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
Emerson’s POVI paced the hospital room for what felt like the hundredth time that day. My muscles ached. Not from the injuries I was recovering from, but from sheer frustration. The sterile smell of the hospital clung to my skin, and the endless beeping of machines nearby grated on my nerves. I couldn’t stand being trapped here another second, but I had no choice. They insisted I stay under observation.It had been weeks since Isabel disappeared. Every minute that passed without a lead felt like a knife twisting deeper into my gut.I had sent my best men out, scouring every corner of the city for her. But every day, the answer was the same—nothing. No one had seen her. It was like she had vanished into thin air. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had orchestrated this. That her disappearance was no accident. My mind spun with possibilities, all of them darker than the last.Suddenly, my phone rang. I grabbed it, my heart racing. On the other end was Sam, my lead inve
Isabel’s POVMy hands clenched at my sides, my initial shock giving way to anger. “What are you doing here, Lilith?”“Oh, just taking a walk,” she said airily. “What a coincidence running into you two. You know how small the world is.”Her eyes glittered with malice, and I knew she wasn’t here by accident. Whatever game she was playing, it was only just beginning.Lilith turned to Caleb, her voice dripping with fake concern. “You should enjoy your time while you can. You wouldn’t want to end up like Sebastian.”Her words sent a chill through me, but before I could respond, Caleb stepped closer to her, his tone low and dangerous. “Leave. Now.”Lilith’s smug smile widened as she waved her smartphone in the air, its screen flashing faintly in the sunlight. “What do you think Emerson would say,” she purred, “if I told him about this little outing?”I clenched my fists, my annoyance bubbling just beneath the surface. “Lilith, enough with the games. This is Emerson’s cousin Caleb you’re try
Isabel’s POV“Captivity, huh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Exactly,” he said, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. “While the evil lord of the manor is away, I’m here to whisk you off to freedom.”His words were clearly meant as a joke, but I couldn’t ignore the subtle jab at Emerson. “And where exactly are you planning to whisk me off to?”“You’ll see.” Caleb’s tone turned mysterious. “But it’s somewhere you’ll love, I promise.”I hesitated. Spending time with Caleb felt like a risk. He had always been a wild card, unpredictable and charming in equal measure. And with the complicated web of tension between Emerson and me, getting too close to his cousin felt... inappropriate.“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said. “Besides, there’s Liam to consider. I can’t just leave him here.”As if summoned by my words, the maid came rushing out, taking Liam in her arms. She looked flustered, apologizing profusely for not hearing the doorbell.“It’s all right,” Caleb said with a sunny smi
Isabel’s POVI forced a laugh, trying to brush off her comment. “I think you’re imagining things,” I said lightly, but the words felt hollow.The maid smiled apologetically. “Perhaps. I didn’t mean anything by it, miss.”At first, it felt absurd—laughable even. Liam was Emerson and Lilith’s child; that was an undeniable fact. But as the seconds ticked by, something darker, more insidious, began to creep into my thoughts.“That’s ridiculous,” I said aloud, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince her or myself.The maid gave me a sheepish smile, wringing her hands. “I’m sorry, Miss. It’s just something I noticed. His eyes, maybe? Or his smile? I didn’t mean anything by it.”Her apology only heightened my unease. “It’s fine,” I replied curtly, waving her off.But the seed was planted. My gaze drifted down to Liam, who sat in my lap, staring up at me with a toothy grin. His eyes sparkled with innocence, as if he was oblivious to the storm brewing in my mind.Could it be true?I sh
Isabel’s POVThe stillness of the room pressed on me, amplified by the steady rhythm of Emerson’s breathing behind me. He still wasn’t asleep—I could tell by the occasional shift of his weight and the faint sighs escaping him.He had withdrawn his arm when I didn’t answer, but the proximity between us remained charged. Every so often, his body would shift, brushing against mine—a subtle, fleeting contact that sent ripples through my already frayed nerves. Was it accidental? Or deliberate? I couldn’t be sure, and the ambiguity only made it worse.My body, traitorous as ever, reacted in ways I hadn’t anticipated. The heat of his presence seemed to seep into my skin, igniting a tension I had no desire to acknowledge. It wasn’t fair—after everything, after all the anger and betrayal, how could some unintentional touch unravel me like this?I tried to suppress the swirling emotions, willing myself to focus on anything else. But the way my heart raced, the way my breath hitched in those st
Isabel’s POVSitting on the kitchen table, Emerson still looming over me, my mind spiraled with guilt. Sebastian was locked up, possibly suffering, all because of me. He’d been trying to help me, to protect me, and now he was paying the price. I clenched my fists in my lap, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions.“Isabel.”Emerson’s voice broke through the haze. His sharp gaze fixed on me. His head tilted slightly as if studying a puzzle. “You’re quiet. You look… off. Do you know something you’re not telling me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.My heart skipped a beat. Did he suspect? Could he somehow see through me, past the walls I’d painstakingly built?I met his eyes, masking the turmoil within. “No,” I said, forcing a small, almost casual shrug. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”He didn’t seem entirely convinced. His piercing gaze lingered on me longer than I liked. I bit my lip, weighing my options. If Emerson knew the truth about Sebastian’s private investigation and
Isabel’s POVI turned to Emerson after Caleb left. Exhaustion was weighing on my shoulders like a lead blanket. “I’m really tired, and I have work tomorrow,” I murmured, taking a step toward the stairs. The tension from dinner and everything Caleb had implied was still twisting in my chest. I just wanted to escape. To drift off into blissful ignorance.But before I could get far, Emerson swept me off my feet—literally.“Emerson! What are you doing?!” I protested, squirming against his firm grip as he carried me effortlessly back to the kitchen.Without so much as a word, he placed me on the kitchen table as though I weighed nothing. I struggled to slide off, but his hands settled on either side of me, caging me in.My heart raced, but not entirely from rage. There was something about the way his eyes locked onto mine, unflinching and determined, that threw me completely off balance. I hated how he could do this—how he could ignite a whirlwind of emotions with just a look. How he made
Isabel’s POVCaleb strolled into the room as if he owned the place. A wide grin was plastered across his face. “Are you two done whispering sweet nothings yet? Or should I come back later with popcorn?”Emerson groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Caleb, do you have a radar for bad timing, or is it just a natural talent?”“I like to think of it as a gift,” Caleb quipped, leaning casually against the doorframe.I stifled a laugh despite the tension, my lips twitching into a small smile. Caleb always had a way of breaking even the heaviest silences with his antics.“Come inside,” Emerson said with an exasperated sigh. “If you’re going to interrupt, you might as well eat with us.”The three of us made our way to the dining room, where a simple but elegant dinner awaited. Caleb, ever the opportunist, immediately dug in. He complimented the meal with exaggerated enthusiasm.“This roast? Perfection. I’ve been abroad for so long, I forgot what a proper home-cooked meal tastes like. Kudo
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s hand clamped firmly over Caleb’s mouth. Caleb’s muffled protests only made the moment more absurd. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “Really, Emerson? This is your grand strategy? Silencing him like a five-year-old?”Emerson shot me a look, his expression a mix of irritation and weary amusement. “You’d be surprised how much trouble this one can cause when left unchecked,” he muttered.Caleb, never one to miss an opportunity, wriggled free with an exaggerated gasp. “Admit it, you missed me,” he said, his grin wide and cheeky.“Missed you?” Emerson arched an eyebrow. “I’m considering sending you back abroad.”Caleb clutched his chest dramatically. “Ouch. Such gratitude for saving Isabel’s life. You’re lucky I have a forgiving nature.”At the mention of the accident, Emerson’s expression softened. His irritation ebbed, replaced by something quieter, almost regretful. His gaze shifted to me, lingering with a kind of intensity that made my chest tighten.“Are
Isabel’s POVI stared at Caleb, my mind still struggling to process what he had just said. A surprise for his lover? Emerson had said nothing about this, not even hinted at it. The idea clawed at me, a cruel whisper of betrayal I didn’t want to entertain.Recently, his long hours and late nights had seemed justified—he was supposed to be focused on finding Sebastian and Margot. He had painted himself as a man weighed down by duty, by the chaos of the military’s reshuffling. But now? Doubt slithered into my thoughts like a cold wind, chilling my resolve. What if he wasn’t just busy with military upheavals? What if he was lying?I bit my lip, trying to dismiss the growing unease. I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to believe that Emerson, for all his faults, could betray me in this way. But hadn’t I learned the hard way not to trust him blindly? My heart and mind were locked in a bitter tug-of-war.Caleb leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His expression softened a