Isabel’s POVCaleb’s exaggerated impression of Margot lingered in my mind, leaving me in a whirl of mixed emotions. Margot knew everything—far more than I had ever given her credit for. It wasn’t just coincidence driving her actions. No, she had known me long before she ever crossed paths with Caleb. And in her quiet, unassuming way, she had been protecting me all along. Weaving a web of support I hadn’t even realized I needed.The weight of that realization settled over me. A mix of gratitude and unease stirred within. Gratitude for her vigilance, for her silent strength. Unease because of how little I truly understood her motives—or the lengths she had gone to in order to shield me.Her brother, Sebastian—or Elias, as I had come to know him—must have kept her informed. Dr. Vargas, ever the enigmatic figure, must have shared updates about my condition. And Margot wasn’t just passively receiving information. She was actively piecing it all together, connecting dots I didn’t even kno
Isabel’s POVCaleb's blush deepened, creeping up his neck and painting his ears crimson. He tried to wave off my question, his tone flippant. "What are you saying, sister? You know I’ve just said goodbye to my first love." He threw a pointed glance at Emerson as if that would somehow deflect attention from him. Emerson and I exchanged a knowing look. We both understood who Caleb meant… Me. The air in the room tightened, though only for a moment. Caleb’s confession for me was something neither of us had spoken of aloud since it had happened, and time had dulled the sting of it. Still, the weight of his words hung faintly between us, like a fading echo.Robert stood nearby, watching us with a detached curiosity. He was perceptive but hadn’t pieced together Caleb’s past feelings. Not that it mattered now. Caleb’s demeanor told me what he felt for Margot was different. There was a rawness to it. A vulnerability to him that hadn’t been there before. This wasn’t the same childlike infatu
Isabel’s POVThe room was thick with tension, the kind that makes every breath feel heavier. All eyes were on Caleb as he clutched his phone tightly. His face shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions—hope, worry, disappointment. Finally, he hung up.“What did she say?” Emerson’s voice was sharp, impatience lacing every word. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as if willing Caleb to spit out the answer.Caleb exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “A key ingredient,” he said flatly. “There’s a shortage.”Emerson frowned, his tone incredulous. “A shortage? There’s nothing in this world I can’t get if I set my mind to it.”But Caleb shook his head. “This isn’t about money or power, Emerson. The ingredient… it’s unique. And only one person knows how to find it.” He hesitated, his gaze flickering toward me. “It’s Isabel’s father.”The words hit me like a physical blow. My father? My stomach twisted as a hundred questions surged to the surface, but none of them found my lips. I was
Isabel’s POVEmerson paced like a caged lion, his movements restless and agitated. The tension in the room thickened with each heavy footfall. “I don’t know who the buyer was,” he finally admitted, his voice low but sharp with frustration. He dragged a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched as if trying to hold himself together.“How is that even possible?” Robert asked, his tone laced with disbelief.“I didn’t oversee the transaction myself,” Emerson muttered, the words coming out like a reluctant confession. His shoulders sagged for a brief moment before his frustration reignited, his fists tightening at his sides. “I left it to my subordinates.”The room erupted into chaos.“You left it to your subordinates?” Caleb’s voice was incredulous, his expression one of disbelief and anger. “How could you be so careless with something so important?”Robert jumped in, his voice sharp. “You were so blinded by your hatred for Mr. White that you didn’t even care where his assets ended up? What
Isabel’s POV“You’ve got some nerve,” Emerson growled, his tone a mixture of fury and disbelief. His movements were sudden, like a predator closing in on its prey. In a flash, he lunged at Sebastian, grabbing him by the collar with a violence that made everyone in the room flinch. “How the hell did you get in here? This place is highly secured.”“Emerson!” I shouted, but my voice was drowned out by the tension crackling between them.Sebastian, in stark contrast to Emerson’s fury, remained eerily calm. He met Emerson’s rage with cold, disdainful eyes, as though the physical attack barely registered. With an almost casual motion, he broke Emerson’s grip. He brushed his collar as if erasing the evidence of the encounter. “Do you think your men can stop me?” he said, his voice as smooth and cutting as glass.He stepped back and gestured toward the hallway behind us. “Why don’t you look for yourself?”The change in Emerson’s expression was immediate. His usual confidence faltered as his
Isabel’s POV“You—” Emerson’s face contorted with rage as he glared at Sebastian. The muscles in his jaw twitched. For a moment, I thought he might lunge at him again. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but words seemed to fail him.“Enough!” Robert’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. He stepped between them, raising both hands in a calming gesture. “This isn’t helping Isabel, and you both know it. Put your egos aside for once.”Emerson’s chest heaved, his breath ragged as he struggled to rein in his temper. His glare remained locked on Sebastian, who stood there calmly, his expression almost bored. Finally, Emerson turned away, muttering under his breath as if conceding defeat for the moment.Sebastian smirked faintly. The glint of triumph in his eyes only fueled Emerson’s simmering anger. He addressed the room, his tone as composed as ever. “You’re right, Robert. Now that we’ve put the childish tantrums behind us, let’s focus on the real issue.
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s face contorted with anger, his voice like a crack of thunder in the room. “Who do you think you are?” he growled, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes blazed as he turned to Sebastian, bristling with barely restrained fury. “Even if I’m dead, she can’t be with you. What can you give her? A lifetime of hiding? A life lived in shadows?”Sebastian didn’t flinch. His expression remained calm, though a flicker of disdain danced in his eyes. “Hiding?” he said coolly. “Coming from someone whose entire life revolves around control, that’s rich.”“Enough, Emerson!” I shouted, stepping between him and Sebastian before the tension could boil over. My heart pounded as I faced his fury. “He’s my friend! You can’t treat him like that!”Emerson glared at me. But I held my ground, refusing to back down. “This isn’t about you, Emerson. It’s about my father. It’s about my life.” My words hung in the air, sharp and undeniable. Emerson froze, his jaw tight as if he were swall
Isabel’s POVThe room felt quieter after Robert and Sebastian left to visit my father, their purpose clear but their outcomes uncertain. Emerson had been called away as well, leaving Caleb behind to care for me. It was a kindness, but I could tell he wasn’t entirely comfortable. Caleb fidgeted with his shirt sleeve, his usual ease replaced by a hesitant awkwardness I hadn’t seen before."Caleb," I said softly, tilting my head to catch his eye. "Are you okay?"He gave a start, as though he’d forgotten I was in the room, and offered a shaky laugh. “Yeah, just… a lot on my mind.”His gaze wandered, distant and unfocused, and I didn’t need to guess what—or who—he was thinking about. "It’s Margot, isn’t it?"His blush confirmed my suspicion, his face reddening like a guilty teenager caught sneaking out. “Is it that obvious?”I couldn’t help but smile. "Only completely. You’re not usually this... distracted."He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t know, Isabel. I mean, I like
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