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
Isabel’s POVThe bed in my old home felt like a strange comfort. It was surreal to be here again, knowing my life had shifted so drastically. The villa, once a symbol of my success and happy marriage, was now home to Lilith – the woman who had destroyed it all.The sprawling modern villa was a marvel. High ceilings, sleek marble floors and expansive glass windows that framed lush gardens and a shimmering pool. It had been my haven.Now, it was a place of bittersweet nostalgia. Emerson was with Lilith now. They had Liam. The child I was carrying, Emerson's baby, was gone. I was painfully aware of the nursery next door. The one I had prepared meticulously. I hadn’t had the courage to go in there again. It would hurt too much.
Emerson’s POVMy heart dropped when I heard the maid’s scream. Panic surged through me. I knew something must be wrong with Isabel. I ended my call with Lilith abruptly.Rushing down the hall, I felt a cold sweat on my brow. Images of Isabel in danger flashed through my mind. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. I recalled all the beautiful moments we’d shared. Memories of laughter and tender words clashed violently with our twisted relationship now.I reached her door, my breath shallow and uneven. The scene inside was worse than I feared. Isabel lay on the bed, her face contorted in pain. Her skin was mottled with red blotches. It was clear she was having a severe allergic reaction. The sight of mango residue on the bed explained it al
Isabel’s POVLila’s face changed a split-second after my question left my lips. It wasn’t the look of someone caught in a lie—there was no panic, no flash of guilt. Instead, sorrow washed over her features. Her expression was raw and almost... wounded. But why? What was she trying to pull?I was still piecing it together when she suddenly lifted her gaze. Not to me, but to someone standing behind me.“Did you tell her?” Her voice trembled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.I stiffened. Emerson.Slowly, I turned my head. Sure enough, he was standing in the doorway, watching us in silence. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his stance was unmistakable.What the hell was going on?He cleared his throat, his tone calm but firm. “Isabel is the hostess of this house. She has the right to know everything that happens here.”His words should have reassured me. But instead, they sent another wave of unease through me. Know everything? But he had never spoken to me about an
Isabel’s POVThe next morning, everything seemed… normal.Too normal.The scent of fresh coffee and eggs filled the air as I stepped downstairs. Sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Lila stood by the stove, her movements practiced and efficient as she flipped a pancake in the pan. She turned as she heard my footsteps, a warm smile on her face.“Good morning, Miss.” Her voice was hoarse as always, but pleasant. “How was your holiday?”I didn’t return the smile.“Stressful,” I answered bluntly, stepping closer.Her expression didn’t falter. “I’m sorry to hear that.”I pulled out a chair at the kitchen island and sat down, watching her. “Where have you been these past couple of days?”Lila stilled for a fraction of a second—so brief that I might have missed it if I hadn’t been looking for it. Then, just as smoothly, she turned off the stove and set a plate of pancakes on the counter.“I had to deal with some personal matters,” she said ca
Isabel’s POVAs I stepped out of Victoria’s office, Emerson was leaning against the opposite wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His gaze flicked from me to Victoria, sharp and assessing.She didn’t flinch under his scrutiny. Instead, she merely lifted an eyebrow and gave him a small, unreadable smile. “No need to glare at me like that, Mr. Williams,” she said lightly. “I didn’t bite.”Emerson didn’t respond, but his stare darkened. His silence spoke far more than words. Victoria shrugged, unconcerned. “Before you go,” she said, shifting her attention back to me, “Elena’s recovery will take time, but she’s resilient. Just make sure she stays hydrated and gets plenty of rest. If she has any lingering dizziness or nausea, bring her back immediately.”“Thank you,” I said, and I meant it. Whatever else Victoria might be, she had helped Elena today. That was what mattered most.She inclined her head slightly, then glanced once more at Emerson before turning away. “Take care, Is
Isabel’s POV“I didn’t come back to Rivermont to steal other women’s men, Victoria,” I said sharply, my patience wearing thin. “I have better things to do.”Victoria studied me, her expression unreadable. For a long moment, she said nothing, simply watching me with the kind of quiet intensity that made my skin prickle. Finally, she exhaled, as if coming to some internal conclusion.“I understand,” she said. But there was something cautious in her voice, as if she wasn’t quite sure whether she believed me.She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs elegantly. “I didn’t know about you at first,” she admitted. “Robert had never mentioned you. Not once. But then, one day, I found a box of photos at his place. Pictures of you.”A strange tightness settled in my chest. “I see.”She gave a small, dry laugh. “I thought maybe you were an ex, someone from his past who had simply drifted away. But there was something in the way he looked at those pictures—something different.”I swallowed ha
Isabel’s POVI forced myself to act naturally. To keep my expression calm even as the air between us crackled with unspoken tension.Victoria studied me with sharp, assessing eyes. Her perfectly poised demeanor was a stark contrast to the discomfort tightening in my chest.I chose my words carefully. “Robert and I have always been close,” I said, keeping my tone even. “But not in the way he might have wished. If that’s what you’re getting at.”Victoria’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Oh, I know. But it’s fascinating, isn’t it? How some people leave such an imprint on others.”There was something calculated in her words. A test hidden beneath the guise of casual conversation. I met her gaze without wavering.“I’d like to think we all shape the lives of those we care about,” I said simply, my voice firmer than I felt.Her fingers tapped idly against the desk. “Perhaps. But some more than others.”I resisted the urge to sigh. “Victoria, if you’re asking whether Robert and I had unres
Isabel’s POV“I am... Do I know you?” I asked, my voice careful, measured. I was certain I had never met this woman before. Yet the way she looked at me, as if we had some kind of unspoken history, unsettled me.She smiled—a polished, professional kind of smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “My name is Victoria Jacobs,” she said, extending a perfectly manicured hand. “Pediatrician. And also... Robert’s girlfriend.”The words struck me harder than I expected. I blinked, momentarily at a loss. Robert’s girlfriend. I had never given much thought to who Robert might be with now, but hearing it out loud felt strangely jarring.“Oh, how lovely. Nice to meet you,” I said finally, shaking her hand. “Robert mentioned he was seeing somebody. I’m happy for both of you.”“Oh, thanks,” she said lightly. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Isabel. Robert used to talk about you often.”At that, my gaze flickered toward Emerson. He had been quiet until now. But I could see the slight tightening of his ja
Isabel’s POVThe fire crackled softly, its warm glow dancing on our faces. I cradled Elena in my lap, wrapping the blanket tighter around her small frame. Her shivers were less frequent now, but I could feel the lingering fear in her tight grip on my hand. Liam sat close to Emerson, looking subdued, a rare stillness settling over his usually lively demeanor.I needed answers.“Elena, sweetheart,” I said gently, brushing a strand of damp hair from her face. “Can you tell me what happened? How did you end up in the water?”Her big eyes, still glossy with unshed tears, blinked up at me. She hesitated, glancing toward Liam before speaking. “We were playing hide-and-seek,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper.“I was counting,” Liam added, his tone defensive, as if he already anticipated blame. “I swear I didn’t know she went near the lake, Mom. I didn’t see her leave!”“I know, Liam,” I assured him, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “Just tell me everything you remember.”Elena no
Isabel’s POVAs soon as Emerson proposed the plan to the kids, there was no way I could back out.Liam’s face lit up like the sun breaking through storm clouds. “Yeah!!! I wanna go camping!”Before I could voice my doubts, Elena joined in, her small hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. “Please, Mommy! Camping will be so fun. We can roast marshmallows, and Liam can tell me scary stories!”It was impossible to say no to their sparkling eyes and contagious excitement. I laughed, relenting. “Alright, alright. Camping it is.”Though I agreed, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the thought of Emerson roughing it in the wilderness. Camping didn’t exactly scream ‘Emerson Williams,’ the man whose wardrobe probably had more three-piece suits than most men owned socks.We left early the next morning. The car was loaded with supplies, snacks, and the kids’ boundless energy. I had to admit, seeing Emerson in a lumberjack-style outfit—a plaid shirt, slim-fit jeans, and hiking boots—wa
Isabel’s POVThe sight before me froze the air in my lungs. Liam was sitting on the floor, clutching his mouth, tears streaming down his face. A small streak of blood glistened at the corner of his lips, and a smashed cupcake lay in pieces around him.“No...” I gasped, the worst scenarios racing through my mind. Elena stood frozen by his side. Her wide, frightened eyes darted between Liam and me.“What happened?” I rushed to Liam, pulling him into my arms as he sobbed against my shoulder. “Lila,” I growled, my voice laced with barely controlled fury. “What have you done to my son?”Lila, standing in the doorway, looked the picture of confusion. Her green eyes widened, her hands clasping the empty dessert tray in front of her like a shield. “I—I didn’t do anything,” she stammered, her tone drenched in innocence.Emerson stepped past her and crouched beside us, his brow furrowed in concern. “Liam, let me see.” He gently reached out. But Liam clung to me, his sobs growing louder.I cradle