Carlos’ Point of View: “Yeah, yeah. I remember. The purple blinders for the room, got it.” I laughed and said to Jo, who was on the other side of the phone in her cabin, still at the company. “Yeah!” She laughed back. “I’ve missed you.” “I didn’t,” I replied and watched her nod in sarcasm. “Carlos, baby, you’ve been dying the past months.” I chuckled. “That’s overdoing it.”“So when are you gonna ask me to move in?” She smirked. A smile formed on my lips. “Well—”“I mean, I’d probably wait for you know, the formality of spending months together before booking a very special place and then, the whole shenanigans, and then you’d give me the key, but we really don’t have that kind of time.” I exhaled, putting up a fake smile. It was now… kind of easy for her to talk about her condition. She’d bring it up, laugh it off. Maybe she had time to adjust—adjust? How can someone adjust to the news of them dying? — but she had. She really didn’t feel pity for herself, or got sad, at least n
Achilles’ Point of View:I looked at the two of them kissing and suddenly, I felt anger building up inside me. My heart was beating against my chest loudly as I realised what was happening. I couldn’t believe she could move on already—she didn’t even remember the last month, and she was already kissing someone new? And Stefan? How the fuck is he even a sane choice? He left her all alone when she needed him!The more I looked at them, the more my blood boiled. It felt like someone stabbed me with a knife and twisted it ruthlessly and I couldn’t move at all, no matter how hard I tried. It’s like there’s nothing more that I wanted to do than look away, but I couldn’t because I liked the way it hurt.After a little while, I finally looked away. I had to get out of here before I lost my temper and did something that’d probably just hurt me instead of them. I couldn’t let them win, right?As soon as I reached home, I called Carlos because I needed to talk to someone about this. He picked it
Isabella’s Point of View:After having the coffee “date” with Stefan, I went back to my place. I needed some time to process everything that happened—I still wasn’t sure if I made the right move, but letting him down without thinking wasn’t the right thing either. I didn’t want him to hurt, not after everything he had done for me.I went inside and sat down in the living room, and it was just a few minutes before I heard my doorbell ring. I groaned before getting up and dragging my ass to the door. I was tired of facing people who claim to have done several things which I don’t remember, leaving me with no choice but to believe them.I opened the door and saw Carlos—well, this was unexpected. With all the talk of us never talking again, you know.“Hey Carlos,” I said as I stepped aside. “I didn’t… expect you.”“I know,” He said as he entered inside.I followed him inside the living room where we sat down and I looked at him, curious. He looked back at me with a judgy gaze.“You, uh, y
Isabella’s Point of View:I reached Hawaii on time, but it felt as if it took a hundred extra years. Time moved so slow sometimes and it was excruciating to wait through it. As soon as I got off the plane, I rushed to find a cab and then headed to the hotel he was staying in—I knew because I asked Carlos on my way here.Earlier, he had asked me to stay back and wait for him to come back and let him have peace for the week, but I knew that none of us would be at more peace than the peace we’ll be in when I tell him everything.I owed it to him with everything in my life.I hurried inside the hotel and found the receptionist.“Hey. Do you—uh, can you tell me which room is, uh, Achilles Roman is staying in?” I asked as she looked up at me.“I’m sorry but we can not disclose such information without the person’s permission. Do you want me to call him?”“Yeah… yeah call him,” I agreed and exhaled. If he knew I were here, he’d atleast see me, right? Right?Well, it was worth a try.“I’m sor
Isabella’s Point of View:The ambulance stopped in front of a hospital. They took the stretcher out and carried him inside, taking him to the ER. I was asked to stay outside while they administer some drugs and medicine to neutralise the toxins and help him with the continuous throwing up.I was out of my mind. Seeing him in so much pain was so hard—I could feel like my breath was sucked right out of me, the way he looked like he had given up on everything. Was it because of me? I wouldn’t ever forgive myself if it was. I hadn’t imagined that the greatest pain I’d ever feel would be when I see him in pain. But the way my heart was sinking in my stomach and the lump was building up in my throat—I had never felt so scared in my life. Not even when anybody assaulted me. Not even when I drove in front of that truck. I was always scared when those things happened, but right now, I was terrified. I was paralysed.After calming myself down for a few minutes, I took out my phone and called Ca
Carlos’ Point of View:I walked out of the hospital and exhaled sharply. This was all her fault, and I just couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t anymore. The things she said before she even lost her memory were too cruel for any person to ever say to anyone. I didn’t know I had so much hatred inside of me for her till today. Maybe I had been thinking about this for a while, all in the background of my brain, but I wasn’t wrong either, and no one could prove or tell me otherwise.I was already losing someone. If I had to kill to save my best friend, I would do it in a heartbeat. I got nothing to lose. Living like a fugitive for the last few months wouldn’t matter.I exhaled again. I had been the biggest supporter of their relationship from the start, and now it just felt like everything I believed in was wrong. I was on the wrong side of history. My brain was fucked up with all kinds of nasty thoughts. To be honest, I had never hated anyone in my life. Not once, I just walked away or let th
Isabella’s Point of View:We were just sitting in silence when Achilles looked over at me. “What?” I asked with a playful tone.“What’s up with Carlos?” He asked, his expressions curious.“What do you mean?” I pretended to be oblivious as I stole my gaze away from him. I didn’t think it was the best idea for him to know about everything that we talked about.“I don’t know. You two didn’t speak at all and he seemed kinda off about you.”“Nah, just…” I looked at him and exhaled. “Just the stress, I think.”He nodded, almost buying it. “Okay.”I heard Carlos come in just after that conversation and I looked up at him. He walked over to check on him and then looked at me.I needed to talk to him because he made any more sly remarks and Achilles finally caught up and joined the dots together.“Carlos, can I talk to you outside?” I mustered up the courage and looked at him.He gave me a look filled with contempt but nodded.After sharing a small smile with Achilles, I walked outside with him
Isabella’s Point of View:After the conversation with Carlos, I returned to Achilles’ ward with him. He looked at the two of us. “What did you two talk about?” He asked, playfully.“Uh…” I stuttered, “Just normal stuff.”“Okay,” He seemed convinced as he replied, and exhaled. “Carlos, have you checked in with my assistant in two days?”“Um, no–uh, sorry, I forgot.”“Oh that’s alright. Just call her once if you get time. I just wanna know if everything is in order at the company.”He nodded.“Well, Bella,” Ace said as he looked at me, a smile appearing on his perfect lips. “How’s uh, how’s everything with you? You know, with—kind of coming back after a month.”“I’ve been trying to catch up,” I smiled back. “But yeah, I’m fine.”He nodded slowly. “You didn’t miss much, that’s for sure.”“Yeah?” I asked with confusion.“Yeah.” He replied. “Why? What’s wrong?”“My mom… she, uh, she came by, right?” I whispered, not sure if that was true or not.Achilles looked at Carlos and then back at m
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