Before Adrian Goes into the Forest For A Second TimeThe sterile white walls of the hospital room stood still, cold and indifferent. A soft beeping sound from the heart monitor pulsed rhythmically—calm but weighted with tension. For the first time since the curse had torn their realities apart, Damion and Adrian stood face to face… just not in the bodies they were born into.Adrian—trapped in Damion’s body—stood at the far end of the room, his eyes scanning the man on the hospital bed. Damion—trapped in Adrian’s body—was finally lucid, the madness having passed like a violent storm. His chest rose and fell in steady breaths, but his eyes, the familiar hazel ones Adrian once saw in the mirror, burned with awareness.Damion slowly sat up, still weak but alert. “So…” His voice was hoarse but carried the same bite it always had. “This is what I look like now.”Adrian’s throat tightened. He took a cautious step forward. “Yeah. That’s you in there.”A long silence followed. The weight of ev
The night was eerily silent.No wind rustled the trees. No birds cried from the branches. Even the leaves beneath Adrian’s boots felt too quiet, like the forest itself was holding its breath.They had reached the clearing—the place the curse began.The ancient stones circled the edge of a dark, sunken patch of earth. It looked almost like a grave, but it was something older. Older than them. Older than their blood feud. Older than the sins they inherited.Damion stood at the edge of the circle, his body trembling—not from fear, but from anticipation. He wasn’t alone. Adrian, inside the body Damion once called his own, stood opposite him, the moonlight casting a silver glow over his face.“I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” Adrian whispered. “After everything… we’re here.”Damion’s lips twitched into a small, tired smile. “I thought I’d hate the sight of you when this moment came. But now… all I feel is guilt.”Adrian stepped forward. “Don’t. We both made mistakes. I didn’t fight
(Previously)The moon sat high in the sky like an ancient witness, veiled by slow-moving clouds that pulsed with the rhythm of the cursed forest’s breath. Trees stood tall and silent, not daring to rustle as if the wind had taken an oath of silence. The stillness was unnatural. A world frozen in expectation.Adrian stood at the edge of the sacred altar. Beneath his feet, the moss-draped stones of the Queen’s circle gleamed faintly, pulsing with a glow that beat in time with his heart. But it wasn’t his heart—it was Damion’s. His hands, strong and familiar, trembled faintly. The key, ancient and humming, sat cold in his palm.And then—he felt him.Damion’s body approached from the shadows, but inside it walked a stranger. No longer fragmented or wild, the soul that belonged to Damion moved with quiet purpose.“Adrian…” the voice cracked softly.Adrian turned. Across the altar, Damion now stood in Adrian’s old body. The change was evident, not just in posture, but in the clarity behind
The rhythm of the monitor pulsed like a heartbeat through the stillness of the hospital room. Outside, the storm that had brewed during the ritual faded to a gentle drizzle, raindrops whispering against the windowpane like prayers carried on the wind.Carmela didn’t move. Couldn’t. Her fingers hovered in the air inches from Damion’s cheek, breath caught in her lungs like a balloon never released. She had heard him—his voice, rough and weak, but real. Alive. Her name had formed on his lips like a promise remembered.He blinked slowly, lashes heavy, as though dragging himself up from the depths of a different world.“Carmela…” he whispered again, eyes unfocused.She fell to her knees beside the bed, the tears already flooding her cheeks before she realized they’d started. “I’m here,” she breathed, catching his hand, cold and limp but tethered to hers now. “You’re here. You’re really here…”Lucas stirred on the other side of the room, still weak from his earlier injury. He rubbed the bac
The rain outside had calmed to a soft mist by morning. The filtered gray light from the clouds pushed through the tall hospital windows, casting a pale silver glow across the quiet room.Damion lay in the bed, awake, staring at the ceiling—not lost in some supernatural war anymore, not caught between life and death—but present. Real. Human.Carmela sat beside him, her fingers gently tracing over his as if grounding herself in the truth. For the first time in what felt like forever, there were no rituals, no keys, no curses. Just breath. Just stillness. Just them.“You haven’t said anything in a while,” she murmured.“I’m afraid if I speak too soon,” he said, his voice hoarse but steady, “it might all disappear.”She smiled softly. “You’re not dreaming.”“Feels like I am.” He turned his head to look at her. “You’re here. And I’m not… cursed or possessed or running through a forest like a lunatic.”She chuckled—just a little. “No. Just emotionally wrecked, mildly traumatized, and defini
SynopsisIsabelle Everett's perfect life crumbles when her billionaire husband, Damion Ryder, serves her divorce papers on their anniversary. Betrayal, heartbreak, and deceit propel her into a six-year journey of self-discovery.Now, with secrets exposed and old flames rekindled, Isabelle must choose between the man who broke her heart or her high school sweetheart, the one who's always loved her but has an ulterior motive. Will forgiveness transform their lives, or will the past destroy their future?Chapter 1 “I have something for you,” Damion says, his voice cutting through the chatter and laughter surrounding us. I turn to face him, my heart skipping a beat. The celebration is grand—golden lights casting their warm glow, guests mingling, a symphony playing softly in the background. But none of that matters now. All I see is Damion, holding an envelope with a look so unreadable it sends a chill down my spine. “Happy anniversary,” I whisper, forcing a smile, hoping for even a f
I close the door to our—no, his—bedroom, the sound echoing through the empty halls like the final note of a funeral march. The weight of the evening presses down on me, suffocating and inescapable. My fingers tremble as I reach for the suitcase at the foot of the bed, the one I hadn’t touched since our honeymoon. How ironic that it would be the last witness to this chapter of my life. The room still carries traces of us: the silk sheets tangled from restless nights, the scent of his cologne lingering in the air like an uninvited memory. Every detail feels like a cruel joke, mocking me with what I’ve lost. I stand in the center, numb, trying to process what just happened downstairs. Kaia’s mocking smile, her possessive arm around Damion’s waist, the way he didn’t even flinch when she kissed him in front of everyone. It wasn’t just betrayal—it was annihilation, a public declaration that I was nothing. I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands fisting the fabric of my dress, now w
The sterile smell of antiseptic bites at my nose as I rush down the hospital hallway, my suitcase trailing behind me like a shadow. The weight of last night hangs heavily on my chest, pressing down with every step, threatening to crush me. My mother’s text is etched in my mind, the urgent call pulling me from one heartbreak and into another. When I reach the reception, I spot Dr. Mensah. His expression is grim as he steps out of my mother’s room, and my stomach twists. “Dr. Mensah,” I gasp, my voice thin with exhaustion. “How is she?” He looks at me for a moment, the furrow in his brow deepening. “Isabelle, I’m glad you came quickly. Your mother’s condition is worsening. We need to increase her treatment regimen, but that also means higher costs.” The room tilts, the weight of his words crashing into me. “I understand,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “But what about the funding from my—” I stop, the words catching in my throat. “From Damion? The arrangement we had sh
Isabelle’s POV I stared at the message on my phone, the cold words burning into my mind. “You’re running out of time. Leave, or face the consequences.” Walter. I didn’t need proof. His fingerprints were all over this. The sudden sabotage of my contracts, the threatening text—it was his way of reminding me that I was nothing to him. That I was a problem he needed to erase. But the part that rattled me most wasn’t the threat itself. It was the fact that Walter knew I wouldn’t leave. Not this time. I set my phone down, inhaling deeply, fighting to steady my pulse. I wouldn’t be bullied. I wouldn’t let this man, or anyone else, push me out of my life. I had built everything from scratch. My business. My reputation. My home. But as I sat there, staring into the dimly lit living room, the ache in my chest was undeniable. Because I hadn’t just built this life for myself. I had built it for Nathan. The sound of his soft footsteps broke my spiral. “Mommy?” His sleep
Isabelle’s POV The morning came with a sense of foreboding I couldn’t shake. I’d barely slept, my thoughts consumed by Walter Ryder’s warning and the weight of his veiled threat. It wasn’t just his words that unsettled me—it was the way he delivered them. Calm. Cold. Unrelenting. Nathan’s laughter floated from the living room as I sipped my coffee, his innocent joy a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my mind. I glanced at my phone, the unread messages from Brian a reminder that my life wasn’t just a mess—it was a tangled web, and I was caught in the center of it. Stephanie’s call came just as I was about to head to the office. Her voice was rushed, almost panicked. “Miss Everett, we have a situation.” I gripped the phone tighter. “What is it?” “Three of our major clients have pulled out of their contracts this morning,” she said, her voice trembling. “No explanation. Just… gone.” The room tilted slightly, but I forced myself to stay calm. “All at once?” “Yes,” s
Isabelle’s POV Walter Ryder was a man whose presence lingered long after he left a room. Even now, as I sat in my office staring blankly at the door he had walked through, I could feel his cold, calculating gaze bearing down on me. His warning replayed in my mind, his words like shards of ice cutting through my resolve. “Take your son and disappear before Damion gets too close.” It wasn’t a suggestion—it was a threat. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Walter Ryder had always been a puppet master, pulling strings from the shadows, and I wasn’t naïve enough to think his visit was just a courtesy call. He wanted me gone. He always had. But this time, I wasn’t running. Later that afternoon, I sat in my living room with Nathan, his laughter filling the space as he played with his toy cars. Watching him, I felt a pang of guilt. His innocence was a stark contrast to the storm brewing around us, and I hated that he was caught in the middle of it. “Mommy,” he
Damion’s POV I stormed out of Isabelle’s house, her last words echoing in my mind. “He’s not yours. That’s all you need to know.” But I didn’t believe her. I couldn’t. The way she avoided my gaze, the tremor in her voice—it all screamed of something she was hiding. And I wasn’t about to let this go. My car sat idling on the curb, but I didn’t get in. Instead, I leaned against the hood, the cool night air doing little to calm the fire burning inside me. Nathan’s face lingered in my thoughts. The resemblance, the timing—it all fit. If Isabelle was lying, I’d find out. My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking my train of thought. When I pulled it out, the name on the screen sent a chill down my spine. Walter Ryder. My father. I hesitated before answering, my grip on the phone tightening. “What do you want?” His voice was as cold and commanding as ever. “Damion. We need to talk.” “I don’t have time for this,” I snapped. “Whatever it is, I’m not interested.” “Oh, but yo
Damion’s POV The sound of Kaia’s heels clicking away echoed in my head long after she was gone. Her words, her accusations, and the sharp tension between her and Isabelle still clung to me like smoke after a fire. Isabelle’s glare before she walked back into her office cut deeper than I’d expected. She’d blamed me, of course, and maybe she was right. But it wasn’t that simple. It never had been. I stood outside the building, staring at the glass doors she’d disappeared through. My heart ached, a feeling I’d thought I’d long buried. Isabelle Everett was under my skin in a way no one else ever could be. But then there was Nathan. Kaia’s pointed remarks about Isabelle’s son wouldn’t leave my mind. Every instinct in me screamed that there was more to this story than Isabelle was letting on. And if I wanted answers, I’d have to find them myself. I pulled out my phone and dialed Kaia. Kaia’s POV I was still seething by the time I reached my car, slamming the door shut with
Isabelle’s POV Stephanie’s words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to detonate. Kaia was outside. Causing a scene. Of course, she was. My hands tightened into fists, and I turned to glance at Damion. He looked as surprised as I felt, his brows furrowing, but there was something else in his expression—annoyance, perhaps? Or dread? “I’ll handle it,” I said coldly, moving toward the door. “I’m coming with you,” Damion said, stepping forward. I spun to face him, my glare sharp. “You’ve done enough already. Stay here.” “No,” he said firmly. “Kaia is my problem.” I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. A part of me wanted to see him face the chaos he’d brought into my life. Maybe he needed to deal with her to understand the kind of destruction he left in his wake. “Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “Let’s go.” As we stepped out of the office building, I immediately spotted Kaia near the entrance, her voice carrying over the murmurs of passersby. She was dressed impecc
Isabelle’s POV The morning sun spilled through the curtains, filling my bedroom with warmth. It should have been comforting, but instead, it felt like a spotlight, exposing the chaos of my thoughts. After the storm Damion had stirred last night, I couldn’t shake the unease clinging to me. His words, his presence—they lingered like smoke in the air, impossible to ignore. I sat at the breakfast table with Nathan, his cheerful humming a stark contrast to the turmoil in my chest. He munched on a piece of toast, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. “Mommy,” he said between bites, “can we go to the park today?” I forced a smile, brushing his curls back affectionately. “We’ll see, sweetheart. Mommy has some work to do first, okay?” He nodded, happily returning to his breakfast. Watching him, I felt a pang of guilt. I’d dragged him back to this city, thinking I could keep my past buried, but it was all unraveling. And now Damion was here, threatening to uncover secrets that c
Isabelle’s POV The air still felt heavy even after Damion finally left. His words, his touch, his kiss—it all lingered like a storm cloud over my thoughts. My lips still tingled, not just from his kiss but from the anger and disbelief that followed. What had just happened? How had I let it get this far? I paced back and forth in my living room, my hands trembling slightly as I tried to shake off the emotions swirling inside me. Damion Ryder was like a hurricane—unpredictable, destructive, and relentless. And just like before, I felt myself being pulled into his chaos. But I wouldn’t let it happen again. Nathan’s soft voice called from upstairs, breaking through my spiraling thoughts. “Mommy?” I froze, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “I’m here, sweetheart!” “Is it safe to come down now?” he asked, his tone innocent but tinged with curiosity. My heart clenched. He must have heard the commotion. “Yes, it’s safe. Everything’s fine.” I listened to the soft patter o
Isabelle’s POV The cool night air pressed against my skin as I marched toward Damion. My heart pounded in my chest, the fury bubbling inside me like a volcano ready to erupt. He stood near the gate, swaying slightly, the bottle in his hand hanging limply by his side. His disheveled appearance and glassy eyes screamed of recklessness, and the sight of him brought a mix of anger and… something else I couldn’t name. “What the hell are you doing here, Damion?” I demanded, my voice low and sharp. The murmurs from the small crowd of onlookers only fueled my frustration. “Are you trying to make a scene?” His head turned slowly, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, I thought he didn’t recognize me, but then a lazy, almost relieved smile spread across his face. “Isabelle,” he slurred, his voice thick with alcohol. “Finally.” I gritted my teeth, stepping closer. “Damion, you’re drunk. Go home.” “Home?” he echoed, stumbling forward. “I don’t have a home anymore. Not without you.