Isabel wasn't her self the whole day, and even when she went to pick Reynolds from school, the boy noticed her anxiety."What's wrong, Mommy? You seem worried." The boy asked her, as they drove home.She looked through the rearview mirror, flashing him a faux smile,"I'm fine, Rey--""You are lying, Mommy. You are worried about something, I can sense it." His tone was unemotional, even as he stared intently at her."Did anyone get you into trouble?""No, Honey." She said in her most convincing tone, widening her smile,"I've baking all day, and because there were lots of customers at the cafe. Mommy's just tired, that's all.""Why can't they go home and eat, instead of stressing you to bake more treats for them?"She smiled, amused at his seemingly innocence."They can't, because mommy needs their patronage." She explained to the boy, "Is it to take care of me?"Isabel nodded, stealing a glance at him, then she returned her attention to the road ahead of her."Mommy needs to work h
Isabel remained shocked to the marrow, even after Sebastian left her home.She was pulsating fervently, as if she had encountered a ghost.How could it be true that Sebastian Bernadotte, the one man she despised more than any other man on planet earth, was the father of her son?It seemed surreal to her, even after he showed her the proof.He showed her the same documents she signed all those years ago.She could've argued that the documents were fake, but they weren't. As much she hated, the man wasn't lying.He was the anonymous billionaire from nine years ago, the one she'd became a surrogate for, and had faked the death of one of his sons.He was Reynold's biological father.She'd worked for him, just to pay him and then, she still stole from him again.Isabel didn't know whether to be devastated, angry or to start crying.She felt like her whole world, including everything she has worked hard to build, were going down the drain. Like she was standing on the precipice of disaster,
The next day came, and Sebastian did not show up at her doorstep, demanding for her reply, which Isabel was quite relieved about.There was only one reasonable decision to make, and even though it would cost her her freedom, her dignity and self-worth, she was ready to take the risk for Reynold's sake.The next day came and went, yet no sign of the man.Isabel was beginning to feel optimistic.Maybe he must've figured that he didn't really need her to be his mistress, especially since he already have a fiancé.Yes, she did her research about the man, and although there was nothing about his personal life on the media, there were photos of him and a particular lady.Her name is Shakira Valande. She's thirty-one-years-old and is one of American most loved supermodel. According to what she has found out, this Shakira lady have been in a relationship with Sebastian Bernadotte for over a decade and there were rumors of them being married.What Isabel did not understand was why the man woul
The first question Reynolds asked Isabel after he entered her bedroom and closed the door behind him, was,"Why were you crying, Mommy and what is he doing here?"Sebastian turned to the boy with creased brows, unable to fathom something to say about the second question."I wasn't crying, Rey." Isabel lied to the boy, coming out of the bathroom with water sprinkled on her face. She masked the discomfort she was feeling with a smile, as she approached the boy.She could tell he wasn't buying her lie, judging from how he was looking at her like she was an errant child."Mister---I mean, your father and I were having some grownups conversation." She forced a smile, stopping in front of the boy who wasn't still convinced by her reply."Baby," she took his hands into her, staring affectionately into his brown eyes, "mommy's fine.""Yes, your mommy is fine." Sebastian added from where he was standing, a tinge of jealousy lacing his tone.Both Reynolds and Isabel turned to him,"I am n
Two days later, Isabel was exhausted from Sebastian's domineering presence. She haven't been to the cafe, nor did he allowed her leave the house.He demanded sex from her every minute and she couldn't say no to him, because as much as she hated his guts, he was slowly turning her into a sex addict like himself.His new favorite word was to call her his whore, or his little rabbit. As much as the word disgusted her, she couldn't deny him pleasure.He took her so many times, leaving her sore and secretly wanting for more, even though she was exhausted and nearly breathless.It was clear he was an insatiable beast when it came to sex, and she secretly enjoyed it.It felt like he has rejuvenated a part of her she never knew existed.However, although the pleasure always left her at the peak of euphoria, Isabel knew she could not let her life spiral out of control because of it.She could not allow the moments of pleasure ruin everything she has worked hard to build in years.It wa
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
While they were having lunch, Sebastian made his intentions of coming to their home clear to their home."Isabel and I are getting married soon." He told them, and we have come to seek for your blessings, Mrs. Hadid."Patricia looked at her daughter, Jasmine, then her attention returned to Sebastian who has barely touched the meal served to him."Okay, Mr. Bernadotte, you've my blessings to marry Isabel, my daughter." The woman said without any hesitation, which Isabel found odd.Of course, she knew they were intimidated by Sebastian's presence.Who wasn't?Everyone she knew, was intimidated by the man's presence and they all accord him with utmost respect.But, Patricia and Jasmine seemed terrified of him, in a way that seemed quite suspicious to her."Isabel," Patricia called her name and she turned to the woman,"Child, you made the right choice. Mr. Bernadotte is a good man and he will keep you happy." The woman advised her,"I am so proud of you, Isabel and I know your father
After ending the call with Detective Jonas, Sebastian called Pierre and gave him the assignment of sniffing Damien Giddorti's ass"Pardon my asking, Mr. Bernadotte, but this is unlike every other assignment you've been giving me?""Yes, I know, but I need every information you can get on that son of a bitch.""What kind of information do you need?" Pierre asked the man, still confused about his request."Have you been told anything about him?""I just received a tip of an alliance that Giddorti Enterprise is pumping Wall Street with drug money, so I need you to help me find out if it is true or not." Pierre wasn't comfortable with the assignment, and he aired it to Sebastian immediately."Mr. Bernadotte, you need to understand that this isn't as easy as you think. Whether or not Giddorti is involved in any illegal activities, busting him would do you no good.""There's always a hierarchy, and trust me, someone like Damien Giddorti can never be at the top of the food chain. It i
Sebastian was eager to facilitate the wedding process, and make it happen at soonest.Left to him, they would've gotten married that weekend, but there was a lot of preparations to be made, and Isabel has insisted that he postponed it, because she needed to tell her family about it."The same family who set you up, and nearly had you kidnapped, if not for Fowler's timely intervention?"He wasn't thrilled with the idea of her going to meet them, and that was mostly because they were still in his custody, unbeknownst to her."Despite what they've done to me, they are still my family, and I do not intend to get married without getting their blessings." She was honest with him."I've no friends, nor do I have anyone elsewhere except them. And although they might've wronged me countless times in the past, I don't think it is fair to cut them out of my life just like that, because they saved me too.""And you've done well to repay them every kindness they've shown you. Yet, they continu
Like Sebastian avowed, he got the lady from the stored fired from her workplace, then got her arrested.Isabel wasn't supportive of his decision, but since he'd threatened to extend the lady's stay behind bar, if she begged him on her behalf, she decided to not say anything to him. However, she showed her displeasure, which he ignored."This should serve as a lesson to anyone who decide to disrespect you." He told her, as the officers took the crying lady away."Now, remind me what it is you wanted to get?"Isabel was quiet for a while, as the crowd dispersed, but a good amount of passerby were looking at them, awed to see Sebastian, his triplet sons and his new girlfriend."Nothing..."He threw her a discerning glare, then took her hand into his,"If I could remember, the Genesis of this misunderstanding was you trying to see if a particular shade of foundation matched you skin tone, right?"Isabel said nothing, prompting Oliver to say yes to the man."I still remember the brand,
After they left the store, Isabel could tell the boys were in a sour mood, and she didn't know what to say to cheer them up."Boys, do you want to go to the arcade now?" She asked them, hopeful they would say yes, but they didn't."We are fine." "Yeah...I think I'd rather go home."Both Oliver and Reynolds spoke respectively."Boys, I don't think you should be feeling sad about what that lady did, or anything she said to me." She told them, watching their sullen faces."You see, sometime the best answer to give to people who are being intentionally disrespectful to you, is silence.""But, mommy, she crossed the line calling you a lowlife and us, the b word." Alexander argued,"She was being disrespectful to you, but you did not defend yourself. Sometimes, people need to be taught that they can't go around being rude to anyone they see, because they feel like they can.""She needs to be taught a lesson." Reynolds concluded,"One she wouldn't forget in a hurry. Nobody disrespect my mo
Several minutes later, Sebastian was spooning Isabel whose head was rested against his chest.They were still exhausted from their earlier intense and passionate lovemaking and their hearts were beating in a rhythm."I'm indeed the luckiest man on the planet." He told her, possessively tightening his arms around her petite form."Had anyone told me ten to fifteen years ago, that someday I will become obsessed over a woman and desperately want to make her mine, I would've called the person a goddamn liar."Isabel let out an exhausted, but satisfied sigh."But here I am, at thirty-five, obsessed over you and wanting nothing but to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm the luckiest man on earth.""Likewise me, Sebastian." She whispered to him,"Who could've known that I would end up getting married to the same man I once despised like my life depended on it. But, here I am.""I'm no believer of fate, or destiny, but I think the only explanation to our relationship is destiny. We were
"What the hell are you talking about, Isabel?" Sebastian questioned her,"Why would you ask me to do that?""Because, I think it's the right thing to do, since we are both about to enter a new chapter of our lives." She explained to him.Now, it was her turn to beg him."I don't care about the both of them, Sebastian, but I do not think that I want us to have a life where we have people like them hovering over us." She continued, taking his other hand into hers."I understand that they must've wronged you in one way or the other, but I need you to let go of everything that happened. I do not want our children to be raised in this rivalry, which would mean passing it to their own children, who would also pass it to theirs, and the circle continues endlessly.""Isabel, what you are asking for is impossible. I owe no grudge against Shakira for what she did, but I don't think I would ever forgive Damien Giddorti for all he has done." He avowed to her,"Do you know what that bastard did
"I want nothing to do with that son of a bitch who ruined my life." Joan spat, the second Sebastian made mention of Damien Giddorti's name."Trust me, Ms. Lively, I do not want anything to do with him too, but I need the bastard to face the consequences of his actions." He explained to her, "And I saw the file on the rape charge you raised against him three years ago. However, for some reason, which I believe he'd influenced, the charges were dropped."Joan scoffed, staring at her palms which she placed on the table."I know you must be wondering why I am interested in your case, or why I suddenly believe you after all these years. The truth is that, Damien Giddorti has always been a bastard, but recently, he thought it would be funny to assault my wife, to spite me." Sebastian continued, leaving both the scar-faced man and Joan bewildered."Yes. He tried to take advantage of her, despite knowing that she's mine and although I got him arrested, but he was bailed out because there was
After over an hour of driving around Manhattan, Sebastian and Moses finally found the address they were looking for."Sir, I think you should stay here, while I go in and find the apartment." Moses offered to the man, who was seated at the backseat, staring at him through the rearview mirror."You know what floor her apartment is on?""No, sir, but I will ask around.""Ask them what? You've no picture of her, nor do you know what her name is or what she look like."Moses did not say anything.Sebastian brought out the piece of paper he'd copied the information about the lady into, then he handed it to Moses."That is her name, phone number and address. Although, I do not suppose that the number is still active, because I can't seem to reach her with it."Moses took the paper from the man, stole a glance at it, before he shoved it into his pocket.While Sebastian waited in the car, he stepped down, then made his way towards the several storey apartment building.Once he entered, he