After they arrived at his penthouse, which Sebastian did not allow Shakira follow him to, he commanded the driver to return her to her parent's home."But---""Go home, Shakira."He alight the car, then gestured the driver to leave, before he was escorted into the elevator by his bodyguard.The first thing Sebastian did when he arrived at his penthouse, was to call Zachary and ask about Isabel and the boy."Sir, I am parked outside the house and so far, there has been no unusual update. Ms. Hadid arrived home with the boy about an hour ago and none of them have come outside again since." "What about that punk neighbor of hers, Austin Lambert?" He asked the man, whilst unbuttoning his shirt."Did he come anywhere near her today?""He visited the cafeteria earlier, and spent all afternoon there.""Fucking bastard." Sebastian seethed enviously, picking up the new shirt he'd picked for himself."I'll have to introduce myself when I return. He needs to learn to stay away from my woman
Meanwhile, Isabel was watching her phone ring, but she refused to pick it up.He has been calling her nonstop for the past two and half hours, and she has been ignoring every one of his calls.She didn't want to speak to the man, especially since she learned that he'd kept his bodyguard on her tail before he left Colby.How dare him?She knew he was insecure, especially with her newlyfound closeness with Austin, but she never expected him to stoop to the level of keep hawk eye on her.How dare he?Who told him that he could waltz into hers and her son's lives, and try to control everything about her.Well, she gave him the right, after she breached their contract and lied to him about his son. But she has been trying to condone all his excesses, giving him some level of control.After all, she belonged to him, as he claimed.She allowed him dictate core decisions of her daily lives, like what to eat, when to sleep, when she leaves the house, or how often he wants to fuck her.The
Watching the man leave, Shakira was furious.She couldn't understand the man's indifference towards her ever since she returned from her trip.Ever since he went to that wedding in Seattle, she has noticed the change in his attitude towards her.He has become more distant and less susceptible to her charms. Although she knew their relationship has been on shaky grounds for the past couple of years, it become more and more glaring since his trip to Seattle.He stopped wanting to spend time with her, became invulnerable to her seduction and doesn't pay attention to her anymore. He hasn't given her a complete hour of his time since she returned from her last trip, nor has he touched her.He was holding and that could only mean one thing.Has another woman caught his attention?Was there another woman trying to take her position in the man's life?Impossible!You are never going to allow another take your place, Shakira. Never.Her inner woman said to her.You are the rightful Mrs. Berna
Zachary stepped out of the car, after he ended the call with his boss, his eyes not leaving the silhouette figure roaming around the house.On second thought, he returned into the car, opened the glove compartment, and he pulled out his .49 Glock.He'd kept the gun there for emergency purposes, which had rarely happened. At least, not since he got the gun registered. And he doesn't mind using the gun now.After closing the door gently, he approached the house in slow strides, keeping the gun in motion and ready for any action.The intruder has disappeared from his fight, but he knew whoever it was, was still roaming around the house, looking for a vulnerable point to use to his advantage.Zachary made his way to the back where he heard rustling sound coming from. Getting to the back, he saw the intruder standing by the back door, trying to pick the lock.Judging by the size of the silhouette and the rough appearance of the hands, he could tell it was a male and he was armed.Zachary
Isabel was shaken, even after the paramedics left with the unconscious man.One of the officers stayed back with her, while the other accompanied the paramedics, to watch over the intruder.She was horrified, wondering who the intruder was, and what his intentions were, because a gun was found near him.He didn't seem like he'd only come to rob her.What if he'd succeeded and broke into the house, or what if she wasn't alerted earlier?The outcome would've been tragic, even though she didn't want to think about it.There was no two ways about it. The man would overpower her, hurt her and her son, steal from them and get away with the crime.Chills traveled down her spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake every the thoughts flashed her mind.Due to the shock, she was unable to speak, even when the policeman was asking her vital questions.It was Reynolds who gave them the answers they needed."Ma'am, you should be more grateful for the type of neighbors you have." The officer, who'
"Who was that?" Sebastian asked Isabel, as she turned to him, her face ashen.Watching blood drain from her face, he immediately figured that the something has gone wrong."What happened?" He asked concernedly, bridging the gap between them,"Talk to me, Ladybug, who was that and what did the person say to you."Isabel couldn't find her voice to speak.She was horror-stricken, thousands of thoughts running through her head."Isabel." Sebastian called her name, this time shaking her vigorously, but she was too dumbfounded to speak.He snatched the phone from her, went to her recent calls and he dialed the number.It was sent to voicemail."Fuck!" He cussed impatiently, dialing it again. This time, it was switched off.Agitated, he returned his attention to her,"Who was that and what did the bastard say to you?""Nothing." She finally found her voice, snapping her attention from the thousand-and-one morbid thoughts in her head,"Don't you dare lie to me, Isabel Hadid." He warned h
Sebastian did not wait for Zachary to come open the door for him, before he alight the car."Has the bastard said anything helpful?" He asked the man, surveying their surrounding.They were in an old abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere, miles away from Colby."Not yet, boss. He still insist that he doesn't have any idea who his sender was." Zachary replied to him, and he grunted something incoherent, as they strode towards the rundown, dilapidated warehouse."How's Ms. Hadid handling everything, boss?" Zachary asked him, concern etched in his voice as he opened the wooden door for the man to go inside."Not very well. She's shaken and traumatized, and wouldn't speak to me because I've allowed this motherfucker go scot free from the law." He replied nonchalantly,"And I think it's fair that my son looks at me with contempt, because he thinks that I cannot protect him and his mother."He paused for a second, stealing a glance at Zachary,"I need to find the motherfucker who has
Sebastian took Zachary's suggestions to heart and he'd the perfect mule to execute the plan with.He would do anything to take his woman and his son home.Two days later, him and Isabel were driving back from the cafe, in his car, when her phone began to ring.From the driver's side, he turned to her, watching her raise the phone to her face.He noticed her brows furrow as she stared at the ringing phone, hesitation coloring her eyes."Why the face? Who's that?" He asked her, concern etching his voice."It's an unknown number." The fear in her voice couldn't be missed, as much as she tried to sound calm."Give it to me." He outstretched his hand, to take the phone from her, but she refused to give it."Isabel..." He drawled in a warning tone, but she didn't give the phone to him."Don't worry." She told him, silencing the phone,"I'd rather not accept it."Sebastian was bewildered by her reply.He watched her put the phone into her purse, after blocking the number, then she zi
Sebastian and Isabel returned to New York about three weeks later, after Damien was charged for violating his probation, kidnappings and attempted murder.He was tried in court where although he pled non-guilty, he was sentenced to a fifteen years imprisonment with no possibility of an early bail.Damien was devastated by the judge's sentence, and tried everything he could to shorten his sentence, but the judge remained absolute."You not only defied the law, but you constituted more crimes, Mr. Giddorti. No matter who you are, you should be made to face the full consequences of your action." The judge told him,"By the order of the law, I sentence you to fifteen years in the Stafford Creek Correctional Facility, Aberdeen, Washington."Sebastian and Isabel were present in court when he was tried and the former was overjoyed, knowing that his biggest rival was down.Shakira did not make it in the hospital, thus escaped the jail terms. With Sebastian's help, her body was interred
With the detective permission, Sebastian waited until after the Ob/gyn finished her assessment on Isabel, and assured them that their baby was alright, before going to see Shakira.But, before leaving for the ICU, he'd to speak to Deputy Rivera. The man had come to speak to them, concerning getting official statements.Sebastian and Isabel gave theirs first, then Moses gave his. And to the man's conviction, it tallied with the statement Pendel had given them.Thereafter, he called the detective aside, while Sebastian waited with Isabel."What do you think they're discussing about?" She asked him,"You need not to worry about it, Isabel. I will take care of everything."Sebastian told her like he always did, then turned to Moses who was seated farther away from them, asking him,"Did you later put a call across to Pierre and Mr. Gonzalez?""Yes, sir. I have done that, and explained the situation to them. Mr. Gonzalez is on his way."Sebastian nodded with a proud smile, squeezing Is
Sebastian refused to go see the doctor,no matter how much the doctor begged him."I don't care if her insides are spilling out of her body through her mouth, I do not want to lay eyes on that bitch, else I would expedite the process of sending her to hell." He spat with disdain,"She brought this on herself and she nearly killed my fiancée had I not intervened early. Tell her that I wish her nothing but the worst death ever, and I pray she goes to hell after that."The doctor was flabbergasted.It was a miracle that she made it out of her unconscious state, after they managed to remove the bullets from the vulnerable locations she was shot at.However, he knew that she wouldn't make it past the morning. She did lost a lot of blood and one of the bullet had severed her anterior spinal artery and her spleen.She was as good as death, but somehow, was given a second chance, which wouldn't last up to six hours.She was on her deathbed and has requested to see the man. He'd personally a
Sebastian's eyes fluttered open, groggily taking in his surroundings. The bright morning light streaming through the hospital window made him squint and look away from the window.He was met with an unfamiliar ceiling and the sterile smell of a hospital room. His mind was foggy, and his body felt heavy, as if an invisible force was weighing on him.As he tried to sit up, a jolt of pain shot through his head, making him wince."Fuck!" His hand instinctively went to his temple, but it was restrained by a cold metal cuff attached to the bed frame. He tugged at the cuff, but it wouldn't budge.Confusion and panic began to set in, but they settled the second realization dawned on him.The memories of the event of the night before came crashing on him like a blizzard on a snowy night and he lwt out a loud sigh. He couldn't believe that he was being held like a criminal.Sebastian Bernadotte, CEO of Bernadotte and Sterling Groups, was being cuffed to a hospital bed like a common crimin
The first sight that shocked Sebastian as they were led out of the house, was seeing Jarvis's lifeless body on the ground, near the entrance.His immediate thought was Isabel, as he watched the body.Is she safe?God, let nothing happen to her. He prayed within himself.Nothing had better happen to her and his child, else he would kill Damien himself, spending the rest of his life in jail."Sir!" One of the men outside called, rushing towards them,"Speak to me, Howard. What have you got?" The man holding Sebastian probed him."Sir, so far we've rounded five casualties" He informed the man,"Make that seven!" Someone hollered from the side of the house, stealing all their attention.Pendel emerged from the darkness, and from behind him were two armed men."There are two casualties at the other side of the house. Caucasian armed male and female."One of the men shoved Pendel, who was cuffed top, pushing him to where Sebastian and Damien were standing."We received report about a h
Meanwhile, Sebastian and Pendel relentlessly went after Damien and Shakira who were trying to escape through the back."Sir, Giddorti is hiding in there, and I think he's out of bullets " Pendel informed Sebastian, who was hiding by the other side of the door,"Cover me, while I go in.""No...go after Valande and the man, I will take care of Giddorti myself." Sebastian told him instead,"I think it is time we put an end to all this. Me and him.""But, sir....""Go, and make sure Shakira doesn't escape.""Okay, sir."Pendel left immediately, following Sebastian's order, while he tucked his gun into the back of his pant."Giddorti, I know you are in there and I sure know that you are out of bullets." Sebastian began, taking steady steps into the room,"I can perceive the nauseating smell of your fear from here, you son of a bitch." He scoffed,"I might be a bastard, Bernadotte, but I am not as cowardly as you are. You allowed another man take the fall for your sins, when you should be
Moses and Isabel have walked halfway through, when suddenly, a light flashed through the darkness, from a near distance.Moses was immediately on alert, raising his gun for action."Stay close, Ms. Hadid. We have an unwelcomed guest ahead of us." He told Isabel, slowing his step, so as not to alert whoever the other person was.With his one hand on the trigger, and the other holding Isabel's hand, they carefully approached the light.Suddenly, Moses stopped walking, which made Isabel stop too."Stay here and wait for me, Ms. Hadid."Without questioning, Isabel waited in the spot he asked her to, hiding behind two tall trees."Get down, and no matter what you hear, do not come out until I ask you to." He warned in a low whisper,"And once I tell you to run, you run as fast as your legs can take you." He dug his free hand into his pocket, pulling out a car key, which he handed to her."Head north, till you get to the main road. Take the Chevy and drive to wherever you can you'll be s
"Stay here and don't make any fucking sound!" Damien ordered Isabel in exasperation, bolting out of the bedroom as another gunshot fired in the air.He slammed the door shut, leaving Isabel confused, and shaking with terror.What could be happening out there?Were they under attack?Despite her trembling limbs and pounding heartbeat, she got up from the bed, to go see what was happening. Just as she apprroached the window, another shot was fired, louder than the previous ones.Isabel's body reverberated with trepidation, causing an immediate abortion of the idea in her head.She thought of hiding somewhere to save herself, but a crazy thought flashed her mind instantly.Escape, Isabel! You should be using this opportunity to escape from this hellhole.Her instinct screamed at her, while shots continue to fly outside, instilling fear into her.If you think anyone is coming to save you, then you are dreaming. You are responsible for the safety of your baby and yourself, and this is
Meanwhile, Isabel had almost dozed off, when she was awoken by the sound of running engine approaching the house from a distance.Her eyes opened and she listened keenly as the car drove closer to the house, lights from its headlights fairly illuminating the bedroom, through the window.Finally, the car came to a stop in front of the house, and its engine quieten down. For some reason, Isabel's heart was beating crazily.Not because she was scared, but because she didn't want to face them, knowing either of them would come to check up on her, to be certain that she haven't escaped. She didn't want to see their disgusting faces, Shakira's especially.A couple of hours ago, she was faced with the most shocking and unexpected revelation, aside being abducted.Sebastian wasn't the mastermind behind her kidnap, like she'd earlier suspected.It wasn't him. In fact, he might have no idea about it, except that Austin have informed him.Instead, it was Damien Giddorti and Sebastian's ex-fi