Isabel’s POVThe nurse approached me with unnerving calm. Her blonde hair was meticulously styled beneath her cap, not a single strand out of place. Her face was almost unnaturally symmetrical—high cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips. On the surface, she was beautiful. In a way that seemed too perfect, too calculated. But there was an eerie stillness to her movements. A cold precision in the way she glided across the room that made my skin crawl. Her pale blue eyes, though framed by soft lashes, lacked any warmth. They didn’t seem to see me as a person, but as an object to be controlled. A chill ran down my spine as I realized there was something deeply off about her. Every instinct screamed at me to be cautious, to watch her every move. Her beauty, so flawlessly constructed, felt more like a mask. Hiding whatever lay beneath. Whatever it was, I knew I had to tread carefully. She wasn’t just a nurse. She was something far more dangerous.Her hands were steady as she held out
Isabel’s POVMargot’s attempts to distract or stop the nurse had failed. The panic was rising in my chest. I lay there, shivering in my hospital gown. It offered no protection from the cold, steel room. I felt more exposed, vulnerable and frightened than I ever had.How did it come to this? Who got me into this place, and why?I thought losing my baby was the worst thing that ever happened to me. But now, I wasn’t so sure. This was the most unsafe and terrifying environment I had ever found myself in.The nurse’s footsteps echoed in the small room as she came closer. Each step made my heart pound faster. There was nowhere to run. I was tied to the bed, my wrists bound tightly. Even the room itself was sealed shut. My claustrophobia came up like never before. “Somebody, help me,” I prayed silently, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment. “Please… I can’t do this alone…”The nurse had reached my bedside. “Alright, let’s finally get this over with,” she sighed, casting an angry glance at Ma
Isabel’s POVI couldn’t risk getting Margot into trouble, so I quickly averted my gaze. I pretended to focus on the ceiling as if nothing had happened. Thankfully, the nurse was too absorbed in her task to notice our brief exchange. She loomed over me, her cold eyes inspecting every movement I made. "Swallow it," she repeated in that same flat, detached voice.My body trembled as I nodded weakly, pretending to obey. I knew I had to play along, to make it look convincing. I made a small gulping sound."Show me," she demanded, her voice dropping an octave. I could see the suspicion in her eyes. I opened my mouth wide. My heart pounded as her eyes examined me, scrutinizing every corner of my mouth for evidence of deceit.After a few long, torturous seconds, she seemed satisfied. She released her grip on my face, and that eerie smile stretched across her lips again. "Good girl," she whispered, her tone disturbingly tender. She leaned down to kiss my forehead. The gesture sent chills dow
Isabel’s POVWhat Margot revealed was beyond anything I could’ve expected. A human trafficking ring? I knew this place was dark, but not like this. Not this vile.My thoughts drifted to Emerson. Had he woken up from his coma yet? If so, was he wondering where I’d gone? Could Michael, his secretary, have pieced together what happened after our phone call was abruptly cut off? I prayed he was looking for me. Maybe he’d be the one to discover the truth. And what about Emma and Robert? I was sure they must’ve thought my time had come. Maybe they assumed the tumor had finally claimed me, and I was just another tragic story.A wave of helplessness washed over me. If they thought I was dead, who would bother searching for me? But maybe, just maybe, Emerson would feel that something was wrong. If he woke up, he’d know something wasn’t right. He always said he could feel my presence, like a sixth sense. Somehow, he had always known when I was in severe trouble. The fire, the claustrophobia
Isabel’s POV“Guest? You mean…” I hesitated, unable to finish my sentence. A cold wave of dread washed over me as the implication of her words sunk in. The thought alone was unbearable.I couldn’t begin to imagine the trauma she had endured in this forsaken place. My heart ached for her. But fear clawed at my insides as well.Margot’s eyes darkened, filled with resentment and a bitterness that spoke of untold horrors. “It’s a group of perverted men,” she said, her voice low but laced with anger. “They like to collect young girls who are like dolls—pure, beautiful, but without souls. Obedient and quiet, just the way those monsters like them.”I couldn’t speak. My stomach twisted painfully at the thought of innocent girls, trapped here. Their lives were stolen from them. “Does that mean… many innocent girls have been victims?”She nodded, her expression grim. “Yes. Most of the girls in this mental hospital didn’t come here because they were sick. They were forced. The hospital made a de
Isabel’s POVThe room was dim, lit only by a single lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Margot sat next to my bed. Her hands were trembling slightly, as if the weight of her words was already too much to bear. I hadn’t anticipated the moment when she would finally open up about what had happened to her. But now, it was here. I could see the pain etched into every line of her face. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear it, but I knew she needed to speak.When I asked her what had happened, it was as if a dam had broken. Her eyes filled with tears, and before I could even react, she began sobbing uncontrollably. The sound of her despair cut through me like a knife. I wanted to reach for her hand, but the restraints wouldn’t let me."You don’t have to force yourself," I whispered, gently squeezing her hand. "You can take your time."Margot shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "No," she managed to say between shaky breaths. "I need to tell someone. I’ve been hol
Isabel’s POVMargot's words echoed in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. These people—the nurses, the doctors—weren’t just cold and calculating. They were real madmen.They were puppeteers pulling strings, with lives as their playthings. I wanted to shake off the chill, but it clung to me like a second skin.Margot suddenly raised a finger to her lips and motioned for me to lie back. Her expression shifted, transforming into the vacant, idiot-like look she had worn when I first met her. Someone must be coming.I followed her lead, making my body go limp as I closed my eyes. It was harder than I thought—forcing myself into stillness when every fiber of me was screaming to fight back.The door creaked open. The clicking of high heels entered the room. I could feel the nurse’s presence looming over us. I resisted the urge to peek, knowing that one wrong move could destroy everything. She hovered for a moment, inspecting me."Good girl," she muttered with cold satisfaction. "Finally l
Isabel’s POVMargot sat beside me. Her eyes were distant. Filled with memories that had been buried deep within her for too long. I could see the weight she carried. I knew that what she was about to share had shaped her entire existence. As she began to speak, her voice was quiet but steady.“I was born into what seemed like the perfect family,” Margot started, her gaze unfocused, as if she was seeing something far away. “My father, Houston Woods, was an officer in the military. A man of honor, respected by his peers. My mother was a politician—sharp, dedicated, always fighting for what she believed was right. And then there was my brother, my protector… He was a major in the army, following in our father’s footsteps.”There was a brief pause as her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.“We were happy,” she said, almost to herself. “A family full of ambition, full of hope.” Her voice wavered. “But everything changed the day my uncle stepped into our lives.”Her words hung in
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