Isabella~
"Bella, what happened? Why are you looking so sad?" Victor gave me a worried look. "I'm all right. Let's go to the party; Dad must be waiting for us." I put more effort into forcing a fake smile on my face, trying to hide my tears. "But my brooch, you said my appearance looks incomplete," he grumbled as he glanced at the locked door to my room. "You look perfectly fine; you don't need a brooch." I grabbed his hand, stopping him from entering my room. I couldn’t bear for him to step into the nightmare I had just witnessed. My hand trembled slightly as I held onto his, the weight of Xavier and Alicia’s betrayal pressing on my chest like a boulder. Victor let out a soft sigh. "All right, if you say so." His eyes searched mine, and I quickly averted my gaze, tugging him toward the party hall. It became impossible to face anyone alone. As we walked, my world crumbled in my mind, replaying Xavier and Alicia’s intimacy over and over. How had I been so blind to their relationship? Every memory came rushing back—their subtle glances, their inside jokes. All the moments I had dismissed as mere friendship between them suddenly came back to me. I had mistaken it for loyalty, but now, standing in the ruins of my trust, I saw how wrong I had been. Alicia was my stepsister, but my father had never treated us differently. If she had told me from the start that she loved Xavier, I would have stepped aside. How could she betray me like this when she knew I had loved him since childhood? And Xavier—why hadn't he stopped his father from forcing him to marry me? The questions swirled in my head, each one more painful than the last. Tears threatened to spill again, but I blinked them away. People were watching. I was the wife of Xavier Thompson, one of the most well-known criminal lawyers, and David Thompson’s daughter-in-law. My emotions had to remain hidden. "Bella, where is Xavier? Guests are eagerly waiting to meet him." My father-in-law’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Now, what should I tell him? "Dad, he'll be here soon." I tried to sound convincing, but my voice wavered as I stumbled through the lie. "I'm here, Dad." Xavier’s voice came from behind me, startling me. I turned to face him, forcing my expression into something neutral. He looked calm, completely unaffected by what had just transpired. As if the last few minutes meant nothing to him. "Come, let’s cut the cake," Dad said, motioning for us to begin the ceremony. As he approached the cake, Xavier plastered a fake smile on his face. "Cut the cake, Bella," Dixie, my sister-in-law, urged, handing me the knife. My hands shook as I took it, trying to ignore the heaviness in my heart. This celebration felt like a farce. Everything—from our vows to the ring on my finger—felt like a cruel joke. All I wanted was to scream, to confront Xavier, to demand answers. But I couldn’t. Not yet. Not here. His hand glided over mine, guiding the knife as we cut through the cake. The warmth of his skin against mine, something I had once longed for, now repulsed me. I wanted to pull away, but his grip tightened, keeping me close. I felt trapped, suffocated by his proximity. Alicia stood just in front of the table, her eyes locked on me with venomous hatred. How had I been so blind to her? Every look she gave me was dripping with resentment, yet I had always been too trusting to see it. "Bella cut the cake." My father-in-law’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked, realizing the knife was still in my trembling hand, stuck in the middle of the cake. Xavier’s grip was firm, too firm, and I struggled to remove the knife as the crowd cheered around us. "Cheers." "Well, wishes for your happy marriage." We finished slicing the cake, and Xavier turned to me, holding a piece toward my lips. I stared into his eyes, searching for guilt and remorse. But there was nothing—just that same, cold indifference. His smile was a performance for the guests. His hand pushed the cake into my mouth, and I forced myself to chew. The sweetness turned bitter on my tongue, heavy like a stone in my chest. "Bella, why so shy? He’s your husband; give him some cake!" Dixie teased, and the crowd laughed. I picked up a piece with shaky fingers, offering it to Xavier. His lips parted as he leaned forward, licking the cream off my thumb. The crowd burst into laughter, entertained by his playfulness. But I felt sick. If I hadn’t just caught him in our bedroom with Alicia, this act might have given me butterflies. Now, it only made me nauseous. I wiped my thumb on a napkin, desperate to remove his touch sensation. "As I said on their wedding day," my father-in-law began, his voice booming through the hall. "I will now step down as CEO of my legal practice and select a family member to be the Thompson firm's heir." The room fell into a heavy silence. Every eye in the hall turned toward him, waiting with bated breath. I stood in line next to Xavier, who shifted restlessly beside me. His impatience was clear, and I could sense his eagerness. Of course, everyone knew Xavier would be the heir. He was the most logical choice—the only one qualified. Still, there was tension in the air. I could feel it pressing down on all of us. We lined up, standing side by side—Xavier and I on one side, and Grayson, his older brother, with Dixie on the other. Victor took his place on my left, his hand brushing mine in silent support. I couldn’t help but wonder why I was even part of this ceremony. I hadn’t completed my education, and I had no business standing alongside lawyers as accomplished as Dixie. My stomach tightened. Perhaps my father-in-law was only including me to treat me with respect and show that I was part of the family. But that didn’t stop the confusion that gnawed at me. How could a dropout like me be considered for such a position? I glanced at Xavier. He met my gaze briefly, then shook his head, disappointed. He always hated seeing me stand next to him; he hated that I was never good enough for him. Now I understand why he never took me to events or let me attend important functions. He thought I wasn’t worthy of him. "Why the delay, Dad?" Xavier asked, breaking the silence. "We all know I’m the rightful heir." Mr. Thompson's eyes flicked toward me, lingering for a moment before he spoke. My heart pounded in my chest. "I chose Isabella Thompson, my firm’s heir." His voice cut through the room like a blade. My eyes widened, disbelief washing over me. "What?"Isabella~"What are you saying, Dad?" Xavier's frustrated voice echoed through the silent party hall following Mr. Thompson's shocking announcement. I still couldn’t believe it. There had to be a mistake. How could he choose me as his firm’s new heir? I’m not qualified—I’m not even worthy to be a lawyer’s assistant."Dad, how can Bella—" Victor’s voice broke through the confusion, his shock mirroring the one I felt."You all heard me," Mr. Thompson said, his voice firm, cutting through the whispers that started spreading through the crowd. "Isabella Thompson, my daughter-in-law, is the new successor to my legal practice."My blood froze as his words sunk in. It wasn’t a dream. The whispers grew louder. People’s gazes landed on me—questioning, doubting, almost judging. I could feel their stares like I was a cheap cloth draped across a rich carpet. Grayson and Dixie exchanged glances of disapproval, and Victor looked utterly stunned, still trying to process what his father had said.I
Xavier~"Oh, so you want a divorce from me, huh?" I raise my brow at her. I always wanted to get rid of her, but the idea of asking her for a divorce in exchange for returning my firm to me hurt my ego. How can a low-standard woman insult me in this way? My dad's announcement has already angered me, and now she's fueling my already simmering rage. "Yes, Xavier Thompson, you heard me right—I want divorce." As she stared right into my eyes, her voice challenged me. I never thought she would suddenly be that fearless. Her eyes were typically kind toward me, but now they were blazing with something that looked like anger. I looked at the legal papers for the company that were on the ground. Did I accept her demand? I own this company, so she can't ask for anything in exchange for giving it back to me. But all she's asking for is a divorce, so it's a win-win for me. I turned to face the party guests and my family members. They were all looking at me with dissatisfaction. Will taking a
Xavier~"I asked you not to get involved in Mr. Johnson's case; why did you accept to take it on, Xavier?" I was reviewing Mr. Johnson's case file while seated in my office. That's when Alicia entered my office. I looked up from the paperwork to see her red, irate face. "Sorry, Alicia; I can't say no to him because he is our old client and my dad's best friend." I took her hand and ran a thumb over it to soothe her rage. "Xavier, how could you ignore my decision? Did my opinion not matter to you?" Her eyes beamed with dissatisfaction. "It's not like that, my love; I value your opinions greatly, but I must handle this case on my own to strengthen our finances due to the firm's financial situation." I begged her to give me her permission to handle this case. "Xavier, I don't know anything; if you don't say no to him in this case, then I will never talk to you again." With rage, she jerked my hand. "But darling, it's an important case for this firm since we are running out of financ
Xavier~"Isa..Isabella..." When I saw Isabella in front of me, my initial thought was that I had come to the wrong place for help. But my heart knows very well about her polite nature, so despite my doubts about getting help from her, I forced myself to seek it."Isa... Isabella, how are you doing?" I gulped down my saliva to moisten my throat. Upon seeing her sitting in the front chair, my eyes already widened in shock, and I did not understand how to react at that moment. All the scenes where I did wrong with her in the past flashed back in front of my eyes."Mr. Thompson, it's Veronica Luis, not Isabella anymore." Her sharp voice pierced my ears.I always saw her as a shy, fear-filled woman who walked around me in hopes that I would accept her love proposal. However, when I saw her sitting in such a powerful position, I regretted rejecting her love. I wouldn’t have seen this if I hadn’t insulted her on our wedding anniversary and divorced her."How may I help you?" Her eyes narrowe
Isabella~"Miss Luis, did the renowned criminal lawyer Xavier Thompsan come to meet you?" As soon as Xavier left my office, my next client came in. "Yes, he is." I nodded and peered through the large glass window of my office reception. I noticed him walking sadly in the direction of the main gate. I am well aware that no one wants to fight his case because of all the evidence against him. When I first saw his appointment request in my mail, I wanted to turn it down right away, but something inside of me restrained me from doing so. It took me three months to mentally be ready to see him again. But my heart forced me to meet him once so that he could realize what he had lost in his life. That wasn't the only reason I invited him to meet me; I was also genuinely interested in taking on his case, as I found it to be quite challenging. "Did you take his case, Miss Luis?" My client's voice broke my thought bubble. "No." I firmly shook my head. But why did I turn down his case when I
Xavier~"Thank you, Veronica." I extended my hand for a handshake, expressing my happiness. I didn’t know the specific reason for her to agree to handle my case, but I was relieved she accepted. At least I had a chance to let her lead my defense. Hope surged within me—perhaps, with her skill, the court could grant me bail."Best of luck, Mr. Thompson." Her handshake was firm, her eyes meeting mine with confidence. As her hand touched mine, my heart raced unexpectedly. That touch sparked memories of a past I had long tried to bury, but it also brought feelings of shame."How dare you touch me? I never thought you'd take advantage of my drunken state and seduce me into sleeping with you." The memory of my cruel words came rushing back. I could still hear the echo of that cold, bitter tone. When I had woken up next to her, naked in the same bed, rage consumed me."No, Xavier, I didn’t seduce you. It was you who..." Her words, panicked and terrified, had done little to soothe my fury."Yo
Isabella~"You arrived so early today, Miss Luis, that there was time for attorneys to see their clients in the cell." After noticing the wall clock, the police officer stared at me with surprise. He was right; I came so early today to meet Xavier. After seeing him yesterday, I couldn't concentrate on my other tasks because all I could think about was him. I took on this case as a challenge to myself, but it also seemed to be a test of my feelings and the emotions I had long since buried deep within me. I always wanted to know the reason behind his betrayal, his backstabbing, how he met Alicia, and why he never told me that he loved my stepsister. I had been asking myself these questions for years, and yesterday, I finally had all the answers I needed. After hearing his story, I became resentful of him due to his deceit and insult towards me. However, I also respected him for being open and truthful with me. Accepting their errors is a challenging task, particularly for an egocentr
Xavier~"Does providing homemade food to every client stem from a place of compassion, or is it just your work ethic?" I felt a wave of joy come over me when I saw her give me the lunch box. "I just offered you food because you missed breakfast due to my early visit, and I feel bad for keeping you hungry. You don't need to give up hope." Her icy gaze remained focused on the lunchbox. "Well, whatever the reason, I am thankful to you for giving me a chance to eat homemade food. It's been a while since I've had homemade cuisine. Since Alicia detests cooking, we have lunch and dinner outside most of the time." I tore open the lunchbox right away and devoured all of the delectable food within. Did she still have a memory of my preferences? When I saw my favorite egg curry with noodles, I eagerly glanced back at her face. "Please don't view me in this manner; my maid prepared the meal and packed it for me to eat for lunch." My stare seemed to annoy her. "It's ok; I am still thankful to
Isabella~“Xavier!” I shouted when I saw him being carried away by the river current. He reached the same place near the waterfall where I was stuck before. He struggled to come out of the stream, but the river's flow made it difficult for him to swim."Xavier, hold this!" To assist him, I tossed one rope in his direction, but because of the strong wind, it floated in the opposite direction."God, please help us; we can't lose now." I prayed to God, my heart hammering in fear.I wanted to jump into the river to save Xavier, but Jackson grabbed my hand and stopped me. Xavier was still having trouble getting out of the river while holding the drone tightly in his hand. Just in front of the waterfall, he gripped one large stone, taking a few deep breaths to relax himself. He used all his strength to swim against the current."Thank God you're safe, Xavier!" I hugged him as soon as he reached the bank of the river, tears of relief blurring my eyes."Bella, I found it!" In front of me, he
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.