Isabel’s POVReturning to Emerson’s villa with my son should have brought me a semblance of peace. But tonight, unease clung to me like a heavy shadow. Even with Liam’s warm weight cradled in my arms, the bad feeling wouldn’t fade. I tried to focus on his soft breaths, his tiny fingers clutching at my sleeve. But the knot in my chest only tightened.“You look exhausted,” Caleb said, his voice gentle but firm as he stood by the doorway. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll keep an eye on Liam.”I forced a small smile, appreciating his concern but unable to shake the growing sense of dread. “I’ll be fine. I just need a moment.”Before Caleb could argue further, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught both our attention. A moment later, the doorbell echoed through the house. Caleb frowned, glancing at the clock. “Who could that be at this hour?”I followed him to the door, my unease deepening as it swung open to reveal a familiar figure: Emerson
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. However, I refused to let Mrs. Williams crush me under the weight of her accusations. None of this was my doing. I had tried to get away from Emerson countless times. He was the one controlling me and forcing me to stay with him.My heart pounded as I clutched my mother’s ruby necklace, drawing strength from the gentle strength and grace she had always exuded. Mrs. Williams’ piercing gaze was meant to intimidate. But I met it head-on, refusing to bow.“I never asked him to do any of that,” I said, my voice soft but steady, each word deliberate. “If Emerson made those choices, he did so on his own. You can’t hold me responsible for his actions.”Mrs. Williams scoffed, her lips curling into a disdainful sneer. She rose from her seat with the kind of elegance that only masked the underlying venom. “You may not have asked, but you’ve certainly benefited,” she said coldly. “Don’t think for a second that I’ll stand by while you drag my
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s sudden entrance startled us all. His commanding presence seemed to shift the atmosphere in the room, heavy with tension and unresolved truths. I glanced at him, searching his face for a clue to how he felt about the turmoil swirling around us. His eyes quickly scanned the scene, landing on the DNA test report still clutched in his mother’s trembling hands.Estelle turned toward her son, her normally composed features twisted in disbelief. Her voice quavered as she spoke. “Emerson… is this true? Is what she said about the child true?”Emerson hesitated. His confusion gave way to clarity as he pieced everything together. He met his mother’s questioning gaze, his jaw tightening. “Yes, it’s true,” Emerson said, his tone steady and unyielding, each word a firm declaration. His gaze met his mother’s, daring her to challenge him. “Liam is Isabel’s son. Our son,” he added, his voice softening ever so slightly.As he spoke, he turned toward me. A faint, almost impercep
Isabel’s POVI stood frozen, my mind reeling from Emerson’s explosive declaration. Alistair Montrose, the invincible patriarch, had abandoned Lilith—just like that. It felt surreal, almost too convenient to be true. My thoughts swirled with questions I dared not voice aloud. What did this mean for Lilith? For us? Was she truly out of the picture, or was this just the calm before another storm?But I knew better than to let my thoughts show. Estelle's gaze was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade searching for a weakness to exploit.Caleb must have noticed the tension tightening in my shoulders because he stepped forward. His expression was neutral but his voice was calm.“Maybe it’s best if Isabel takes some time to rest,” Caleb suggested smoothly, gesturing toward the door. “She’s had a long day.”I felt a rush of gratitude for his attempt to pull me out of the room, away from this powder keg of emotions. But before I could move, Emerson’s voice cut through the air. He stopp
Isabel’s POVThe air in the room felt heavy, thick with the unspoken tension that seemed to follow every revelation tonight. Emerson stood near the window, his posture tense and his gaze fixed on something far beyond the glass. His unease was palpable, and a knot of anxiety began to form in my chest.“What is it?” Estelle asked impatiently.Emerson sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. He turned to face us, his expression serious. “Lilith escaped.”For a moment, his words didn’t register. Then, a chill ran through me. I tightened my arms instinctively around myself. “Escaped?”“She had help,” Emerson explained, his voice clipped. “Someone tipped her off about my meeting with Alistair. By the time I got to her location, she was already gone.”The room spun as his words sank in. Lilith, the woman who had caused so much pain and destruction, was still out there. Free. Unchecked.“How?” My voice was sharper than I intended, a mix of fear and frustration. “How does someone like her keep
Isabel’s POVMy heart pounded in my chest as my thoughts spiraled out of control. The image of that swift figure disappearing over the wall in an instant replayed in my mind. The mysterious note left in the hospital window still felt like a riddle I hadn’t solved. Was it him? Could it have been Sebastian? His military training would explain his quick disappearances, his ability to blend into the shadows with ease. The idea sent a shiver down my spine.“Isa, what’re you thinking about?” Emerson’s voice, low and concerned, pulled me back to the present moment. I glanced up at him, his eyes searching mine. I quickly pushed the thoughts away.“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a small, fleeting smile. “I’m going to check on Liam.”He looked at me for a moment longer, suspicion flickering in his gaze. But, to my surprise, he nodded silently. A flicker of resignation settled on his face. Maybe he sensed that I wasn’t going to share whatever tumultuous thoughts were swirling in my head.I took a s
Isabel’s POV“Sure. Come on in,” he said gently. I followed Emerson into his study with a resolute heart. My breath was steady despite the pounding in my chest. The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the crisp rustle of papers. I was a little startled to find another presence in the room. Behind Emerson, standing silently against the desk, was Caleb. His gaze flicked up, a hint of unease in his eyes. It was evident he had been in the middle of a serious conversation with Emerson. My sudden arrival had clearly thrown off whatever plans they were discussing.“Am I interrupting something?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Don’t worry. We’ll catch up later,” Caleb said with a half-smirk before silently slipping out of the room, leaving just Emerson and me. The door clicked shut, and the tension in the room thickened in an instant. My heart pounded as I met Emerson’s gaze. I took a deep breath, feeling the gravity of everything I was about to say sink d
Isabel’s POVThe air between us felt heavy, laden with the weight of unspoken fears. Emerson sat across from me, his brow furrowed in discomfort. His initial reaction to my plea had been resistance, but I wasn’t about to back down. My chest ached with the need to protect my son—to secure his future. Even if it meant pleading with the one man I swore I’d never rely on again."I need your promise, Emerson," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me."If anything happens to me, you'll take care of Liam. You'll protect him at all costs."His brows furrowed in resistance. "Isabel, why are you even talking like this? Nothing is going to happen to you. I won’t let it."I crossed my arms, the weight of my secret pressing harder than ever. The surgery had been delayed time and time again. And even though it was coming soon, there was a chance I wouldn’t survive. But I could never tell Emerson that. He would freak out and control me even more than he already did."You don’t k
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