Chapter 13

Isabella felt the weight of the darkness as she made her way to the docks. Although she could hear the waves gently crashing against the pier, the raging tempest of emotions inside of her was not much quieted. A part of her felt she couldn't go back now, even though she didn't know who had called or what secrets they could have. She had come here determined to find the truth that had been haunting her since Vivian's dire warning.

Slowly, a figure stepped out of the darkness. When a familiar face emerged into the faint light, Isabella froze, her heart pounding.

"Marcus?" Struggling to make sense of the man she knew and the anonymous figure in front of her, she mumbled. "What are you doing here, exactly? Why get in touch with me in this manner?

Marcus's face flashed with shame as his gaze shifted to the ground and then back to her. In a subtle sign of peace, he lifted his hands a little, but it only made her feel more exposed.

With a low, anxious voice, he murmured, "Isabella, I never wanted you to find out this way." But things have gotten out of hand. I couldn't continue to keep you in the dark.

With her arms crossed tightly, she demanded, "What do you mean?" "I had faith in you. Xander had faith in you. What is happening?

Before he spoke, Marcus paused and looked out to the lake. You've seen how Xander has recently become the target of attacks. The company—his life. Vivian was merely a diversion. You don't realise how strong the people she works for are. They have been pursuing him for a while, and they are now getting closer.

Isabella's spine tingled at the words, but she made herself remain composed. "You're telling me that someone else has been in charge the entire time? Why? What do they desire?

Isabella, they want to be in charge. of all that he has constructed. And they will do whatever it takes to obtain it. Marcus's expression clouded as he met hers. "Vivian was aware that you were Xander's main vulnerability. She pushed him and set him up to break by using that against him. The goal of the entire game has been to wear him down until he is completely exhausted.

The parts of a puzzle she had been assembling without realising it seemed to fit together all of a sudden. It all fit together: the ongoing tension, the dubious business-related situations, and Vivian's arrival at the most inconvenient times. And she felt sick to her stomach.

With her voice nearly breaking, she questioned, "But why you?" Why would you betray him in this way, betraying us? You're his pal. You were like family to us.

Marcus's face flashed with pain as he closed his eyes for a moment. Isabella, they have power over me. My family, something that could destroy me. I believed I could play both sides and handle it. However, I didn't realise how profound this is. They are now coming for both you and him.

The full force of his words struck Isabella, and she felt the blood drain from her face. "For me? What would make them target me?

Because to him, you are everything. Marcus answered, "They know that the only way to get him to give up is to hurt you." His eyes were regretful as he dropped his voice. "If it means getting to him, they'll ruin you. Additionally, they will employ whatever force is required if Xander refuses to comply.

Isabella struggled for balance and held onto the railing. "So, how do we proceed?"

Marcus paused, staring over his shoulder as though he was waiting for someone to come out of the darkness. For the time being, we must remain silent. Give them the impression that they are still in control. We must collect evidence—proof of everything they have done—while acting as though we are unaware of it. It's the only way to defeat them without putting our lives at danger.

She nodded, her fury and terror solidifying into determination. She couldn't allow these individuals to prevail. And she had to seize the opportunity to save Xander and put an end to this horror.

Xander was still awake when she later returned to the penthouse, looking exhausted as he studied documents in the gloomy light. With the burden of her chat with Marcus crushing down on her chest, she paused in the doorway and watched him.

"Isabella, are you all right?" he enquired, observing her. The familiar warmth she experienced with him temporarily soothed the storm within her as his features softened somewhat.

Despite the terror and panic that had followed her since the docks, she forced a grin. "Yes," she whispered, "just a long day."

Xander walked over to her and embraced her. As if it were the final time, she eased up against him and soaked in his embrace. More than ever, she was convinced that she couldn't let him go to whatever darkness was encroaching.

He kissed her forehead tenderly and murmured, "Get some rest." "We'll overcome this."

Knowing that their biggest challenge was still to come, she prepared herself for what was ahead as she closed her eyes. And when it happened, she would do whatever it took to defend him.