YSABELLE The holiday has come on such a rainy and windy day. Connor and I sat on the couch in the living room while the kids played tug of war with the toys. Connor remained silent while staring at the TV. The news was about Ronan’s warehouse in L.A.. It was on fire on the day of Jacob's accident. “He deserves that,” Connor said with a poker face. My brows furrowed at how he sounded. He was somewhat satisfied seeing the downfall of Ronan's, one of the largest warehouses in the U.S.A. I can't help but think if he caused that fire or what. But I shouldn't think bad things about Connor. He's not like that. He was kind and a responsible man, unlike Ronan. I shoved those thoughts, but Ronan’s face way back in the hospital flashed in my mind. He looks helpless and worried about the condition of his child. I'm a mother, so I know how he feels if something bad happens to our child. Maybe it's the worst feeling for me. Since then, Ashley keeps asking me to see Jacob and her d
YSABELLE Candice blocks my way at the entrance of Volkov's private resort. This was owned by Ronan himself. No wonder this woman was using her connection with Ronan to do what she wanted. Her perfectly shaped dark brown brow raised as her eyes ran from my head to toe. She obviously expressed her rudeness just by questioning my existence here. It's her son's birthday, but she's wearing a provocative red dress as if she's in a strip show. “What the hell are you doing here?” I scoffed at her tone as I crossed my arms. “Happy birthday to your son, but I came to take my children.” Her smile flashed while clapping her hands. “Thank you, and this is not a kid's welfare, so please take them out now.” “It's not you who will decide to kick my children out of their father's premises.” I rolled my eyes and walked past her. She was going to grab my arm to stop me from getting inside the resort, but I dodged right in time, making her seem angry. I stopped near the pool as soon
YSABELLE My hands were shaking as I turned to see Ronan at the door. His phone rang again, which made me walk out of his room. I saw a picture on his phone screen as a wallpaper. Our wedding photo. Why? Why would he set the picture he detests so much as his phone wallpaper? Did he only set that up just to woo me? My legs trembled as I hastily walked downstairs, looking for the twins. However, a grasp on my arm stopped me at the last stair. It's Ronan wearing those worries in his eyes. I hate those eyes. I harshly let go of his grip and calmly walked to the living room. “I'm taking the kids home.” I firmly said. “Is there something wrong?” “Nothing.” “Why are you nervous?” He held my wrist this time, but I shook his hand. “I'm not, so please don't follow me.” “I just want to say sorry about what Candice did.” He blocked my way, which made me feel even more frustrated. “I don't care,” “Belle–” “Stop, stop, stop! When will you stop bothering me, Ronan?
YSABELLE Connor grasps my arm as tight as it can be, making me speechless at his out-of-the-blue actions. “Let go of me. It hurts.” I pleaded. “I already warned you not to be near him!” He growled as loud as it resonated around the living room. “Tone down your voice, Connor. The kids are upstairs–” “I don't care!” I was taken aback by his sudden behavior that I'd never seen before. Is this the real Connor Reid? Fear enveloped my chest when he suddenly pushed me harshly. I winced in pain as my back hit the hard wall. “Why can't you forget him? Why are you always with him?! Do you still love that bastard?!” Is he jealous? Does he really like me? For real? “You're not making sense, Connor.” My hand curled firmly. “Yes, you're my fiancée but I didn't acknowledge our engagement, so please, don't act as if we are close to real.” I snarled. All of a sudden, my eyes widened when he raised his hand with rage overflowing through his veins. But he stopped. What the– My h
YSABELLE The doctor left after checking Ashley's condition. Thankfully, her fever has slowly gone down and is now out of danger. What kind of mother am I? I should have noticed earlier that she's not feeling okay. My eyes were glued to her, lying on the bed while sleeping peacefully. Ronan gets the VVIP room for us and has three beds, which is better. “I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have let–” “It's not your fault.” I automatically said. Ronan was feeling sorry about what happened to his daughter. The same goes for him. He also didn't notice what was wrong with Ashley at the party. He reached Ashley's hand and wrapped his both hands around the tiny one. With concerns fixed in his gaze, I felt my chest constrict as I looked at him. I am unable to comprehend how I feel while staring at his worried expression. I just realized that he changed after he became a father. The door suddenly opened and the person striding inside the room made me frown. “What are you doing h
YSABELLE Ronan’s arms wrapped around my thigh and I could feel his warm breath at my spine which made my internal organs go wild. My skin felt like it was burning because of his warm embrace on my back, making me breathless. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I gazed at his arms wrapped around my thigh. I'm too close… He's too close… What should I do? “Come on, lower the temperature.” I was awakened by his voice. I immediately lowered the temperature of the air conditioning. Get a grip, Belle. “Pu-Put me down n-now.” I stuttered as my heart was about to explode. “You became lighter than before.” His comment made heat gushes down my face. He also knew that I had lost too much weight. I never recollect a memory that he carried me before. So, how did he know so much about me? I feel suddenly uncomfortable whenever our body touches. Just like how he insisted on wiping the table and taking out the trash. He's doing all the chores and that leaves me with no choice
YSABELLE As I was done dressing up Ashley and Ashton, I asked the nannies to call our bodyguards when they were done packing our luggage. I abruptly stayed away from Ashley when I felt Ronan’s presence behind me. After I saw the ring in his necklace yesterday, I've been avoiding him since then. This is how it should be. Keeping my distance from him was supposed to be my main goal from the very beginning. Why does he still have the wedding ring? I thought he despised our marriage and that ring symbolized our marriage. Those thoughts were running in my head, to the point my head and chest ached. The whole day yesterday, I felt weird because of that goddman ring. I turned my attention to folding the blanket and making sure we would leave the room neatly. Through my peripheral vision, Ronan was striding towards me. I firmly shut my eyes and walked away from him again. However, he took hold of my arm. “You haven't been talking to me since yesterday. Did I do something wr
RONAN I miss her. I miss her frowning face towards me. A smile painted on my lips when I felt energized seeing Belle's face earlier during my call time with the twins. I tried so hard not to bother her and I'm thankful that Ashton has his own phone. She will only scowl at me for calling and disturbing her. She's getting colder and colder as time goes by. Is this not a good sign? Does she really despise me? The answer to that was obvious. I leaned in my chair and saw the board members arguing in a conference room. I went back to reality. With a sigh, I scanned the documents again on the table. The fire broke out in the L.A. warehouse and the shipment was missing or maybe stolen without our knowledge. One thing for sure is that there's a mole in my company. Who could it be? It's been days since the investigation occurred and they didn't find anything. That's impossible. I ended the messed-up meeting because they were only pointing fingers at each other
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,