Chapter 37

The weight of all Selena had disclosed was like an anchor crushing down on Isabella as she sat in the silence of her apartment. Her thoughts immediately returned to the first time she had seen Xander. Had there been clues, times when she ought to have asked him questions? Had that trust been misplaced, all the times he'd begged her to trust him?

With Xander's number highlighted on the screen, she glanced down at her phone. She might face him and demand the truth with only one press. But she hesitated at the concept. What if Selena had been correct? What if she was in danger if she confronted him?

A sudden knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Her heart racing, she quickly went to the peephole to see who was there. On the opposite side, Xander stood with a worried expression on his face.

His voice was firm as he said, "Isabella, we need to talk," but she could hear the desperation in it.

She inhaled deeply before opening the door and looking into his eyes. "I think we do."

Tension permeated the air inside as Xander paced the space, obviously distressed. Isabella kept a tight eye on him as the thought of deceit raced through her head.

She finally broke the silence by asking, "What's going on, Xander?" "Why are you here so late?"

With a mixture of frustration and terror in his eyes, Xander paused and gazed at her. "I'm positive you've discovered something. I saw your earlier gaze on me.

Feeling the chill return, she folded her arms. "Just tell it if you already know. Be honest with me.

Xander took a step forward, his voice deep and commanding. Isabella, I didn't want you to become engaged with the Alliance. You're not aware of how harmful they are. To keep you safe, I've been hiding some things from you."

Anger shot through her. "Keep me safe? or defend yourself."

His face was pained as he faltered. "Both. I've been looking for a means to defeat them without putting you in danger. However, it's too late now.

Isabella's thoughts were racing with Selena's caution. Her voice was shaking as she said, "What about my parents, Xander?" "What do you know about their deaths?"

Xander's mask briefly slipped, and his face turned pale. She only needed his hesitancy as confirmation.

Isabella muttered, "You knew," her voice cracking. "You knew, and you didn’t tell me."

She retreated, shaking her head as Xander grabbed for her. "Please, Isabella. It isn't what you believe. I was looking for evidence. Until I had anything tangible, I didn't want to harm you."

She raised her voice and screamed, "Do you have proof now?" "Or are you still hiding things from me?"

Xander remained still. Isabella sensed the last fissure in their brittle trust during that silence.

When the burden of the secrets he had been carrying became too great to bear, Xander finally let out a breath. "Your parents were investigating the Alliance when they died," he said. "They got too close to something, and the Alliance made sure they were silenced."

The reality hit Isabella like a tidal wave, causing her breath to catch in her throat. "They were murdered… because of the Alliance?"

Slowly, Xander nodded. "Yes. Additionally, I believe that their deaths served as a warning to others. They were revealing some of the most intricate facets of the Alliance's activities.

Isabella's hands shook, and tears filled her eyes as she attempted to comprehend the seriousness of his words. "And you didn’t tell me... because you were afraid I’d go after them."

Xander said, "Yes," in a broken voice. "I didn’t want to lose you too."

The truth hung between them like a wall they couldn't scale, and the room sank into a thick quiet. Unable to look at him, Isabella turned away.

Isabella experienced a weird sense of serenity as she gazed out the window at the city, which was illuminated by a pale moon. Even though the betrayal still hurt, she understood what she had to do now that the truth was out.

"Xander," she replied steadily and calmly, "I have to destroy the Alliance. For all that my parents have done, not just for them."

His face beseeching, he took a step closer. "I wish I could assist you, Isabella. Together, we can accomplish this.

She shook her head, though. "No. I have to do this by myself.

She could feel the pain in his eyes as the words lingered in the air. However, she was unable to make any concessions on this. Even if it meant leaving the man she had come to love, she had to figure out how to move forward on her own.

With a gentle voice, Xander nodded. "I understand."

The weight of what she was going to say weighed heavily on her heart as she turned to face him. "This... us... I'm not sure whether we can return to the previous state of affairs.

Xander briefly gave the impression that he might object, but then he let out a sigh and lowered his shoulders in surrender. "I never wanted to lose you."

"You haven’t," Isabella said. However, suddenly things are different. To decide what to do next, I need time."

The room reverberated with the finality of her words, and Isabella experienced a mixture of pain and resolution as Xander gradually departed. Her parents and her faith in Xander were among the many things she had lost, but she had also found a new sense of purpose.

Whatever it took, she would destroy the Alliance.