Isabel’s POVEmerson’s words had hit me like ice water. My chest tightened as I imagined Sebastian and Margot, trapped in some cold, faceless compound under General Woods’ watch. From their stories, I knew Victor Woods was ruthless—an iron fist disguised by military decorum. And Sebastian? He’d told me bits and pieces about the things he’d done, the kinds of dangers he faced. But this… this was beyond anything I’d pictured.I turned to Emerson, my voice trembling. “What exactly did General Woods find? Do you… do you know what he’s planning for them?”Emerson’s face was like stone, unreadable. “I haven’t heard of any casualties among his officers,” he said slowly, as if choosing each word with caution.“But Woods won’t let an incident like this slide. And Margot… I haven’t heard about her. Her identity was always hidden. For her, it could be even worse if she’s exposed.”I could barely breathe. Margot had been Sebastian’s lifeline, his only family since they were children. She was bra
Isabel’s POVAfter Emerson had finally told me the truth, things returned back to the way they were. Days blurred together as I adjusted to this strange, captive existence. Life seemed to fall back into routine. But it was a routine defined by restriction. I was confined within Emerson’s sprawling estate. Surrounded by luxury and splendor, yet feeling as though I was encased in glass. I could see out into the world. But every time I moved, the invisible walls closed in.Trapped in his grand house with nowhere to go, it was hard to feel anything but restless. Emerson and I might have come to an agreement, but the tension lingered. A quiet weight that pressed on me each morning as I woke. Meanwhile, Sebastian’s absence loomed over everything. Sebastian’s silence, the fate of his sister Margot, and my uncertain future. These thoughts haunted me, trailing through my mind like ghosts I couldn’t shake.The contact device Sebastian had given me—my last connection to him—remained silent, de
Isabel’s POV“What did you say? Tumor?!”The voice, rough and loud, jarred me from unconsciousness like a splash of cold water. My head throbbed, a deep ache nestled at the base of my skull, and the rest of my body felt too heavy, as if I’d been weighed down. Blinking against the harsh light, I struggled to sit up. My vision gradually sharpened, and I saw a young man standing by my bedside, facing a doctor with an intensity that seemed both familiar and foreign.“Miss Isabel needs rest,” the doctor murmured with a steady calm, though he cast an uncertain glance between us. “Let’s discuss her condition outside—”“I’ll decide when she can rest,” the man snapped, his tone biting.Who was he? And why was he here?I cleared my throat, though my voice came out hoarse and faint. “Excuse me,” I managed, interrupting the tense exchange. The young man immediately turned. As he looked at me, his expression softened, melting from irritation into something warmer, something… protective.“Isabel,
Isabel’s POVI turned my head slightly, studying Caleb under the stark fluorescent lights of the hospital room. His features had matured since the last time I’d seen him—his once boyish face now sculpted with sharper lines and a stronger jaw. His brown eyes, though warm, held an intensity I hadn’t seen before. He was attractive, I supposed. But not in a way that stirred anything deeper in me. There was no spark, no pull. Yet, there was something else in his eyes—an air of devotion that felt almost... misplaced.His attention to me was unwavering, his every gesture laced with concern. The way he hovered near my bed, the protective edge in his voice when he questioned the doctor—it was as though he had a personal stake in my well-being. Why was he acting like this? I couldn’t help but wonder.“Caleb,” I said softly, breaking the silence. He turned to me immediately, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of discomfort.“Are you feeling okay? Do you need water? Anything?” His tone was
Isabel’s POVAs the minutes ticked by in the hospital room, the tension between Caleb and me ebbed into something softer. As we chatted, the atmosphere became more companionable.He sat at the foot of my bed, his posture relaxed. But his gaze was keen, as if he were cataloging every detail of my face.“So,” he began, breaking the silence, “life abroad wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure, I learned a lot—business strategies, management, marketing—but the culture there was different. Cold, in a way. You don’t realize how much you miss home until you’re halfway across the world.”I smiled faintly. “And yet, you stayed in Sweden for all these years.”“Well, I had to make it worth it, didn’t I? Prove to myself—and to others—that I could build something meaningful.” He paused, his expression softening. “But I always thought of you, Isabel. I used to wonder how you were doing, what you were up to…”His words hung in the air. I glanced away, suddenly uncomfortable under the weight of his g
Isabel’s POVI stared at Caleb, my mind still struggling to process what he had just said. A surprise for his lover? Emerson had said nothing about this, not even hinted at it. The idea clawed at me, a cruel whisper of betrayal I didn’t want to entertain.Recently, his long hours and late nights had seemed justified—he was supposed to be focused on finding Sebastian and Margot. He had painted himself as a man weighed down by duty, by the chaos of the military’s reshuffling. But now? Doubt slithered into my thoughts like a cold wind, chilling my resolve. What if he wasn’t just busy with military upheavals? What if he was lying?I bit my lip, trying to dismiss the growing unease. I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to believe that Emerson, for all his faults, could betray me in this way. But hadn’t I learned the hard way not to trust him blindly? My heart and mind were locked in a bitter tug-of-war.Caleb leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His expression softened a
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s hand clamped firmly over Caleb’s mouth. Caleb’s muffled protests only made the moment more absurd. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “Really, Emerson? This is your grand strategy? Silencing him like a five-year-old?”Emerson shot me a look, his expression a mix of irritation and weary amusement. “You’d be surprised how much trouble this one can cause when left unchecked,” he muttered.Caleb, never one to miss an opportunity, wriggled free with an exaggerated gasp. “Admit it, you missed me,” he said, his grin wide and cheeky.“Missed you?” Emerson arched an eyebrow. “I’m considering sending you back abroad.”Caleb clutched his chest dramatically. “Ouch. Such gratitude for saving Isabel’s life. You’re lucky I have a forgiving nature.”At the mention of the accident, Emerson’s expression softened. His irritation ebbed, replaced by something quieter, almost regretful. His gaze shifted to me, lingering with a kind of intensity that made my chest tighten.“Are
Isabel’s POVCaleb strolled into the room as if he owned the place. A wide grin was plastered across his face. “Are you two done whispering sweet nothings yet? Or should I come back later with popcorn?”Emerson groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Caleb, do you have a radar for bad timing, or is it just a natural talent?”“I like to think of it as a gift,” Caleb quipped, leaning casually against the doorframe.I stifled a laugh despite the tension, my lips twitching into a small smile. Caleb always had a way of breaking even the heaviest silences with his antics.“Come inside,” Emerson said with an exasperated sigh. “If you’re going to interrupt, you might as well eat with us.”The three of us made our way to the dining room, where a simple but elegant dinner awaited. Caleb, ever the opportunist, immediately dug in. He complimented the meal with exaggerated enthusiasm.“This roast? Perfection. I’ve been abroad for so long, I forgot what a proper home-cooked meal tastes like. Kudo
Isabel’s POV“You’ve got some nerve,” Emerson growled, his tone a mixture of fury and disbelief. His movements were sudden, like a predator closing in on its prey. In a flash, he lunged at Sebastian, grabbing him by the collar with a violence that made everyone in the room flinch. “How the hell did you get in here? This place is highly secured.”“Emerson!” I shouted, but my voice was drowned out by the tension crackling between them.Sebastian, in stark contrast to Emerson’s fury, remained eerily calm. He met Emerson’s rage with cold, disdainful eyes, as though the physical attack barely registered. With an almost casual motion, he broke Emerson’s grip. He brushed his collar as if erasing the evidence of the encounter. “Do you think your men can stop me?” he said, his voice as smooth and cutting as glass.He stepped back and gestured toward the hallway behind us. “Why don’t you look for yourself?”The change in Emerson’s expression was immediate. His usual confidence faltered as his
Isabel’s POVEmerson paced like a caged lion, his movements restless and agitated. The tension in the room thickened with each heavy footfall. “I don’t know who the buyer was,” he finally admitted, his voice low but sharp with frustration. He dragged a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched as if trying to hold himself together.“How is that even possible?” Robert asked, his tone laced with disbelief.“I didn’t oversee the transaction myself,” Emerson muttered, the words coming out like a reluctant confession. His shoulders sagged for a brief moment before his frustration reignited, his fists tightening at his sides. “I left it to my subordinates.”The room erupted into chaos.“You left it to your subordinates?” Caleb’s voice was incredulous, his expression one of disbelief and anger. “How could you be so careless with something so important?”Robert jumped in, his voice sharp. “You were so blinded by your hatred for Mr. White that you didn’t even care where his assets ended up? What
Isabel’s POVThe room was thick with tension, the kind that makes every breath feel heavier. All eyes were on Caleb as he clutched his phone tightly. His face shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions—hope, worry, disappointment. Finally, he hung up.“What did she say?” Emerson’s voice was sharp, impatience lacing every word. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as if willing Caleb to spit out the answer.Caleb exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “A key ingredient,” he said flatly. “There’s a shortage.”Emerson frowned, his tone incredulous. “A shortage? There’s nothing in this world I can’t get if I set my mind to it.”But Caleb shook his head. “This isn’t about money or power, Emerson. The ingredient… it’s unique. And only one person knows how to find it.” He hesitated, his gaze flickering toward me. “It’s Isabel’s father.”The words hit me like a physical blow. My father? My stomach twisted as a hundred questions surged to the surface, but none of them found my lips. I was
Isabel’s POVCaleb's blush deepened, creeping up his neck and painting his ears crimson. He tried to wave off my question, his tone flippant. "What are you saying, sister? You know I’ve just said goodbye to my first love." He threw a pointed glance at Emerson as if that would somehow deflect attention from him. Emerson and I exchanged a knowing look. We both understood who Caleb meant… Me. The air in the room tightened, though only for a moment. Caleb’s confession for me was something neither of us had spoken of aloud since it had happened, and time had dulled the sting of it. Still, the weight of his words hung faintly between us, like a fading echo.Robert stood nearby, watching us with a detached curiosity. He was perceptive but hadn’t pieced together Caleb’s past feelings. Not that it mattered now. Caleb’s demeanor told me what he felt for Margot was different. There was a rawness to it. A vulnerability to him that hadn’t been there before. This wasn’t the same childlike infatu
Isabel’s POVCaleb’s exaggerated impression of Margot lingered in my mind, leaving me in a whirl of mixed emotions. Margot knew everything—far more than I had ever given her credit for. It wasn’t just coincidence driving her actions. No, she had known me long before she ever crossed paths with Caleb. And in her quiet, unassuming way, she had been protecting me all along. Weaving a web of support I hadn’t even realized I needed.The weight of that realization settled over me. A mix of gratitude and unease stirred within. Gratitude for her vigilance, for her silent strength. Unease because of how little I truly understood her motives—or the lengths she had gone to in order to shield me.Her brother, Sebastian—or Elias, as I had come to know him—must have kept her informed. Dr. Vargas, ever the enigmatic figure, must have shared updates about my condition. And Margot wasn’t just passively receiving information. She was actively piecing it all together, connecting dots I didn’t even kno
Isabel’s POV"You're right, Robert," Caleb said, his tone firm as he nodded in agreement with Robert’s stance. He turned to Emerson, his expression softening just a fraction. "Come on, cousin," he urged, his voice attempting to carry some calm into the increasingly tense atmosphere, "put your personal vendettas aside, just this once. Nothing is more important than saving Isabel's life."Emerson’s jaw clenched as if he were about to snap back with some retort, his temper flaring under the weight of his frustration. But then, after a brief moment, something seemed to shift in his expression. He took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He finally nodded in reluctant agreement."You're right," he muttered, his voice low but steady, "Thanks for sharing the information with us, Caleb."I could feel the tension in the room ease, just a little. Caleb let out a quiet sigh, as though some weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He turned to me, his gaze more vulnerable than I ha
Isabel’s POVThe room fell into a tense silence as Caleb burst in. His sudden entry and hurried announcement sent a ripple of unease through us all.Caleb’s face was flushed with urgency. His chest was rising and falling as if he had sprinted all the way here.I hadn’t seen him since the kidnapping incident. Aside from the occasional call to check on my condition, he’d been conspicuously absent. It was so unlike him—I couldn’t help but wonder where he had been all this time.Emerson, who had been pacing by the window with clenched fists, turned sharply. His eyes narrowed at the sudden interruption. Robert straightened in his chair, his usual calm giving way to visible curiosity and suspicion. As for me, I felt my heart skip a beat. I was torn between hope and disbelief.“So, Caleb? What’s the good news?” Emerson’s voice was sharp. His frustration at being left waiting was evident.Caleb froze, as though realizing only then that the room was crowded. His eyes darted between me, Emerson
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the air was suffocating. Every day since Emerson discovered Lilith’s body had vanished, we lived in a state of constant vigilance. His paranoia bled into every corner of our lives, infecting even the briefest moments of calm.I sat near the window, watching the late afternoon sun filter through the blinds, its light fractured and fragmented—much like my thoughts. Across the room, Emerson was pacing furiously, his phone pressed to his ear. His voice, sharp and demanding, echoed off the walls.“Find out who took her,” he growled. “I don’t care how long it takes or what resources you need—just get me answers.”He paused to listen, his jaw tightening.“No clues? That’s not an excuse. If you fail, you know the consequences.” His tone dropped, cold and deadly.I winced, my stomach twisting at his words. When he finally ended the call and threw his phone onto the nearby table, the silence that followed felt heavier than his anger."You shouldn't take it out on yo
Lilith’s POVAt first, there was only darkness. A deep, endless abyss of darkness.Was I… dead? The thought clawed at my mind. No. There was too much pain. Dead people didn’t feel pain.Then, I noticed voices floating around me. They sounded faint and garbled, like a distant conversation submerged underwater."Vitals are stable for now.""Prep the next injection.""Is she conscious? Increase the dosage if necessary."My entire body screamed in protest, every nerve ablaze. I could feel tubes piercing my skin. They constricted my movement, tethering me to something sinister.Blinking against the blinding light above me, I squinted to take in my surroundings. The air was damp and carried a faint metallic tang that reminded me of blood. The walls were dark, almost black, and slick with condensation. As if the place itself was alive, breathing. Machines beeped methodically around me, and shadows moved beyond the sterile glow of overhead lights.A group of people dressed like doctors hovere