YSABELLE I walked back and forth at the main door, waiting for Ronan's arrival. I was anxious and regretted that I didn't force myself to go with Ronan to the police station in Paris where Connor was detained.As soon as we saw the news, I was about to head upstairs, but Ronan was already running down the stairs while putting on his jacket.The authorities called him about Connor's willingly surrender to the police. Ronan didn't want me to go with him. Seeing his raging eyes, I choose to obey him and stay in the house.The issue between him and Connor needed to be solved first before mine. And now, here I am, waiting for him because it's getting dark.“He's still not here?” I looked behind me to see Cleo. “What if he killed Connor and was now in jail instead of that lunatic–”“Stop,” I warned her with gritted teeth. And I was more annoyed that she snorted and was on the verge of cracking up.“I'm just trying to make you laugh.”I rolled my eyes. “It's not funny, Cleo.”“Sorry.”She
YSABELLEI was in total silence on our way back to Nice, on the plane, and even in the car. Rage, disappointment, and confusion lingered in me. Why was everything connected?First, my aunt, and now my deceased uncle? Who is really the person behind Paul? Why is he doing this?It's difficult to conclude that my aunt might be the starting point for all of this mess. We don't have any concrete evidence to point everything to her.Also, I heard the organization that was formed by my uncle died years ago after his death.“Are you okay?”Ronan diverted my attention.“Ronan, do you find my family suspicious?” I suddenly asked since I needed his opinion, too.“Yeah.”“After you heard Connor?”“No.” I confusedly look at him. “Belle, please don't be mad. To tell you the truth, I did an investigation about your biological family.”“Why?”“I just did that because of your uncle’s past activities before he died.” He held my hand softly. “To help hide their flaws because it will affect mine too.”H
YSABELLEBefore I could run to the twin’s position, Ronan suddenly appeared, sprinting to the kids while holding a gun.A sigh of relief escaped from me before my sight went blurry.I felt the commotion around me while I tried not to lose my focus in standing up to get to the kids.But I felt lifted in the air. Based on the scent, it's Ronan. He carried me in his arms as he ran. I could feel his heavy breathing and the loud beating of his heart in his chest the same as mine.Worries and fear lingered inside of me.“T-The twins?” I asked with trembling hands.“They’re fine and are now inside the house.”“I wanna see them–”“You need to be treated first.”I closed my eyes and leaned my head on his chest, feeling the loud heartbeat as I held in the pain in my back.I know I was shot and I'm losing my consciousness.“It hurts,” I whimpered under my heavy breathing.“The doctor is coming, love. Please, don’t close your eyes...”Even though he pleaded, and I could feel the worries in his to
YSABELLEA morning came and I woke up without Ronan around me. He might be preparing my breakfast since I still could not stand alone.My arm was the one that was hurt, but my legs seemed weak to move. I only sighed as I stared at the bedside table where my handbag was.I remember the phone that I found in my father's bedroom and the hospital.Was it really my aunt who wanted me dead?I'm worried about Cleo and Jessica if they find out we are suspecting their mother.Speaking of, I haven't talked with Cleo after the shootout in the mansion. I saw her when I woke up but I never got a chance to have a conversation with her.The same goes for her mother.I hope Paul and his accomplices will be caught to make all of this over. I get even more frightened every time Paul attacks when I'm with the kids. I'm afraid they might get involved in the trouble of the elders.Just then, the door suddenly opened and my face brightened to see the twins running to my bed, carrying something in their han
RONAN “Mr. Cortez has an alibi that he's not the one who drove the car that night.”The amount of fury that I’m feeling right now is more spilling than it used to be as soon as I heard the chief of police regarding the case of Mr. Cortez.“Did you confirm it?”“Yes, Mr. Volkov.”I shut my eyes in rage.“Find the real murderer and put the name of Mr. Cortez out of this mess.”I throw my phone on the couch as I run my hands on my face, frustrated that why does it have to be Mr. Cortez’s car of all people?Someone must be framing him.The company's in shambles. No wonder Susan Cortez is not here.“If he's not the killer of Shaine… who is it then?” I confusedly questioned myself and then the face of Paul flashed in my mind. “That bastard Paul?”How did he even get hold of Mr. Cortez’s car? With the help of Belle’s aunt? Don't tell me that was really true.Jeez!Just having those thoughts was really a pain in the ass.If Mr. Cortez is framed, and then someone close to him is backstabbing
RONAN “I'm asking where you were?” I repeated as Cleo stood still in front of me, not showing any emotions on her face.“Don't give my daughter that tone, Volkov.” Belle’s aunt came out of nowhere as if she'd just been here all along.She glared at me intently as if she wanted to cut my tongue for raising my voice on her daughter.My jaw clenched at the two. She wants to protect her daughter from my yell but doesn't care about Belle and the kids, who are more in danger than her daughter.I guess she's only after the company and nothing else.I looked away to ease my tension.“Belle is missing and I'm speculating Paul took her,” I said as I looked around. “First the shootout with two gunmen and now the abduction. Was this place really not secure, Cortez? Or maybe someone is letting the enemies behind our back.”I looked at them as Mrs. Cortez's face turned red, and raging eyes shot into mine.“Are you accusing us?” She growled as she took a step towards me.“Why? Did I hit the right s
YSABELLE I was back to my consciousness when I felt the cold concrete floor under me and winced at the pain in my back.I groaned as I tried to reach my wound and felt a sticky liquid dripping down my back.It's obviously bleeding.I open my eyes and notice the darkness inside the room. “Hello?”I slowly sat up as fear delved into me while looking around and just remembered that the male nurse had taken me.“Damn it.”With heavy breathing, I endured the pain in my back and attempted to stand up. I use the wall to help me lean my uninjured arm to get my balance.Now what?How can I leave this place?There's only one door and two windows. I'm sure that's securely locked. But there is no furniture to use for breaking the window glass. I don't even have the strength to do so.I sat down back on the floor. I need to rest and prepare for the worst later.Seriously? I was abducted from my own property? What were the security guards doing and letting that bastard enter the premises without
YSABELLE My eyes widened to see Cleo, and I could not believe her sudden appearance. I looked at Paul and Cleo again, trying to understand the situation I was in.“Cleo? What… What are you doing?”Is she… the person…who helped Paul?She gestured to Paul to exit the room. As soon as he left, she sat on an empty stool and crossed her legs, unbothered.“It's payback time.”I confusedly glared at her. “What do you mean? Let me go, please!” I exclaimed in rage as I tried to get my wrists out from these handcuffs behind me.My arms are getting numb, and I think I'm losing energy because of the blood dripping out from my back.“I'm afraid I can't.” Cleo’s tone changed, which made me take aback. “It took me a year to plan this out, and you want me to stop this? Don't make me laugh.”A year?Did she plan this out for a year?For what purpose? I don't remember doing something horrible to her except making her babysit my kids while Ronan and I were busy with the issues in our lives.“I don'