Xavier~"Bella, please don't say this; I am genuinely sorry for my behavior." I held her hand to stop her from leaving the courtroom. My heart was drowning in guilt after seeing the real face of Lincon. I never imagined that he would go to such extreme measures to achieve success and financial gain, such as joining Jordan Lucas' drug supply company."Xavier, sorry isn't enough for the wounds you caused on my heart." She turned to face me, but her eyes remained fixed on the floor instead of my face."I understand that apologizing is insufficient, Bella, and I am willing to accept any form of retribution for my errors." I lowered my head in embarrassment.Her slow, painful voice was like a needle piercing my heart. "Don’t think any penalty is sufficient for the hurt you caused me; therefore, if that’s the case, I want to cause you the same suffering." Suddenly, a hint of malice crept into her tone."Bella, you already know that I am not as strong as you are, so please don't even consid
Isabella~"Mama, Dad wants to talk to you." When I noticed the call from my home landline, I assumed it was Alan, but when I heard him mention that Xavier needed to speak with me, I let out a disappointed sigh. Why is he repeatedly using my son as a pawn in his cheap game?"Xavier, I am already done talking with you. Now I don't have anything to talk about with you." Before listening to him, I told him my decision, my tone sharp, before hanging up."Please listen to me just once, Bella. I know you're upset with me and don't want to see my face, but please don't hang up."I paused the call and placed my phone against my ear."Ok, I am listening." I gripped the phone tightly because it would be difficult for me to ignore him, particularly when he was genuinely apologizing for his behavior."Dad wants you to come home, Bella. He is deeply upset about Lincon's situation, and he feels deeply guilty for not trusting you." The weight he held on his chest was evident in his tone."Tell your d
Xavier~"Xavier, did you call Bella and ask her to return home?" Dad questioned me about Bella as we sat at the dining table for breakfast. His swollen, puffy eyes gave me the impression that he didn't sleep well last night. I don't want to aggravate him further by informing him about Bella's response. How can I explain to him that she broke off all contact with us and now refuses to even meet her son?I don't believe that she could be so angry with me that she refused to meet even Alan. I don't think I made such a severe mistake that she couldn't forgive me and return home.Dad's voice carried a sadness that stung. "Xavier, why are you quiet? Didn't you talk to her?" His voice brimmed with eagerness.I don't want to break his heart by telling him the truth, but I can't lie to him anymore."Dad..." I fidgeted with my fingers nervously, trying to gather the courage to tell him the truth."Mama, finally you have returned!" Alan's excited voice broke through the silence. I turned to lo
Isabella~"What are you doing here, Victor?" As soon as I entered the hotel reception to collect my room key, my gaze fell on Victor, who was sitting in the reception area. His slouched posture and tear-filled eyes made my heart sink."Bella, I have left that house, and I have no intention of returning," he said, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion."Come to my room." I got the key to my room, held his hand, and led him there.Once inside, I sat him down on the couch. "Now tell me what happened."I had known Victor for so many years, and I couldn't recall a time when he had looked this broken. He wasn't one to get upset over trivial matters, let alone choose to leave the house entirely. Whatever had happened, it must have shattered him completely."Xavier has changed, Bella." His voice cracked as he spoke. "He's no longer the kindhearted man I once knew. He has become self-centered and obsessed with controlling everything." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he broke down."Victo
Xavier~"Victor, why did you go to plead with her when I asked you not to request her to return home?" I stood in front of his room door to prevent him from entering."Xavier, I feel alone in this house without her, and as a family member in the Thompson family, I must take care of everyone." He crossed his arms on his chest, his defiance clear."What did she say to you, then?" I asked, my voice softening with a glimmer of optimism. Given her admiration for Victor, I allowed myself to hope—maybe, just maybe, she consented to come back after hearing his request."She informed me that she would never return home, and she also prohibited me from visiting her." He lowered his head sorrowfully. "She also discovered my deception." His slow, regretful voice conveyed the deep hurt he was feeling at that moment."Victor, don't feel sad; I am confident that one day she will forgive me and return to this house." I patted his shoulder to comfort him, though I wasn't sure if I was comforting him
Isabella~"Xavier, what are you attempting to prove? Why don't you let me live in peace?" I gripped his shoulders violently, my voice sharp with anger. Yet, instead of answering, he smiled—a maddening, infuriating smile that made my blood boil.He had ruined everything.I came here to meet Albert, hoping to uncover his intentions behind requesting a personal meeting. Yet Xavier, with his reckless intrusion, barged in at precisely the wrong moment. Granted, his assumption about Albert was correct—when I entered Albert's room, he tried to harass me. But I had come prepared. Before I could use the recording I planned to threaten him with, Xavier stormed in and brutally beat Albert, derailing my plan entirely."Bella, how could you put your life at risk for a single case?" Xavier's deep blue eyes locked onto mine, searching for an answer."Xavier, please stop pretending you care about me. I know you only came to witness whatever you imagined would unfold between Albert and me." My voice w
Xavier~"Miss Luis, what brings you to this club? Is it true that you came here to meet Mr. Fernandes?"As soon as Bella stepped out of the club, a swarm of reporters descended on her like vultures circling prey. The harsh glare of camera flashes illuminated her anxious, startled face. For a fleeting moment, she looked like a cornered deer, caught in the harsh, relentless scrutiny of the media.I stood a short distance away, watching her struggle to keep her composure. My fists clenched at my sides as I fought the urge to charge forward and shield her from the barrage of invasive questions. Her irritation was evident; I knew she was still angry at me for interrupting her plans with Albert. Yet, I couldn't just stand idly by."Is seeing Albert Fernandes in the club your new strategy for winning Dixie's divorce case, Miss Luis?"The reporter's pointed question rang out, laced with venom. My blood boiled as I listened to their baseless accusations, tarnishing her character with every wor
Isabella~"Bella, are you all right?" Xavier looked at me with concern as I pulled the car in front of the giant tree. His voice, though calm, couldn't mask the urgency in his eyes."Xavier, who were they?" My voice quivered. "I didn't know they were journalists."My heart still raced, the remnants of fear coursing through me after the chaos we had just escaped."They were Jordan Lucas's men," Xavier said, his tone firm. "Everything we experienced was part of his plan." He reached for my hand and gently caressed its back, attempting to calm me."Why did you mess with them despite my warning to you?" I jerked my hand away, anger bubbling to the surface."I was unaware of his plan, Bella. I only realized what was happening when I saw him standing in the crowd." His explanation, though sincere, did little to douse the fire of my frustration."Xavier, we have to go back immediately." Panic clawed at me as I turned the car key, but the engine sputtered uselessly. My anxiety skyrocketed.
Xavier~"Please don't give me to the police. I'll tell you everything." That boy held my hand and pleaded with me, desperation dripping from every word."Tell me the truth, or I will report you to the police." I threatened him again. Although I was thankful for him saving my life, my mind was filled with doubts after seeing him living in this deserted place. Because of the unexpected flood, the government had strictly forbidden people from residing close to the river. Those who disobeyed faced severe penalties and fines for violating the regulation."Tell me, what’s your connection with Jordan Lucas?" Seeing his quietness, I threatened him once again."Jordan Lucas?" He gave me a perplexed expression, genuinely confused."Don't lie. I know he sent you here to keep your eye on us." I narrowed my eyes and gave him a doubtful glance, every nerve on edge."Sir, I don't have any idea who you’re talking about. I’m a student doing my research on submarine life." He quickly handed me his iden
Isabella~The cold water felt like an ointment to my burned skin, but soon I found myself flowing with the river's current. My hands felt numb in the chilly water as I attempted to swim against the stream. I had trouble breathing as water began to fill my nose. I looked around in search of Xavier, but I was unable to find him in the violent current.My body was still in shock from witnessing the car blast. I had never been this close to death before—never felt it breathe against my neck the way it did now. I made every attempt to locate the riverbank so that I could escape the current, but I was unable to do so since my hands and feet were not functioning properly.I heard the roar of the rushing water grow louder, and my swimming became more desperate. I was about to plunge into the waterfall ahead if I didn't exit the river's grip. This river would plummet vertically off the edge. If I didn't get out now, I would tumble down the cliff and that would be the end.I fought the river wi
Xavier~“Bella, what did you do? I am now sure he will not show any mercy to us.” Jordan Lucas' threats rattled my body. His eyes blazed with anger and retaliation. The moment he saw us in the court, he was fuming with anger. I am well aware of Jordan Lucas' nature. Once he decides something, he will not back out of it, no matter how far he has to go to achieve the desired outcome.“Bella, why did you discuss another case in this court when we already have difficulty handling Victor's murder case?” I looked at her with a complaint-filled gaze. I am well aware that she is not doing anything wrong, but I don't think messing with Jordan Lucas in every situation is a good idea.“Xavier, I didn't have any choice at that time. Can't you see how Andrew argued with us in today’s court session? He is one step ahead of us. He came here well prepared, and we would have lost this case in today's hearing if I hadn't diverted the court's attention to the recent crimes of Jordan Lucas.” She sits on
Isabella~“My lord, Jordan Lucas not only killed Victor Thompson but he also killed two of my staff by burning them alive. He not only took the lives of those two innocent people but he also burned my costly property.” I turned to look at Jordan Lucas with hate-filled eyes. Now he has to pay a high price for his sins. I waited for the perfect opportunity to enter the court so that I could see this fear-filled expression on his face. When I saw Jordan Lucas, I felt retaliation and rage in every cell of my body. How could he burn those two innocent individuals so viciously? I saw no trace of regret in his eyes. His brutality went beyond all bounds.“Objection, my lord, Mrs. Thompson is trying to mislead the case. She is attempting to squander the court's valuable time by involving my client in her latest baseless charges, even though we are here to discuss Victor's case.” Andrew rose from his seat and gave me a furious glare.“Andrew is correct, Mrs. Thompson; your statements seemed un
Xavier~"Bella, what are we going to find in this dusty area?" I looked at her with confusion. The house was covered with black dust. A shiver ran down my spine as I saw the state of the house. We would have been buried under the ground by now if we hadn't left this house on time. I am afraid of losing Bella while trying to send Jordan Lucas to jail."Take off your shoes and don't touch anything in the home, Xavier." She handed me the gloves after removing them from her suitcase."What are you saying, Bella? How am I supposed to remove my shoes on this dusty floor?" I gave her a perplexed look."Xavier, do what I am saying."I removed my shoes and shook my head in disappointment when I saw her demanding gaze. "Bella, please stop using the magnifying glass; we are not detectives." She took the magnifying glass out of her bag and then began to look at the burned items available in the house.I don't understand what new hobby she developed as a detective. She carries everything with he
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