Isabel’s POVEmerson’s words sent a jolt of fear through me. “What did you mean? Say it!” Emerson said coldly; his tone sounded intimidating.His eyes were fixed on me. The room seemed to freeze. Multiple pairs of eyes turned my way. The tension was palpable. Everyone seemed to hold its breath as they awaited my response.I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. My heart pounded in my chest. I had fought so hard to keep my illness private. To maintain some semblance of control over my spiraling life. But now, with Emerson’s question hanging in the air, it felt like my carefully guarded secret was about to be exposed.Everyone's eyes were on me, waiting, expecting. I could feel their curiosity. Their desire to unravel whatever it was that I was hiding.I forced myself to meet Emerson’s gaze, trying to maintain a facade of calm. “It’s nothing,” I said. My voice sounded steadier than I felt. I forced a smile, hoping it would deflect his attention. “Just a pe
Isabel’s POVI stood there, draped in the beautiful silk cape that Robert had gifted me. Its soft fabric felt almost surreal against my skin. It had been a long time since I’d worn anything nearly as luxurious. Emma’s bright smile caught my eye. For a moment, I wondered if she had known about Robert’s intentions all along. But my thoughts were still consumed by the shock of his words."Pursue me?" The phrase echoed in my mind. Did Robert... like me? The idea seemed impossible. But then, I thought back on all the months he had spent supporting me through my illness. The countless times he had been there with patience and kind words. In my heart, he was just like a brother who always had my back and encouraged me. But now… Could he be something more? My heart fluttered with confusion as I tried to piece it all together. Why would he ask me in such a public place, in front of everyone? Surely, Robert had only spoken up to help me out. To shield me from the judgmental eyes of former cla
Isabel’s POVI could clearly feel Lilith’s malice in her eyes. She didn’t just want Emerson—she wanted to erase me entirely. As if my mere existence threatened her place by his side.Even now, with Emerson under her spell, she seemed bothered by the thought that he still cared about my dating life. Albeit in a twisted, controlling way. As if he still had a right to decide my fate. I could see the possessiveness in his gaze. The way his eyes darkened whenever Robert spoke to me.I turned to Robert, offering him an apologetic smile. Though I knew it wouldn't soften the blow. "I did sign the agreement," I admitted. The disappointment in his eyes was palpable, and I hated seeing that look on his face. He had been so kind, so understanding. And now he had to face the consequences of my past choices."But it had nothing to do with ‘Mrs. Williams’," I added, my voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. I deliberately emphasized "Mrs. Williams," glancing over at Lilith. It was a reminder that she
Isabel’s POVJust as I raised the glass to my lips, two voices rang out simultaneously, sharp and urgent.“Isabel, stop!”“No, don’t!”The sharp command startled me. I froze, the glass hovering inches from my mouth. Before I could react, Robert was beside me. His hand quickly grabbed the glass from mine, his face filled with worry. His eyes searched mine with an intensity that made my heart clench. “Are you crazy? Did you forget you’re allergic to mango?” His voice was low but laced with a mix of fear and anger.I blinked, the reality of what I’d almost done sinking in. The woman who handed me the glass feigned surprise. Her expression was a pitiful attempt at innocence. “Oh my, I had no idea! I’m so sorry, Isabel.”Robert’s gaze darkened as he turned to face her. His tone was icy. “You knew,” he accused, each word cutting through the room like a knife. “You knew she was allergic, and you still offered her this.” The woman’s face was drained of color, but she didn’t respond.I wonder
Emerson’s POVThe evening had been a whirlwind of conversation, business talk and forced pleasantries. But my mind kept drifting back to Isabel. She had excused herself to the restroom quite a while ago. And despite the ongoing dinner, I couldn’t shake the unease building inside me.Robert had been called away for an emergency just after Isabel had excused herself. But before he left, he had the audacity to speak to me in a low, serious tone. “If you have any pity left for Isabel, you should really treat her better. She loved you deeply once, you know?”His words lingered, festering in my mind. Who was he to talk to me that way? Yet, there was a part of me that couldn't deny the truth in what he said. My feelings for Isabel were a tangled mess. I should have hated her. Resented her for what her father did. For the past three years, I had convinced myself that I did. But now, I couldn't get her out of my mind—her golden hair, her bright smile, those captivating blue eyes. But I had L
Isabel’s POVThe darkness seemed endless, pressing in on me from all sides. My breath came in short, panicked gasps. It felt as if the walls were closing in tighter with every second. The small, enclosed space felt like it was crushing me. Squeezing out any last bit of hope. My head throbbed painfully, each pulse of my heartbeat sending sharp pains through my temples. Was this how I would die? Trapped, alone, and suffocated by my own terror?The memories came rushing back, as vivid as the day they happened. Falling down those stairs. Lilith’s wicked smile. The sickening crack of bone against stone. Until there was only darkness. I had lost my baby in that darkness. The same darkness that surrounded me now.The fear that had taken root inside me was growing like a dark vine, swallowing me whole. I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. The overwhelming dread was too much.But then, through the suffocating silence, I heard it—a loud crash. And then another. My head jolted upright. What was ha
Isabel’s POVEmerson's words and reactions were unsettling. The way he’d pinpointed my claustrophobia, even tracing it back to when it began, left me bewildered. How had he known? And why did he look so sorrowful? His usually cold blue eyes held an unusual softness as he sat there. His hands were tangled in his hair. He was staring up at me with an expression that almost made me falter.Almost.But I couldn’t let myself be swayed by him. Not again. Emerson had hurt me too deeply. He had cut me in ways that left permanent scars. The look in his eyes might have touched me once. But now, I felt nothing more than a fleeting shadow of what I had once felt for him. I couldn't afford to let down my walls. Not again. Not with the man who had shattered my heart beyond repair.I ignored his question, refusing to give him the satisfaction of prying into my pain. All I wanted was to leave, to put as much distance between us as possible. But as I sat up and started gathering my things, Emerson w
Isabel’s POVI stared at Emerson in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest. What did he mean? The ruby necklace my mother had left me—how could it be on the auction list? My mind struggled to process the words that had just come out of his mouth.I shook my head, refusing to believe it. “That can’t be right,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I never sold it… I would never…” My words trailed off as memories of my father’s bankruptcy hit me hard. So many things had been taken, sold off. But not that necklace. It was the only thing I had left of her.I clenched my fists, trying to control the wave of emotions that surged through me. "The break-in at my father's house," I muttered to myself, piecing it together. “It must’ve been stolen then.”Just a few days ago, the police had called me about a break-in. “Ma'am, I’m sorry, the thief ran away, but nothing valuable seemed to have been stolen.” the police said. There wasn’t much left since the bankruptcy. But I totally forgot about
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