CHAPTER 65Nicholas stepped into Isabella's house with a slight feeling of tension, though he tried to remain calm. This was the first time he had met Irene in person since she had been found.In the living room, Irene was sitting on the sofa, cradling her baby, who was peacefully asleep in her arms. The baby, named Selena, was a symbol of hope amid the chaos they were facing.Nicholas smiled warmly when he saw Irene. He carried a bouquet of flowers in his hand, which he gently offered to her. "These are for you, Irene. I hope they can brighten your day a little."Irene looked at Nicholas with a weary face but filled with gratitude. She accepted the flowers and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Nicholas. They're beautiful."Nicholas sat down beside Isabella, who had accompanied him inside. "How are you feeling now?" Nicholas asked softly, his tone full of concern.Irene sighed, her eyes glancing at Selena, still sleeping soundly in her arms. "I'm... still struggling. There are days when I fe
Sarah sat down in front of Felix's desk, her eyes focused on the man in front of her, who appeared calm despite the tense atmosphere between them. She had just informed Felix that she had filed for divorce from Louis—a difficult decision but one she believed was the only way to be with Felix again.However, Felix's response was far from what she had expected."I don’t want to continue this relationship, Sarah," Felix said in a flat, almost emotionless tone. "Our relationship is over, and I don’t want us to go back to how things were."Sarah was taken aback by Felix's words, her eyes widening in shock. "What do you mean, Felix? Do you know how much I've sacrificed for this? I left Louis... for us. For a second chance at us."Felix took a deep breath before looking at Sarah with a serious expression. "I know, Sarah, and I appreciate what you've done. But I've made my decision. I'm going to London, and I won’t be coming back to New York."Sarah's face instantly paled, her entire body fee
Isabella was sitting in the backyard, enjoying a quiet afternoon with Irene and Selena. Though Irene still looked tired, she was starting to feel better after several weeks of therapy. Isabella helped look after Selena, gently rocking the stroller as she engaged in light conversation with Irene, trying to create a sense of normalcy in a life still filled with uncertainty.But the peaceful silence was abruptly interrupted when an unfamiliar black car sped into the front yard. Before Isabella could react, the car door opened, and Rudolf stepped out with quick strides and a determined expression.“Irene!” Rudolf shouted coldly and threateningly as he rushed toward her.Irene froze in place, too shocked to move. “Rudolf? What are you doing here?!” Her voice trembled with deep fear.Sensing danger, Isabella sprang into action, but before she could do anything, Rudolf roughly dragged Irene into the car. “You’re coming with me, Irene. Now!” he commanded, ignoring Irene’s growing panic and pr
Felix lost track of Rudolf’s car after Rudolf managed to speed through an intersection. All they could do was return to Isabella’s house. Irene's sudden abduction had shaken everyone, and now Felix felt a great responsibility to help Isabella and her family find Irene before it was too late.As Felix parked the car in front of Isabella's house, he could sense the tension inside. When he entered, all eyes were on him."Isabella!" Rose called, rushing to hug her daughter with a sense of relief. "What about Irene?"Isabella shook her head weakly, looking deeply regretful. "I don’t know what Rudolf is planning, but I’m afraid he’s going to do something worse to her."Felix looked at Isabella seriously, trying to offer as much calm as he could. "Don’t worry, Isabella. We’ll find her. I’ll ask Kevin to track Rudolf’s car. We saw his license plate, so that can be a clue."Isabella nodded quickly. "Yes, I saw it before his car disappeared. He might have even switched cars by now."Felix immed
Rudolf pulled Irene out of the car, which he had deliberately arranged from a friend outside the city. Irene struggled, trying to resist with what little strength she had left. However, Rudolf was a man, and his strength was clearly greater than Irene's."Let me go! Please, let me go!"No. Rudolf didn’t let her go. Instead, he roughly dragged Irene into a house deep in the forest. It wasn’t the same place that Kevin had successfully tracked down. Rudolf had swapped cars halfway through the journey, changing it according to his plan, and left his phone in an abandoned house to mislead Isabella and Felix’s pursuit. It had all been carefully planned.When Rudolf reached a room, he threw Irene onto the bed. Irene’s breath caught, and she suddenly lost focus, overwhelmed by the fear flooding her chest. She raised her hands, staring at Rudolf, pleading."Don’t do this!"Rudolf grabbed Irene’s hair, causing her to wince in pain. "Do you think you can leave me? No, darling. You will always be
The gray sky over the cemetery created a sorrowful atmosphere. Isabella stood near the coffin, holding Selena tightly in her arms. The baby seemed calm, despite the sadness surrounding them. Many mourners had come to pay their respects to the departed, but Isabella could barely focus on anyone. Her mind was too burdened by the recent loss she had experienced.Among the crowd, Nicholas and Felix stood not far from Isabella. Nicholas glanced at Felix, his eyes narrowing in confusion and slight irritation. He knew Felix was supposed to be in London, starting a new life away from all the drama in New York. Yet here was Felix, calm and present at this important event for Isabella.Nicholas approached Felix, his voice low but with a growl. "Why are you here, Felix? Aren't you supposed to be handling your business in London? I thought you'd left."Felix looked at Nicholas without emotion, though there was something faint behind his eyes. "I changed my mind," he replied briefly, as if he didn
Felix sat at the dining table, staring at Isabella who was seated across from him. The atmosphere between them was tense, filled with unspoken burdens. Felix couldn’t take his eyes off Isabella, even though he knew that what he was about to say might worsen the situation. But he couldn’t hide his intentions any longer."Isabella," Felix finally spoke, his voice soft but firm. "I need to talk to you about something important. About us."Isabella looked at him with tired eyes, trying to understand what Felix was about to say. "What do you mean, Felix?" she asked, frowning, unprepared for a serious conversation, especially after the funeral and all the emotional weight she had been carrying.Felix took a deep breath, preparing himself. "I’ve ended my relationship with Sarah."Isabella stared at Felix in shock. Sarah, the woman who had been part of Felix's life for the past few years, was no longer by his side. But instead of feeling relieved, Isabella felt confused."Why are you telling
Isabella sat in her parked car in front of her parents' house, her eyes staring blankly out the window. Today had been too long, she thought. After giving her testimony at the police station about the disappearance of her twin sister, Irene, and all the drama that followed, Isabella felt physically and emotionally exhausted. Memories of Irene continued to haunt her, and even now, in a place that should have made her feel safe—her parents' home—her mind was filled with anxiety she couldn't shake off.Isabella slowly opened the car door, taking a deep breath to calm herself. The sound of the engine turning off signaled that the night was about to grow quieter. She stepped out, gently closing the car door, and walked slowly toward the house. This house had witnessed so many events in her life, from the warmth of her childhood to the crisis currently haunting her family.As she reached the front door, Isabella paused for a moment, listening to the strong beat of her own heart. When the do