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Chapter One
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2024-03-07 22:50:41FIVE YEARS AGO...
In the sprawling estate of the Montague mansion, where ivy climbed the walls like whispers of forgotten secrets and the scent of roses lingered in the air like the promise of eternal love, Isabella Montague stood at the grand window of her boudoir with a porcelain cup cradled in her slender fingers. Bathed in the soft morning light, she exuded an air of serene elegance, her delicate features illuminated by the golden rays that filtered through the sheer curtains. Slowly, she sipped her morning coffee savoring it's taste while the rich aroma mingle with the sweet scent of freshly-cut flowers that adorned the room. Her gaze drifted wistfully over the manicured gardens below, where dew-kissed petals danced in the gentle breeze, a picturesque tableau of tranquility.
To the outside world, she was the epitome of grace and sophistication, the beloved wife of the esteemed CEO, Alexander Montague, who has continuously earned the yearly award for best Entrepreneur five time in a row. Theirs was a union envied by many, a love story that seemed destined for eternity. Yet, beneath the façade of marital bliss, a shadow lurked, threatening to shatter the illusion of perfection.
As the day unfolded, Isabella moved through the opulent halls of the mansion with practiced grace, her smile never faltering even as doubts gnawed at the edges of her mind. There were moments, fleeting and ephemeral, when she sensed a distance between herself and Alexander, a chasm widening with each passing day but she was a master at burying her fears beneath layers of poise and composure, clinging to the belief that love could conquer all, until an anonymous package arrived.
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The continuous chime of the doorbell echoed through the Montague mansion, rousing Isabella from her quiet reverie. With a furrowed brow, she made her way to the grand entrance of the mansion, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. Who could be calling at this late hour, and why under the cloak of anonymity? There was no one at the door when she checked the doorbell camera whilst tension slowly build up in her chest. Slowly, she reached for the ornate brass handle, her hand hesitated for a moment while a flicker of uncertainty flashed across her features. With a deep breath, she pushed aside her apprehension and swung the door open. The cold night breeze slithers into the room like a stealthy intruder, its icy tendrils reaching out to caress her skin with a chilling touch, the sudden contrast in temperature sends shivers down her spine while her heart continue to pound wildly. A small package nestled on the doorstep, wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a
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Isabella continued to sift through the contents of the envelope, her heart sank with each new discovery. Photographs, scattered like broken fragments of a shattered mirror, she picked up the one that stood out the most, lo and behold, her loving husband in the company of a mysterious woman, she couldn't make out her face because of the nose mask she had on, their faces alight with laughter and affection, with a smiling child sitting in-between them, great example of a happy family. For a year, she hasn't seen her husband smile so heartily. He spends extra time in the office and more time in his study than the bedroom, unscheduled meeting with staffs and consequent meetings with stakeholders that requires him to travel for weeks. At first it didn't strike her as something to bother about, he is the CEO of a big company and probably just trying to sign new deals and broaden his horizon, she would tell herself, making up excuses for him in her mind. Six month passed and he just seems to
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The hours stretched further into the night, Isabella found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the damning evidence spread out before her on the coffee table. Each photograph, each letter, served as a painful reminder of her husband's betrayal, fueling the turmoil of emotions swirling within her. With every passing minute, Isabella's anxiety grew, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for Alexander's return. She paced the length of the dimly lit foyer, her footsteps echoing hollowly against the marble floors, her mind consumed by thoughts of what she would say to him when he walked through the door, the hands of the clock crept closer to midnight and there was still no sign of Alexander. The mansion lay shrouded in silence, the only sound was the soft ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the corner. Several hours passed in agonizing silence, each minute feeling like an eternity as she wrestled with her conflicting emotions. Part of her longed to confront Alexande
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After long hours if contemplating, she made her way downstairs, her footsteps faltered as she approached the closed door of Alexander's study, her hand hesitated on the polished brass handle. Summoning her courage, Isabella pushed open the door to the study, her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped inside. Alexander sat behind his desk, his back turned to her as he spoke quietly into the phone, he turned to face her with a unreadable expression. For a moment, Isabella hesitated, her eyes searching his face for any sign of guilt or remorse. But all she saw was the familiar facade of the man she had once loved, his features schooled into a mask of indifference as he hung up the phone and turned to face her, a fake smile plastered across his lips. Isabella stood before her husband, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, in that moment, as their eyes met across the expanse of the study, her eyes burned with a mixture of anger and betrayal. The air crackled with tension, thick
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For a long moment, there was only silence, broken only by the pounding of Isabella's heart in her chest. And then, finally, Alexander spoke, "She's... she's no one," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the photograph before him, but Isabella knew better than to believe his lies, knew that the truth was far more damning than he dared to admit. With a cry of anguish, she swept the photograph from the desk and hurled it across the room, the glass shattering with a deafening crash as it struck the far wall, Startled by her sudden outburst, he rose angrily from his seat and slammed his palm against the desk in anger, "I will not have you talk to me that way." he yelled, his masculine voice reverberated through the whole room. "I've acted with you for too long and now you don't know the difference between dream and reality. You are so confused and probably the reason why you think you have a say in the decisions I make with my life. I didn't marry you for love so get that into your thick skul
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The slam of the door reverberated through the mansion like a gunshot, snapping Isabella out of her dazed state. With trembling hands and tears in her eyes, she stumbled through the long hallway, her footsteps echoing on the polished marble floors as she sought solace in the solitude of their bedroom - a place which now serve as a reminder of the lie she has lived for seven year. In the oppressive silence of the mansion, Isabella was tormented by storms of emotions, regret gnawed at her as she sank onto the edge of the bed slowly, a bitter reminder of the choices that had led her to this moment of despair flashed across her mind. Her thoughts inevitably returned to the family she had left behind, the warmth of her grandfather's love, the power and privilege she lost while going after impossibilities. By rejecting her birthright and breaking off the arranged marriage that is meant to strengthen the bond between families, she had neglected her duty for a delusional fairytale world buil
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Alexander drove through the busy highway with a firm grip on the wheel while his foot pressed down hard on the accelerator pedal. He sigh in frustration when his thought drifted to Isabella. "Feels good to be free without having to fake anything anymore, " he smirked, "At least now she knows her place and I won't have to act like i care no more." A satisfied smile spread across his face as he swerved to the left, driving through the lonely estate road that leads to the temporary house he bought for Olivia few months back, pending her arrival from Australia. Few minutes later, he pull up in front of a single storey house, nestled among a row of similarly designed homes in a quiet suburban neighborhood and parked his car in the small parking space that could only admit a single vehicle. He pushed the thought of isabella to the far back of his mind as he alight from the car, and walked elegantly to the door with a big sincere smile plastered on his face. He rang the door bell and wait
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Alexander walked over to Sophia's side and settled onto the edge of the bed, his fingertips gently tracing the delicate strands of her golden blonde hair, a tender smile spread across his lips while he tucked a stray lock of hair from her face. She stirred slightly at his touch, her lashes lazily fluttered open to reveal the dazzling sapphire eyes that mirrored his own. "Daddy?" Olivia murmured sleepily, her voice a soft melodic whisper that tugged at his heartstrings. "Yes, sweetheart, it's me," Alexander replied, his voice filled with warmth and affection as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. Slowly, she drifted back to sleep, leaving Alexander to marvel at the delicate curve of her cheek and the way her lips curved into a contented smile while she doze off. A surge of love and protectiveness washed over him as he reassures himself he's doing what's best for his family by letting Isabella go. It's a decision he should have taken right after the only one, his fathe
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