Chapter 20Isabella's footsteps felt heavy as she entered her parents' house. Usually, Isabella would run in with excitement, hugging Rose, Ben, and even Irene because she had just returned from a delightful trip after receiving her pay from writing. But this time, the burden felt heavy on her shoulders. Irene was still missing, while the contract marriage had to happen soon."Bella?" Ben opened the door, welcoming his daughter with a warm embrace, as they always did.But this time, Isabella stood frozen, not returning her father's hug at all. Ben then stepped back, looking at his daughter's face, which was made up but still looked weary."Is everything okay, Bella?"Isabella swallowed hard, feeling deeply anxious. But finally, she spoke up as she looked at her father with a guilty expression. "There's something I need to talk to both of you about."Ben blinked; he had never seen Isabella this serious. The aging man then nodded his head, allowing Isabella to enter the house. They met
Isabella returned to her apartment with mixed feelings. She threw herself onto the sofa and carelessly tossed Irene's handbag onto the floor.“Damn it! That was Felix’s ex-girlfriend? Up close, she really looks like an angel! Why did they break up?”Isabella leaned forward, now sitting upright. Rubbing her forehead, which ached from dealing with various issues all day, she began to think, “It seems like my life is going to get really complicated from here on out!”The phone in her bag suddenly rang. Isabella sighed deeply when she saw Peter's name on the screen. With a tap, the call connected. "Yes, Peter?""Hey, Isabella! When are you going to deliver the next chapter of your novel?"“I don’t know, I’m busy.”There was a pause; Peter was silent for a moment before finally continuing, "I need the new novel for next month. Can you prepare it?""Alright. I'm busy now. Bye."Isabella screamed, "Aaaaargh! So annoying!" She yelled at the phone still in her hand, "Why do I have to be two pe
"You're getting married next week?!"Sophia almost spit out the wine she was drinking when she heard Felix announce his sudden wedding. She stared at him wide-eyed, then pointed a serious finger at his face. "You better not be joking with me, Felix.""I'm not joking, Mom. I'm serious about this. I'm getting married next week, and... you'll meet my fiancée tomorrow night."Michael and Sophia exchanged glances. They were completely caught in a whirlwind of confusion, anxiety, doubt, and fear. What exactly was happening with Felix?Michael cleared his throat, having recovered from the shock that had made him lose focus for a moment. "Have you thought this through carefully, Felix?""I have, Dad."Michael continued, "You know your wife will inherit the family shares?""We're just getting married. As for business matters... I'll still have full control over that."Sophia furrowed her brows, crossing her arms over her chest. "Who are you marrying? Is she the daughter of a wealthy businessma
CHAPTER 23Isabella sat in front of her laptop, staring at the blank screen for what felt like an eternity. She had lost all interest in writing. Real-life problems had drained too much of her energy. She bit her lip, massaged her head now and then, or sipped on the iced coffee in her tumbler that she had intentionally placed beside her laptop, but none of it sparked any ideas for the next chapter. With a sigh, Isabella picked up her phone and scrolled through social media to break the monotony. Then, out of nowhere, a profile popped up on her Instagram explore page.It was an anonymous account showcasing nighttime views of New York. There was a bridge in the photo, and it looked like some people were celebrating a birthday party.At first, Isabella didn't think much of the picture; it was just another ordinary photo. But then, her blue eyes caught sight of a familiar figure in the background behind the people taking selfies."That's Irene!"Like a breath of fresh air, Isabella finall
Whatever had driven her twin sister to this point, whatever danger she was facing, Isabella had to uncover the truth. She couldn't just sit back and let her sister's life fall apart.Isabella grabbed her coat and headed for the door, her resolve growing with every step. If necessary, she would go to Solstice Assurance in person. She would dig up every piece of evidence, every document, until she found what she was looking for. And if Nicholas was hiding something, she’d make sure he paid for it.As she stepped out into the cold New York air, Isabella couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. She looked around, but the street was empty, the only sounds the distant hum of traffic and the rustling of leaves in the wind. She shook off the unease and kept walking, her mind focused on Irene.The office building housing Solstice Assurance looked grand and modern, towering over the surrounding shops and cafes. Isabella hesitated at the entrance, taking a moment to gather her thou
Isabella was getting ready for work and once again disguised herself as Irene. She wore a white blazer and a scarf with black stripes around her neck. Isabella straightened her hair to look neat and elegant, just as Irene usually did. She then grabbed Irene's bag and left her downtown apartment. However, as her hand reached the car door, another hand stopped her. Isabella turned around and found Felix standing nearby with an expressionless face.Isabella's eyebrows furrowed. "Felix?" Felix gently pulled Isabella's hand, preventing her from getting into the car, then stepped back. His brown eyes looked at Isabella seriously. "You need to come with me now."Isabella chuckled, "You look serious.""..."Isabella's previously relaxed expression changed as she faced Felix. Clearing her throat, she crossed her arms over her chest. "What's this about?""Irene. Irene Swan. Your sister." Isabella's face tensed. "And, about our marriage."Isabella then followed Felix to his car, and they sat ins
As the applause began to fade, Isabella could feel her heart racing, her mind in turmoil. She had just been kissed by Felix in front of all these people, yet Felix acted as if it was just another business transaction. Meanwhile, the taste of that kiss still lingered on her lips, a disconcerting reminder that this was no longer just about a contract. Her whispered curse had been a reflex, a way to vent her frustration and confusion, but it had done nothing to calm the chaos in her mind.Felix, on the other hand, seemed perfectly composed, greeting the guests with his usual charm and authority. It was as if nothing extraordinary had happened, and that realization only made Isabella’s emotions more volatile. She felt as though she was being pulled in two directions—part of her wanted to maintain the pretense, to keep everything strictly professional, but another part, a growing part, was finding it harder to ignore the confusing feelings that Felix had stirred within her.The tension in
CHAPTER 27The party buzzed around them, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of conversation. Emily and Isabella stepped out of the bathroom, their smiles tense but still present. Emily squeezed Isabella's hand one last time, her eyes silently promising to always be there, no matter what happened."Thank you," Isabella whispered, her voice almost lost in the noise."Anytime," Emily replied before letting go and disappearing into the crowd.Isabella barely had time to catch her breath before Felix appeared in front of her. His presence was like a shadow, dark and brooding. He handed Isabella a glass of champagne, his eyes searching her face.“Let’s talk,” Felix said, nodding toward the balcony.Isabella followed him, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on them. The cool night air touched her skin as they stepped outside, closing the door behind them. The city skyline stretched out before them, a labyrinth of lights and skyscrapers.Felix turned to her, his face calm l