Isabel’s POVJust as I was about to storm out, ready to put as much distance as possible between myself and… them, a strange sensation crawled up my spine. Something was off. My breath hitched as I noticed the salesgirl staring directly at me—not at Lila.My eyes darted to Emerson, who stood frozen. Was the ring… for me?He held the small velvet box in his hand now. Slowly, as if trying to salvage a moment he hadn't meant for me to see, he flipped open the lid. A delicate ring gleamed under the store lights, the kind of ring that carried meaning. My heart clenched at the sight.The salesgirl hesitated before speaking. "Mr. Williams had planned a surprise," she explained gently, sensing the tension. "The maid only offered a few suggestions, but in the end, he made his own choice."A sharp pang of guilt cut through me.Lila let out a cold, almost resigned laugh. "Yes, Miss. This is just another misunderstanding on your part. I may come from humble origins, but I have my pride."Somethi
Isabel’s POVThe drive home was excruciating. The air between us was thick with unspoken words. The weight of my mistake pressed heavily on my chest. I had leaned in, kissed his cheek, touched him like nothing had changed—like we were still together. But we weren’t. How could I have forgotten something so fundamental? My mind had been slipping more and more lately, but this? This was a whole new level of terrifying.I stole a glance at Emerson. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles paling under the pressure. His jaw was tense, the faintest muscle twitch betraying his emotions. I could feel his stolen glances too, hesitant, worried, as if he wasn’t sure what to say to me. Maybe he thought I’d shatter if he said the wrong thing.And, to be honest, I just might.I clenched my fists in my lap. Was I really losing it? Had I imagined everything about Lila—Lilith? The flickering images in my head, the strange certainty that she wasn’t who she claimed to be… Was my mind p
Isabel’s POVSince that mob of unscrupulous reporters had forced their way into my life, I had barely left my room. The world outside felt hostile, filled with prying eyes and whispered accusations. My mind was a battlefield—one I was rapidly losing control over. Were the things I remembered even real? Were my memories just fragments of paranoia and stress? I didn’t know anymore.But the worst part was the guilt. The guilt at my inability to be the mother Liam needed, the support for Elena. They were left to the maids when Emerson was at work. I couldn’t even fulfill my duties at work. Though uncle Eric was understanding and told me to take all the time I needed. Still, I felt like I was failing every single person I cared about.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the dark and motionless wall. The silence in my room pressed in on me, thick and suffocating. I should have felt safe here. But instead, every second alone with my own thoughts was another moment of torment.The sudde
Isabel’s POVThe morning light cast a soft glow on my room. I sat up, my limbs heavy from days spent in bed. My mind was still clouded with fragments of confusion and dread. I needed to shake this off. A long shower seemed like the best place to start.As the warm water cascaded over me, I felt the tension in my shoulders slowly unravel. I scrubbed away the sweat and exhaustion, hoping to wash away the uncertainty as well. But even as the steam enveloped me, I couldn’t escape the lingering unease in the pit of my stomach. The memory of the reporters, the Lilith-Lila confusion, the eerie feeling that someone was orchestrating my downfall—it all remained just beneath the surface.When I finally stepped out, I wrapped myself in a fresh towel. I took a deep breath. This was a step forward. No more hiding.Downstairs, the moment my feet touched the floor, a blur of movement shot toward me. "Mommy!" Elena and Liam's voices rang out in unison before their small arms wrapped around me.El
Isabel’s POV“Oh, you’re back! How are you feeling, ma’am?”Marianne’s warm voice greeted us the moment we stepped inside the villa. She stood in the foyer, her hands clasped neatly in front of her apron, her eyes filled with familiar concern. Normally, I would have felt comforted by her presence—Marianne had worked for this family for years, and I had always trusted her like a second mother. But now, that trust was riddled with cracks.Emerson and I exchanged a look. There was something heavy in the air between us. An unspoken understanding that everything had changed.“I’m... okay,” I said, though my voice felt hollow. “Thanks.”Marianne smiled, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—uncertainty, perhaps? Or was I just imagining it? “I was just about to go out to buy groceries, but Michael disagreed. Did something happen?” she asked.I hesitated. Emerson didn’t.“Marianne, we need to ask you about the scented candles you’ve been bringing into the house.” His tone was fir
Isabel’s POV“We’ve got to get hold of those candles.” Emerson’s voice was firm, his expression grim. He turned to Michael. “Stop the garbage truck before it leaves the estate. Make sure we recover any candles that were thrown away.”Michael nodded and pulled out his phone, issuing rapid instructions to his team. Meanwhile, Emerson was already making another call, his voice clipped and urgent. “I need a rushed toxicology report. Priority level one. Have your team ready to test a sample as soon as we retrieve it.”I clenched my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms. A cold dread curled in my stomach. If our suspicions were true, if those candles had truly been poisoning me for weeks… Lila had been doing this right under my nose. Right under Emerson’s nose. How?More importantly—why?“I can’t believe this,” I muttered, shaking my head as a shudder ran through me. “It means she had planned this all along. She wasn’t just lurking, waiting for a moment of opportunity—she was a
Sebastian/Elias’s POV“Ugh,” I groaned, my voice raw and low with sleepless surrender. A sliver of sunlight slipped through a crack in the wall. A thin, mocking reminder that another morning had arrived.The cold bit into my skin like the sharp edge of a blade. The pain of the chains holding my arms overhead was relentless. They had cut into my wrists until the skin had been rubbed raw. Blood had dried and cracked along my forearms. The dull ache merged with the bruises and gashes that covered my body. I no longer knew how long I had been here. Days? Weeks? It could have been months.Time stretched endlessly in the dim chamber, swallowed by the darkness that pressed in from all sides.My last clear memory before waking in this hellhole was the mission. A simple retrieval, or so I had thought. I had been careful, thorough—yet somehow, I had walked right into an ambush. A sharp pain at the base of my skull told me they had knocked me out. I had awoken in chains. Disoriented, aching,
Sebastian/Elias’s POVThe air in the dimly lit chamber grew thick with tension as Alistair Montrose stepped even closer. His breath reeked of cigars and an attempt at mint to mask the stench, but it only made it worse. A nauseating mix of indulgence and decay. The closer he got, the stronger the sickening combination became, making my empty stomach churn.I yanked against the chains binding my wrists, the metal digging deeper into my raw skin. My muscles screamed in protest. But I refused to stay still, to give him the satisfaction of seeing me accept my fate. I met his gaze with unflinching defiance."Calm down, young man," Alistair cooed, mockingly, as if soothing a wayward child. His voice dripped with condescension, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied with my… hospitality?"My blood boiled. The sound of his voice alone ignited a fresh wave of fury inside me. I gathered the metallic tang of blood in my mouth and spat. A dark satisfaction cu
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
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t shake the image of Eric’s disappointed eyes from my mind. The way he had looked at me—like I was making the worst mistake of my life—had been haunting me ever since I rejected his offer.Although returning home with him and bringing the twins sounded like a dream, I couldn’t risk any danger following us.“Isabel, do you even hear yourself?” Eric had asked, his voice thick with disbelief. He gestured at Emerson. “Haven’t you learned your lesson with him?”I had known this conversation would be difficult, but seeing the pain on his face still cut deeper than I had expected. To him, my decision wasn’t just reckless—it was a betrayal. He had spent so much time trying to protect me, trying to give me an escape, only for me to walk right back into the fire.“This isn’t about Emerson,” I had explained, forcing my voice to remain steady. “It’s about unfinished business, Eric. I can’t leave Rivermont. Not yet.”He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Isabel, I’m begging
Sebastian/Elias’s POVScarlet’s voice was razor-sharp, slicing through the tension-laden air. “I never meant for my nephew to be dragged into your web of danger, Alistair.” Her eyes burned with a fury I hadn’t seen before. Yet there was something else lurking beneath it—regret. Guilt.Alistair, as always, was unimpressed. He gave a dismissive wave, his mouth curling into an infuriating smirk. “Spare me the theatrics, Scarlet. He dragged himself into this when he started meddling with my operation. You want to play the remorseful aunt now? Too late.” His gaze turned to me, and his voice took on a condescending edge. “You should be thanking her, Elias. She’s the one who made those delightful little concoctions running through your veins.”Scarlet stiffened, but she didn’t deny it. “I never gave you permission to use them on my family members.“And since when do I ask for permission?” Alistair sighed, as if the conversation bored him. “Since you’re so concerned, why don’t you give him
Sebastian/Elias's POVThe basement was the same as ever—cold, damp, and stinking of rust and decay. Dust swirled in the dim light from the single flickering bulb, casting erratic shadows on the cracked stone walls. But this time, I wasn’t the one in chains.“Kill him.” Alistair’s voice was sharp and commanding, his outstretched hand pointing at a young man kneeling a few feet away. He couldn’t have been much older than nineteen, his face drawn and gaunt from fear. His chains rattled as he tried to inch backward, but there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.I didn’t hesitate.I lunged forward, my foot connecting with his chest before he could react. He crumpled to the ground with a strangled gasp. Without missing a beat, I dropped to one knee, my hands locking around his throat. His pulse fluttered beneath my fingers, his breath hitching as I tightened my grip.He struggled—weakly at first, then more desperately, his fingers clawing at my wrists. But I was stronger. Faster. Bette
Lilith’s POV"What? You want to change back to your old face?"The woman in front of me didn't even look up as she spoke, her voice laced with contempt and utter boredom. She was in her fifties, yet not a single wrinkle marred her flawless skin. Her body, toned and striking, was a testament to her wealth and vanity. She sat elegantly on the edge of a metal counter, her fingers idly playing with a small vial of serum. The dim, sterile light of the underground lab reflected off the glass, casting eerie patterns across the walls.I clenched my fists. Of course, she wouldn’t take me seriously—not at first. But I was done playing games."I’ve completed the task my father gave me," I said, my voice steady, though my stomach twisted with unease. "I no longer want to bear this disgusting face."That got her attention. Scarlet finally turned to face me, a slow, amused smirk curling her lips. She tilted her head slightly, as if studying me for the first time."Completed?" she repeated mockingl