Isabella~"James, are you sure we’ll find Jonathan here?" I questioned him in a doubt-filled tone, my unease growing with every passing second."Yes, Bella. I got this address from my informant." He motioned for me to exit the taxi.The chilly Italian air stung my skin as I stepped onto the deserted street. My life had completely transformed in just two days. Two days ago, my family and I were in the United States, and now I found myself in this unknown, freezing city, chasing someone I’d never even met.When James told me that Jonathan had moved to Italy after Laila’s passing, I knew I had no choice but to come. Jordan Lucas had already tricked Uncle Jorawar and dragged us into this chaos, and now Jonathan was my only lead. I wanted to share the truth about this trip with Xavier, but his erratic behavior and mistrust made it impossible. If I’d told him I was coming to find Jonathan, he would’ve stopped me no matter what.Despite the guilt of keeping secrets, I had to take this chanc
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
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
Xavier~"James, what are you doing here in the court? Where is Bella?" I questioned him in confusion as I noticed him seated in Bella’s chair.When Bella failed to return from her lunch break, the courtroom erupted into murmurs and uneasy glances. This time, I was sure the judge would penalize her for her tardiness. The judge entered, her stern gaze sweeping across the room, and gestured to begin the proceedings. Her frown deepened when she noticed Bella’s absence."My lord, we will be jointly prosecuting this case for the remainder of the hearing session, as my colleague was forced to leave due to an emergency." James rose from Bella’s seat, his voice steady as he requested permission to proceed.My chest tightened as I saw Victor sitting next to him, dressed in a lawyer’s suit. What’s he doing in court? Upon seeing him, my eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Before presenting the evidence to prove Jonathan's guilt, Victor glanced at me, his expression heavy with frustration and disapp
Isabella~"My lord, I believe the prosecution has withdrawn from this case." Xavier's voice echoed in my ear as I opened the door to the courtroom."No, my lord, I am not the one backing out." I swiftly put on my lawyer coat and tied my disheveled hair into a bun, preparing to present myself in front of the judge."Miss Luis, what kind of behavior is this? Do you understand how important punctuality is in court?" The judge’s voice thundered as I stepped into the room."I am sorry, my lord. I was caught in an emergency. I promise this will not happen again." I bowed my head in apology."All right, enough wasting time. Begin the proceedings," the judge said, his voice softening.Before starting the judicial process, my gaze instinctively flicked toward Xavier. I never intended to face him as an adversary in this case. We were supposed to stand together, supporting one another, not at odds. Promises, affection—everything seemed to have vanished. Was love truly a force that could be overs
Xavier~"Xavier, what are you doing here? Let's go." I was standing in the car parking lot and watching Bella's car leave the court premises."Did you ask the judge to schedule the hearings for both cases on the same dates, Dad?" I questioned him as I got in the car."Do you think that I need to use such a cheap trick?" He lifted his eyebrows in my direction."No, Dad, I didn't mean to offend you; I am just asking you to confirm." I gave a shoulder shrug."No, I don't know, but I am glad she has to choose one case now. She is entangled in a big, complicated situation now that she has to miss one court hearing that day." Even though his smile did not extend to his eyes, Dad still tried to fool himself as his lips curled into a smile.I am well aware that Dad is not happy with this complicated situation at all, but he is compelled to protect Lincon, and like him, I am also compelled and trapped in my own words. Her eyes showed me the broken pieces of her heart, but even if I wanted to,
Isabella~"What did he just say?" I stared incredulously at Xavier's face, my breath catching in my chest."Bella, please calm down; the court session is about to begin." Victor kept me from falling by holding me in his arms, his grip firm yet gentle. Seeing no remorse on Xavier's face, my eyes welled up with tears. Is this how he hurts me now? I never thought he would go to such lengths to force me to withdraw from Lincoln's case. How could he defend murderers in court? The news hit me like a bomb, shattering every ounce of resolve I had left."Take me to my hotel, Victor." My voice trembled as I struggled to keep my emotions in check."They wanted to see you broken, Bella, which is why Xavier decided to stand up for Jonathan. You must keep your vulnerability hidden from them," Victor said, his tone laced with disappointment as he glanced at Xavier. I noticed the shadow of pain in Victor's eyes—pain for me, for what I was enduring, and for the betrayal that hung heavy in the air.
Xavier~"My lord, Miss Luis is attempting to divert attention from this case." Dad stood up from his chair in anger upon witnessing Bella's intense interrogation of Lincon. "She used Lincon's statements against him in court to entangle him and has not provided any evidence in the court till now," he added, his voice brimming with frustration. I'm worried that Dad might lose this case at his first hearing if she doesn't quit immediately. "Objection overruled." The judge’s stern voice echoed in the courtroom. Additionally, the judge forbade Dad from interfering with Bella's questioning of Lincon. "So, Mr. Thompson, according to your wife, you take her on vacation by telling her that this was your private tour, right?" Bella raised her brow, her sharp gaze fixed on Lincon. "Yes." Lincon shook his head and said yes, his voice barely audible. "What are your friends doing on that cruise, then? Are all of your buddies traveling together, or is it just a coincidence?" Bella’s unwaverin
Isabella~"What have you decided now, Bella?" Victor questioned me as he took Alan to meet me."What would you do if you were in my place?" I folded my arms across my chest and challenged him."Bella, I appreciate your decision, but your commitment to your work has the potential to destroy our whole family," Victor said with a beseeching look, his voice tinged with concern."Family?" I murmured bitterly, the memory of Xavier's harsh slap on my cheek flashing before my eyes. A bitter smile spread across my lips. I heard Dad's heartless remarks as I departed from the residence."I know, Bella, you are deeply hurt, but at least think about your son. He lived five years without his dad, and now you want him to make his life miserable by keeping him separate from his mom," Victor pressed, giving Alan's face a worried glance. Alan was engrossed in playing games on my phone, completely unaware of the storm brewing around him."I can't take a step back, Victor. What will I tell myself—that I
Xavier~"Dad, no lawyer wants to fight against Bella in court!" I conveyed this to him in a worried tone."I understand; it is not her fault that she is flying so high; rather, it is my fault that I have given her such large wings. She's flying over our heads now." Dad got off the sofa and returned to his room. He shut the door to his room before I could get inside, even though I wanted to talk to him to calm his nerves.I sat defeated on the couch. Everything was out of my control. I wanted to live a simple life with Bella, but I didn't know I would have to pay such a great price to love her. I struggled with balancing my devotion to my dad with feelings of regret. I have no idea where she is or what state she is in right now. Why did she prosecute Lincoln in this case, adding to the complexity?"Where is Mama, Dad? She didn't receive my call. I want to speak with her." Alan came downstairs, his eyes filled with tears."Why are you crying, Alan? What happened?" I embraced him and for