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 simple string was tucked safely at a corner.
Her brow furrowing in confusion as she eyes the package suspiciously. Isabella bent down to retrieve the package, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned it over in her hands, searching for any clue as to its origins. But the package bore no sender address, no indication of who had left it on her doorstep in the dead of night.
With a sense of unease gnawing at the edges of her mind, Isabella carried the package into the dimly lit foyer, the soft glow of the chandelier casting eerie shadows across the marble floors. Sitting down on the plush velvet settee, she carefully untied the string and peeled back the layers of brown paper, her heart hammering in her chest as she uncovered the contents within. With a gasp of shock and disbelief, Isabella emptied the package onto the coffee table before her, her eyes widening in horror as she beheld the damning evidence of her husband's infidelity. Photographs, letters, and mementos spilled forth like a flood, each one a cruel eye opener to the betrayal that had been lurking beneath the surface of her seemingly perfect marriage.
Isabella gingerly sifted through the contents of the envelope, her heart pounding in her chest, her fingers trembling with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension, suffocating her as she unraveled the mysteries hidden within.
With a trembling hand, she reached for the small clear bag nestled amongst the photographs, her breath catching in her throat as she beheld the delicate curl of hair tied with a pink ribbon. It was innocent enough at first glance, but the implications were impossible to ignore. Whose hair was this, and why had it been sent to her in such a cryptic manner? Still trembling, Isabella withdrew the small slip of paper tucked beneath the lock of hair, her eyes widening in shock as she read the name and date scrawled in elegant script. "Sophia - 04/04/2020" The sight sent a jolt of recognition coursing through her veins, her mind reeling with the realization of what it meant. The words seemed to blur before her eyes, the truth of their meaning hitting her like a ton of bricks.
Sophia. The name echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain, sending shivers down her spine. And the date - three years ago, three years ago Alexander had welcomed a daughter into the world. A daughter he had never spoken of, never mentioned in their conversations or shared in their moments of intimacy. A daughter whose existence had been kept hidden from her, concealed behind a veil of deception and lies.
Isabella stared down at the curl of hair, a pang of sorrow and betrayal pierced her heart like a sharp dagger, her fingers trembling as she traced the soft strands with shaky fingertips. How could he? How could Alexander keep such a precious secret from her, deny her the joy of knowing his own flesh and blood. A sense of disbelief washed over her as she struggled to come to terms with the truth before her. Her husband, the man she had loved and trusted with all her heart, had a daughter - a secret child born of his illicit affair. The pink ribbon that bound the lock of hair seemed to mock her barrenness.
But the revelations did not end there.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"Do you know what I need now?" he asked, staring into her eyes. "What?" she asked with a knowing smile. "You." He stood up from Sophia's bed, careful not to wake her and swept Olivia off her feet in a single move while going in for another passionate kiss. Their lips remained locked as he carried her down the hallway towards the bedroom. Olivia let out a playful giggle. He lowered her onto the bed gently with desire evident in his fiery eyes while his lips reclaimed hers in fierce urgency. He trailed hot kisses down her neck and towards her shoulder blade, sending electric shocks through her whole body. Olivia kissed his neck and trailed her tongue down his chest, running her hands all over his body to feel the strong muscles of his chest and the toned abs of his stomach. His body tensed under her touch. He held her tightly and flipped her over, getting on top of her. Gently, he lowered the straps of her nightwear, drawing the gown below her perfect waistline, revealing her per