Isabel’s POV"Doctor, you can't be serious. Surgery?" Emerson's voice cracked slightly as his gaze darted between me and Dr. Vargas. He looked more terrified than I had ever seen him. As though the word itself could unravel him.Dr. Vargas cleared his throat, his professional demeanor steady. “Surgery is one option, but only if the tumor progresses to a stage where it becomes necessary. For now, we focus on non-invasive methods and assess as we go.”Before Emerson could spiral any further, I placed a hand on his arm. “Emerson, stop. It’s not as dire as you’re making it out to be.”He turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Not dire? Isa, this is brain surgery we’re talking about!”I sighed, pulling his hand away from his temples where he had been rubbing in frustration. “Tumors often require removal. It’s standard, not catastrophic. I’m just preparing for all possibilities. That doesn’t mean you need to overreact.”Emerson looked at the report in his hand, his brow furrowed deeply
Isabel’s POVCaleb’s casual words sent a jolt through me. My heart raced, and I felt the blood drain from my face. A blind girl in the area—what were the chances? Could it be?I forced myself to act natural, masking my growing unease. "A blind girl?" I asked lightly. "What was she like?"He tilted his head, trying to recall. "She had this serene presence, you know? Like she’d figured something out about life the rest of us haven’t. She was wearing big sunglasses and a hat—kept her face pretty covered—but she had a radiant smile. Oh, and her voice… it was kind of unforgettable. Gentle but strong. She seemed so at peace."His words struck a chord deep inside me. It had to be her. Caleb was oblivious to my inner turmoil and continued, "Oh, wait, I think I have a picture.""A picture?" My voice cracked slightly, but Caleb didn’t notice."Yeah, it’s funny, actually. I took a selfie in the flower shop—don’t ask, I was bored—and she accidentally ended up in the background. That’s how I notic
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t shake the unease settling in my chest. Margot was giving out her contact information—was she being careless, or had she judged Caleb trustworthy? Did she know he was connected to me? It seemed unlikely, but Margot was sharp. Perhaps too sharp to let something like that slip by accident. Still, the possibility worried me. She’d suffered enough already, and the thought of her inadvertently drawing danger closer made my stomach twist.“Her name?” Caleb repeated, frowning slightly. He scratched his head, looking sheepish. “Well, uh… no. She didn’t tell me. Said she wanted to keep a sense of mystery.” His face lit up with a wry grin. “An interesting girl, though. Made me feel like I was the one being studied.”He chuckled, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice. Caleb was many things, but overly confident wasn’t one of them. He seemed to be replaying the encounter in his head, wondering if he’d done something wrong—or maybe if he hadn’t been charming enough.I
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Emerson’s sudden outburst had left both Caleb and me startled, and the air buzzed with unanswered questions.“Emerson,” Caleb said, his voice steady but laced with concern, “what’s going on? You’re acting like we’re in the middle of a war zone.”Emerson was already moving, grabbing my belongings with frantic urgency. “We don’t have time for questions, Caleb. We need to get Isabel out of here. Now.”“Emerson!” I snapped, forcing as much authority into my voice as I could muster. “Stop. You can’t just uproot me like this without explaining. What’s happening?”His jaw tightened, his eyes darting toward the window as if he expected danger to come crashing through at any moment. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck before finally meeting my gaze.“I saw a man,” he said, his voice low. “He was in the hallway earlier, wearing a coat with Alistair’s family badge embroidered on it.”My breath caught in my throat. “Alistair’s badge
Isabel’s POVI stared at Dr. Vargas, the words he had just spoken reverberating through my chest. My heart raced with a mix of confusion and dread. “Is Sebastian in danger?” My voice wavered as the question escaped my lips before I could stop it. The image of Elias flashed in my mind—him slipping away from my view, his enigmatic presence lingering just long enough to stir unease.Dr. Vargas nodded solemnly, a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze. “Yes, he is. But Sebastian’s not one to back down. He’ll find a way to get back at the traitors, no matter what. You shouldn’t be worrying about him right now.” His voice was steady, but his eyes searched my face for something I wasn’t sure I could give. “Focus on your own survival, Isabel. Take care of yourself.”His eyes were sharp, but there was a layer of weariness beneath them. He wasn’t just giving advice—he was issuing a warning. A warning that the path we were all walking was fraught with peril. What Dr. Vargas really meant wa
Isabel’s POVMy eyes widened as I studied the photo. Its edges were worn as though it had been handled countless times. I reached out instinctively, my fingers trembling as they brushed the air between us. "Where did you get this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.Caleb stepped back quickly, moving the photo away from me with a smooth, deliberate motion. His eyes met mine. For the first time, there was something unfamiliar in his gaze—something secretive. My stomach twisted. Was Caleb more involved in these conspiracies than I thought? Could I still trust him?“Caleb,” I said, my voice lowering as I stepped closer, “give it to me.”I tried to reach for the photo, which he now held high above his head. He was much taller than me, so I jumped to reach it. “Caleb! This is not a game. Give that photo to me, now! You have no idea what you’re doing,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice raising with each word.But Caleb shook his head. A sly smile played at the corners of h
Isabel’s POV“Excuse me? Are you threatening me, Caleb?” My voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. The words felt foreign coming out of my mouth, but his behavior left me no choice. Caleb stood there, his head hung low. As though the weight of my accusation had crushed him.He didn’t respond right away. His lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he exhaled deeply, shaking his head. “No, Isabel. I wouldn’t threaten you.” His voice was low, almost broken. “But... I can’t pretend anymore.”“What are you talking about?” I asked cautiously, my heart beating faster.Caleb’s shoulders slumped, and he took a hesitant step toward me. “I’m jealous, okay?” His voice cracked on the last word. “I’m jealous of him, whoever he is. I thought... I thought I had a chance, Isa.”I stared at him, stunned. “What?”“When you divorced Emerson,” he began, his words tumbling out in a rush, “I thought—at least—I could stay by your side. Even if it was just as family. I told myself that was enough. But if yo
Isabel’s POVCaleb swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled to form words. His face had gone pale. His usual self-assured demeanor was crumbling before me. "I... I understand," he said at last, his voice barely a whisper.I exhaled, turning away from him. The weight of the conversation felt suffocating. “Good,” I said curtly. “Then we have nothing more to discuss.”The words felt cold, even to me. But I couldn’t bring myself to soften them. My emotions were frayed, and I needed space. Walking to the window, I gazed out at the darkening sky. The fading light painted the horizon in shades of purple and orange, but its beauty did little to soothe the storm raging inside me. My heart felt heavy—with guilt for hurting Caleb, with frustration for the mess we were all entangled in.Behind me, Caleb shifted uncomfortably. “I never meant to hurt you or anyone else, Isa,” he said, his tone low and weighted with regret.I didn’t respond, letting the silence stretch between us.
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