Isabella~"Let's go, Mama." I turned to look at him after hearing his excitement-filled voice. "Alan, are you sure?" I stared at him in bewilderment, then at Xavier, wondering what magic he had worked on him to get him to agree to his dance performance right away. "Yes, Mama, Uncle Xavier will accompany you to my school function, and then my friend will not make fun of me." He grinned as he observed Xavier's face. "What?" I looked at Xavier’s face in shock. "I tried to convince him, but he wasn't ready to listen to anything. Then I found this solution to the problem." He let out a remorseful sigh and stared at the ground. "However, Mr. Thompson, you can not accompany me to Alan's school function; you are not his father." I now regret taking him to Alan’s school with me. But I didn't take him with me intentionally. The alarm on my phone reminded me of his school function, which I had completely forgotten due to my intense focus on the case. I have no choice but to accept his assi
Xavier~"Let me help you." I opened the car's door to help her get down. Alan was sleeping on her lap, which made it challenging for her to get out of her position. "It's all right, Mr. Thompson; I will manage." She asked the security guard to help her. I managed my anger throughout the entire drive, but I'm finding it increasingly challenging to deal with her peculiar behavior. One moment, she was very friendly with me, and the other moment, she treated me as if she were talking to a stranger. Her behavior abruptly changed after that phone call. During the call, I overheard her discussing DNA reports. Was she talking about Alan? Why did she appear so terrified after speaking with her husband? "Open the gate; I will take him inside the house." I saw the old watchman and asked him to open the gate. Alan was suffering from blisters on his feet, so I didn't want to disturb him further. She opened her mouth to argue with me, but when she saw my frustrated gaze, she immediately closed i
Isabella~"Oh my god, Mr. Thompson, you scared me." As I turned to see who was standing behind me, the sight of Xavier in front of me filled me with fear. "I apologize if I scared you, but what are you doing late at night?" He gave me a perplexed expression. "I'm simply attempting to gather fresh evidence for the ongoing murder investigation." I shrugged my shoulders with nervousness as he looked at the fake murder scene in my room. "Humm, so to investigate this murder case further, you set up the identical murder scene." He put his hand on his chin. "Well, I believe if we understand the psychology of criminals, then we will be able to solve the case with ease." To free up space on my bed so I could sleep, I shut off my laptop and returned the file to the rack. "That's fantastic; you are outstanding." I get a little uncomfortable when I hear him compliment me. In the past, he never acknowledged my achievements, and now, when he attempts to praise me, all I can feel is resentment.
Xavier~"Mr. Thompson, please get up; we have to leave." I rubbed my eyes as I listened to her gentle voice. I attempted to straighten my body and almost managed to avoid falling off the couch. I looked around me and found myself sleeping in an unfamiliar room that was on the couch. "Don't look at my room in awe; I know it looks beautiful." I turned my head to look at her. She was standing in front of the dressing table and combing her hair. "I apologize; I can't recall when I fell asleep last night." It was quite embarrassing for me to spend the night in her room. "That's okay; everyone feels calm in my room." I turned to stare at her, bewildered to find my body covered in a blanket. Did she wrap a blanket around my body the night before? But looking at her cold face, I find it hard to believe that she truly cares for me. Why didn't she wake me up and ask me to leave her room? Once again, my mind was filled with countless questions as I observed her mysterious behavior toward me.
Isabella~"Mr. Thompson, please wait here; I will return in a few minutes," I asked him as I hurried back inside Alicia's room."What have you forgotten now?" he asked, confusion lacing his voice."Please wait," I replied quickly, my mind focused elsewhere. Once more, I opened her almirah and pulled out the anniversary photograph. It was the last memory I had with Xavier. Something in me still felt connected to that memory, even though it reopened old scars. I slipped the photo into my purse, determined not to let him see the effect his romantic photos with Alicia still had on me. The way they were together left me feeling as if I were a stranger in their story, and it still hurts.As I stepped out of Alicia's room, Lisa's venomous voice cut through the silence. "Stealing?""Stealing?" I repeated, stunned. Her accusation sparked a fire inside me."Mom, do you think I'm like Alicia, always taking what doesn't belong to her?" I stared straight into her eyes, my words cutting sharper tha
Xavier~"Bella, I reached my hotel." I don't know why I texted her about reaching my hotel room, but the urge was too strong to resist. My thoughts always seemed to drift back to her."Good night, take care," she replied almost instantly.I blinked at the screen, surprised she was awake—surprised she responded at all. Why was she still up? It was late. After spending time with Alan and sharing dinner with Bella and him, I felt an unusual sense of peace and contentment. It was as if, for a brief moment, I was part of a family. A perfect family. Meeting Alan had only deepened my desire to fit into Bella’s life once again.As I lay on the bed, my mind raced back to how pleased Alan looked earlier that day. His innocent laughter filled the house, and for a fleeting second, I allowed myself to imagine what it would have been like if I hadn’t betrayed Bella. Would we be a real family today? The thought sent a wave of longing through me, but I quickly pushed it aside. She wasn’t ready to l
Isabella~"Miss Luis, are you prepared to lose this case today?" As I entered the courtroom, Derrick's haughty voice filled my ears."Good morning, Mr. Merchant." I disregarded his taunting and greeted him with a warm smile."It's a beautiful morning, of course, but once you lose this case, it will quickly become a nightmare for you." When he saw my composed face, his arrogant smirk transformed into resentment."We will see, Mr. Merchant." I motioned for him to take a seat. His confidence irked me, but I had prepared myself. I knew my composure was unsettling for him, and I was ready for anything. "Miss Luis, you still have the opportunity to join my firm after you lose this case." He tried again to shake me, but I smiled inwardly. His words no longer had the power to affect me. "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Merchant." I responded coolly and returned to arranging my papers, keeping my hands steady. Inside, my heart raced, not because of him but because of the weight of what wa
Xavier~"Bella, what is he doing with Alan?" I looked at Bella in confusion, my heart pounding. "Bella, why are you quiet? Answer me: What is Victor doing with Alan?" Her silence sent a shiver of fear through me, even though my mind had already pieced together the disturbing possibility."Victor." My voice wavered, barely containing the surge of emotion. "Where did you disappear after that night? Do you know I searched for you everywhere?" My eyes filled with tears, and I took a step toward him, desperate to embrace my brother after so many years of silence, but he remained frozen. He was so cold, so distant—as if I were invisible to him."Daddy, meet my new friend." Alan’s innocent voice interrupted the tension, and I stared in shock. "What? Dad?" The word struck me like a jolt, causing me to remain motionless. Alan tightly wrapped his hand around Victor's, his smile naive and pure. This can’t be happening. "What is he saying, Bella? Is Victor Alan's father?" The realization was
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
Xavier~"Stop it, Bella." I tried to stop her by running behind her car, but she ignored my pleadings. I sat on my knees and cried aloud, cradling my face between my palms. "Xavier, please control your emotions. If you break down like this, then who will take care of your family?" James comforted me by placing his hand on my shoulder. "James, I am broken now; it feels difficult for me to recollect my heart's shattered pieces. Victor was not only my younger brother; he was like my child. When our mother passed away, he was just five years old. I failed to keep my promise to my dying mother that I would always look after my younger brother. My mom's soul will curse me for breaking my promise." I wept uncontrollably, resting my head on his shoulder. "Xavier, I can understand your pain, but whatever happened was not your fault." James attempted to comfort me, but I was unable to slow down despite his comforting words. "How can I be relaxed when Jordan Lucas already warned me? How can
Isabella~"Victor, come on, open your eyes; you can't play a prank on me on this special day." I held his hand and asked him to get up, but he didn't move."Look at him, Xavier; he ignored me." I turned to Xavier, my voice trembling with desperation, searching for any sign that this was just a cruel joke."Bella, please control your emotions," Xavier whispered as he pulled me into a hug, but I could feel his own body shaking."Victor, get up! You can't leave me like this!" My cries grew louder, raw with agony as I saw him lying there—so still, so lifeless.A nurse approached Xavier, her voice soft yet firm. "We need your signature here."Xavier's hands shook as he took the papers. "How... how did this happen?" His eyes filled with tears as he gripped the document, unable to believe what he was reading."He was involved in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, he passed away before we could admit him," the nurse informed him."No, Victor, you can't leave me!