Isabel’s POVI reached for the door handle, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of Emerson’s words. But it wouldn’t budge. The door was locked.I turned to him, my voice sharp with irritation. “Emerson, unlock the door. Now.”He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he kept his hands on the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his eyes fixed on the empty road ahead. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper.“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t give you away to anyone,” he said, each word heavy with a sadness I didn’t fully understand. “But things are getting harder to control. If something happens to me… if I don’t make it…” He paused, his jaw tightening. “You can consider him.”For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him. “What?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.He turned to face me then, his dark eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “Caleb. He’s bold, cunning… but he’s kind. I trust him to take care of you if I’m not here anymore.”The words hi
Isabel’s POVI stormed into my bedroom, my thoughts a whirlwind of anger and confusion. Slamming the door shut, I twisted the lock with more force than necessary. As if it could somehow keep everything out—not just Emerson’s infuriating persistence, but the fear and uncertainty clawing at me.The muffled sound of footsteps followed, and then a knock.“Isa,” Emerson’s voice called from the other side. “What do you mean by what you said earlier? Are you willing to give me another chance?”I rolled my eyes, leaning against the door. The nerve of him to ask that after everything he’d just said. “Go away, Emerson,” I muttered, too low for him to hear.“I’m not leaving until you answer me,” he insisted, his tone firm but with a hint of desperation.I clenched my fists, my patience wearing thin. “Emerson, I’m serious. Leave me alone!”The knocking stopped, but his voice persisted. “Isa, I just want to talk. Please.”“I don’t care!” I yelled, grabbing a pillow and hurling it at the door. “G
Isabel’s POV“Liam is such a lovely boy, isn’t he?” Marianne said with a warm smile as we stepped into the kitchen. She raised his tiny hand and gave it a playful wave in my direction.Liam giggled, his chubby fingers grasping at the air, and I couldn’t help but laugh softly. “He certainly is. Quite the charmer already,” I said, leaning closer. “Hey, Liam. Are you practicing that wave for your fans?”His giggles grew louder, and Marianne chuckled. “He loves attention. Don’t you, sweetheart?”Liam reached out toward me, his eyes wide and sparkling with innocence. Unable to resist, I offered him my hand, which he eagerly grabbed, babbling incomprehensible syllables with all the seriousness of someone making a grand speech.“Quite the conversationalist too,” I teased, tickling his tiny palm with my finger. He responded with another round of infectious laughter, his joy so pure it seemed to light up the room.As I straightened, I turned to Marianne, my tone shifting. “Does Emerson… spend
Emerson’s POVIsabel’s reaction startled me. She wasn’t just upset—she was frantic, the kind of raw, unrestrained emotion I hadn’t seen from her in years. Her voice trembled with a mix of fury and desperation as she demanded, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?! Why did you keep this from me?”Before I could form a response, she bolted out of the kitchen. Her movements were erratic yet purposeful.“Isa, wait!” I called, following her. My heart was pounding, though I couldn’t pinpoint whether it was from fear of her reaction or the storm of emotions she was dredging up in me.She didn’t stop. Her footsteps echoed through the hall until she burst into her bedroom. She made a beeline for the corner of the room, pulling out an old, dusty suitcase that looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. The zipper resisted her forceful tugs, but she wrestled with it until it finally gave way.“What are you doing?” I asked, stepping cautiously inside, my unease growing.She didn’t answer. Her hands
Isabel’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, the room swayed in a haze of muted light. My body felt heavy, and the soft hum of voices floated around me. A prickling sensation on the back of my hand made me glance down—a needle was taped in place, connected to an IV. I yanked it out without a second thought, wincing as a sharp sting followed. A small bead of blood bloomed on my skin, smearing as I clumsily wiped it with trembling fingers.Before I could swing my legs over the edge of the bed, the door creaked open. Emerson walked in, flanked by Eric, the family doctor, who carried a quiet professionalism that only made my anger flare hotter.“Isabel, stop,” Emerson said, his voice calm but firm as he crossed the room in long strides. “You need to rest. You fainted earlier.”Rest? The word itself felt like an insult. My chest burned with rage and despair as the fragmented truth of our earlier conversation crashed back into my mind. The missing child. Lilith. Lies.“I don’t need rest,” I spat, my
Isabel’s POV“Do I still have a chance to find him?” My voice trembled. But I kept my gaze steady, daring Emerson to answer truthfully.“Yes.” His reply came without hesitation, firm and resolute. “We’ll find him, Isabel. I promise.”The room felt suffocating, the silence stretching between us too heavy to bear. Emerson gestured toward the IV stand and called out softly, “She needs another infusion.”The family doctor appeared in the doorway, his expression both professional and faintly sympathetic. I barely glanced at him as he approached with the necessary equipment.“Don’t pull it out again, okay?” Emerson’s tone was lighter, almost coaxing, as he crouched beside me, his hand resting on the edge of the bed. “Take care of yourself. You’ll need your strength if you want to get your revenge.”Revenge. The word sliced through the haze of my exhaustion, igniting the fire inside me once more.I shut my eyes, blocking out the sight of him. He didn’t deserve my attention, not now. Not after
Isabel’s POVThe sound of Caleb’s car pulling into the driveway broke the stillness. I adjusted the bracelet on my wrist, its hidden blade a comforting weight. As I stepped out of the villa, Caleb leaned casually against his car, flashing me his trademark grin.“Well, don’t you look like a goddess ready to conquer the world,” he said, his voice filled with easy charm.“Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Caleb,” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended.He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Ouch. Someone’s in a mood. But don’t worry, I’m here to fix that.” He gestured toward the passenger seat with a dramatic bow. “Your chariot awaits, milady.”I rolled my eyes but slid into the car without another word. Caleb’s usual chatter filled the silence as he drove, but I found it hard to focus on his words. My mind was a whirlwind of images—my lost child, Emerson’s confession, Lilith’s betrayal.Caleb, noticing my uncharacteristic quietness, glanced over at me. “Hey, you okay? You’re… I do
Isabel’s POVThe room was in chaos. The sensual sounds echoing from the speakers mixed with gasps, murmurs, and muffled laughter from the stunned crowd. Faces that moments ago were polished masks of social grace now twisted with shock, judgment, and disgust.“What a disgrace,” a woman near me whispered, clutching her pearls with exaggerated outrage.“Did you see that? And with multiple men?” another muttered, her voice barely concealing her glee at the unfolding scandal.“Alistair must be livid. That girl just ruined herself—and him.”Across the hall, Alistair Montrose’s face was a portrait of rage. His complexion turned a deep shade of crimson as he glared at the screen. Lilith, on the other hand, looked utterly panicked. Her carefully composed facade shattered as she stammered, trembling visibly.“Th-this isn’t real! It’s—it’s fake!” Lilith cried, her voice high-pitched and desperate. “Someone’s trying to ruin me!”Emerson remained stoic. His sharp eyes locked on Alistair. He wasn’
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