah, so you do remember me,” he sneered, straightening to his full height. “You and that bastard Emerson. You cost me everything—my business, my empire, my eye!” He pointed at his eyepatch with a flourish. “Do you know what it’s like to lose everything? To live in the shadows like a rat because of you two?”The anger in his voice
Emerson’s POV"How the hell did this happen?!" My voice echoed through the cold, sterile halls of the hospital. "You assured me this hospital had the most high-end security in the country! Was that all a goddamn lie?!"I had never felt so panicked and furious as when I found Isabel’s room empty. How could someone have gotten to her, here, in this heavily guarded military hospital?The head of security flinched under my glare, stammering something about protocols and procedures. I barely heard him. My entire focus was on the CCTV footage playing out in front of me. Mateo, standing beside me in the small, dimly lit surveillance room, was furiously scanning the feed. His face was pale but focused."Stop. Zoom in here," Mateo ordered sharply, pointing at the screen.The grainy footage showed a nurse moving briskly down the corridor with a gurney. Something was off. Mateo muttered, “She’s not staff.”"What do you mean she’s not staff?" I barked.He leaned closer, squinting. “Look at the un
Isabel’s POVThe wheels beneath me squeaked to a stop, jerking the gurney and making my already fragile body shift uncomfortably. I heard voices—a hospital staff member, brisk and questioning. My heart leapt as I recognized Emerson’s distinct tone, clipped and commanding. Relief coursed through me. He had to see through this charade.The nurse stiffened beside me, her movements growing tense. I could feel the moment of hesitation, the pause as she formulated a response. Then, in a calm and professional voice, she spoke.“I’m transferring a patient to radiology,” she said, her tone steady and clipped. “It’s urgent. The doctor requested immediate imaging prep before surgery.”A long silence followed, broken only by the shuffling of papers. “We didn’t receive an order for radiology transport,” someone said skeptically.The nurse didn’t miss a beat. “It’s a last-minute call from Dr. Leighton himself. If you have concerns, take it up with him—but I suggest you don’t delay the schedule.”H
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.
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
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
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.
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
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