YSABELLE As soon as the doctor confirmed that Ashton was okay, we headed to the nearest mall for an ice cream. One of his teeth came off, and what scared him was the blood in his mouth; that’s why he cried.Ronan rented the whole room of the playroom for a few hours only just to give us privacy. Bodyguards are scattered everywhere for protection, afraid that Cleo will find us and attack us while the kids are here. It’s not really safe, but we also want the kids not to feel imprisoned. I don't want them to think something is wrong with how they are living.“What’s wrong?”Ronan approached me and kissed the back of my hand.My heart fluttered every time he showed his sweet side. But my sweet smile turned into a sigh as I gazed at Ashley playing with Ela and Ana while Ashton was with us, carried by Ronan in his arms.I brushed my fingers through Ashton's hair while he was busy eating his ice cream. He stopped crying as soon as we left the clinic earlier.“When will we have a normal lif
YSABELLE It happened so fast…Everything was muted and I couldn't hear a thing.I opened my eyes but winced in a split second as my head exploded in great pain.What had just happened?When I looked up the front, I saw the driver and bodyguard in the front seat, not moving an inch. I hope they are okay.There's white smoke coming out from the hood of the car, and all of the windows are shattered into pieces.Something or someone was weighing on my lap that diverted my attention.Fear ran down my veins as I looked down and saw Ashley unconscious but still breathing.I was about to check if she had any injuries, but someone grabbed her from my lap. Before I could look and protest who was this jerk snatching my kids from me, I was also dragged out of the car.“M-My kids… R-Ronan…” Ronan and Ashton inside the car were getting far from my sight before I went back into darkness.***I gasped for air as soon as I regained consciousness. The situation immediately evoked in me as I hastily s
YSABELLE One of Ronan's right-handed men almost bumped into me as we crossed paths in the pool area. He apologized immediately before walking past me.But my words made him halt in his tracks.“Teach me.”He turned to me with a confused look in his eyes before he noticed my finger pointing at the dangerous thing hanging at the side of his leather belt.Blood drained from his face as he ran his hand at the back of his neck.“B-But Ms. Cortez–”“Don't worry. Ronan won't know about it. Let's do it privately.”He looked around as he was baffled at my request. ***I arrived home when it was time for dinner. I was welcomed by the twins and I literally came back to life as soon as I heard their giggles.We headed to the dining area and saw Jessica helping the servants in preparing the dinner.“You’re here.”“I just dropped by to see the twins.” She paused and glanced at me with a suspicious look. “Where are you these days?”I avoided her eyes and sat on the chair. “I'm just busy with thing
YSABELLE I anxiously walked back and forth at the bedside of Ronan while the twins were watching cartoons on television with the nannies.It's already morning and the police found 104 grams of narcotics in Cleo’s suitcase, under the mattress, and inside her undergarments pouch.They were all cocaine.Fudge!French police with K9 swarmed into our vacation house for a search warrant for illegal substances.I facepalm at the possible scenario if this news reaches my father's ears.The door opened and one of the police came in to check the room. Ronan should not be moved because of his situation, but still, they need to do a minor check-up.As soon as he was finished and couldn't find anything, he excused himself, but I stopped him.“Est-ce que cela sera ajouté à ses charges ?”(Will it be added to her charges?)“Ce sera certainement le cas, Madame.” He politely replied.(It definitely will, Madame)He waved to the kids with a genuine smile before leaving the room completely.It runs in
JESSICAAs soon as Ysabelle ended the call, which left me speechless, I frustratedly walked to my mother's bedroom. However, she locked the door just like she always does.I knocked on the door multiple times while calling her nonstop until she irritatedly opened the door with a frown on her face.“Mom–”“What? You believed her?!” She yelled at my face.I understand that she couldn't believe what we were saying about Cleo. Even if she saw it with her own eyes, she would never turn her back on her favorite daughter.But enough is enough.“Stop being in denial about reality. Cleo is not the good daughter you picture out.”“She's only accusing your sister–”“Mother!”She gasps in disbelief at how I raise my voice at her for the first time in my life.I used to be a kid who always said yes and okay to everything they said while at the same time apologizing even though it was not my fault.“You dared to raise your voice on me?”I irritatingly pushed back my hair from my forehead, groaning
RONAN After waking up from a deep sleep, the first thing I heard was that Belle didn't come home last night. Although my head and body were still in pain, I couldn't help but get worried about the safety of my Belle.She knows Cleo is dangerous, and yet she went out at night, and god knows where she is right now.I summoned the French police to find her at all costs.I should not have slept for too long. I should not have let Belle wait for me for that long.I reprimanded my men for why they were not with Belle. I had already ordered them to stick with her every second wherever she went. But I noticed the absence of one of my trusted men. Some of my men are not here, including Kevin.“Find her at all costs.” I gritted my teeth as I commanded them. Before heading back inside the house with my automatic wheelchair.I found Jessica helping the servants clean the mess of the children in the living room, and Mr. Cortez's presence was nowhere to be seen.I need to talk with Mr. Cortez. I
RONAN His nose flared as he turned to me. Fury was lingering through his eyes, taken aback by my words, which made me silently smirk.“IMBECILE! Be careful with your accusations, Volkov. You don't have proof that Belle is not my biological daughter!”He looked guilty and defensive.“Do we need a DNA test here?” I opened my laptop to send a message to my private investigator. “Because I have one here.” I bluff just to put him under control.He nervously laughs as he taps the bottom of his cane multiple times on the floor, giving me an eerie sound, but it's kinda irritating to my ears.“Is that your way to ruin my relationship with my OWN daughter?!”I stopped typing and looked at him with amusement in my eyes.This is getting interesting. “Why are you so mad about it? You look defensive that other people knew the secret of this family.”“There's no secret. You're just bluffing and putting negative things in our way!” He scowled at the top of his lungs. “I don't care that you did a bi
RONAN Her red eyes quivered in fear and rage– red eyes? She cried… she cried with her heart out and God knows why.“Leave us, Ronan.” Her voice is as cold as a sharp ice.I didn't have any choice but to leave them alone inside the study room, but as I passed Belle, I saw her clothes were splattered with blood on them, and her hands had bruises. Fear and worries invaded my chest as soon as she closed the door.I looked for Kevin and the others who were with her last night. But as soon as I saw Kevin and the others, full of wounds and their clothes had red stains, which I believe were blood. It was as if they were in a battle overnight.“What the fuck happened? Where were you?!” My voice echoed in the whole living room, enough that all the people inside looked at me with confusion, especially why my men looked like this.Kevin stood up and pushed my wheelchair to the elevator to reach the second floor. We entered the room where there were no other people around. As soon as he secu
YSABELLEI woke up when a hand accidentally hit my face. I groaned in pain and got up only to see Amara sleeping soundly beside me. A chuckle escaped from me while caressing my cheek.It's not that painful, though.I covered Amara with a blanket and got off the bed. I glanced at the clock marked four am. It was early, but I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to waste some of the hours jogging around the mansion to replenish my mind.I was about to enter my room but the door of Jacob’s room suddenly opened. Jacob came out of the room, dragging his luggage behind him. I approached him with a confused look in my eyes. “Jacob, where are you going?”“I have an early flight to Australia.”My brows furrowed. “Why? I mean, Ronan would–”“Classes are starting next week. I already bid my goodbye to Dad, Ashley, and Amara last night.”He looked down, avoiding my eyes as if he were guilty of something.“That's… earlier than I thought.”I scratched the back of my neck as silence between us
YSABELLEI open the door of the police car because I don't plan to ride Ronan's car. But Ronan closed the door and turned me around to face him."Belle, it's not what you think. Nothing happened between us–” I pushed him in irritation, but he only grabbed my hand and pinned me to the car. "Please believe me." He pleaded.I refused to meet his eyes as I struggled to pull my hand away from his grip and push him out of my way. But he's a man, and I'm only a woman who couldn't even move this guy away from me."Get out of my face." I snarled.His Adam's apple moves before firmly saying, "No."I'm tired. I don't want to argue with him. Also, there are people around us.I avoided his eyes but only to see Jacob's inside the police mobile, silently waiting."Talk to him."Through my peripheral vision, I saw him looking in the direction I was staring. He slowly let go of my wrist while sighing deeply. With furrowed brows, I glared at him and saw him only solemnly staring at Jacob."Don't just s
YSABELLE"Jacob? Are you alright-"Before I could even continue my words, Candice suddenly pushed me, causing me to fall on the floor. She immediately sat on my stomach, wrapping her fingers tightly around my neck."Don't let your guard down, bitch,"I tightly shut my eyes as I struggled under her, trying to push her and take her hands off of me. Damn it! I'm losing my breath and it feels like my veins are about to explode any moment now.With gritted teeth, I also did the same to her neck, burying my nails in her skin and I'm doing my best to escape from this nightmare–"Enough!"Suddenly, the weight in my stomach disappeared, as well as the violent hands of Candice from my neck. I coughed so hard, trying to catch my breath while caressing my neck from the pain she had caused.Shit! I almost became a memory! Sweat trickled down my temple as I hazily looked in front of me, trying to focus my sight on the person who took Candice off of me.But my eyes widened to see an unexpected man
YSABELLEI anxiously swallowed the lump stuck in my throat as I stared at Candice intently, waiting for her response. She inhaled sharply as her eyes didn't leave mine. Suspicion lingered in her eyes and I can't help but curl my toes in nervousness.If she's dumb enough to believe my words–"Okay."My left brow rose abruptly.Uhmm... I didn't expect that, but that's what I want to happen.With a sigh, she reached for my chain around my ankle as she took out the keys from her pocket. The corner of my lips lifted when she finally inserted the key in a lock."If you had just done that before, we wouldn't have led to this kidnapped thingy." She mumbled under her breath. Once she released my ankle, her face lifted on mine. "So-"I strike her face with my knee, causing her to fall on the ground with loud screams in pain."FUCKI"I whimpered in pain as I caressed the knee I used because of the strong impact it created on her face. I bet I broke her nose."Yeah, fuck you bitch." I said under
YSABELLE"Congratulations! You have been fooled for the second time!"My chest twisted in pain as my eyes wavered while staring at the picture on Candice's phone. I hate seeing him on the bed with another woman. It felt like the past resurfaced again and again every time Ronan interacted with them.However, as I kept staring at the photo, Ronan was sleeping in an uncomfortable position, which made me frown. He never sleeps on his stomach because it makes him feel uncomfortable, and his neck the next morning would definitely give him pain.Something is not right.My eyes caught Candice behind the phone, grinning from ear to ear while staring at me as if waiting for something interesting to happen.Did she take the picture? For what? To brag about it to me? If she likes Ronan that much, why does she let that woman sleep with Ronan?I trust Ronan... after all those years we've been together... I know he won't waste it just like before. But I have the right to get mad and feel betrayed.A
RONANI kicked the door in rage as I stormed out of the club where I last saw that woman. I did everything I could to find her information and make sure I could get hold of her. But the owner of the club didn't know the woman. She's not a regular here.I had already sent the little information I'd got to Kevin to do the rest of locating this woman. I should not have left that morning. I only want confirmation if something happened between us or not.As far as I remember, I didn't get drunk that much to the point that I collapsed and blacked out. Did she put anything in my drinks? No, she didn't offer me anything.Damn! My head is aching up now.I slammed the door of my Ferrari, and the first thing I saw when I entered the car was Belle's picture on my dashboard, together with my children.She was so gorgeous with those smiles.My chest twisted in pain as the face of the woman came across my mind."Jesus, what have I done?" I tightly shut my eyes in fury as my fingers tightened around
YSABELLEA door was wide open behind me. With a small light coming from outside the door, a silhouette of a woman at the doorway sent shivers down my spine. Though, I can't clearly see her face due to the darkness inside the room.Who is she?-- Wait... Where's Jacob?“Who's there?” I asked as I was about to try to stand on the ground, getting my balance, but a chuckle echoed inside the room, which made me freeze.That familiar laugh…My pulse anxiously thrummed as I squinted my eyes to focus on the face of this lady wearing a dress with short, wavy hair.A sly grin formed on her lips, which made my legs tremble in fear."Ca-Candice?"It couldn't be right… I abruptly closed my eyes when the lights suddenly switched on."Yes, dear."My soul almost left my body upon hearing her voice. Is it really her? I slowly raised my gaze and met her grinning face. "When have you been out?" She wore blonde artificial hair and put on heavy makeup. Maybe to make sure no one recognizes her."You don'
YSABELLEJacob doesn't have any choice but to follow me inside the building. I know he's scared to face Ronan, but I don't want him to bury a rage deep down in his heart about Ronan.We headed straight to the CEO's office but found his office empty. He's not around, and neither is his secretary.I called the receptionist through Ronan's telephone, and a woman answered immediately."Hi. This is Belle Volkov. Where's Ronan?""Good day, Ms. Volkov. As far as I know, Mr. Volkov is not around."My brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean he's not around?""Mr. Volkov didn't come to work."My ears perked at her words as my jaw clenched.If the people here tell me he's absent from work, it means Ronan has no other outdoor meeting or anything related to the company.Where is he? He's not at home, and if he goes somewhere not related to work, he always tells me so I won't get worried. But why he didn't tell me anything today? Because he's angry?"Where's his secretary?""He's on sick lea
YSABELLE “Why didn't you talk to him?”“He refused to let me visit Mom, so there's no need to ask his permission to go back to Australia.”I can sense his irritation just by mentioning Ronan. I can't blame him. Ronan just does whatever he wants, not even realizing what Jacob might have felt.He's just a child wanting to see his parents and know how they are doing. But Ronan didn't understand his feelings, which added to Jacob's frustration.“He still needs to know. Wait here, I will call him.”I walked to the door, but he stopped me by holding my hand.“He's busy and still angry at me. Also…” He looked away and turned his back on me as he let go of my hand. “I don't want to see or talk to him.”“Jacob, he's only doing this for your own good. You already know the past of your mother and your biological father, right?”“I just want to talk to them. Is that a crime?”I was taken aback at his words.“N-No, it's not.”He stared at me with mixed emotions. His eyes filled with anger, pain,