Emerson’s POV
So Isabel had found a new home. She wasn’t starving in the streets like my nightmares. A sense of relief washed over me. But when I saw the photos, my heart shattered. She was with a man. And not just any man…
I thanked my assistant for the information and sent him off. I had to prepare for work.
I began the familiar routine of getting dressed. Sliding into a tailored suede suit, I felt the soft fabric mold to my frame. As I looked into the mirror, I couldn’t help but admire the sharp contrast of my wavy, dark hair against my striking blue eyes.
I looked every bit the successful and accomplished CEO that I was known to be. Yet, despite the polished exterior, a hollow feelin
Isabel’s POVEmerson stood before me, scrolling through his phone. His eyes were unreadable. There was something off about the way he looked at me, as if he was doubting whether I spoke the truth. “I don’t see any record of your call,” he finally said.I wondered if Lilith had hidden it from him. It wouldn't surprise me. She was cunning like that. But that wasn’t what I wanted to discuss. I needed to focus on the real issue."When are we signing the agreement?" I asked directly, my voice colder than I intended. I didn't have the luxury to dance around the subject. I needed that money. My father's life depended on it, and so did my own. I watched as Emerson’s expression shifted slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Isabel’s POVAs Emerson turned to leave, his words cut through the air like a knife. “Move out of this house today,” he commanded in a voice as cold as ice. He tossed a set of keys onto the table between us. “If you don’t want Robert to pay a ‘big price’ because of you.”I stared at the keys, my heart pounding. Emerson’s threats always carried weight, and I had no doubt he meant every word. Robert stood beside me, his face contorted with anger. He opened his mouth to retort. But I quickly reached out and touched his arm, silencing him.“I was planning to move out anyway,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I can’t keep burdening you, Robert. I’ll move to the apartment from the
Emerson’s POVThe past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions. Every time I thought of Isabel, my mind spiraled into confusion. Why did she have this effect on me? Why did her presence linger in my thoughts, irritating my nerves and gnawing at my sanity? I had always convinced myself that my feelings for her were nothing more than fleeting remnants of our marriage. But the jealousy and anger that surged within me whenever I saw her with Robert... It made no sense.I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I left Isabel behind in the suburbs, with Robert. Her fragile appearance was burned into my memory. The way she looked at me, as though I were the last person she wanted to see, only fueled my frustration. But beneath that frustration was something deeper—something I refused to acknowledge.The car ride back to the office was tense. My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Lilith. I hesitated before answering, knowing what was coming."Emerson," she purred, her voice
Isabel’s POVI stared at the test results, my hands trembling as I held the paper. Nervous headache? How could this be? Just a headache? The diagnosis felt like a cruel joke, mocking the pain and fear that had plagued me for so long. My mind raced. Did someone tamper with the results? Who could have done it? Lilith? The thought of her involvement sent a chill down my spine. But before I could voice my suspicions, Emerson’s voice cut through my confusion. “Lilith wasn’t the only victim. Your father was a lot worse than you thought.”His words struck me like a slap in the face. I felt the air leave my lungs. What did he mean by that? I searched Emerson’s face for answers, but he only offered a cold, distant expression.“If you want to know the truth,” he said, his tone as icy as his gaze, “why don’t you investigate it yourself?”And with that, he turned and walked away. He left me standing there, clutching the test results in one hand and the divorce agreement in the other.A flood of
Isabel’s POVI hugged myself tightly, curled up on the cold, hard floor of my father’s study. The night seemed endless, each passing hour filled with the suffocating weight of dread. The images of Lilith from my father’s hidden safe haunted me. And there were photos of other young girls too. I kept asking myself the same question over and over: What had my father done? My heart ached as my mind wandered to the darkest corners of possibility. Could my father, the man who had always been my hero, have committed something so unforgivable? I felt sick just thinking about it.When I finally drifted off, my nightmares mirrored my deepest fears. Lilith's face was there, but younger, more innocent. “Your father has done the unspeakable. The unforgivable,” she said. And then, other girls—so many of them—echoed her words. “Unspeakable. Unforgivable.” They all looked terrified. The images swirled around me, trapping me in a whirlwind of horror until I jolted awake. My heart was pounding. I was
Isabel’s POVJulia’s words offered me a glimmer of hope. But I didn’t know if I would ever find out the truth about my father. My time was running out. I could feel the cancer spreading, sapping my strength day by day. My new apartment, a relic from my divorce, became my sanctuary. It was the only luxury I had left. A reminder of a life that seemed like a distant dream. I found a low intensity online job to pay for my medical bills. The work kept my mind occupied, but my health declined rapidly over the next three months.Chemotherapy took its toll. I lost all my hair. I invested in a wig that looked just like the golden hair I once had. But every time I looked in the mirror, I saw a stranger staring back at me. The wig was a small comfort, a way to hold on to a piece of myself. I bought some new clothes for myself. They weren’t nearly as nice as the ones Emerson had once bought for me, but I had lost everything in the fire. The new outfits felt like trying to paint over cracks in a
Isabel’s POVMaybe out of spite, or the deep well of resentment that had built up inside me, I deliberately said my ex-husband had died. I wanted to erase him from my life. To make it as if he never existed. The words slipped out without much thought. A final attempt to reclaim some dignity. But as soon as I spoke to them, a cold voice echoed through the room."Well, that's a pity, Miss White."The room fell silent. My heart stopped. I turned around, wide-eyed and in shock. Emerson stood there, tall and imposing. His icy blue eyes bore into mine. His wavy dark hair and carefully trimmed short beard outlined his strong jawline. He looked every bit the dashing figure I once fell in love with. But there was no warmth in his gaze. Only cold mockery.Beside him, Lilith clung to his arm. Her presence was as calculated as ever. Her beauty was the kind that only money could buy—artificial yet striking. Thick lashes framed her eyes, which were heavily made up with a smoky shadow. It gave her
Isabel’s POVThe room buzzed with the low murmur of conversation and clinking glasses. I sat there, feeling like an unwelcome guest at my own high school reunion. The laughter and chatter seemed to grow louder as the evening wore on. The event had taken quite the unexpected turn with the arrival of Emerson, Lilith and Robert. The question hung in the air. My heart raced, a mix of panic and dread flooding my senses. What was Robert going to say? How was Emerson going to react? The tension in the room was thick, suffocating. I felt trapped between these two men who, in their own ways, had such a hold on my life. My old classmate looked at Robert with a teasing smile. His tone was laced with curiosity. He was obviously unaware of the tension between Robert and Emerson. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Emerson’s gaze darkened and rested on me, waiting for my reply. “Oh, no,” I stammered, waving my hands in a dismissive gesture. “We’re just friends. Please don't make jokes li
Isabel’s POVDarkness crept at the edges of my vision, but I clung to consciousness as if it were a lifeline. On the cold floor of Emerson’s study, the thud of my fall still echoed faintly in my ears. The world was already slipping away. The last thing I felt before giving in was the warmth of his arms wrapping around me.“Isa!” Emerson’s voice cracked, raw with panic. His hold was tight, almost crushing. As though his sheer will could tether me to him, to this moment.I managed to keep my eyes half-open, though my limbs felt like lead. Through the haze, I could see his face above mine, pale with fear. His lips moved, frantic, as he barked an order over his shoulder.“Marianne! Call the family doctor! Now!”The pounding of feet, the sound of something falling in the distance—all of it blurred together in my mind. Emerson’s voice came back, softer, trembling as he murmured against my hair. “You’ll be okay, Isa. Hold on. Please… don’t scare me like this.”I wanted to answer him, to tel
Isabel’s POVThe air between us felt heavy, laden with the weight of unspoken fears. Emerson sat across from me, his brow furrowed in discomfort. His initial reaction to my plea had been resistance, but I wasn’t about to back down. My chest ached with the need to protect my son—to secure his future. Even if it meant pleading with the one man I swore I’d never rely on again."I need your promise, Emerson," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me."If anything happens to me, you'll take care of Liam. You'll protect him at all costs."His brows furrowed in resistance. "Isabel, why are you even talking like this? Nothing is going to happen to you. I won’t let it."I crossed my arms, the weight of my secret pressing harder than ever. The surgery had been delayed time and time again. And even though it was coming soon, there was a chance I wouldn’t survive. But I could never tell Emerson that. He would freak out and control me even more than he already did."You don’t k
Isabel’s POV“Sure. Come on in,” he said gently. I followed Emerson into his study with a resolute heart. My breath was steady despite the pounding in my chest. The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the crisp rustle of papers. I was a little startled to find another presence in the room. Behind Emerson, standing silently against the desk, was Caleb. His gaze flicked up, a hint of unease in his eyes. It was evident he had been in the middle of a serious conversation with Emerson. My sudden arrival had clearly thrown off whatever plans they were discussing.“Am I interrupting something?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Don’t worry. We’ll catch up later,” Caleb said with a half-smirk before silently slipping out of the room, leaving just Emerson and me. The door clicked shut, and the tension in the room thickened in an instant. My heart pounded as I met Emerson’s gaze. I took a deep breath, feeling the gravity of everything I was about to say sink d
Isabel’s POVMy heart pounded in my chest as my thoughts spiraled out of control. The image of that swift figure disappearing over the wall in an instant replayed in my mind. The mysterious note left in the hospital window still felt like a riddle I hadn’t solved. Was it him? Could it have been Sebastian? His military training would explain his quick disappearances, his ability to blend into the shadows with ease. The idea sent a shiver down my spine.“Isa, what’re you thinking about?” Emerson’s voice, low and concerned, pulled me back to the present moment. I glanced up at him, his eyes searching mine. I quickly pushed the thoughts away.“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a small, fleeting smile. “I’m going to check on Liam.”He looked at me for a moment longer, suspicion flickering in his gaze. But, to my surprise, he nodded silently. A flicker of resignation settled on his face. Maybe he sensed that I wasn’t going to share whatever tumultuous thoughts were swirling in my head.I took a s
Isabel’s POVThe air in the room felt heavy, thick with the unspoken tension that seemed to follow every revelation tonight. Emerson stood near the window, his posture tense and his gaze fixed on something far beyond the glass. His unease was palpable, and a knot of anxiety began to form in my chest.“What is it?” Estelle asked impatiently.Emerson sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. He turned to face us, his expression serious. “Lilith escaped.”For a moment, his words didn’t register. Then, a chill ran through me. I tightened my arms instinctively around myself. “Escaped?”“She had help,” Emerson explained, his voice clipped. “Someone tipped her off about my meeting with Alistair. By the time I got to her location, she was already gone.”The room spun as his words sank in. Lilith, the woman who had caused so much pain and destruction, was still out there. Free. Unchecked.“How?” My voice was sharper than I intended, a mix of fear and frustration. “How does someone like her keep
Isabel’s POVI stood frozen, my mind reeling from Emerson’s explosive declaration. Alistair Montrose, the invincible patriarch, had abandoned Lilith—just like that. It felt surreal, almost too convenient to be true. My thoughts swirled with questions I dared not voice aloud. What did this mean for Lilith? For us? Was she truly out of the picture, or was this just the calm before another storm?But I knew better than to let my thoughts show. Estelle's gaze was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade searching for a weakness to exploit.Caleb must have noticed the tension tightening in my shoulders because he stepped forward. His expression was neutral but his voice was calm.“Maybe it’s best if Isabel takes some time to rest,” Caleb suggested smoothly, gesturing toward the door. “She’s had a long day.”I felt a rush of gratitude for his attempt to pull me out of the room, away from this powder keg of emotions. But before I could move, Emerson’s voice cut through the air. He stopp
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s sudden entrance startled us all. His commanding presence seemed to shift the atmosphere in the room, heavy with tension and unresolved truths. I glanced at him, searching his face for a clue to how he felt about the turmoil swirling around us. His eyes quickly scanned the scene, landing on the DNA test report still clutched in his mother’s trembling hands.Estelle turned toward her son, her normally composed features twisted in disbelief. Her voice quavered as she spoke. “Emerson… is this true? Is what she said about the child true?”Emerson hesitated. His confusion gave way to clarity as he pieced everything together. He met his mother’s questioning gaze, his jaw tightening. “Yes, it’s true,” Emerson said, his tone steady and unyielding, each word a firm declaration. His gaze met his mother’s, daring her to challenge him. “Liam is Isabel’s son. Our son,” he added, his voice softening ever so slightly.As he spoke, he turned toward me. A faint, almost impercep
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. However, I refused to let Mrs. Williams crush me under the weight of her accusations. None of this was my doing. I had tried to get away from Emerson countless times. He was the one controlling me and forcing me to stay with him.My heart pounded as I clutched my mother’s ruby necklace, drawing strength from the gentle strength and grace she had always exuded. Mrs. Williams’ piercing gaze was meant to intimidate. But I met it head-on, refusing to bow.“I never asked him to do any of that,” I said, my voice soft but steady, each word deliberate. “If Emerson made those choices, he did so on his own. You can’t hold me responsible for his actions.”Mrs. Williams scoffed, her lips curling into a disdainful sneer. She rose from her seat with the kind of elegance that only masked the underlying venom. “You may not have asked, but you’ve certainly benefited,” she said coldly. “Don’t think for a second that I’ll stand by while you drag my
Isabel’s POVReturning to Emerson’s villa with my son should have brought me a semblance of peace. But tonight, unease clung to me like a heavy shadow. Even with Liam’s warm weight cradled in my arms, the bad feeling wouldn’t fade. I tried to focus on his soft breaths, his tiny fingers clutching at my sleeve. But the knot in my chest only tightened.“You look exhausted,” Caleb said, his voice gentle but firm as he stood by the doorway. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll keep an eye on Liam.”I forced a small smile, appreciating his concern but unable to shake the growing sense of dread. “I’ll be fine. I just need a moment.”Before Caleb could argue further, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught both our attention. A moment later, the doorbell echoed through the house. Caleb frowned, glancing at the clock. “Who could that be at this hour?”I followed him to the door, my unease deepening as it swung open to reveal a familiar figure: Emerson