ISABEL"Are you hurt?" Eric inquired, his eyes scanning my body for any sign of injury."He didn't touch me," I assured him, my voice trembling slightly. "But what if he's dead? He bleeding, we have to get him to the hospital."Eric's gaze shifted from me to the man lying motionless on the ground, clearly taken aback by my concern. "I thought that was your ex-lover," he said, his voice laced with confusion. "You said he came to bother you?""No, that's my step-brother," I clarified.Eric shook his head, eyes wide with contrition. "Geez, I apologize for jumping to conclusions. I hope Mr. Mulan won't hold this against me. Let's hurry up and get him to the hospital.""Agreed." I grabbed my belongings, my purse, and documents as Eric hoisted Mavis up, supporting his limp body with a remarkable show of strength. Our feet thudded against the ground as we raced to the car, the urgency of the situation pressing us forward.Eric's foot pressed against the accelerator, hurtling us through the s
ISABEL Bracing myself, I spoke softly, "Eric, it's not that simple. I have a really dark past." I swept off a strand of hair from my hair to the back of my ear. Trying to ease the tension, Eric reached out for her hand, "What happened, Isabel? You can talk to me." My gaze lowered, "I'm sorry, Eric. What I'm about to tell you... I'm truly sorry." "It's okay, Isabel. Whatever it is, I'm here for you." With my voice quivering, I confessed, "I'm pregnant..." Eric's expression shifted from concern to confusion, "Wait, I don't understand. Are you saying you got pregnant from last night, or that you were already pregnant?" A shuddering breath escaped my lips as I delivered my revelation. "The man I told you about... The one who left me for another, is Mavis, my step-brother. And I'm pregnant with his child." The color drained from Eric's face, and he stared at me with disbelief, his mouth agape. "No... This can't be real. This must be some kind of twisted joke, right? The weight of
MAVIS Resting on a hospital bed, a bandage around my head, I was trying to recover from the wound inflicted on me. Just when I thought I was alone, the door opened, revealing Estelle. With a concerned expression, she approached me, the first to visit since I had been admitted. "Hey, Mavis," she said. "I heard about what happened through the driver that conveyed us to the hotel. So she did this to you?" In my weakened state, I mustered a rueful response. "I doubt Isabel was directly involved, but her new beau sure has a violent streak." "The audacity of some people," Estelle fumed. "I can't believe he would stoop so low as to have you attacked. "He doesn't know how to handle a remorseful man " "Unacceptable!" Estelle's eyes flashed with indignation. "Apologizing? For what?" Estelle's voice dripped with incredulity. "Mavis, you deserve so much better than that. You're worth more than being used and discarded by a woman who's so clearly unfaithful." "But, what if she's preg
99 Third Person POV After all, Estelle had come too far to give up now. She was close to achieving her goal, why would she back off? She planned on getting a place in the Mall so that no one would believe that a hard-working lady could have a part in the abduction of a leech, so she thought of Isabel, a leach. She held a secret hatred for Isabel. Does Mavis think I care about Isabel's new fling? What a fool! She seethed inwardly, I'll have her snatched away and keep her out of your hair. Her carefully laid plans left no room for remorse. Isabel won't see this coming, She smirked in her mind, the taste of vengeance sweet on her lips. An office in a fast-growing Mall having a variety of goods, the perfect cover for a busy woman like herself. The following day, after Mavis had been discharged from the hospital. He accompanied her to the Mall: TABOO TREASURES AND ALL WHATNOT, knowing that following his father's position, he would be honored and Estelle would easily get the job
Third Person POV Mr. Mulan chose to wait for his beloved wife at the park before heading off to work, his longing for her company making it impossible for him to commence the day without first sharing a moment with her. While immersed in a leisurely read at the park, sipping his refreshing juice intermittently, the metallic clang of the gate heralded the arrival of Matilda, who was dropped off by a car. Mr Mulan's heart stirred as he caught sight of his beloved wife, and he stood up eagerly, his attention now fully focused on her. The moment Matilda appeared and stepped out of the car, Mr Mulan rose to his feet in eager anticipation. While Matilda seemed hesitant to approach him, her husband's unwavering stance nudged her forward. "Hello, my love," Mr. Mulan greeted her with his usual warmth, but Matilda's response was less than enthusiastic, casting a pall of concern over him. "You don't seem yourself today," he noted, the smile on his face disappearing. "I'm not sure how to sa
Third Person POV Isabel walked inside her house to relax comfortably while answering the phone, she did so to reduce the tension that had engulfed her upon seeing a call from Mr Mulan. Isabel answered her phone after hesitating for a while, "Hello," She uttered, the word "dad" lingering on her tongue but unspoken. She was already feeling too guilty to call him dad when she clearly knew that her mother always meant her words. If she said she was leaving Mr Mulan, she would and how then would he still be her stepfather? Mr Mulan's reply was warm, "Yes, my dear," he called, the weight of that final word resonating in Isabel's mind. To her, he was oblivious to the fact that she was pregnant with his son's child. Maybe her mother had not disclosed it yet. She felt a bit better but not completely fine. Mr Mulan, sensing the shift in Isabel's usual reply, pressed on gently, "How are you, my dear? Is everything alright?" Isabel, choosing her words carefully, replied, "Yes, I'm good,
ISABEL I woke up with a dull ache in my body, but after a soothing shower, I felt considerably more refreshed. As I prepared myself for the day, a knock on the door caught my attention, and to my surprise, Eric stood there with a smile and a young man by his side. "Hi, Eric. Good morning." "Good morning to you," Eric greeted. "I'd like to introduce Lucas here, your new driver. He comes highly recommended by the agency." The young man stepped forward, a polite expression gracing his face. "Good morning, Ms Isabel. I'm pleased to meet you. "Good morning, Lucas," I responded, pleased with the young man's manners. "You're aware that your assignment begins today, aren't you?" "I wasn't told, but I'm eager to start work immediately, Ms Isabel," Lucas replied. Turning to Eric, I nodded with a smile, indicating my satisfaction with the driver. "Thank you for bringing Lucas here. I believe he is suitable." "You're quite welcome, Isabel," Eric said. "Lucas, I trust you'll make yourself
Third Person POV The manager was stunned to death that he couldn't take his eyes off Isabel's face. "Alert the security and have her detained for questioning. The evidence is damning. I mean, just look at the footage," she stated, gesturing to the screen, where Estelle's hand was clearly visible as it snatched the item. "There's no denying she's guilty of this theft." Isabel added, shifting her gaze to the monitor, visibly shaken as the evidence of Estelle's misdeed played out before her eyes. The item in question, a necklace valued at an astonishing seventy-one thousand dollars, had been stolen by Estelle. Meanwhile, the surveillance operator had swiftly alerted the security team, who were already making their way towards the gates to intercept and detain Estelle. In an attempt to extricate herself from the situation, Estelle's voice rang out. "I'm innocent! Leave me alone, I didn't steal anything!" Undaunted, Mavis rose to Estelle's defense, interjecting with an air of
ISABEL It happened in an instant. A deafening and sudden explosion, "POP!" It felt like my soul was drawn out of my body. It was like the sharp sound of a gunshot. It shook even the foundations of the courthouse vehemently. "Isabel! Get down at once!" my stepfather's voice boomed from the back. But before I could do anything else, someone swooped in, grasping my waist and pulling me down. His steps faltered, and we both tumbled to the floor while I landed on his bleeding body. I gazed down in horror as blood gushed from his upper limb, his face contorted in agony as he clutched the wound. Everything went blurry, and I collapsed, unsure if I'd passed out or left this world behind. **** Third Person POV As Isabel and Mavis shared a desperate embrace, Jason's men burst in, flooding the courthouse with loaded guns. Jason had promised to pay them off if they succeeded together. They descended upon the courthouse by a hired helicopter, his heavily armed team catching t
Third Person POV Isabel shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, Mavis, that's not what happened. She slipped and fell on her own, and then she tried to ruin my dress with wine. She's just trying to cause trouble." Mavis's expression turned cold as he gazed at Estelle, "You don't need to cry, my love," he said, turning to Isabel and taking her hand. "The cameras will clear your name. Look, there's the broken glass of red wine, proof of her actions." Estelle's face contorted in anguish as she screamed, "You believe her? Why don't you ever listen to me? I was only sipping my wine when she pushed me!" Mavis's eyes fell on Estelle once more, "Congratulations, Estelle. Your jealousy has cost you dearly. You've lost your place and respect as a part of the Mulan family. You never deserved to bear our name. I'll call a doctor to tend to you, and then the police will take you away to serve your sentence. You're no longer welcome here." "Please, Mavis, don't call the polic
Third Person POVMavis's estate in Beverly Hills, now referred to as the Big Master's residence, was buzzing with guests trooping in and out. The maids were busy attending to familiar and unfamiliar faces who had come to grace the ceremony.A commotion ensued at the entrance as some guests, who had not received invitations, attempted to gain entry.However, in accordance with Mavis's instructions, the security officers firmly turned them away, adhering to the strict "invitation-only" policy.Meanwhile, Estelle was hiding in the toilet to put a call through to her accomplice. "Jason, did I ask you to wait until after the wedding?" She asked over the phone."Yes," Jason replied, "You did, are you under pressure? I can hardly hear you." Moments earlier, she'd received a shocking instruction. She was to remain confined to the house, restricted from stepping out until the wedding was over. The reason was clear, Matilda mustn't see her. According to Isabel, her mother would worry that sh
Third Person POV Soon after Bennett left, Estelle settled into the living room sofa, engaged in a conversation with Jason. "Did you not tell me that he lost his job?" Jason continued, "yet he resides in a Beverly Hills mansion? How did he achieve that?" "Maybe Isabel helped him, you know she has a big business now." "Her business is barely a month old, and I doubt her funds could afford even a single room in Beverly Hills," Jason replied. "I suspect Mr. Mulan must have provided financial assistance to Mavis. But if it's Isabel, what about her employees, will she even pay them?" "Hmph! That's none of our business, we should make our move when Isabel is alone, but be warned, the estate is heavily guarded by vigilant security personnel." "Don't worry, I have a team of thugs who'll take care of her until she miscarries," Jason said grinning over the phone as he thought of the pain he would be inflicting on his ex-turned-enemy. "Yes!" Estelle concurred, "She should lose her b
Third Person POV Bennett's gaze was riveted on the sentences displayed on the card: "...for the Midtown Group." The logo accompanying the text seemed familiar. Mavis, oblivious to Bennett's sudden fascination, stood upright and said, "Alright, let me get a maid to show Estelle to her quarters." "I'll be with you shortly," he added, but Bennett's attention remained fixed on the identity card as he retreated. Bennett sat there, astonished, her mind reeling with possible interpretations of what she had just seen around Mavis' neck. Isabel called her name for the third time, snapping her back to reality. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I was just... umm..." Bennett stuttered. "What's wrong?" Isabel asked, noticing Bennett's distraction. "Your husband-to-be..." Bennett started, trying to form a coherent sentence. "Yes, what about him?" Isabel asked, becoming interested in her weird reaction. "Where does he work?" Bennett inquired. "Nowhere, currently. I told you, he's living off h
Third Person POV "You're not just evil, you're the devil herself!" Bennett exclaimed, her voice trembling with rage while Estelle laughed hysterically. "Of course, I am. Are you just realizing that?" She raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Isabel and Bennett. Bennett turned to Isabel, "Listen, I know how you feel, but since you signed up for this, don't let her win." She urged. Isabel whispered back, "You mean I should kill her?" Her eyes darted to Estelle, who seemed to be enjoying the exchange." "No, but don't let her swing you around like a pendulum. Stand your ground, Isabel." As Mavis descended the stairs, his eyes scanned the room, taking in the tense atmosphere. His gaze landed on Bennett, and he understood that she could be tamed if ever she was upset about Isabel reuniting with him. But when his eyes met Estelle's, he was enraged. "Why are you here, Estelle?" Mavis demanded. Estelle smiled sweetly, her hand caressing her belly. "Where did you think Ju
Third Person POV In a luxurious Beverly Hills setting, a lawyer exchanged warm pleasantries with the soon-to-be-wed couple, Mavis and Isabel, before grasping his briefcase. "Thank you for having me Mr and Mrs Mavis," he said with a bow, and Mavis shook hands with him in appreciation. "Thank you, Sir, for coming around." With a smile, the lawyer nodded at them. "I'll arrange for the statutory wedding in a day. Have a beautiful day together." "Thank you," Mavis and Isabel chimed in unison. Isabel's pregnancy had been causing her discomfort and mobility issues since it became more pronounced, making everyday tasks a challenge. Some things, like using the restroom, required personal attention that a maid couldn't provide. This was why Mavis had been staying home to assist with her daily needs and to help her get around. Isabel's mother had accompanied her to Mavis' house when they moved in two days ago. She returned the next day to make arrangements for Isabel's postnatal c
MAVIS For a while, there was dead silence until Mom cleared the air, "Your Dad had immediately arranged for a violinist, in the person of Jane, and a pianist to make today unforgettable for you two." After her smile, she looked at her husband who smiled with a nod in return. Dad turned to us while we were still entangled with each other, his words catching us off guard. "From this moment on, my rightful daughter-in-law will be none other than my stepdaughter, Isabel. No one will take her place. Got that?" I nodded, still in shock. "Yes, I understand. It's something I had already agreed to." The room erupted in applause. Jane was there too, exchanging a knowing glance with Isabel, who smiled briefly in response. "A confession please, I have one more confession to make," Isabel said stepping forward while the room became silent again. My heart palpitated and although no one else spoke up about being anxious, I knew I wasn't the only one experiencing anxiety in the room. She
ISABEL "The truth is, he captivates me even until now. I've always imagined him as a husband never as a stepbrother," I choked on my words as emotions attempted to overwhelm me. Mom opened her arms wide, inviting me into her bosom. "Come here, dear," she said. "I want you to be happy and fulfilled. I know you ran away because of Estelle's lies, which Mavis believed. If not for that, you would have stayed and claimed him as yours." I nodded because her words were true, "I'd always wished he wasn't my stepbrother, Mom" I admitted, my voice muffled against her shoulder. "But I can't wish that he had chosen a different path to be with me because if he had, you wouldn't be with Mr. Mulan." Mom held me tighter. When she had released me, her face lit up with a broad smile. "Anyway, for peace to reign and for everyone to be content, we've decided to let go of the past. We're free to choose what makes us happy, as long as it doesn't come between us. And that's why...," she paused for a mom