Emerson’s POVToday, a strange feeling of unease gnawed at me. Why did I feel so terrible? Perhaps it was the weather. Stuffiness and gloom hung in the air, casting a shadow over everything. I needed some fresh air to shake off this terrible feeling. I dialed my mother’s number. The phone rang a few times before she answered.“Hello, Emerson! How are you, dear?” Her voice was warm and cheerful.“Hi, Mom. I was wondering if I could come over for a visit and pick up Liam,” I said, trying to sound happy despite the strange turmoil inside.“Oh, of course! We’d love to see you. Your father will be glad to see you too,” she replied. “I’ll get our private chef started on making some delicious pastries. I know how much you love them.”“Thanks, Mom. I’ll be there soon,” I said, feeling a small smile tug at my lips. She had a habit of treating me as if I were still a boy.“Drive safely, Emerson. We can’t wait to see you,” she said before we hung up.Lilith had gone traveling with her close fri
Isabel’s POVAs I slowly regained consciousness, I realized I was no longer surrounded by smoke or flames. Instead, I was in a luxury Porsche Panamera. The soft leather seat beneath me and the quiet hum of the engine were a surreal contrast to the chaos I’d just escaped. I glanced around. I tried to piece together what had happened, when my eyes landed on Emerson. He was driving. His face was tight with concentration and—was that pain? Cold sweat dotted his forehead. His jaw clenched as if he were trying to keep himself together.What on earth happened? I looked down at myself, taking in the soot-stained clothes, the scrapes, and burns on my skin. The memories of the fire came rushing back. Emma's apartment, the smoke, the panic. And then, like a flash, I realized who must have pulled me out of that inferno. Emerson. But why? Everything was a blur. The confusion made my head spin.I stared at him, trying to make sense of it all. But he avoided my gaze. His silence felt heavy. I was
Isabel’s POVAs we drove toward Emerson’s villa, I couldn’t shake the growing confusion gnawing at me. Why was he so obsessed with my illness? The man who had shattered my heart, who had chosen someone else over me, was now determined to drag me to his private doctor. It was absurd, almost laughable. The same man who had betrayed our marriage was now so concerned about his ex-wife. I didn’t know whether to be angry, amused, or just plain tired of the emotional rollercoaster he kept putting me on.“Stop the car,” I demanded, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.Emerson didn’t even glance my way. “Don’t be stubborn, Isabel,” he said, his tone as cool and unyielding as ever. “We’re almost there.”I clenched my fists in my lap. Frustration bubbled up inside me. “I don’t need your help, Emerson. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”He ignored me. His focus was fixed on the road. “Eric will be there with the doctor. I want to see what’s wrong with you,” he said, as if
Isabel’s POVI returned to the bedroom. My hands were trembling as I tried to mask the storm of emotions raging inside me. The email I had just seen haunted my thoughts. "Evidence of Allen White’s crimes”... What were they talking about? Had Emerson been behind my father’s downfall all along? Yet here he was, injured because he risked his life to save me. It didn’t make any sense.I took a deep breath and forced my expression into something neutral. Emerson was still where I left him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, shirtless. His back was full of deep gashes and burns. The sight of the wounds stirred something in me—a mix of pity and anger. If he hated my father so much, why would he save my life?“Let’s get this over with,” I said quietly. I approached him with the first-aid kit in hand.He didn’t say a word, just nodded and turned his head away. I started to clean his wounds. My touches were as gentle as possible despite the turmoil inside me. My mind kept drifting back to that em
Isabel’s POVI felt the panic rising in my chest as I rushed to the maid’s quarters. My heart pounded with each step. “Get the private doctor,” I ordered, my voice shaking. “Tell him it’s urgent. Emerson has a fever, and it’s bad.”The maid sensed the urgency and ran to make the call. I returned to the bedroom, where Emerson lay in bed. His face was flushed. Beads of sweat were rolling down his forehead. His breathing was ragged. “Emerson? Please, stay with me…” I said as I sat by his side.He mumbled incoherently, caught in a feverish daze. I tried to calm myself, but it was difficult seeing him like this. He looked so vulnerable. So unlike the man I had known all these years. His wound, his fever, it was all my fault. He saved me from the fire, and now he was dealing with the consequences.There was a gentle knock on the bedroom door. It was the maid. “The doctor is on his way. But the only one available at this time lives on the other side of Rivermont,” she explained. It would tak
Isabel’s POVAs I sifted through the files on Emerson's laptop, my hands trembled. Among the documents about my father's company, I had found something that made my blood run cold. There were photos of Lilith, drunk and tearful, leaning her head on my father’s shoulder. I was shocked.What? Lilith and my father? When had they even met? He had never told me about her… My mind raced, trying to piece together a timeline that made sense. But the more I thought about it, the less sense it made.In the same folder, I discovered detailed reports about my father’s personal information, his business dealings, and the company’s financial crisis that led to its eventual bankruptcy. Emerson had been investigating him, probably for years. He knew everything from the very beginning. My stomach churned with nausea. Had our marriage been built on a foundation of lies? Was it all just a way to get back at my father? Had I been nothing more than a pawn in a twisted game? Did Emerson… never love me at
Isabel’s POVI never imagined Emerson could muster such strength in his weakened state. Maybe it was I who was the weaker one. Caught off guard, I was pushed down by him. My body hit the cold, hard floor with a force that knocked the wind out of me.The impact sent a nearby glass tumbling from the table. It shattered against the floor. Before I could react, sharp shards dug into my skin. A cry of pain escaped my lips, piercing through the tense silence.The sound seemed to snap Emerson out of his rage. His eyes widened in shock. He looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he had just done. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked up at him. The man I had once loved and admired more than anyone. The man who had hurt and betrayed me, more than anyone.
Emerson’s POVIt was the middle of the night. After the doctor’s visit, my fever subsided. I woke up extremely thirsty. I desperately needed a glass of water. “Isabel?” I called out in the darkness. I touched the bed next to me, trying to feel where she was. But her side of the bed was empty.I switched on the light and looked around. Where was she? She had promised to take care of me, hadn’t she? How could she leave me when I had a fever? “Isabel!” I called out again. No response.I really needed water. “I suppose I’ll have to get it myself then,” I muttered, frustration bubbling over. I got out of bed, slipped into my robe and made my way down the hallway. On my way to the bathroom, I noticed a light shining und