Isabel’s POVThe room was filled with an oppressive atmosphere, each second a battle between my fear and determination. My hands trembled ever so slightly as I stood protectively near Liam’s bed.My eyes were locked onto Lilith’s unyielding gaze. She stood there, a vision of icy calculation. Her eyes were gleaming with that cold, ruthless confidence that sent chills down my spine.She didn’t answer my question. Not a word. She just stood there, a specter of calculated coldness staring into my eyes. Her silence was unsettling, more menacing than any answer she could have given. My heart pounded against my ribs as a knot of unease coiled in my stomach. Why was she here? What was she really doing?Earlier, when Liam’s life had been hanging by a thread, she hadn’t appeared. So why now? It made no sense. My instincts told me something was off. Something wasn’t adding up.“Why now, Lilith?” I finally managed to ask, my voice trembling but not wavering. “Why are you only coming here after L
Isabel’s POVLilith stood by Liam’s bed. Her hand rested on his small shoulder as if she had every right to be there. Her gaze locked on me, cold and venomous, with a triumphant glint that made my stomach churn. Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she spoke, her words dripping with malice.“You’ve always been a thorn in my side, Isabel,” she hissed, her voice low but filled with fury. “If it weren’t for you, I’d already be married to Emerson. You’d be out of our lives for good, forgotten. Instead, you cling to him, always ruining my plans, always meddling.”I swallowed hard, willing myself not to show the fear creeping through me. Her words stung, but they weren’t what left me shaken—it was the hatred in her tone. This wasn’t just about Liam or Emerson. This was personal.Lilith’s fingers tightened on Liam’s shoulder as she continued, her eyes narrowing. “But now, I have the ultimate bargaining chip. Emerson won’t dare turn his back on me. Not when I have his precious son.”My hea
Isabel’s POVThe moment the attack began, the air in the room thickened with panic. "Who?!" Lilith shrieked, her voice slicing through the tense silence. Her eyes darted wildly, trying to pinpoint the source of the sudden chaos. One by one, her men crumpled to the ground, felled by unseen darts. The hiss of air from an anesthesia gun was faint but deliberate, heightening the terror in the room.Then the lights flickered and went out completely. The hum of electricity vanished, plunging the entire ward into suffocating darkness. Only the faint silver light of the moon spilled through the window, casting long, ghostly shadows that danced on the walls."Stay close!" Lilith barked at her remaining men. They huddled around her protectively, their own fear palpable in the dim light. She clutched Liam tightly at first. But the infant’s cries grew louder, jarring her nerves."Shut him up!" she snarled, her hands trembling. When Liam’s cries didn’t subside, she muttered a curse. She set him
Isabel’s POVThe adrenaline still buzzed in my veins, but my body was betraying me. My legs felt like they were made of lead, and my arms trembled as I clung to Liam. Emerson rushed over, his eyes sweeping me and Liam with a frantic intensity. "Isa, are you hurt? Are you okay?"I shook my head weakly. "Just… tired. I don’t think I can stand much longer." My voice was barely above a whisper."Let me help you," he said, his tone softer now. He slid an arm around my waist, steadying me as I fought against the wave of dizziness threatening to consume me.As he guided me to a nearby chair, I asked, "Was it you? Were you the one who helped me just now?"Emerson’s brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"Micheal, who had followed Emerson into the room, crouched by one of the unconscious men sprawled across the floor. "These guys were hit by tranquilizer darts," he observed, holding up one of the small syringes embedded in the man’s neck.Emerson's expression shifted, his con
Isabel’s POVI stared out the window, my heart racing as I clutched the cryptic note. The strange words felt like they were burning into my hand. Who could have dropped it here so stealthily?The silence outside was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Whoever had left the message was gone. Their presence was erased like footprints swept away by the tide. I scanned the moonlit grounds for any sign of movement, but there was nothing. Just shadows stretching long and silent under the pale glow.Was it the same person who had saved me earlier? If so, why hadn’t they shown themselves? And why the secrecy?“Isa, what are you doing?”I jumped, nearly dropping the note. Emerson stood in the doorway. His expression was a mix of concern and confusion. His sudden appearance felt like a bucket of cold water poured over my nerves.“I—nothing.” I quickly folded the note and tucked it into my pocket, hoping he hadn’t seen it. My heart pounded, but I forced mysel
Isabel’s POVThe morning sun streamed through the hospital room’s blinds, casting a warm, hopeful glow. I woke up from another restless night on the couch.For the first time in days, Liam’s breathing was steady. His color had returned. His condition had stabilized.I cradled his tiny hand, my heart aching with a mix of fear and hope. Today was the day—the day I’d finally learn the truth.Emerson stood silently at the edge of the room, his presence as solid and unyielding as ever. His face was drawn, his jaw set in a tight line. But his eyes betrayed his emotions—anticipation, worry, and something deeper.The nurse entered with a clipboard, followed closely by the doctor. “Miss White, Mr. Williams,” the doctor said, glancing between us. “We’re ready to proceed with the maternity test. Are you?”I nodded, my voice caught in my throat. Emerson answered for both of us. “Yes. Let’s get this done.”The process was clinical and brief. A simple blood draw from me, a cheek swab for Liam. Yet e
Emerson’s POVThe words hung in the air, sharp and unrelenting. Isabel’s condition had been painful to hear, but I knew it was the last chance I had to keep her close. For now.The weight of her ultimatum pressed on my chest like an iron chain. Reluctant as I was, I nodded.“If that’s what you want, I’ll honor it.”Her eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face. I could tell she hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. But she didn’t know the war raging inside me. This wasn’t compliance born of submission—it was strategy. A makeshift solution to buy time and perhaps save what little hope remained.In my heart, though, I knew the stakes. Alistair Montrose was a man with no boundaries, no conscience. The combination of his power with that of General Woods loomed large, stretching far beyond anything most could fathom. And I had dared to challenge Alistair in ways I couldn’t take back. Confronting him directly could very well seal my fate.But that was a risk I had alread
Emerson’s POVAlistair’s laughter rang through the phone, sharp and venomous. “Okay,” he said, the menace in his voice unmistakable. “Let me see what gives you the power to threaten me.”I didn’t respond. His reaction was irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was eliminating every potential threat to Isabel and Liam. The thought of them enduring even a fraction of the chaos Alistair could unleash fueled my resolve. No risk was too great if it meant keeping them safe.As I drove, the ringing of my phone interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at the screen—Michael. His calls always carried weight, and I answered immediately.“What is it?”“Boss,” Michael said, his tone tense but laced with excitement. “We’ve found something—clues about Sebastian and his sister.”The words caught my attention, my grip tightening on the wheel. “Go on.”Michael hesitated briefly before continuing. “The people being held in the barracks... they were imposters. It looks like the real Sebastian and his sister
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
Isabel’s POVCarter first sent a team of soldiers to probe the enemy’s defenses. The plan was simple: test the waters, gauge their numbers, and avoid unnecessary bloodshed before reinforcements arrived. But what they found was far worse than expected.“These are not just Alistair’s usual lackeys,” Carter murmured, lowering his binoculars. “The numbers far exceed our expectations. And what’s worse: these men are seasoned fighters. Most of them have appeared on international wanted lists… multiple times.”Emerson, standing beside him, clenched his fists. “That bastard really went all in.”I narrowed my eyes, straining to make out the details from our vantage point on the rocky hillside. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the rugged terrain. The distant compound was a maze of dilapidated buildings, high fences, and scattered patrols. From here, it was impossible to tell how many men were stationed inside. But it was clear we were up against more than just a handful
Sebastian/Elias’s POVI stood there, rooted to the spot, watching the scene unfold before me. The sterile, cold walls of the laboratory pressed in around me.Alistair’s voice broke the silence, a hint of pride echoing through his words. “This is my proudest work! Thanks to your potions, Scarlet.” His tone was a mix of admiration and satisfaction, as if he had just achieved the culmination of a long and arduous project.Scarlet’s gaze flickered to me, her sharp eyes assessing the situation with cold precision. There was no mistaking it: she was shocked I hadn’t escaped yet. She must be wondering if her antidote had failed.Then, without warning, she lunged forward, grabbing Alistair by the collar with a force that was both unexpected and dangerous. Her voice was low, a warning laced with venom. “I’m telling you, don’t touch my nephew! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you never stand again!” Her words were like a promise, a threat wrapped in maternal protection. But there was something more
Emerson’s POVI sat in the car, fingers drumming absently against the steering wheel as my mind churned through everything that had happened. The weight of it all pressed down on my shoulders like an iron grip. Lilith’s confessions, Elias’s predicament, the looming confrontation with Alistair—it was a tangled mess of threats and uncertainties. Every second that passed only heightened the tension coiling in my chest.A sharp knock on the window pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Carter standing outside, his sharp gaze scanning the area. I rolled the window down, and he wasted no time.“I heard you caught a woman? How is she involved in this?” he asked, his voice even but laced with curiosity.I exhaled and nodded, stepping out of the vehicle. My eyes swept the surroundings instinctively, old habits keeping me cautious even in relatively safe zones. Carter caught on immediately.“Margot’s with Isabel back at the base,” he assured me. “We can talk there.”I gave him a curt nod,
Isabel’s POVWe delayed our mission. Lilith's intel might be significant and give us clues on how to proceed.In the interrogation room, Lilith sat handcuffed to the chair, her face twisted with a mixture of defiance and resignation. I stood behind the mirrored glass, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, trying to steady my breathing. Emerson and one of his men sat across from her, their expressions unreadable. The tension in the room was thick, palpable."Talk," Emerson commanded, his voice cold.Lilith smirked, leaning back as if the shackles meant nothing to her. "Where do I begin?" she mused, tilting her head. "Maybe with the fact that I was Lila all along?"My stomach dropped. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay rooted to the spot. I knew it. But I’d never expected to hear her say it aloud. My mind reeled as Lilith continued."Alistair took me after you thought I’d died," she said, her tone shifting into something bitter. "He changed me—physically, mentally. His damned
Isabel’s POVCarter and Emerson bent over the map, their voices low but intense as they laid out the plan. The dimly lit tent smelled of sweat, gun oil, and the anticipation of an impending fight. My fingers tightened into fists at my sides. I refused to be left behind.“We move in small teams,” Carter was saying. “Margot and I will take a group to circle around and cover you. The reinforcements are still a few hours out, so we’ll have to be careful.”Emerson nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ll lead a team ahead to scout their positions.”“I’m going with you.” The words left my mouth before I could second-guess them.Emerson’s head snapped toward me, his brows furrowing. “No. It’s too dangerous.”I squared my shoulders. “I didn’t train for years on that island just to sit in the shadows while you go off to fight. I’m stronger than ever now, and you know it.”He exhaled through his nose, his fingers flexing at his sides as if fighting the urge to grab my arm and shake some sense i