Isabelle’s Point of View:“I’m sorry, Bella. I know it’s fucked up what I did, and honestly, I think it’s best if I don’t live here. If by chance you’re worrying, don’t. I’ll be okay. I need you to move on and do whatever you want. This is not the first time I’ve hurt you so I’ll get what I deserve. You be safe. And even if you don’t believe me, I love you.– A.”As I read the letter, I felt a sharp breath leave my mouth. I didn’t bother about the entire letter, but the part where he mentioned he’d get what he deserves somehow scared me. It was not very long ago since he tried to… kill himself, I mean… it’s not even been six months, and oh, I needed to find him…I picked up my phone and immediately tried him twice, but obviously it was not picked up. The ring still went through, so it was deliberate. I ignored that and called Josephine.“Isabelle?” She picked it up at the second ring.“Josie!” I said as I was confused how she picked up. She hadn’t been answering any of our calls since
Achilles’ Point of View:“I’ll accept whatever he has in mind,” He kept a hand on my cheek and heat rushed to my cheeks, as I felt a wave of emotions run through me. “And I’ll make this right one way or the other.”She looked at me with the eyes that told a thousand stories but she didn’t utter a word. Her expressions were sad, rightfully so—but her eyes were still full of hope that maybe everything will be fine. It hurt me everytime I knew I was the reason she was hurt, but still I wasn’t strong enough to change for her.She stepped back and nodded. “I hope so.”I gazed over her for a little moment before looking over at Josephine. “Thank you for coming.”“Yeah, you should thank me,” She replied. “I was doing some pretty important things.”“Really? Like what?” I was genuinely interested.“I’ll let you know when I do,” She exhaled. “I need to go back.”“Wait!” Isabella stopped her, “Where you going? And what about your—your health?”“I checked in with a doctor just yesterday,” She sho
Achilles’ Point of View:“So? Should we start the paperwork?” His voice rang in my ears as I looked over the file and then at him again.My mind wandered off to all the options I had at the moment. On one hand, I had to accept entering this new world of illegal people in exchange of my entire life being handed back to me on a silver platter or I could continue being the homeless son who betrayed everyone he ever came across.Sure, I was exaggerating each of the choices, but that was because I had already made one.“Sure,” I replied with a smile, taking a moment but not too much, “After all, Roman Industries deserves an heir.”He smiled back notoriously before pulling out several documents and continuing the process. The next few minutes witnessed me signing on multiple pages, and then he asked me to follow him to a certain location which was probably the base. I wondered why he was in such a hurry.When we reached the location far off from his place, I was shocked to find that the “man
Isabelle’s Point of View:“Three cappuccinos to the sixth seat, Bell. Keep up!” Heather said to me in a rush as she went over to the second seat in the shop with their order.I hurried and poured the coffee in the cup before serving and pouring another as soon as I came back. The Brew Haven was busy at this time of the day and I wasn’t used to working that fast or that much—but I had to try if I wanted to keep this job since I already got fired from my last workplace for being ‘lethargic’.After a couple of hours the crowd died down and Heather decided to go back, leaving me in charge of closing up later. We usually took rounds taking night shifts and obviously, today when I was so tired, it had to be mine.I let out a sigh as I sat behind the counter with only a couple in the shop whose order was already served. I took out my phone and mindlessly scrolled, as I finally got time to think about the past three months.A lot changed in these months—it had been exactly ninety days since I
Isabelle’s Point of View:“Achilles?” My voice came out confused, yet somehow hopeful.In reply I heard a sigh before the same voice came out again. “Why don’t you all go back to the base and wait for me?”“Yes, boss.” The two other men replied before I felt them receding to the other end of the alley.After I stood up slowly as they left, I could see the dead victim on the ground at a distance and the man, who had to be Achilles, standing a little distant from me. We stayed quiet as I wasn’t sure if it was really him, and I didn’t know if I wanted it to be.He finally spoke when we were alone.“Isabelle.” He said with a cold voice, almost lacking any emotions although confirming my doubts. “Why do you keep getting involved with sick things?”“Why do you keep doing sick things?” I whispered back as an instinct. “Achilles, what’s going on?” I was both worried and shocked. Is this what he had been upto since he left?He came closer and I could finally see his face in the dim light. He h
Achilles’ Point of View:I reached the base after the talk with Isabelle. I didn’t think much of it, but I don’t know if the feelings of regret were more than the ignorance at the moment or not. I have practiced not feeling any mercy or emotions for anyone I had killed in my last three months but seeing her was a little different.As I entered the main room, one of my men walked up to me. He was second in the command, the Underboss and was the closest.“Boss, Mr. Roman is waiting for you in your room. He asked to inform you when you arrive.”I nodded. “Thank you.”He went back to where everyone was resting before another practice session. They had to practise multiple times a day, most of the time involving me. I had gotten a lot stronger than I was three months ago.I walked to my room and sure enough dad was sitting on one of the recliner chairs, waiting.“To what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked as I poured a glass of wine. I didn’t usually drink at all, it wasn’t good for the prac
Isabella’s Point of View:The next morning was hard. I was feeling overwhelmed as I had cried myself to sleep the night before, but I couldn’t miss work. I was already fired from my last job, and I needed money for my future. My present was already falling apart and I had no one to support me anymore.As I managed to drag my ass to The Brew Haven, I started serving the customers and I noticed someone I didn’t imagine would be here was sitting on one of the tables. His eyes didn’t meet mine, but I could feel heat rushing to my cheeks—for reasons I couldn’t recognise.“Heather, can you take table 4?” I whispered to her as I looked down with my heart racing against my chest. I really didn’t want this drama right now, not in the morning.“Sure!” She said before walking over to his table and I continued pouring a latte for table 2.She came back after a minute, her lips curled up with a side smirk.. “Oh, I think he really wants you to serve him. I’ll take table 3, thanks,” She gave me a wi
Isabelle’s Point of View:“I’m asking you to marry me.” He completed his sentence and I looked at him wide eyed. Was he out of his senses? Was he drunk? Intoxicated? No, he couldn’t be in his right senses and ask me that question.I didn’t reply for at least a couple of minutes as I stole my gaze away. Honestly, I just didn’t know what to say because it wasn’t the time to joke but he couldn’t possibly be serious.I looked back at him to see if he was joking, and he raised his eyebrow slightly—waiting for a response.“You can't seriously be asking that.” I couldn’t mutter another response than that.He exhaled. “There is no other option.”“I don’t understand,” I replied, my heart rate elevated as it started sinking in. “Y
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