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 POVDays had blurred into an endless nightmare. The hunger pains were unimaginable. I had no idea how long it had been since I was dragged to this dark “backstage” area.The headache was a dull roar that never left. It felt as if my brain was being slowly crushed. The cancer was growing worse—much worse. With the lack of treatment and nourishment, my body was slowly giving up. The sickness was winning with every passing second. They hadn’t laid a hand on me in days, but I was still dying—starvation and neglect were just as cruel as any whip or chain.I heard the familiar shuffle of feet outside the door. The kidnappers were arguing, their voices low but tense. They were worried. They needed me alive, at least for now. But I was slipping.The door creaked open. One of the men stepped in, holding a small glass of water. He had that same indifferent look, like I wasn’t even human to him. Just property. A thing.“Here. Drink,” he ordered, thrusting the glass toward me. I could ba
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