Isabella was heartbroken. She curled up in a corner and cried her eyes out. She couldn't sleep throughout the night. "She was probably a bad person in her former life to deserve this kind of fate," she figured
She had been trying to reach Richard for hours, but no one answered. “Richard! Richard!” She called out repeatedly, but no one responded. How much time had passed? It should be evening by now. Wasn't the butler and the housekeeper around? Isabella felt enveloped by an endless darkness. The entire house was eerily silent, like a tomb, like her marriage. Isabella recalled how, over the years, she had obeyed Richard's every wish. Since Richard didn't like her to be in the spotlight, she appeared rarely in public. Richard often said the media were opportunistic and advised her to avoid journalists, so she kept quiet. Richard didn't like her interacting with others, claiming it made him jealous, so she devoted all her time to him. Now, the illusion shattered around her. Richard's controlling behaviour wasn't love – it was a need for dominance. Isabella had convinced herself that having a child would fix everything, that it would bring back the warmth in their relationship. But now she saw the harsh truth: she'd become nothing more than a trophy, a perfectly obedient wife to be displayed when convenient. If Richard thought she'd continue to be his silent, compliant puppet, he was sorely mistaken. The old Isabella might have accepted this fate, but not anymore. She was done being controlled. A faint beeping sound caught her attention. Following it, she found her phone buried under a heap of clothes she'd planned to pack before Richard had locked her in. Her fingers trembled as she unlocked the screen. Who could she call? Her parents? She scoffed at the thought. They would never choose her over the wealth and status that came with being in-laws to the Stones. "There is no one," she realized, a fresh wave of despair washing over her. Then, a thought struck her. With a deep breath, she dialled 911. Meanwhile, Richard pulled up to the house, his brow furrowing at the sight of police cars parked haphazardly near the entrance. This was unexpected, and he didn't like surprises. His eyes darted around, assessing the situation. Composing himself quickly, Richard walked into the front house with an air of calm authority. "Good afternoon, officers," Richard greeted them as he got to the top of the stairs, his tone courteous. "I received a call from my neighbour about your presence. May I ask what seems to be the problem?" Johnson's eyebrows shot up in recognition. "Mr. Richard Stone? I didn't realize this was your house. We're sorry for barging in." Ramirez frowned at his partner's sudden deferential tone. He helped Isabella to her feet and they made their way downstairs. When Richard saw Isabella, his expression tensed, but he swiftly covered it with concern. "I’m terribly sorry for the confusion," he remarked, glancing between the cops. "My wife has been struggling mentally. I had to secure her room to keep her from going off and becoming lost." Richard sighed heavily, shaking his head. "She is not in her right mind, officer. She doesn't know what she is saying. I'm just trying to protect her." "Regardless of her mental state," Ramirez pressed, "she has the right to be safe and receive proper care not to be locked up." Richard's expression hardened momentarily before smoothing out. "Of course, you are right. Our family nurse, Eliza, is overseeing Isabella's treatment plan. I can give you her contact information to verify." Johnson nodded and stepped aside to make the call. After a brief conversation, he returned, looking satisfied. "It seems Mr. Stone is telling the truth. The nurse confirmed everything." Ramirez still looked sceptical, but Johnson placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have done what we can for now. Let's go." Just then, Richard’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, seeing Eliza's name flash across. Stepping away from the officers, he answered the call. "Eliza?" "Richard," Eliza’s voice came through, a mix of concern and urgency. "I just received a call from the police. They were asking about Isabella’s treatment. What’s going on?" Richard sighed, casting a quick glance at the officers. "Don’t worry, Eliza. Everything is under control. I’ll call you back later—I’m a bit busy right now." He ended the call and slid his phone back into his pocket, his expression unreadable as he turned to face Isabella, who was trembling with anger."Eliza is not my nurse!" Isabella shouted, her voice raw with desperation. "She’s my cousin! She turned into your mistress, Richard! You both made me look crazy to cover your affair!" Richard’s eyes darkened, but he forced a calm expression as he walked up to her. "Isabella," he said softly, his voice dripping with false concern. "You need to calm down." He gently patted her back, as if soothing a frightened child, but his grip on her shoulder tightened ever so slightly. "Everything is going to be alright." Isabella recoiled from his touch, her eyes blazing with fury. "Don’t touch me! I’m not crazy, and I won’t let you keep lying to everyone!" Officer Johnson, who had been observing the exchange quietly, finally spoke up. "Mr Stone, if Isabella is in this state, why isn’t the nurse here to assist her? Shouldn’t she be present during a breakdown like this?" Richard turned to the officer, his face a mask of regret. "Eliza is...well, she’s pregnant, Officer. She needed some time off to care for herself and the baby. That’s why she wasn’t available today." Isabella's expression twisted with disgust. "You mean she is carrying evidence of your despicable act and an abomination to our marriage—an insult to everything we were supposed to be!" Officer Ramirez shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flicking between the two. He could sense there was more to this situation than met the eye, but with no visible signs of harm and only a heated argument before him, he felt his hands were tied. "Mr Stone, Mrs Stone," he began cautiously, "from what we’ve seen, no one is hurt, and no property has been damaged. It seems to be a disagreement between the two of you, and unfortunately, there’s not much more we can do at this moment.” As the officers prepared to leave, Isabella made one last desperate attempt. "Please," she begged, grabbing Louis's arm. "Don't leave me here. I'm not safe!" Officer Johnson gave her a sympathetic look but remained firm. "Mrs Stone, I believe you will be fine. Your husband explained the situation, and your family nurse confirmed it. We even called the hospital where she claims to work and everything checks out. I hope you get the help you need and get better soon." Isabella's heart sank, tears streaming down her face. "No, please, don’t leave me here! He's lying to you!" Richard saw the officers off to the door, thanking them profusely. "Thank you for your understanding. I assure you, Isabella will be well taken care of." As soon as the door closed behind the officers, Richard's facade crumbled. He whirled on Isabella, his eyes blazing with barely contained rage. "You foolish woman," he shouted, moving closer. "Do you know what you have just done?" Isabella stood firm despite her racing heart. "What I’ve done? I called for help because I was being held prisoner in my own home!" Richard laughed, but there was no humour in it. "A prisoner? Is that what they now call someone who is living in luxury and gets everything they want?” "Everything except my freedom," Isabella replied sharply. "This isn't a marriage, Richard. It's a cage." His face grew serious. "Be careful with what you're saying, Isabella. You're pushing your luck. Do you really think your rebellion would change anything? Did you think I would just give in to your game?" Isabella stood her ground. "This isn't a game, Richard. I want to leave." Richard's eyes narrowed, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "You want to leave? Take half of my assets and go? Is that what you want?" He chuckled darkly. "Let me make something crystal clear to you, Isabella. Your cousin is carrying my child - a Stone heir. This is something you could never do for me. The only thing you can do for me now is to maintain your composure and not bring shame to the Stone family. He leaned in closer, his voice low and threatening. "So here is what is going to happen. You are going to stay put and play the role of the dutiful wife, at least until the baby is born and things settle down. After that, well...we will see." Isabella felt her heart racing, the implications of his words sinking in. "You expect me to stay and pretend everything is fine while you have a child with my cousin?" Richard shrugged, his indifference clear. "That is precisely what I expected. Unless, of course, you are willing to recompense me for the money I spent on you and your self-centred family. And believe me, that is a large sum of money. Isabella's determination wavered for a second when she recognised the gravity of her situation. She had no money, a job, or a place to go. But the prospect of remaining in this loveless, nasty marriage strengthened her resolve "What did I ever do to you to deserve this?" Isabella's voice quivered with fear and desperation. Richard scoffed, his words laced with scorn. "Well, for starters, you are a barren and ungrateful lady who has failed to recognize her place. You have forgotten where you came from and what I have given you. Isabella, this lifestyle and status come at a cost. And it's time you remembered that."The hotel staff greeted them with practiced elegance, whisking their luggage away as a manager personally escorted them to their suite."Mr. Donovan, everything has been arranged as requested," the manager said discreetly, handing over their key cards.Isabella raised an eyebrow at Seth, “Everything is arranged?...What did you do?”Seth just shrugged and kept smiling mysteriously.Once in their suite, Isabella gasped at the panoramic city views. "Seth, this view is incredible.""I know that's why I picked this room. I also have dinner reservations at La Casa Elegante for eight," he said, watching her explore the luxurious space. "It's one of the best restaurants in Mexico City.""I'm pretty tired," Isabella hesitated, then smiled. "But a Michelin-star restaurant? That might be worth staying up for."Seth checked his phone quickly - another message from his mother confirming the final details with Rosa. Everything was falling into place. He planned to introduce Isabella to Rosa after d
"Seth Donovan, what are you up to?" Isabella asked, watching him pack their suitcases with an air of mystery. They were leaving for Mexico City in the morning, and he didn't want Isabella to get a whiff of where they were going, but she was suspicious about how he had been acting. She knew they were travelling but didn't know where."Just trust me," he replied with a grin, carefully tucking something into a hidden compartment of his suitcase when he thought she wasn't looking.Isabella narrowed her eyes playfully. "I saw that.""No, you didn't," he said smoothly, closing the suitcase. "And even if you did, it's still a surprise."She hopped on top of their bed, watching him walk around the room. "I am tired of surprises, I don't think I can take anymore. Out with it please,”"Relax, you will like this one," he promised, pausing to kiss her forehead before pulling out a black silk blindfold "Put this on," Seth said with a mischievous smile.Isabella stared at it suspiciously. "You're
The drive home from the Riverside Hotel was quiet, Isabella staring out the passenger window, the envelope clutched in her lap. Seth kept glancing at her, wanting to say something but knowing she needed this silence to process everything.When they pulled into their driveway, they spotted Edward sitting on their front steps. He stood as they approached, his usual easy smile fading as he caught sight of Isabella's tear-stained face behind her sunglasses."Hey, boss," he said to Seth, then more gently to Isabella, "Everything okay?"Isabella attempted a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Not really.""Come inside," Seth said, unlocking the door. "We'll explain everything."They settled in the living room, Isabella curling up in her favorite corner of the couch, still holding the envelope like a lifeline. Seth brought her a glass of water before sitting beside her."I've been trying to reach you at the office," Edward said to Seth, his tone concerned. "When you weren't there for th
James pulled out his phone. "I can call them. Set something up for tomorrow, if you want." Isabella nodded slowly. "Tomorrow then." She looked at Seth. “Is that okay with you?" "Of course," he assured her. James stood, wiping his face one final time. "I'll let them know. And Izzy?" He hesitated at the doorway. "Thank you. For listening. For giving me a chance to explain." After he left, Isabella collapsed against Seth, finally allowing her tears to fall. "All these years," she whispered. "I thought I must have done something terrible to make them hate me so much. And it turns out...it turns out I just wasn't theirs." Seth held her tighter, his voice fierce. "You are worth so much more than their prejudices, Isabella. So much more than their narrow definition of family." She nodded against his chest, then straightened, wiping her eyes. The Rivera’s dining room felt too small, too intimate for the weight of the moment. Isabella strode in, her heels clicking against the fl
Seth's overly large living room felt smaller with James in it. Isabella sat rigidly on the couch, watching her brother pace back and forth. The silence between them was heavy with years of hurt."Izzy," James finally began, using her childhood nickname. "I've been trying to reach you for weeks.""I know." Her voice was flat, controlled."I saw everything on the news. The Stone case, Victoria's death..." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "It made me think about a lot of things. About what I did. About who I became."Isabella remained silent, her hands clasped tightly in her lap."I was wrong," James continued, his voice cracking. "So wrong. When Richard offered me money..." He shook his head. "I convinced myself that you were the one who was wrong. That you weren't living up to his expectations.""Expectations," Isabella repeated softly. "What kind of expectation requires a man to beat his wife to a pulp, lock her up for days, sleep with her cousin, and talk down on her consta
The common room of the women's correctional facility was quiet except for the droning of the television. Victoria Stone sat alone; her greying hair pulled back severely, her prison uniform neat despite its wear. Her eyes were fixed on the screen where her son's face filled the frame."Breaking news," the anchor announced. "Richard Stone, once considered untouchable, has been sentenced today. The business mogul faces forty years before the possibility of parole..."Victoria's hands began to shake. The paper cup of coffee she held slipped from her fingers, spreading a dark stain across the linoleum floor. No one moved to help her clean it up."My boy," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Oh, my Richard."The news showed footage of him being led away in handcuffs, and Victoria pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. She saw what others might miss - how he held his head, just like his father used to. The same proud tilt of the chin, even in defeat."I taught him that,"