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 POVI never imagined that a simple fruit could be my way out. Yesterday, when I found mangoes in the refrigerator, I froze. The sight of them was jarring. Mangoes hadn’t appeared in this home since Emerson and I married. He knew how allergic I was to them. But now, they were here, casually placed on a shelf.Simone, a middle-aged maid who had worked here for years, noticed my stare. Her eyes widened in recognition. She remembered my deathly allergy. She quickly explained, “These are for Ms. Lilith. She loves mangoes.” Of course they were. Lilith’s preferences now dictated what was kept in this house. The pang of jealousy I felt was sharp, but I shoved it aside. I didn’t have time for envy.When the plan began to form in my mind, I knew it was risky. It could either save me or destroy me. The risk was immense, but so were the stakes. I knew that if I allowed Eric to examine me, there was a high chance he would discover my secret—my illness. I couldn’t let that happen. Not now
Isabel’s POVI had been so close to escaping. The sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in my nostrils, reminding me of the urgency to leave. To distance myself from Emerson's suffocating presence. This was my chance to break free. Emerson wouldn’t expect me to be gone when he returned. But then, as if fate had other plans, a doctor entered the room. I froze in place on the edge of the bed as I watched him take my stuff. What was going on?The doctor was covered head to toe in surgical attire. His cap, mask and glasses obscured his face. But his gray eyes were unsettlingly familiar. I squinted, trying to place where I had seen them before.“Follow me,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “I’ll get you out of here.”My instincts were screaming at me to be cautious. “W-why should I trust you?” My voice wavered, betraying the fear I tried so hard to suppress. I had been through too much to blindly trust anyone. Especially now.The doctor hesitated for a moment. He then reached up and rem