Isabella~"What's your name?" John's hungry eyes made me uncomfortable as I entered his house. "Laura." Before I could come up with a convincing lie to John, Xavier spoke up. "What's your relationship with her?" John's face seems angry at seeing Xavier following me inside his room. "She is my wife." He sat across from me and placed his hand firmly on my shoulder. That surprised me—this protective aspect of him. I want to stop him from claiming me as his wife, but I know it's not the right time to argue, so I force a smile on my face. Goosebumps race down my spine as I feel his strong arm encircling my shoulder. "If you're interested, I can show you other horses, but I've already sold that particular one." When John saw that Xavier was sitting next to me, he frowned. "Mr. Martin, please don't say no to me; I like that horse." I got up from my place and sat next to John. "Umm, let me think about how I can help you." He tried to touch my thigh. His hungry gaze irritates me greatly,
Xavier~"I will provide you with his address, but I need to know what I will receive in return for this favor.""Provide me with his address. I can do whatever you desire."The scene where he flirted with Bella flashed before my eyes as I turned on the shower. How could she show such madness? I never expected her to be so reckless. Bella forbade me from being involved, even though the way he touched her in front of me made me want to tear his skin off. He had attempted to forcefully kiss her while pointing his gun at me.I've faced situations like this many times before. This wasn't the first time a man had aimed a pistol at me, but this time, Bella was involved, and that changed everything. Observing how he was occupied with coercing her, I quickly grabbed the vase from the table and hurled it at his arm, hoping to deflect his gun. The bullet missed my leg as he squeezed the trigger in pain. I told Bella to run, but even at that moment, she was still thinking about Jordan's address.
Isabella~"Your phone is buzzing." Once I heard his voice, I looked down at my phone, which I had left charging in his car. Last night, I put my phone on mute and forgot to return it to general mode. What should I tell him right now? I don't want to lie to him about what happened last night, but I'm afraid of his reaction once he finds out I spent my last night with Xavier. However, given the suspicious look in Xavier's eyes, I must accept the call immediately. "Bella, what the hell is going on? Will you please explain why you didn't return home at night?" As soon as I received the call, his anger-filled voice pierced my ears. "I am... I am..." Hearing his irate tone made my tongue twitch, and I had no idea what to say to him. "Don't tell me that you spent your night with that murderer. That's why you ignored my calls the whole night." This time, his voice was filled with a mixture of complaints and worry. "I will explain everything to you later. I am going to an urgent meeting."
Xavier~"Did you find the address?" She looked at me with eagerness as I returned to the car."Yes." I nodded, watching her eyes light up with excitement as she took my phone from my hand and checked Jordan's address."Then let's go.""Right now? Are you crazy?" I frowned at her. "This address is far away from the city, and it's already 7 p.m. It'll take all night to get there by car." I couldn't believe her enthusiasm. After everything we'd been through in the last 24 hours, she still had that fire in her eyes."So what's the problem? I can drive." She shrugged her shoulders, completely indifferent to the situation. Typical Bella—pushing through everything as if her body didn't need rest."Bella, you should go home right now. Your family must be worried about you since you didn't return yesterday. I promise you, tomorrow morning I'll take you there." I tried to remind her about her family, hoping it would make her reconsider.She had been working non-stop—like a machine—since yeste
Isabella~"Are you Jordan Lucas?" I couldn't help but doubt the man standing before me as I stared at him."Bella, please be quiet," Xavier squeezed my hand tightly to silence me. I felt the tension radiating from his grip. The icy expression on his face upon seeing Jordan Lucas told me everything. This was undoubtedly Jordan, confirmed by Xavier's cold eyes. Yet something felt off. Jordan didn’t resemble a gangster. His face looked far too innocent for someone involved in such deep crimes."You can use your power to fool anyone, Jordan, but a thick layer of lies can not conceal the truth for long." Xavier’s voice cut through the tense air as his eyes blazed with anger. The rage simmering inside him was clear, and I saw his hatred ignite further when Jordan responded with a beaming smile."That's true," Jordan began, his smile widening. "And I think it's impressive that you discovered the truth, thanks to your ex-wife." His eyes met mine, not with lust as I feared, but with a storm of
Xavier~"Damm it," I kicked the car's door to vent my frustration on it. I wasn't prepared for that kind of encounter with Jordan Lucas. I am well aware of his dangerous side. For this reason, I repeatedly asked Bella to keep quiet, but despite my repeated warnings, she ignored me. The more I tried to keep her away from Jordan Lucas, the more Bella dragged herself into this murder case. She has already challenged him, and I am confident that he will take all necessary steps to ensure she loses this court case. I am entirely to blame for this. If I already knew that Jordan Lucas was involved in this case, then I would never have asked her to defend me. I'm torn between wanting to close this murder case and wanting to protect her from Jordan. Today, I saw a vengeance fire in Jordan's eyes, and I do not doubt that he will no longer be silent. She glared at me before sitting in the passenger seat. I softly started the car's engine. My mind was consumed by the potential trouble she had
Isabella~"What is all this?" Knowing he was waiting for me in his room, I opened the door. I didn't expect this kind of aggressive behavior from him. The room was enveloped in darkness, prompting me to switch on the light, only to discover the room was appalling. The couch is torn, cushions and bedsheets are scattered in one area of the room, and all the display pieces have fallen to the floor. In addition, he damaged the LED television. Every step I took into his room revealed another shattered item on the floor. He stood silently on the balcony, gazing up at the dark sky. "Why aren't you responding to me? What’s all this for?" On reaching behind him, I questioned him in a low tone. I've never seen him so furious before. That's why my body trembled with fear when confronting him; talking to him is important to me now. "Why did you return home now when you could spend tonight with your ex-husband?" Even though he is still staring up at the night sky, I can tell how frustrated he
Xavier~"I discovered additional clues about Jordan Lucas." I opened my laptop as I saw her entering her office. "Mr. Thompson, this murder case is yours, so we must prove your innocence before focusing on Jordan Lucas." She turned on her laptop and started working on it. Her cold, distant behavior tells me that she is not in a good mood today. I wanted to ask her about the events from last night at her house, but the awkward silence between us made me even more afraid to question her. "Mr. Thompson, you need to mentally be ready for Derrick Merchant's harsh interrogation. I am pretty sure that he will come to the court well-prepared this time." After spending the last two hours working on her laptop, she broke the silence and gazed directly into my face. "I understand, but I don't believe he's going to specifically target me this time." I sighed heavily as I thought about Jordan's threat to Bella. "What do you mean?" She questioned me with confusion. "I believe he set you up fo
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~"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~"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~"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~"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~"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~"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~"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~"Point to be noted, My Lord, Lincon Thompson, not only secretly engaged with Ms. Jennifer also promised her marriage after his divorce from Dixie Thompson." I thanked Jennifer for coming to court by blinking my eyes. She is a well-known television actor, and testifying in this case could damage her reputation in public, but she consented to assist me after I informed her of Lincon's reality."Defense, do you need to interrogate Ms. Jennifer?" The judge questioned Dad.I turned to look at Dad's face in the hope that now he recognized Lincon's true colors."Thank you, my Lord." Dad rose from his chair, scrutinized my face, and then proceeded to question Ms. Jennifer. I could see his inner agony in his eyes, even though his countenance was emotionless."Since when did you know Lincon Thompson, Miss Jennifer?" He is attempting to keep his cool, as seen by his taut jaw and white knuckles."From the last three years." Jennifer glanced at me before turning to face Lincoln. After w