Xavier~"Bella, how did this happen?" I worriedly glanced at her broken leg. It's only been two days without her, but it feels like an eternity. When I learned she had checked out from the hotel, fear consumed me. I repeatedly dialed her number, but it was unreachable. My mind spiraled as I imagined the worst.Seeing her like this now, vulnerable and hurt, my jealousy and anger resurfaced. Her ignorant behavior toward me before leaving for Italy had already stung, but now I couldn’t hold back the flood of questions."Xavier, promise me first that you will not be angry with me after hearing the truth," she said, releasing me from our embrace and meeting my gaze."Please tell me everything first, and then I’ll decide." My fingers grazed her chin as I spoke, but my eyes shifted to James, narrowing in suspicion.My heart warred with itself, pleading with me to trust James, the friend I’d known since childhood. Yet my jealousy silenced those pleas. I couldn’t ignore the thought that he mig
Isabella~"What are you doing here?"I heard noises and a dangerous voice around me, and I opened my eyes. The dim glow of the museum flickered across the room. My heart sank."We were new to this place and had lost our way," James said, his voice trembling with forced politeness.What’s going on here? Where are we? I looked around to see what was happening in my immediate environment. Three gunmen stood in front of us, pointing their weapons at us. Xavier stood like a mountain, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his presence grounding me in the face of fear."Where do you want to go?" I heard the piercing voice of one of the gunmen, his tone sharp enough to cut through the tense silence."We want to go to this drama theater." James reached into his coat and pulled out one card, his hands slightly tremblingbut his expressioncalm.Drama-theater? What is he talking about? I looked at him in confusion. Why did he dress in pirate clothes?"Have you seen any of them? We are actively
Xavier~What are we going to do now? Her questioning gaze fixed on my face. Since I was also unsure of what we should do at this point, I looked at James' face to get a hint about our next course of action. Jonathan and his shooters were staring at us with excitement, so I wanted to let him know that we were lawyers, not artists, and that I had no idea what I should perform when confronting themJames came up with the plan to alter our look to trick the gunmen, but Bella's obstinacy has caused us to follow Jonathan here instead. Jonathan's menacing grey eyes gleamed in the room's darkness, giving us the impression that we were standing in front of a ravenous lion within his den."What are you waiting for? My gunmen will shoot you if you don't perform soon."Two large shadows caught my attention behind his chair. They loomed like silent sentinels, their sharp eyes never leaving us."Without music, I can't dance." I adjusted the tone of my voice and explained my incapacity to perform,
Isabella~"Why did you flee from that building, Xavier? You know we have a chance to apprehend him." I looked at him angrily as he was running from Jonathan."Use your common sense, Bella; you have no idea how dangerous Jonathan is. He's not like Jordan. If we don't flee from him, he will kill us." He looked behind to check whether Jonathan was still following us or not, his sharp eyes scanning the streets for any sign of pursuit."But now, how will we bring justice to Laila?" As we paused near the police station, I questioned him again, my voice trembling with frustration."For now, let's put Laila out of our minds; we need to get back to the United States," he said, his tone curt. He asked me not to overthink this, but the words felt like a dismissal, and my chest tightened.James made me sit on the bench. His heavy breathing and sweat dripping down his forehead gave me an idea of how exhausting carrying me must have been. Despite his weariness, he cast me a reassuring smile, as if
Xavier~"Are you ready, Jacqueline?" I teased James, unable to resist the opportunity since he was dressed like a woman."Don't play with me, Xavier; otherwise, I will punch your handsome face, turning it blue." He angrily gritted his teeth, his voice unusually high-pitched to match his disguise."Don't be too harsh on your delicate hands, Jacqueline." I smirked, taking his hand and running my thumb over it."Bella, ask this bastard to stop teasing me; otherwise, I will kick him in his main part, and he will not be able to fulfill Alan's desire!" James shot Bella an irritated look."Stop it, Xavier. How can you make fun of him in such a risky situation? You know that what James is going to do is not a simple task," Bella scolded, her expression deadly serious."I know, my sweetheart, but he looks so gorgeous in this attire that I can't hold myself back from flirting with him. Trust me, Bella, if he were a woman, I'd propose to him right now." I burst into laughter as I glanced at Jame
Isabella~"Thank God, we finally returned to the USA." When I heard Xavier's voice, I opened my eyes. The journey had been perilous and exhausting. Undoubtedly, Uncle Jorawar will be pleased to learn that we have taken Jonathan into custody.I took Xavier's hand and ran my thumb over it. "Do you truly believe it's that simple, Bella?" He raised his brow and questioned me, his expression dark."What's the issue now? Xavier, everything is in order now. We've filed a case against Jonathan and asked the Italian police to transfer him to the US police." I didn't understand why he still looked so worried about Jonathan when everything seemed sorted."Given that we assisted Italian authorities in apprehending Jonathan, do you believe Jordan will remain silent?" Xavier's forehead creased with tension.His words made my chest tighten. "What will Jordan Lucas do in this case? He has no authority over the Italian police." I tried to sound confident, though a flicker of doubt crept in."He mig
Xavier~"Xavier, are you excited for today?" When I heard Victor's voice, I rubbed my eyes to get out of bed."On your fucking engagement day, how could you have slept like a beast?" James joined Victor in making fun of me.I sat upright on my bed, and my thoughts drifted back to the early years when my dad had announced my engagement to Isabella."Xavier, I arranged your marriage to Isabella Morgan, and today marks the beginning of your engagement." I remember how Dad informed me about my marriage to Isabella over breakfast."Wow, that's great; I am so happy for you." My elder brother and his wife seemed satisfied with Dad's decision."Isabella is not bad; in fact, she is a nice woman," Victor added, expressing his approval of Dad's decision while eating breakfast."I can't marry her, Dad." I dared to speak against Dad's decision.I wanted to let him know that I loved Alicia and not her stepsister, but doing so would mean defying my father. His approval, my career, and the future of
Isabella~"Xavier, you look tense. Is everything all right?" I noticed him silently having his breakfast. He didn't even respond to James and Victor's teasing. Is he unhappy with our engagement? I cast a suspicious glance at his face.However, his expression betrayed no joy or sadness, leaving me confused about his feelings. My mind wandered to the past—how he had once forcibly held my hand, sliding the engagement ring on with a forced smile. His anger-filled gaze had pierced through me back then. I was naive, oblivious to his love for Alicia, and blind to their betrayal.Even though I had encouraged him to put the past behind us and focus on our future, those upsetting memories still lingered, casting a shadow on my joy."Bella, where have you lost? Tell me, where are you planning to go on your honeymoon?" James's voice snapped me out of my reverie.Before responding to James, I glanced at Xavier. He remained engrossed in his thoughts, barely noticing anything around him."I haven't
Isabella~"What are you going to do now, Bella?" Xavier's eyes brimmed with curiosity. "I don't know, Xavier; I only have to win Victor's case by hook or crook." I sighed deeply and fixed my gaze on the laptop screen. My attention was drawn to my phone's buzzing sound. "Are you okay, Bella?" I heard James' anxious voice on the call. "Yeah, we are all right, but why did you sound so worried?" I asked him. "I watched the news on TV." After listening to him, I became aware of the impact this news had on my family. They had no idea what was going on here. "Don't worry about us, James; everything is OK." His worry is evident in the weight of his voice. "I feared we lost you both, Bella." I heard him sobbing. "It was part of my plan, James. I am well aware of Jordan Lucas' cruelty. That's why I have already moved out of that house. I don't want any of you to get into problems, so please don't contact me again." I cautioned him once more. "Bella, everyone is concerned about you and
Xavier~"What are you doing here, Bella?" I got up from my bed when I didn't find her in our bedroom. I looked for her in the kitchen but she's not there. Where has she gone on such a late night? I looked in the study room, the hall, the terrace, and the balcony, but she wasn't there. My worry increased about her even more when she did not receive her phone. She is so upset because of Jordan Lucas' case. He destroyed all the evidence of his crime, and the next court hearing is in one week. I am afraid that she didn't take any dangerous steps due to depression. "Xavier, why do you look so tense? Is everything okay?" She put her file inside and looked at me casually as if nothing had happened. Upon seeing her in the old file storage room, I felt a sense of relief. "What are you doing in this room?" I turned my face to look at that dirt-filled room with confusion. "Xavier, we were worried about the evidence, but we forgot that we had the hidden treasure in this house." She got up f
Isabella~"Bella, why are you so silent? You know I'm scared of your silence."Xavier stopped the car in front of our house and looked at me, concern evident in his eyes."I can't live in this house, Xavier. We have to find some other place to live," I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to face him.His brows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong with this house, Bella?""He will attack us at any time to remove us from his path. I don't want to take any risks." My heartbeat was still erratic from the near-fatal accident earlier. The image of the truck speeding toward us replayed in my mind like a nightmare.Xavier let out a frustrated sigh. "Sometimes I don't understand you, Bella. On one hand, you're so brave—boldly challenging Jordan Lucas, standing firm in court—and on the other, you're terrified of him?" He held my hand, searching my eyes for an answer.I tightened my grip on his fingers. "No, Xavier. I am not afraid of him. I am afraid of losing you." My voice cracked with emotion.
Xavier~"Bella, let's go." I held her hand and gestured for her to leave the courtroom."I will kill this man," she seethed, clenching her fist as she locked eyes with Andrew."Calm down. Avoid wasting your time on him." I held her wrist tightly, stopping her from following him."Xavier, you surprised me today. Why didn't you tell me about this proof before?" As we sat in the car, she arched a brow at me, suspicion flickering in her eyes."Bella, I didn't hide anything from you. I was also unaware of this evidence; it was a last-minute idea, and I'm pleased it succeeded." I shrugged my shoulders, watching her reaction."Xavier, what are you saying? How is this possible? I saw your confidence in the courtroom—no one could tell this was last-minute." Her eyes widened in disbelief."Mrs. Thompson, Andrew was the one who inspired me to provide this evidence." A small smirk played on my lips."Andrew? How?" She crossed her arms over her chest, demanding an explanation."My blood was boilin
Isabella~"My lord, Jordan Lucas, killed Victor Thompson and named it as an accident. He not only tried to fool the law but also he once again tried to play with people's feelings and emotions since Victor was not a normal citizen; he was a famous singer. Therefore, I ask that this court sentence Jordan Lucas to death and send him to prison." I stood up from my seat and initiated the opening statement for the defense. The judge listened to my statement and then looked at Andrew to begin the court procedure. "My lord, my colleague Veronica Luis, aka Mrs. Thompson completely forgot that this court is not working based on statements; it needs proof." After giving me a sarcastic glance, Andrew slumped back in his chair. "Prosecutor, provide evidence to support your assertion." The judge motioned for me to present the evidence. After glancing at Jordan Lucas' face, I turned to Xavier and asked him to present the evidence we had gathered. Andrew has already made me angry, so I'm finding
Xavier~"Oh my god, look who's here. The most wanted criminal couple." Andrew walked towards us and looked at us with a mocking-filled gaze. "Andrew, you have a misunderstanding; we didn't kill Alicia." I stopped Bella from explaining anything to him by squeezing her palm as she tried. I know that Jordan Lucas has poisoned his head so much that Andrew will not listen to us at all. "I don't require your lies; save your stories for court sessions." Andrew's venom is making the surroundings so suffocating. "Let's go, Bella; we will visit the place later." I signaled her to leave this place. "But Xavier, we have to inspect this place; we can't leave." Bella protested my decision, but I forcefully made her sit in the car. "You both will run away from the court in tomorrow's hearing." He chuckled darkly as he watched me maneuver my car. "Xavier, why do you always show cowardice and run away from everyone when you have to show courage?" Bella is fuming with anger at seeing me turn the
Isabella~"Isabella, what will we do now? He hated us and thought that we had killed his sister." Xavier's eyes filled with sadness as we watched Andrew leaving the house."Don't be sad. He will eventually discover the truth because it can not remain hidden for long," I comforted him by holding his hand.Victor's death had already shaken Xavier's confidence. He had faced continuous turmoil, and now seeing Andrew—who was once like a younger brother—standing against him shattered him completely. Jordan had poisoned Andrew's mind so much that he didn't even want to listen to us.James, from now on, my family's responsibility is yours. I turned toward James, my eyes pleading with him to protect them in my absence."Don't worry about them, Bella. I will protect them more than my own life," James reassured me."Mama, when will you come to live with us?" Alan's innocent voice tugged at my heart as he waved his tiny hand from the car window."Mama will be here shortly, so don't miss me," I fo
Xavier~"When did he become a lawyer, Bella?" I stared incredulously at the TV screen. "Xavier, I don't have any idea about it." In response, she shrugged her shoulders. When she sees Andrew as Jordan Lucas's defense attorney, she is similarly astounded. "Don't worry about him right now, Xavier. We'll figure this out shortly, but for now, we need to put our family first. They need our support." She grasped my hand and motioned for me to rise from the hospital bench as soon as she saw Dad leaving the doctor's office. "Why were they doing my CT scan while I was perfectly well, Xavier?" Dad cast a wary glance at the doctor. "It was merely a routine checkup, so don't be afraid, Dad." My heart became even heavier after seeing his pitiful condition. "Xavier, I am perfectly fine; please ask this nurse to not put an injection in my body." He holds my hand like a child. Observing his actions now, I comprehend the profound impact Victor's death has had on his mental health. "Dad, don't wo
Isabella~"Mrs. Thompson, you seem to enjoy messing with me, huh?" Jordan grinned as he glanced at the envelope. "Of course, I like to teach a good lesson to those who always take the wrong path to achieve their goals." I glared at him while crossing my arms over my chest. "Alright, then I am ready to accept your challenge. Since your husband has previously lost a case against me, you might also try your luck." His voice carries a mixture of shock and anger. "Jordan, history doesn't repeat itself; occasionally, new events occur to establish a fresh milestone." My heart was blazing with anger as I gazed at him. Upon discovering the details of Victor's accident, I felt a surge of anger. I never expected him to kill Victor so brutally. "Are you okay, Bella?" Xavier approached me as soon as Jordan Lucas left the cemetery. "Yes, I'm all right." I nodded my head. Xavier was examining my body as if I had returned from a war. "Bella, let's go home.: My dad came to me and caressed my ha