Emerson’s POVI must have drifted off in the chair beside Isabel’s bed, exhaustion finally overtaking me. The steady rhythm of the machines and her breathing had lulled me into a restless sleep. But then, her soft mumbling pulled me from the haze of slumber. Incoherent words tumbled from her lips as she stirred against the sheets.The moment I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong.The first thing I noticed was the heat radiating off her. She was drenched in sweat. Her breathing was shallow and rapid. My heart sank as I realized something was terribly wrong.“Isa, wake up. You have a fever!” I whispered frantically, my voice trembling. I gently shook her shoulder. But her head lolled to the side. “Fever?” she muttered, struggling to regain consciousness.Panic surged through me like a lightning strike. I hit the emergency call button. The shrill beep echoed in the room as I pulled her into my arms. Her body was frighteningly hot, and her face was flushed to an alarming shade of
Isabel’s POV“Oh…” I groaned, shifting against the pillows as I struggled to sit up. My head throbbed with a dull ache, and my limbs felt like lead. Before my vision could fully clear, I noticed two figures looming over me—Emerson and Caleb, their faces tight with concern.“Isa, are you okay?” Emerson’s voice was taut, barely masking his worry.“Do you need anything? Water? The doctor?” Caleb added quickly, his words tumbling out in a rush.It took me a moment to register their presence fully, my foggy mind finally catching up with reality. Emerson stood with his usual rigid posture. But Caleb’s appearance caught me off guard. His hair was unkempt, sticking out in every direction as if he hadn’t slept. The clothes he wore were crumpled, the same ones from yesterday. He smelled like beer and cigarettes.And, most concerning, there was a fresh bruise darkening the corner of his mouth. His pallor was sickly, his eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion and… guilt?“Caleb,” I said hoarsely, my su
Isabel’s POV“Wait a minute… What?!” My breath caught. “You met Alistair?” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. I stared at Caleb, dread twisting in my stomach. “Did he… Did he recognize you?”Caleb shook his head, his expression grim. “No, he didn’t. He doesn’t know me, which worked in my favor.”I studied him carefully. His hair was still disheveled from the night before, and his shirt bore faint stains of spilled liquor. He looked like someone who had been in a fight—not just with others, but within himself.“In your favor? How?” I asked.“He didn’t really notice me,” Caleb began, leaning against the windowsill. “I was at the bar. Just trying to... clear my head, I guess.”“I figured as much,” I said with a faint smile, gesturing at his clothing. Caleb cringed, and I felt a pang of guilt for my impulsive remark. “Please, continue,” I added, my voice softer now.“Then I saw him—Alistair,” Caleb continued. “He came strutting in like he owned the place, two barely-dressed showgirl
Isabel’s POVI could feel there was an unspoken chemistry building between Caleb and Margot. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but I could tell that Caleb was starting to focus his attention elsewhere. Maybe it was just my imagination. But I hoped it would take the edge off his lingering feelings for me.It wasn't that I disliked Caleb—he had been a constant presence in my life for so long. Always reliable, always there. But his feelings for me… I was certain they were just an illusion. At least, that’s what I told myself. He was clinging to memories from the past, to a version of me that no longer existed. I believed he would eventually realize what real love looked like, and it certainly wasn’t bound by the past. I didn’t point it out to him; he had to figure it out on his own. Love wasn’t something that could be forced.As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, Emerson returned with food, breaking through the quiet. He didn’t ask what Caleb and I had been talking about, thank
Isabel’s POVMy heart thudded painfully in my chest as Mateo’s words hung in the air. The air in the room was so thick with tension it was hard to breathe. Emerson stood stiffly beside my bed, his face a storm of anger and fear. His voice thundered, breaking the fragile silence.“What?! How could this happen? Didn’t you say the tumor was benign? Or have you been lying all along?!”Dr. Mateo Vargas’s calm demeanor cracked under the strain of Emerson’s fury. “I understand how shocking this is, Sir. However, this is not the time or place for accusations.” He gestured toward me, indicating the fragile state I was in.“I did say it was benign,” Mateo countered, his voice rising. “But I also warned that surgery might become necessary if her condition worsened.”Emerson’s fists clenched, and I feared he might explode. His worry wasn’t misplaced, but it wasn’t helping either. I reached out to him weakly, my fingers brushing against the fabric of his sleeve. “Emerson,” I whispered, my voice b
Isabel’s POVI sat propped up in bed, trying to read Emerson’s expression. He had always been sharp, but I hadn’t expected him to piece things together this quickly. Despite all Robert’s and my attempts to keep the details of the surgery planning under wraps, Emerson had unraveled the threads effortlessly.I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was relentless when it came to matters he cared about. And right now, that matter was me.Still, I didn’t react dramatically. This was Emerson, after all. It was natural for someone as intelligent and observant as him to sense when things didn’t add up. And despite his anger, I knew he wouldn’t jeopardize the efforts of the people working tirelessly to save my life. Whatever his feelings about Robert or Elias—or even Mateo—he wouldn’t risk doing anything that might hurt me. That, I was sure of.Emerson stood stiffly at the foot of my bed, his gaze boring into me. He was waiting for an explanation, but I wasn’t about to offer one on a silver platt
Isabel’s POVMy heart sank as I stared into Emerson’s intense gaze. The weight of his words still lingered. I couldn’t afford to risk my friends—not Elias, not Robert, not anyone who had worked so tirelessly to help me. Yet, I also knew the precarious nature of my situation. One wrong move, one slip of truth, and Emerson would tighten his grip in the name of love. He would trap me at his side like a bird in a gilded cage.The thought made my stomach churn. It wasn’t love—it was control, suffocating and inescapable. If he discovered the true extent of my illness, my chances of escaping with Liam would vanish.For Liam, I needed to be free.“Emerson, I—” I began, my voice faltering as doubt crept in. Was I really prepared to keep fighting this battle, knowing how high the stakes were?Before I could say another word, a familiar voice cut through the tension like a blade.“Isa, long time no see!”I whipped my head toward the door, startled. There he was—Robert—leaning casually against th
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s reaction was immediate and explosive. His hand shot out, seizing Robert by the collar with a force that made me flinch. “Are you kidding me?” he roared, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “More than once? You know what craniotomy entails better than anyone!” His eyes burned with fury. But beneath that, I saw something deeper—raw panic, the kind that comes when control slips through your fingers.I pressed my back against the headboard, anxiety rising in my chest. “Emerson, let go of him!” I shouted, but my voice cracked. He was hesitating, though. His grip tightened and loosened as if his emotions were at war.Robert, surprisingly composed, twisted Emerson’s wrist away with a sharp motion. His calmness wasn’t indifference—it was laced with disdain. “Yes, I do know. But that doesn’t change the reality of her situation,” Robert said, his voice sharp as glass. His eyes narrowed. “And if you want to talk about responsibility, let’s discuss how she
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