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 POVCaleb’s face was flushed a deep crimson, his eyes darting between Margot and the floor as though looking for an escape. His response came softly, but with a surprising conviction. “Yes,” he said, “but I’ll need time to adapt.”Margot’s expression lit up with pure joy. Before anyone could react, she flung herself into Caleb’s arms with reckless abandon. For a blind person, it was a precarious move. But Margot’s trust was complete and unwavering.“Whoa! Careful!” Caleb exclaimed, catching her instinctively. He stumbled slightly before steadying her. His arms held her as though she were the most fragile treasure in the world.Margot laughed, a carefree sound that filled the room with warmth. “I knew you wouldn’t let me fall.”“Well, you’re lucky I’ve been working out,” Caleb teased, attempting to regain some composure but failing miserably as his blush deepened.Their giggles intertwined, creating a melody of joy that brightened the sterile hospital room. Watching them, I fel
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