Isabel’s POVMargot and I froze. We pressed our bodies tightly against a rough piece of jutted wall. The patrolman’s footsteps grew louder. I covered my mouth, feeling my heart race in my chest like it was trying to escape. My entire body tensed. Each thud of the man’s boots made it clear that we were moments from being caught. The darkness around us seemed to close in, amplifying every sound.Margot crouched beside me, clutching the sack of supplies she had so bravely gathered. She held her breath, eyes wide in the dim light.We both stared at the beam of the flashlight growing brighter as it neared. The patrolman was muttering something under his breath, his tone irritated.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will myself invisible as the flashlight swept perilously close to our hiding spot. Suddenly, the stillness of the night shattered.“CRACK!”A huge branch fell on the already-crumbling wall. The commotion startled a flock of birds nearby. They flew off in a noisy rush. The sound
Isabel’s POVThe cottage was eerily silent after the door slammed shut, leaving Margot and me frozen in fear. We huddled together, waiting for something—anything—to happen. My heart was pounding in my chest so loudly I feared it would give us away if anyone were out there. For what felt like an eternity, we remained like that, waiting. The wind howled outside, rattling the window panes.Slowly, I dared to open one eye, then the other. The door hadn’t moved. It must’ve been the wind. Relief washed over me, but my muscles still felt tense. My nerves were frayed beyond belief.“It’s... it’s just the wind,” I whispered shakily, my voice barely above a breath.Margot exhaled sharply. Her hands were trembling as she pushed herself upright. “I thought someone had come for us.” She glanced at the door again. Her eyes were wide with lingering fear.I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Me too.” My voice sounded distant. Like I was speaking through layers of fog. My body felt heavy.I wa
Isabel’s POVMargot’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “Isa, do you think the picture is important?”I bit my lip, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over me. That photo... It had been such a small, insignificant thing, tucked away in the old woman’s pocket. But there was something unsettling about it. A faint familiarity that I couldn’t quite place. It was like a whisper in the back of my mind, tugging at a memory just out of reach.“I don’t know,” I murmured, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. The cottage’s warmth suddenly felt stifling—the air thick and suffocating. Something was wrong, but I couldn’t explain why.A few seconds passed before I finally spoke again. My voice was hushed but urgent. “Margot, I think we’d better go.”Margot’s eyes widened, her expression shifting from confusion to concern. “Go? Now? Why?”I hesitated, trying to gather my thoughts. “I don’t know, it just... feels wrong.” The image of that photograph flashed in my mind again, and a cold shiver ra
Isabel’s POVWe ran desperately, our footsteps crashing through the underbrush. But I could already feel the familiar burning in my chest. My legs were heavy, my lungs struggling to keep up with the pace. Margot was pulling me along, her grip strong and determined. But I knew my physical condition couldn’t withstand this. The world blurred around me. The pounding of my heart drowned out the night’s quiet sounds.I looked at Margot, her face set with fierce determination. She didn’t deserve to be held back by me. She still had a future. A life waiting beyond these walls. I was already running on borrowed time.I made a sudden decision. I wrenched my hand free from Margot’s grasp."Isabel!" Margot shouted, her voice breaking with confusion. She stopped, trying to pull me along, her eyes wide with panic. "What are you doing?""Don’t look back, Margot!" I gasped, my voice hoarse from exertion. "Keep running. Save yourself!""No!" she cried, shaking her head. "You’ll die! I can’t—""Listen
Isabel’s POVWhen I woke up, I was somewhere unfamiliar. The first thing I noticed was the softness of the sheets beneath me, and the delicate scent of lavender filling the air. It wasn’t the hospital. Gone were the sterile white walls, the harsh lights. Instead, I found myself in what looked like a normal girl’s bedroom.I blinked, trying to process the scene around me. The wallpaper was pastel, with intricate floral patterns. A vanity stood across from the bed, covered in ornate perfume bottles and brushes. It was almost... pretty. But the sense of dread still gnawed at me, reminding me that nothing here could be trusted.I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the vanity, and that’s when I realized something was terribly wrong. I wasn’t in a hospital gown anymore. Instead, I was wearing an exquisite lace nightdress. Something you’d see on a mannequin in a luxury boutique. They had even put my wig back on, securing it perfectly to my scalp. If anything, I was grateful they’d kept
Isabel’s POVI didn’t know how long I had been locked inside that cage. The darkness was suffocating, thick and oppressive. My body, weak and stiff from being in the same curled-up position, had long since gone numb. All I could do was wait. For what, I wasn’t sure—doom, death, something worse.Time felt meaningless here. My thoughts drifted between panic and numb acceptance. I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body refused to obey. Whatever they had injected into me had stolen all control. I was nothing more than a prisoner of my own limbs.Suddenly, the cage shifted beneath me. There was a jolt, followed by the sound of heavy wheels rolling beneath. I winced as the cage bumped along, jarring my body painfully. The familiar dread began to churn in my stomach again. But all I could do was lay there, helpless.“Ouch! Watch out! You almost hit my feet!” a man’s voice snapped from outside the cage.“Fine, fine. Sorry. What’s in this one?” another one asked, his voice dripping with curio
Isabel’s POVMy eyes were glued to Lilith and Alistair. Every inch of me was burning with a desperate need for answers. Even with the half-mask concealing Lilith’s face, I could still make out the cruel curve of her lips, the sly gleam in her eyes. She was still as evil as ever. In fact, this was beyond anything I could have ever imagined her capable of.Lilith, cold and calculating, was always a master manipulator. But this? This was a whole new level of evil. A part of me wondered if Emerson had any idea what kind of woman he’d fallen in love with. I doubted it. He was probably still blind to her true nature. I laughed bitterly to myself. Good luck to him if he ever fell out of favor with her. She’d chew him up and spit him out without a second thought.Around me, the crowd murmured and whispered. Their voices were thick with excitement and cruelty. These people weren’t just spectators—they were complicit. They were enablers of evil, bidding on human lives like it was nothing more
Isabel’s POVI was dragged down a dimly lit corridor, the musty air thick with despair. My mind was still reeling from the auction—the vile faces, the lecherous stares, my life being sold for the price of a twisted man’s pleasure. The cage rattled as I was pushed into what they called “backstage”. The horrors it concealed were far worse than anything I’d seen on display.The sound of wailing echoed off the walls, each cry sharp and desperate, seeping into my bones. It was a symphony of suffering—girls, like me, trapped in this nightmare. The sharp crack of a whip followed by a piercing scream sliced through the air. A girl, barely older than I was, was thrown to the floor beside me. Her body crumpled, and her face was streaked with blood. I recoiled at the sight.“This is what happens to those who disobey,” the waiter from earlier said. His voice was cold and detached. His eyes swept over me as if I were nothing more than merchandise. "You are the chosen pet of that buyer, and he pr
Isabel’s POVThe judge’s gavel struck with finality, reverberating through the courtroom. “Victor Woods is hereby convicted on all charges,” the judge declared. A sense of justice filled the air, but it was laced with bitterness. Victor’s self-inflicted demise had robbed the survivors of a complete reckoning.The room was heavy with tension. Each attendee was digesting the events that had just unfolded. Victor had escaped his ultimate punishment, leaving behind unanswered questions and a fresh wound for those who had longed to see him truly held accountable.Elias stood at the front as Victor’s body was taken away. His face was pale, his usually steadfast demeanor cracked. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were clouded with frustration and anger. I wanted to reach out to him, to thank him for all he had done. But the weight of everything that had just happened made the words stick in my throat.As the courtroom began to empty, I stepped forward, determined to speak with Elias. But befo
Isabel’s POVThe courtroom erupted into a storm of murmurs and gasps as I stood there. My real family’s name—Sullivan—sliced through the air like a thunderclap. Some whispered about my identity, others speculated about the scandal unfolding before their eyes.“Order in the court!” the judge barked, her gavel striking down hard. The noise subsided into a tense silence. But curiosity lingered in every corner of the room. The judge leaned forward, her expression stern but intrigued. “Approach the stand,” she commanded, her voice sharp.I held my head high, letting the weight of every eye in the room settle on me. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I walked with measured, deliberate steps toward the witness stand. Years of pain, silence and waiting coiled within me. But outwardly, I was calm—poised.Victor’s lawyer shot to his feet, his veneer of professionalism cracking. “Your Honor, this is highly irregular. This witness—”“Sit down,” the judge cut him off, her glare slicin
Isabel’s POVThe courthouse room was small, almost claustrophobic. With its plain beige walls and a single monitor broadcasting the trial. I sat at a wooden table, my gaze locked on the screen. Victor Woods, the man who had ruined so many lives, sat at the defendant's table. His expression was calm, almost smug. He denied every charge with unwavering confidence. His lawyer was weaving a defense so skillful it seemed to turn lies into the truth.My fists clenched tightly in my lap, nails biting into my palms. The rage simmering beneath my skin threatened to boil over. But I forced myself to remain composed. I had waited years for this. Justice was so close. And yet, Victor’s smug defiance made it feel miles away.“Miss, here are your medical records, the injury assessment, and the recording,” my secretary said softly, placing a stack of documents on the table. Her voice was gentle but hesitant, as though she feared what my next move might bring. “Are you sure you want to do this?”I
Emerson’s POV“Daddy, where are you going?”I paused mid-step, turning to see Liam standing in the doorway, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His hair was a tousled mess, and his favorite blanket hung limply from his small hand. Despite the early hour, his innocent gaze pierced through me like sunlight through storm clouds.“You’re awake so early, my son,” I said, scooping him up into my arms. His warmth was comforting, grounding me in a way little else could.Liam tilted his head, curiosity shining in his eyes. “Are you going to see Mommy?”His words froze me in place. My grip on him tightened slightly, and I shot a questioning glance at the nanny standing just behind him. She shifted uncomfortably.“I… I think it’s because of your sleep talk, sir,” she admitted hesitantly. “Back when you went to visit Isabel’s grave every day, you, uh... Every time you returned, you’d call her name in your dreams.”“Oh… I see,” I muttered, my shoulders slumping slightly.The maid’s gaze softened as she c
Sebastian/Elias’ POV“Sir, the trial is about to begin.”Carter’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I nodded curtly, tightening my tie in the reflection of the courthouse window. My heart beat heavily, not with fear but with the weight of a mission that had spanned years. This was the day Victor Woods would finally face the consequences of his actions—a day I had dreamed of since I was a boy.Victor had taken everything from me: my father, my family, and the life I should have had. After Isabel left with the Sullivans, I threw myself fully into my revenge. My promotion following the intel I had provided about the hospital incident gave me the leverage I needed to expose the truth. Emerson's power and influence had been a useful tool. The path to today was carved with blood, sweat, and unrelenting determination.I inhaled deeply, steadying myself. The courthouse doors loomed large before me. But my mind slipped back to a day I will always cherish… The day I had finally shown Victor m
Isabel’s POVThe line was silent for a moment before a confused voice came through. "Sorry, who is this?" Robert asked, the faint sound of papers shuffling in the background.I almost laughed but held it back, savoring the moment. “It’s Isabel,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I’m back in Rivermont.”There was a sharp intake of breath, followed by a stunned, almost disbelieving, “Isabel? Is it really you?”“It sure is,” I confirmed, letting the warmth in my voice convey what words couldn’t.The line went quiet again, but this time I could sense the emotion on the other end. “I—I can’t believe it,” Robert finally stammered. “After all this time…”“Well, believe it,” I replied lightly, though my heart felt heavy with the weight of all the years of silence between us. “I’m here, and I thought we should catch up.”“Yes,” he said immediately, his voice a mix of urgency and relief. “When? Where?”We arranged to meet at a quiet café on the edge of town. It had once been a favorite
Isabel’s POVThe weight of the key in my hand felt symbolic. It was a tangible marker of the new life ahead. As I slid it into the ornate lock of my new villa, a sense of determination settled over me. The door swung open, revealing a sprawling space with high ceilings, marble floors, and expansive windows that offered breathtaking views of the city skyline. Eric had outdone himself in finding us the best place on the market.This wasn’t just a home. It was a declaration of power and potential.Elena’s gasp brought a smile to my face. “This place is huge!” she exclaimed, her wide eyes darting around the opulent foyer.“It is,” I said, squeezing her small hand. “But no matter how big it is, it’s still just a house. We’ll make it a home.”She nodded, her excitement dimming slightly as she turned thoughtful. “Like we did back home, in Sicily?”“Exactly,” I replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Together.”The maid Eric had arranged for us, a cheerful woman named Claire, greet
Isabel’s POVEric’s words stayed with me long after our conversation. The trust he placed in me, the belief that I could bring Liam back, was both empowering and terrifying. I had spent so long building myself up—physically, emotionally, and mentally—but leaving meant stepping into the unknown again.That night, as I began packing my suitcase, the reality of it all hit me. The familiar comfort of my family estate in Sicily would soon be replaced by the harsh world I had left behind. Yet, this time was different. I was different.A soft rustle near the door caught my attention. I turned to find Elena peeking in, her wide eyes glistening with unshed tears.“Elena? What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I asked gently, setting down the folded dress in my hands.She hesitated, then stepped into the room, clutching her favorite stuffed bunny. “Are you… leaving me?”Her words pierced through me like a knife. I knelt down to her level, holding her tiny hands in mine. “Oh, sweetheart, no. I could never
Isabel’s POVThe days in Eric’s villa on the south coast of Sicily unfolded like a slow, beautiful symphony. The house itself was a marvel of understated elegance, perched on a hill with sweeping views of the ocean. The soft sound of waves crashing against the cliffs became the background music to my new life.Eric had spared no effort to make me feel welcome. My room was spacious and airy, its large windows letting in the golden morning light. Elena, the spirited little girl Eric had adopted, often wandered in without knocking. Her giggles filled the space as she clambered onto my bed or rummaged through my things with innocent curiosity.“Isabel, come look!” Elena called one morning, dragging me out of my study. She had found a butterfly in the garden and insisted we follow it. Her laughter was infectious as she darted through the roses, her tiny hands trying to catch the delicate creature without success. She reminded me so much of Liam—her curiosity, her boundless energy, and th