CHAPTER 17Isabella was still trying to disguise herself as Irene and minimize all communication with many people to avoid suspicion. However, this had not led her to any evidence about Irene and Rudolf."You have to find this car."Isabella's voice startled the police officer who was busy playing a game on his phone. The man looked up, saw Isabella with a confused expression, and then glanced at the paper that had just been slammed onto the table. "What is this? Your number?""That's Rudolf's car number, Irene's boyfriend, my twin sister! You have to find him, or at least do something to locate them!" Isabella raised her voice, feeling angry at the police who had not made any significant progress for a week. "Rudolf is in New York, that should be easy for you!"The policeman, with a nameplate reading Charlie on his chest, replied with a dismissive tone. "Your case is already in process, you have to wait.""Have you checked Rudolf's apartment?""I've done that.""Have you checked Rudo
CHAPTER 18Sunlight sneaked in through the window just opened by Felix. The sound of the curtains being drawn disturbed Isabella. She opened her eyes, her head feeling heavy from the leftover alcohol from last night. But Isabella's brain worked quickly when she realized this wasn't her house. Isabella got up and found Felix standing in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest."Felix?" "Yep."Isabella's blue eyes darted around in panic. She held one side of her head as she suddenly felt pain. It was the effect of last night's alcohol.Isabella then got out of bed and jumped toward Felix. "I was too drunk last night, I don't remember anything. But I never expected to be here, in front of you. What happened?"Felix sighed deeply, then softened his voice as he said, "Let's talk at the dining table. You must be hungry because your stomach's been growling for a while."Without waiting, Felix turned and left Isabella behind. Meanwhile, Isabella lowered her gaze, looking at her flat
CHAPTER 19Felix escorted Isabella to the mall with determined steps. Since their conversation that morning, the atmosphere between them had become awkward, but there was a warmth that was hard to ignore.Isabella sat silently in the passenger seat of Felix's luxury car, her hands tightly clutching the small bag she carried. Her thoughts were scattered; she was still trying to understand what was really happening between them, while her heart tried to ignore the discomfort that arose every time she looked at Felix.Upon arriving at the mall, Isabella felt a bit more relaxed. Felix, who was usually stiff and cold, seemed more at ease as they walked into the mall, filled with upscale stores. He guided Isabella toward a luxury boutique that sold a variety of beautiful dresses.“What are we here for?” Isabella asked, even though she already knew the answer.“To make sure you have something appropriate to wear when you talk to your mother about our marriage,” Felix replied without turning
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