[Not continued from prologue]
Isabelle’s Point of View:
I roamed the halls with a worried expression.
“This is not right. I have told her many times, but she just won’t listen.”
“What should we do?”
“Why are you asking me?”
Numerous mutterings fluttered across the room as my mom, and stepdad talked between themselves.
It was completely stupid.
I just wanted to get a career of my own, but my stepdad—Mr. Richard Roman wanted me to join him and his son in his company.
I finally stopped and walked over to them.
“So?” He asked me with a hopeful expression.
“My decision is not going to change. Moreover, I believe Achilles is more than capable of handling the company on his own,” I confidently replied.
“Oh, I know I am.”
A deep voice resounded in the room. I froze for a second. Then, making my breathing stable, I turned around.
Achilles was coming down from his room. He wore casual clothes but still looked so devilishly handsome. When he looked up and met my eyes, my heart raced and I looked down.
“And of course, he isn’t going to give you the management post. Right, dad?”
I looked at Mr. Roman, who had a troubled face. “Well, about that…”
“So, it is not about my skills,” he cut him in between and I looked back at him. “It is about yours.”
“What?”
He smirked. “Why don’t you tell her about that, dad?”
It felt as if everyone knew what was happening other than me. They were clearly making me feel embarrassed, but… why? I had always been the daughter they had wanted me to be!
I looked back at Achilles, but his smirk was enough to shut me up. I took a deep breath as I processed my options.
“I see what this was about.” I turned to Mr. Roman with a bold face. “And I will prove to you and everyone who doubts me. I will leave this house to make my career and come back successful.”
I was about to turn around and go to my room when Achilles suddenly blocked my way. I jerked back and looked at him, trying to quiet my racing heartbeat. “What?”
“And what if you don’t?”
“I will do anything,” I replied sharply.
A satisfying smirk appeared on his lips yet again, and I scoffed. I went back to my room to pack things up.
Of course, what was I expecting? Achilles was a good person—but the worst step brother anyone could ask for. He was so devilishly handsome and his features were perfect. And having him as my stepbrother?
Not good.
Things were worse because now that we were ‘siblings’, there was a competition. A competition I couldn’t and didn’t want to win.
So, I could only suffer in silence with my feelings alone.
After packing up all of my stuff, I went downstairs. Everyone was back in their rooms, so I just had to up and leave with the guards being the last ones to see me here.
________________________
“I know, I know. No, I am just moving now.” I laughed and said to my friend, Chloe, who I was conversing with on the phone.
“But really? I never thought you’d go away from that house. From Ac—”
“Chloe!” I exclaimed, and she laughed.
Chloe and I were best friends for almost seven years now. She knows everything about me and I do about her—including my crush on him.
“Anyway. Where do you think you would go?” She asked me.
I didn’t have any universities in mind. As I was just done with high school, I had to join a medical university to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. However, I wasn’t even sure which city would be perfect for that.
“I don’t know. Do you have any universities in mind?” I asked while looking outside the window of the cab I was in.
“I have a lot of them, but their acceptance rate is less. You should apply to a few, even if I know you’re talented. I will send you a list after I research them.”
I smiled, even though she couldn’t see me. “Thank you, babe. Meet me at the club tonight?”
“Sure! Tomorrow my college is closed, anyway. The usual?”
“The usual.”
“Okay. Gotta go.”
“Bye.”
I kept the phone down and immersed myself in my thoughts. Tonight was probably my last night in Lebanon, Kansas.
Tomorrow, I will be away from everyone. I will not see Achilles and I don’t know how I will survive because in my mind, seeing him gave me a reason to live. The energy to survive in this endlessly tiring life.
And even though he hated me, I couldn’t stop loving him. I wanted to—God knows how much I tried. But just one glimpse and I was back to square one.
The car stopped in front of Chloe’s house. I was going to give her a surprise visit—after all; we were also going to be apart. I was really glad she put me first and wasn’t sad about me leaving.
I got out and paid the fare. After ringing the doorbell of her house, I painted a smile on my face.
“Coming!” I heard her voice and waited. The door opened, and she was shocked—not happy—when she saw me.
“Hey!” I exclaimed, and she curved her lips into a fake smile.
“Hey, Isa!”
“What’s wrong?” I asked and tried to peep inside the house from the half door that she had opened.
“N-nothing, I—”
“Chloe, who’s at the door?”
When I heard that voice, my breath hitched. No, it wasn’t possible!
Isabelle’s Point of View:“Is that—” I scoffed before I could complete my sentence. “Is that Matt?”She looked down. Matt came out and looked out of the door—and his face paled. “I-Isabel—”“I am sorry. Shouldn’t have disturbed you while you were cheating on me.” I started to go back, but he followed me.“Wait, Isa! I can—”I turned around and slapped him hard. “Just go away. Fuck you and her!”He didn’t say anything, and some tears threatened to roll down my eyes. I turned around and reached for a cab. I told the driver to take me to the airport. Tears covered my face within a few succeeding seconds.Why?It had been just one month since I started dating him. We met in a cafe while I was out with Chloe and at first sight; I had thought to give him a real chance.I thought it would help me forget Achilles. This was one and the only way I hadn’t tried yet, which could possibly help.And now this?I wasn’t too broken up about Matt. I couldn’t get myself to be serious about him but Chloe
Isabelle’s Point of View:I looked at him and puffed.“G-get away.”He stepped aside, and I took a deep breath.“And I don’t have time for you.” I slowly spoke, knowing that things would get worse if he kept behaving the way he was. Everything was barely bearable as it was. “I have an interview real soon. So, bye.”I was about to leave when I heard him.“You don’t wonder why Matt cheated on you and with Chloe, of all people?”I stopped in my steps and turned to look at him. “How… Do you know about it?”He smirked.“How does everything go wrong in your life?”I was having a few stupid thoughts, but shut them out. “You’re out of your senses.”“Oh baby girl, I am not, but I am sure that you’ll be.”My heartbeat increased when he called me that. I looked down and heard him chuckle. I looked back up at him.“W-What?” I asked.“Do you know how bad of an actress you are?”I looked at him while my eyes threatened to moisten. I had thought a lot about what he was saying—about what he meant but
Isabelle’s Point of View:“No. It isn’t possible. You can’t possibly deny this!” I almost shouted at the representative on the phone call. She was Christina, a representative of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She was telling me that “higher powers” had denied taking my interview!“I am sorry, mam. Please calm down. I am just the representative.”I sighed. She was right, but why would this happen?It was evident that Achilles had done that. There was no way this happened because of anyone else. But why?“You’re right. I am sorry for shouting. Have a nice day.” I just wanted to end the call so I could break down in my own little bubble.“Thank you for your understanding. Have a nice day.”I hung up the call and sighed heavily. I was already demotivated—I didn’t have the strength to call other universities to ask about the interview.I had one scheduled for tomorrow and it wasn’t cancelled yet, so I was definitely betting my horses on it. I hoped to Jesus that at least they’d give
Isabelle’s Point of View: “Welcome, Isabella.”I turned around to see Achilles with a small smirk. Frustrated, I let out a sigh. “I thought you couldn’t care less about the CA branch.”“Oh, that’s true.” He came and then stood by the table. “But you see, it has suddenly become so interesting.”“Aren’t you too busy with opening a new branch in NYC?” I carefully went to the other side of the room to avoid getting in any uncomfortable position.“No. I have decided to stay here for a while.”I scoffed.“Anyway. How’s the hotel? I thought it’d fit your interest,” he said.“You booked it?”“I own it.”I looked around the room and furrowed my brows. “I thought all hotel chains Roman Enterprises owned were named Roman Hotels.”“Well, that was when dad owned them.” He took a seat on the couch. “I don’t see the need to include the name everywhere.”“So, you’ve come here to flaunt your money and how you own the places I pay for? I know how rich you are. I know I am going to work with you. You c
Isabelle’s Point of View:“God!”I shouted hysterically, and woke up. My palms were sweaty, and I breathed heavily as I realised that it was a nightmare. Pulling my hair back, I tried to calm myself.After a moment, when I was a little composed, I looked around the hotel room. Images flashed across my mind of what had happened… and what didn’t.Overthinking took control immediately. I could have finally gotten what I had always fantasised about, but I ruined it. I didn’t know what was better… him giving me what I want just once, or never at all? Maybe it would have been harder if I got it once and never again. But was it possible to survive without getting it even once?I closed my eyes and remembered the nightmare I just had to avoid the obvious questions. I saw Achilles—as usual, but not what he was. He was a monster who couldn’t care less about anything. He… abused me and left me to burn.I shook my head vigorously and got up.“Ain’t Jesus on his side all the time…” I whispered as
Isabelle’s Point of View:“So, what is this about?” I kept my cool as we proceeded to go far from the company building. Achilles looked at me but found it in his best interests to ignore me!“Achilles—”“Just wait a few moments, will you?”He looked a little irritated by my constant questions. I slowly nodded, not trying to piss him off.We soon reached his car. “Get in, Bella.”I looked at him once again at the mention of my nickname, before getting in the backseat. My brain was pounded by the constant questions about where he wanted to take me, but I had a little trust in him—no matter how crazy that sounded. I could do anything to believe that maybe he cared for me.He soon entered the car too and started driving. I sat back comfortably and looked out of the car, aware of the speed we were going at.“I won’t tell Dad that you missed work today,” he said after a minute. “So, you shouldn’t either.”I looked at him and sighed. “Why will I miss work? It is not like I am gonna spend th
Isabelle’s Point of View: “I am giving you something, Bella. I am giving you a title in my life.” “And what is that?” “Mistress.” I looked at him, my face filled with horrified shock—not being able to believe what I heard. It was like a nightmare. Being a mistress was worse than not being anything to him; it was worse than being his step-sister. That was like the worst thing that he could have said. But it was so easy for him to say that. Did he actually believe I would accept it? “Are you out of your mind?” I said, pushing him away with all my force. He stumbled back, and I took a few steps sideways, increasing our distance. “Now you’re behaving like—” “Every time I hit a low in my life, why do you have to show that everything can be worse?” “I am doing this for you, you ungrateful brat. You’re the one who—” “I didn’t even say anything to you, did I?” I scoffed and said, finally getting a wrap up his plan. “I never came up to you and confessed my feelings. I never begged f
Isabelle’s Point of View: I looked at him with a blank expression while he left the room. My breathing was rasped.“I know what you think and feel, Bella, and that, right there, makes you the weakest person alive.”His words replayed in my brain like a recorded note kept on repeat. My heart was sad. I didn’t have any idea that things would get worse if he knew about my feelings.I had always imagined him to be kind. That if he ever came to know about my emotions, he would feel sorry for me and treat me better knowing how I suffered; but instead… he just made fun of me and my feelings at every chance he got.I looked at the rain again and a few drops of water came down from my eyes, resonating with the view outside. For the first time, I felt so hopeless that even escaping seemed to be worthless. It seemed like I wasn’t worth anything. Like I wasn’t even worth trying for myself — and I had nothing special or lovable in me.The feeling was terrifying, and the heartache was real. I coul
Achilles’ Point of View:I went back to my apartment as I made an anonymous tip to the police that somehow the rich billionaire had died. It was already over two hours, and Isabelle was probably waiting for me, so I didn’t want to waste any more time trying to clear up the mess at the mansion. My people had already managed the security tapes and the fingerprints.As soon as I reached my place and went inside, Isabelle ran up to me and hugged me. “Achilles.”“Hey,” I smiled at her. “Everything’s gonna be fine now.”She was confused at my words. I didn’t really know how she would react to this. I mean, she knew I was no saint and I had killed hundreds while working as a mafia leader, but right now I had murdered my own father and without any Mafia influence.But I couldn’t hide it. No more secrets. I had to tell her if I wanted her to trust me.“I killed my father.” Those words rolled out of my tongue, leaving her stunned.Her eyes widened. “What?”“Yes.”She took a few minutes as she st
Achilles’ Point of View:“She didn’t cheat on you, Achilles!” Lucy shouted and my eyes snapped in her direction.“What are you saying?” I asked, my mind fogged by the words she was speaking. I didn’t want to talk about her, or the topic she was speaking on—let alone made me question the reality.“She told me. She told me that Mr. Roman had forced her to say that to you. And I know that I wasn’t supposed to tell you this, but I couldn’t bear to know the truth and still go home to my husband while you didn’t get to go home to your wife. She told me that she had to do it because your father said that if she didn’t, he’d kill you.” She said in one breath as she looked at me.
Isabelle’s Point of View:I looked up and found Lucy standing. She gave me a hand, and helped me stand up. I slowly managed to stand on my feet, still lunging forward like a junkie.“Who—who was the highest bidder? Do you know?” I asked as I was dying to know who I was supposed to be a slave for.She smiled. “No one told me who it was, but whoever it was gave the highest money to the main mafia bank and set you free.”“What?” I thought she was kidding.“Yes,” She smiled again, this time wider. “There was an anonymous message on the table just after the bidding. It was to me, and it said that I should let you know that the highest bidder had
Isabelle’s Point of View:“She gets one wish before fulfilling her punishment, boss,” One of the men pointed out as the guards were dragging me away from the main room, and I saw that it was Romero.I looked over at Achilles who was staring right at me, his face stone cold. “What do you want?” He asked me across the room and I took a deep breath. I didn’t want anything but one thing—and this was probably the last chance I’d get.“I want to talk to Lucy once. In private.”He was confused at my request, but didn’t think about it much. “Let her. I will give you one hour. Her punishment will continue after that,” he looked at his men mid-conversation and then walked out of the room
Isabelle’s Point of View:I was on the ground, barely able to breathe. I didn’t know that hurting him would hurt me so much, I was out of my mind. My heart was shattering with every passing second thinking of the pain I had caused, my tears falling relentlessly.Mr. Roman wouldn’t have asked me to do this without making sure it could be supported by proof. I was sure he did something for that too. Achilles was going to hate me all over again. This time it was going to be even worse. And I… I wouldn’t be able to tell him how much I actually love him and would die for him, and would have to just stand there to take it.God, I had never felt this low in my entire life.It took him three hours—three hours before he knocke
Isabelle’s Point of View:“What’s wrong, Isabelle?” I heard mom say as she came out of the room and caught up with me. I was still in a daze from the conversation with Mr. Roman, cursing his name to the highest degree and replaying the conversation I was supposed to have with Achilles now.“Isabelle?” She called out again, finally getting my attention.“Oh, mom!” I said as my trail of thoughts ended. She looked at me, confused.“Where are you lost? I thought after your talk with Achilles, things would be better, no?” she asked, her voice laced with obvious concern.“Uh…” I exhaled. There was no use telling her what was happenin
Isabelle’s Point of View:After spending three hours of a very… amazing time with Achilles, he told me that he had to go back to the war. This time, it wasn’t as bad as when I heard the first time he left. Obviously, he bid me goodbye in the best way a person can, after meeting with mom and then paying a visit to the basement. It was as if everything was normal again, even though I just sent my husband in one of the most difficult mafia wars.I still couldn’t completely understand what happened. He was suddenly way more angry at me than he normally would be, and then now he was suddenly sorry?I guess I couldn’t judge a man like him against the parameters of a normal person. At the end of the day, I had to admit that I couldn’t be happier that I practically got him back. All my thoughts were killing me, and now it’s been quiet. A silent
Achilles’ Point of View:“Do you want a divorce, Achilles?” Her voice rang in my ears, making my head spin round—and I scoffed.“No! No. What part of ‘I still love you’ screams ‘I want a divorce’ to you?” I said, my breath running out. She opened her eyes and looked at me, her eyes bearing an unreadable expression.“I just—I thought you were letting me down easy. Saying you still—you still loved me but…”“No,” I said and pulled her closer again, holding on to her and trying to reassure her. “God, Isabelle. I love you. No buts. No conditions. No complications.”I could feel her sob against me
Achilles’ Point of View:After thinking for a few minutes, I walked over to Lucy’s room and knocked on her door. She had been here with Isabelle all this time, so she must know her feelings best. I knew I had to apologise to Isabelle, but the more I knew about how she felt, the better it would be.Lucy opened the door, shocked to see me. We barely ever interacted, and if we did, it was to convey a message to someone.“B-boss?” She asked with a little uncertainty and I exhaled.“I need to talk to you about something. Come in my room,” I said as I walked over to my room. I didn’t want to talk to her there because Isabelle might see us but I didn’t wanna barge in her private space either.As we reached my room, it was obvious she was scared and worried about what I wanted to talk about. “Relax. This is about Isabelle.”She nodded slowly, a load of tension leaving her forehead. “Have a seat,” I offered as I sat down on one of the chairs and gestured toward one from across to me.She sat d