Isabel’s POVThe moment the brooch appeared on stage, my heart skipped a beat. I knew what it meant, not just to the auction, but to Emerson. It was more than just a piece of jewelry. It was a symbol of his family’s legacy, a treasure passed down through generations. I felt his eyes on me instantly, burning with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. When I met his gaze, it was as if he wanted to kill me. The fury in his eyes was unmistakable. A storm was brewing behind that steely exterior.But instead of fear, I felt something else—defiance. I wasn’t going to let him control me. Not anymore. I gave him a provocative smile, one that I knew would only fan the flames of his anger. Then, without a second thought, I got up from my seat and walked out. What happened next, I told myself, had nothing to do with me. Let him seethe. Let him rage. Let him bid until he gets it—or not. I was done being the passive participant in our twisted dance.Outside, the cool night air hit me l
Isabel’s POVThe hospital loomed ahead. The taxi ride had been a blur, a whirlwind of fear and guilt that gnawed at my insides. Every turn of the wheels felt like an eternity. As we pulled up to the entrance, I threw some cash at the driver and stumbled out. I was still in my gown from last night. My heels clicked sharply against the pavement.I rushed through the sliding doors, my heart pounding in my chest. The fluorescent lights above buzzed, casting a harsh glow on everything they touched. My eyes darted around, searching, hoping, dreading. Finally, I saw him—Michael, Emerson’s secretary—pacing anxiously outside the emergency room. His usually composed demeanor was nowhere to be found. Instead, he looked like a man on the brink of collapse. When he spotted me, it was as if he had seen a lifeline.“Miss White!” Michael’s voice trembled as he hurried over. The relief in his eyes was palpable. But it was mixed with something else—desperation. “Thank God you’re here. I didn’t know w
Isabel’s POVThe sterile hospital lights cast a harsh glare in the waiting area. My heart pounded in my chest as I sat beside Michael, Emerson’s anxious secretary. We had just watched as Lilith was taken away by the powerful Mr. Montrose.“More to what?” I asked in response to Michael’s muttering. Though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.He only shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Never mind. Let’s focus on Mr. Williams for now.”But his words, “There must be more to this,” lingered in my mind, fueling the growing sense of unease in my gut. Something was wrong here. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.The silence between us was suffocating. I shifted uneasily in the hard plastic chair, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of events.Michael looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. His usually meticulous appearance was disheveled. His tie was askew, and his eyes were darkened with fatigue. He glanced at me occasionally, his expression filled with worry.
Isabel’s POVAs Emerson was fighting for his life, my heart sank deeper than I thought possible. I felt weighed down by conflicting emotions. I couldn’t quite explain the ache that spread across my chest. Emerson had betrayed me. He had shattered our marriage, gave up on me and our baby, and got engaged to the woman who destroyed everything. He even tried to ruin my father, driving him to the brink of despair. Wasn’t this supposed to be his retribution? A car accident—a twist of fate—should have felt like some kind of cosmic justice.I should be happy. Or at the very least, I should feel some satisfaction. But somehow, my heart still hurts.Suddenly, the familiar stabbing pain began to claw at my head. “Oh no, not now…” I thought to myself.The dull throb quickly escalated into a full-blown headache. I pressed my fingers to my temple, trying to take the pain away. But it only intensified. I hadn’t brought any medication with me."I’ll be right back," I muttered, not waiting for Micha
Isabel’s POVRelief washed over me. Emerson was alive. He had made it through the surgery. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but my breath came a little easier knowing he hadn’t died."Can we see him?" Michael's voice broke the silence. He looked pale, his hands trembling slightly. The doctor's face softened in response. He hesitated. "Only for a short while. His vitals are still unstable, so we can’t have too many stimuli around."We followed the doctor down the dimly lit hallway, my heart racing with every step. The antiseptic smell of the hospital seemed stronger here, adding to the disorientation. We stopped at a small, private room at the end of the hall. The door creaked open, and there he was—Emerson, lying so still in the bed. He looked nothing like the man who had torn through my life with aggression and arrogance. Now, he was hooked up to machines. Tubes were snaking around his body. His head was wrapped in bandages. His face, usually so full of life and power, seemed fra
Isabel’s POVI stood by Emerson’s bedside. My heart was racing as my fingers hovered over the oxygen tube. It was right there, inches from my hand. One tug, one moment of weakness, and it would be over. I wouldn’t have to endure the agony he kept causing me. The betrayal. The abandonment. The countless nights spent crying alone while he rebuilt his life without me.I could be free.But as I moved closer, something stopped me. My hand shook, and instead of pulling the tube, it fell to my side. I stumbled back, clenching my fists, furious at myself. I hated him—God, I hated him. But I hated myself more. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take his life, no matter how much pain he caused me.What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I be strong, cold-hearted, like he was? I bit my lip, fighting back tears. I tried desperately to push away the memories of his touch, his smile. The things I missed. Even though I swore to never let myself feel that way again.“God, Emerson. Why did you have to ruin
Isabel’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, the world around me had shifted. The sterile, whitewashed walls of the private hospital were gone. They were replaced with a dull, muted gray. The beeping machines were replaced by eerie silence, punctuated by distant murmurs and the occasional shout. My heart raced as I realized something was terribly wrong.I tried to move, but my wrists and ankles were restrained. Thick leather straps bound me to the bed. They were too tight, cold and unyielding against my skin. Panic surged through me. But I bit it back, trying to stay calm. Where was I? What had happened?A strange, unsettling laugh filled the room. I turned my head to see a woman in the bed next to mine. Her hair was a mess of tangles. Her eyes were wide and wild, darting around as if she saw something I couldn’t. "Ha ha ha! Another idiot!" she shrieked. Her laughter was maniacal, echoing through the small room.My blood ran cold. I wasn’t in a normal hospital. I was in a mental institution.
Isabel’s POVI followed the nurse down the narrow, dimly lit hallway. Each step felt like walking into a nightmare I couldn’t wake from. My feet were bare. The cold tiles sent shivers up my spine. The thin hospital gown clung to my body, offering no warmth, no protection. Even my wig was gone. I felt stripped, vulnerable and exposed. As if everything that made me Isabel had been taken away. I had nothing but my fear.We reached a small consultation room. The moment I stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind me with a loud click. I spun around, heart racing. But the door was locked. I was trapped, again.My breath quickened, panic rising in my chest. The room was stark, bare. No windows. No escape. My reflection flickered in the glass of a single hanging light above the desk. I looked like a ghost, pale and gaunt. A shadow of the woman I used to be.Moments later, the door creaked open again. A doctor in a white coat walked in, followed closely by a nurse. I wanted to scream, to
Isabel’s POV“Excuse me? Are you threatening me, Caleb?” My voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. The words felt foreign coming out of my mouth, but his behavior left me no choice. Caleb stood there, his head hung low. As though the weight of my accusation had crushed him.He didn’t respond right away. His lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he exhaled deeply, shaking his head. “No, Isabel. I wouldn’t threaten you.” His voice was low, almost broken. “But... I can’t pretend anymore.”“What are you talking about?” I asked cautiously, my heart beating faster.Caleb’s shoulders slumped, and he took a hesitant step toward me. “I’m jealous, okay?” His voice cracked on the last word. “I’m jealous of him, whoever he is. I thought... I thought I had a chance, Isa.”I stared at him, stunned. “What?”“When you divorced Emerson,” he began, his words tumbling out in a rush, “I thought—at least—I could stay by your side. Even if it was just as family. I told myself that was enough. But if yo
Isabel’s POVMy eyes widened as I studied the photo. Its edges were worn as though it had been handled countless times. I reached out instinctively, my fingers trembling as they brushed the air between us. "Where did you get this?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.Caleb stepped back quickly, moving the photo away from me with a smooth, deliberate motion. His eyes met mine. For the first time, there was something unfamiliar in his gaze—something secretive. My stomach twisted. Was Caleb more involved in these conspiracies than I thought? Could I still trust him?“Caleb,” I said, my voice lowering as I stepped closer, “give it to me.”I tried to reach for the photo, which he now held high above his head. He was much taller than me, so I jumped to reach it. “Caleb! This is not a game. Give that photo to me, now! You have no idea what you’re doing,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice raising with each word.But Caleb shook his head. A sly smile played at the corners of h
Isabel’s POVI stared at Dr. Vargas, the words he had just spoken reverberating through my chest. My heart raced with a mix of confusion and dread. “Is Sebastian in danger?” My voice wavered as the question escaped my lips before I could stop it. The image of Elias flashed in my mind—him slipping away from my view, his enigmatic presence lingering just long enough to stir unease.Dr. Vargas nodded solemnly, a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze. “Yes, he is. But Sebastian’s not one to back down. He’ll find a way to get back at the traitors, no matter what. You shouldn’t be worrying about him right now.” His voice was steady, but his eyes searched my face for something I wasn’t sure I could give. “Focus on your own survival, Isabel. Take care of yourself.”His eyes were sharp, but there was a layer of weariness beneath them. He wasn’t just giving advice—he was issuing a warning. A warning that the path we were all walking was fraught with peril. What Dr. Vargas really meant wa
Isabel’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Emerson’s sudden outburst had left both Caleb and me startled, and the air buzzed with unanswered questions.“Emerson,” Caleb said, his voice steady but laced with concern, “what’s going on? You’re acting like we’re in the middle of a war zone.”Emerson was already moving, grabbing my belongings with frantic urgency. “We don’t have time for questions, Caleb. We need to get Isabel out of here. Now.”“Emerson!” I snapped, forcing as much authority into my voice as I could muster. “Stop. You can’t just uproot me like this without explaining. What’s happening?”His jaw tightened, his eyes darting toward the window as if he expected danger to come crashing through at any moment. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck before finally meeting my gaze.“I saw a man,” he said, his voice low. “He was in the hallway earlier, wearing a coat with Alistair’s family badge embroidered on it.”My breath caught in my throat. “Alistair’s badge
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t shake the unease settling in my chest. Margot was giving out her contact information—was she being careless, or had she judged Caleb trustworthy? Did she know he was connected to me? It seemed unlikely, but Margot was sharp. Perhaps too sharp to let something like that slip by accident. Still, the possibility worried me. She’d suffered enough already, and the thought of her inadvertently drawing danger closer made my stomach twist.“Her name?” Caleb repeated, frowning slightly. He scratched his head, looking sheepish. “Well, uh… no. She didn’t tell me. Said she wanted to keep a sense of mystery.” His face lit up with a wry grin. “An interesting girl, though. Made me feel like I was the one being studied.”He chuckled, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice. Caleb was many things, but overly confident wasn’t one of them. He seemed to be replaying the encounter in his head, wondering if he’d done something wrong—or maybe if he hadn’t been charming enough.I
Isabel’s POVCaleb’s casual words sent a jolt through me. My heart raced, and I felt the blood drain from my face. A blind girl in the area—what were the chances? Could it be?I forced myself to act natural, masking my growing unease. "A blind girl?" I asked lightly. "What was she like?"He tilted his head, trying to recall. "She had this serene presence, you know? Like she’d figured something out about life the rest of us haven’t. She was wearing big sunglasses and a hat—kept her face pretty covered—but she had a radiant smile. Oh, and her voice… it was kind of unforgettable. Gentle but strong. She seemed so at peace."His words struck a chord deep inside me. It had to be her. Caleb was oblivious to my inner turmoil and continued, "Oh, wait, I think I have a picture.""A picture?" My voice cracked slightly, but Caleb didn’t notice."Yeah, it’s funny, actually. I took a selfie in the flower shop—don’t ask, I was bored—and she accidentally ended up in the background. That’s how I notic
Isabel’s POV"Doctor, you can't be serious. Surgery?" Emerson's voice cracked slightly as his gaze darted between me and Dr. Vargas. He looked more terrified than I had ever seen him. As though the word itself could unravel him.Dr. Vargas cleared his throat, his professional demeanor steady. “Surgery is one option, but only if the tumor progresses to a stage where it becomes necessary. For now, we focus on non-invasive methods and assess as we go.”Before Emerson could spiral any further, I placed a hand on his arm. “Emerson, stop. It’s not as dire as you’re making it out to be.”He turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Not dire? Isa, this is brain surgery we’re talking about!”I sighed, pulling his hand away from his temples where he had been rubbing in frustration. “Tumors often require removal. It’s standard, not catastrophic. I’m just preparing for all possibilities. That doesn’t mean you need to overreact.”Emerson looked at the report in his hand, his brow furrowed deeply
Isabel’s POVThe idea had planted itself in my mind and taken root: if I didn’t make it, at least parts of me could still be used to help the people I loved. My eyes, for example. Thinking I might be able to help Margot see again was a small consolation. But it gave me a sliver of peace amidst the chaos of everything else.Dr. Vargas noticed my hesitation as I stared at the clipboard in his hands. He set his pen down, folding his hands in front of him with a small, regretful smile.“I’m afraid not, Miss White.”Confusion flickered across my face. “What do you mean?”His gaze softened, as though he were breaking unwelcome news. “Sebastian specifically instructed me to reject any notions of… self-sacrifice on your part. He made it very clear.”The corners of my mouth twitched into a weak smile as I leaned back in the chair. My arm came up to cover my watery eyes. “Of course, he did. He’s always so thoughtful. Too thoughtful.”Guilt crept in, knotting my stomach. I couldn’t even do this
Isabel’s POV"Margot… She's gone blind? No, it can't be..." I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. My voice sounded small, fragile—unlike me. I sat frozen in the sterile chemo room. The faint hum of the IV machine was the only sound filling the silence.Dr. Vargas’s calm expression didn’t waver, but I could see the weight of his words reflected in the lines of his face. “I’m afraid it’s true.”It felt like a punch to my chest. Margot. Strong, fierce Margot. The woman who once shielded me when I couldn’t stand on my own. Gone blind. The thought sent my mind spinning. My body stiffened against the recliner’s cold leather. My pulse thudded in my ears. I could barely hear my own voice when I croaked out the next question.“Why? How? What… what happened to her?”Dr. Vargas shifted slightly, his demeanor remaining professional but gentler now. “When Sebastian and Margot escaped from the barracks, they ran into pursuers. The men didn’t recognize them, but they assume