Chapter One

FIVE 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.