MAXWELL'S POV I needed to get a hold of myself.“So," I said, clearing my throat to distract myself from the swirling thoughts in my head, and the possibility of me never being the same around her. "Ready for the next adventure, or are you too worn out from all the rock skipping?"She chuckled, turning to face me. "Depends. What did you have in mind?"I paused, thinking it over. It was just 5pm, and the day was just half spent. Honestly, I hadn't planned this far ahead. The cooking class and the beach had been spur-of-the-moment decisions, and some very bad advice that turned out good for the moment, and now I was at a loss. Then an idea popped into my head, something both simple and a bit nostalgic. "Ice cream," I said with a decisive nod. "There's a place not too far from here. Best ice cream you'll ever have."From what I could remember anyways.Her eyes lit up. "Ice cream? Now ‘that’ I can get behind."I chuckled as we made our way back to the car, and soon, we were driving down
HENRY'S POVI tapped my pen against the desk, my eyes fixed on the clock on the wall. Two weeks had gone by, and there hadn’t been a word from Isabella. Nothing at all. I had expected at least some kind of update on the plan by now, but the silence was getting under my skin.With a frustrated sigh, I picked up the phone and dialed Hannah's number. She answered on the second ring."Hannah," I started, trying to keep my voice steady, "what's going on with Isabella? It's been two weeks, and we’ve heard nothing.""Henry," she replied, "we agreed to give her some time. You need to be patient.""Patient?" I nearly scoffed. "It's been *two weeks.* We don't have time to sit around and wait for her to make a move. What if something’s gone wrong?”Hannah’s voice hardened. "Listen, I know you’re frustrated, but snapping at me won’t speed things up. Isabella is working on it, and rushing her isn’t going to help."My grip on the phone tightened, agitation boiling just beneath the surface. I pushed
MAXWELL'S POVI stepped out of my office, feeling more determined than ever. The hallway stretched out in front of me, lined with framed certificates and awards. They were reminders of how far I’d come and how much more I needed to do. I headed toward the elevator, already thinking about the meeting I had coming up. Jonathan Pierce was an important piece of my plan. If he agreed to join, it would make things move a lot faster. I couldn’t afford any mistakes today. I took a deep breath as the elevator doors opened. Time to put on my calm, confident mask.I spotted Jonathan waiting by the glass doors in the lobby. He was tall and looked like he owned the place. He was the kind of guy who needed to be handled just right—with respect but also some cleverness. “Jonathan,” I called out, reaching out to shake his hand. “Thanks for meeting with me.”“Henry,” he replied, shaking my hand with a firm grip. “Always a pleasure. So, do you have good news for me?”“That depends,” I said with a sma
ISABELLA'S POVThis was silly.I stood at the door of Maxwell's bedroom, pondering if I should knock and go in, or not. But the house was dark, and I couldn't sleep alone. The power was out for some reason.The last few nights have been sleepless, and I was tired.Hannah called me earlier today, and all I could do was sit blankly as she raged on over the phone.“Are you sure you want this? How do I know you've not fallen for him already? Why are you stalling Isa?” Her words rang through the phone and echoed in my ears.To be honest, I knew why I was stalling. Maxwell had changed. He wasn't the grumpy, rude and mannerless grouch I knew him to be. He was charming, sweet, thoughtful, and extremely handsome. The thought of his gray eyes landing on mine was enough to make me giddy with warmth and excitement, and no amount of threats would make me deny it.After he took me out that day, we had formed a steady night routine. He'd come home from work, take a shower, while me and Holly worked
ISABELLA'S POV He lifted me with ease, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. I could feel his heart beating as erratically as mine. His lips left mine, trailing a line of heated kisses down my neck. He bit down gently on the sensitive skin, making me gasp and arch into him. Fuck, I hadn't been touched like this before.A smile curved on his lips against my skin as he continued, his hands roaming possessively over my body.I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging gently, and he responded by nipping at my collarbone. “God, you’re driving me crazy,” he murmured, his voice rough and filled with desire. "Maybe that's what I want," I teased, my voice breathy. His eyes flicked up to meet mine, filled with a mix of heat and something deeper, something raw. "You have no idea what you’re asking for," he growled, his grip on me tightening. Without warning, he captured my lips again, this time slower, more deliberate, as if savoring every second. His tongue teased mine, sending sh
ISABELLA'S POV I shivered at the intensity in his gaze. "No," I whispered breathlessly. "I can't."He smirked and slowly unbuckled his belt, the metal clinking softly. I watched, mesmerized, as he unzipped his jeans and pushed them down. My eyes widened as he revealed himself. He was indeed big - larger than I'd expected. A mix of excitement and nervousness fluttered in my stomach.He must have sensed my hesitation. His expression softened and he cupped my cheek gently. "We'll go slow," he murmured. "I'll be careful."I nodded, relaxing slightly at his reassurance. He positioned himself between my legs, the heat of his body enveloping me. I gasped as I felt him press against my entrance. He paused, searching my eyes. "Still okay?"I nodded, biting my lip. "Yes," I breathed. "Please..."He pushed forward slowly, inch by inch. I inhaled sharply at the stretch, gripping his shoulders. He stilled, letting me adjust. "Fuck, you feel amazing," he groaned, his voice strained. I rocked my
HANNAH'S POVI stood outside Maxwell's home, watching silently from behind the bushes. He had just returned from work, still in his suit, looking as sharp and handsome as ever. He was always a charmer.My stomach twisted when I saw where he was heading….straight to Isabella. I should’ve known. The moment he stepped through the door, she greeted him with a fake smile, like she was some perfect wife. The empty beer can in my hand crumpled under the force of my squeeze.They hugged as if they were some happy couple in love, and I watched in disgust as Maxwell planted a soft kiss on her forehead, then her lips. My heart pounded hard in my chest. That fucking snake. I had thought all this time that Isabella was suffering. I thought Maxwell treated her just as coldly as he did me, but I was wrong. I was so…so wrong.Why did it come to this?Maxwell leaned down, whispering something in her ear. She giggled, and I could feel bile rising in my throat. He scooped her up in his arms like she w
MAXWELL'S POV I stared at the brown envelope on my desk. It looked weird, different from the normal ones. Something in my gut twisted as I examined the sharp corners, carefully placed to avoid any creases. I stretched my hand to take it, but stopped halfway, my fingers hovering in the air.Usually, when I saw envelopes like this on my desk in the morning, I'd send them off to Jessica for filing and evaluation. But something about this envelope was just… off.It was as if whoever had delivered it knew it would stand out. There was an odd precision in how it had been left, perfectly centered on my desk. No name, no details, no signs of where it had come from. I stared at it for a minute longer, the silence of my office growing louder in my ears. I sighed, exhaled, and grabbed it without thinking. The weight felt wrong in my hands—heavier than usual. I noticed the back had a message scrawled in sharp, almost aggressive handwriting, *For the CEO.* That was interesting. I had two options
Epilogue The sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. I stood at the window, staring out at the city skyline. It had been weeks since the chaos with Hannah, but the memories still lingered, fresh as if they had just happened yesterday.Maxwell was still recovering from the shock of that night. He had been discharged from the hospital after a couple of days, but the emotional wounds cut deeper than the physical ones. We had been through so much, and now, as I turned and glanced at him resting on the couch, my heart ached for him—for us."Isabella," his voice broke through my thoughts.I walked over to him, sitting down on the edge of the couch. "Yes?"He gave me a soft smile, but I could see the concern in his eyes. "You’ve been quiet all morning. What’s on your mind?"I hesitated, unsure of how to say what I needed to. We had been through so much already, and I didn't know how this news would affect him, especially after everything with Hannah.
HANNAH'S POV The sound of sirens filled the air, a cacophony of chaos that made my heart race. This was not how I envisioned this day going. I had finally outsmarted Isabella, and yet here I was, standing frozen in shock after pulling the trigger.“Maxwell, wake up!” Isabella’s frantic voice cut through my thoughts, and a wave of confusion crashed over me. I had shot him—this wasn’t supposed to happen. The plan was simple: frame Isabella, make Maxwell see her for the manipulative liar she was, and then take what was rightfully mine.But now, as I watched him on the floor, the realization struck me. I had just thrown my life away. Panic surged in me. What if he didn’t wake up? What if it was all over before it even began?“Why did you do this, Hannah?” I whispered to myself, my mind racing. I had been so consumed with jealousy and greed that I hadn’t thought of the consequences.And now, I was facing them head-on.As the sirens grew louder, I took a step back, still holding the gun as
ISABELLA'S POV Is this what heartbreak felt like?The familiar ache in my chest twisted tighter with every step I took toward the living room. It had been two months already, but I couldn't just sit and watch Maxwell succumb to the slow poison that was Hannah. She had told me about her plan long ago, and I played it off as a bluff. But it was obvious now that she wasn't bluffing.I could sense Hannah’s smug satisfaction radiating through the air, a feeling that churned my stomach. Now that I was finally confronting her, everything felt surreal.When I entered the room, I found Hannah lounging on the couch, a casual smile plastered across her face, as if she hadn’t just orchestrated a web of deceit that ensnared all of us. “Oh, look who decided to join us,” she said, feigning surprise. “Isn’t this cozy?”“Cut the act, Hannah. I know what you’re planning,” I said, my voice steady, even as my heart raced. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter.Her smile widened,
MAXWELL'S POV This was the difference between both women.Hannah was desperate, pathetic, and greedy, while Isabella—the name stung on my tongue—was the exact opposite.She was pure, kind-hearted, and fiery when needed. It was why I even loved her. How could she do this to me?The documents sat heavily in my lap, their contents a damning reminder of my father's corrupt dealings, the shady business transactions that could shatter the Jones Empire if anyone else got their hands on them. I could already envision the headlines: Jones Enterprise Falls from Grace. My reputation in the business world would be in tatters. I wouldn’t be ruined, per se, but it would be a blow I couldn’t afford.I sat with my arms crossed and my brows creased in thought. Something didn't feel right. My mind drifted back to the conversation I had with Hannah a few days earlier.“I can’t believe you let Isabella pretend to be you for so long,” I had said, disbelief painting my tone as Hannah laid out the truth. T
HANNAH'S POVIsabella was gone.Finally.I kept my face calm, neutral, as I watched her stumble out of the room, tears staining her cheeks, leaving Maxwell and me alone. But inside, I was gloating. She’d played her part beautifully, walked right into the trap I’d set. I almost wanted to thank her for making this so easy. Now, she was out of Maxwell’s life for good.For months, I had been watching, waiting for my chance to step back in, and now it had finally come. Maxwell had been so blind, so naive, thinking that someone like Isabella could ever be enough for him. Pretending to be me. How pathetic. She was a placeholder, nothing more. And now that her little charade was over, it was time for me to reclaim what was mine.I stood up slowly, glancing at Maxwell, who was still sitting, staring at the door where Isabella had disappeared. His face was expressionless, a mask of cold indifference. But I knew him better than that. He was hurting, shattered, betrayed. Good. Let him feel the pa
MAXWELL'S POV How was this happening?I sat there, watching her stumble through the door, her eyes widening with shock the second they landed on me. She froze, just like I knew she would. The sight of her standing there, guilt written all over her face, was a knife twisting in my chest. The woman I’d spent the last eight months with, the woman I thought I knew, had been lying to me all along. It was all a game—a lie.I shifted slightly in my chair, my gaze never leaving her. I wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She had played me for months, and now it was time for her to face the truth. Hannah sat beside me, her expression cold, detached—completely opposite from the woman who had come to me days ago and shattered my world.Hannah had told me everything.I remember the way my stomach had dropped when she first showed up, the way my heart had raced as she told me who Isabella really was. At first, I couldn’t believe it. There was no way. Isabella had been in my life for eight mont
ISABELLA'S POV No no no no no.How was this happening?The world spun around me, and my breath caught in my throat as I stood frozen at the entrance. Maxwell sat there, his back straight, his face perfectly blank, but the tension that rippled off him was suffocating. He didn't have to say anything for me to know—he was disappointed. Shattered.How could he not be? He knew everything.My eyes flicked to Hannah. She sat smug, her lips curling into a triumphant, wicked smile. She told him. She told him everything. My heart dropped, like a stone plunging into icy waters. I had been cornered, trapped. But why? Why had she ruined the deal? My mother’s freedom was on the line—why would she do this?I felt sick. The weight of Maxwell’s disappointment pressed against my chest like a vice, squeezing the air from my lungs. He must think I was a monster. A liar. A conniving, backstabbing traitor who had betrayed him, using his love to get what I wanted.“Maxwell...” I whispered, barely able t
ISABELLA'S POV The next morning, I woke up with a weight pressing down on my chest, heavier than the one I'd felt last night. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection as if I could find the answers hidden in the lines of my face. My mind was made up. I'd give Henry the documents. That way, my mother would finally be released from the bind Henry had on her. And then, afterward, I would tell Maxwell everything.Sounds good, right? I tried to convince myself as I brushed my hair, but the words echoed emptily inside my head. There was no good in any of this. Maxwell would find out, no matter what I did, and it would destroy him.I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. I couldn't afford to break down now. Not when I was so close to making sure my mom would be safe. After she was free, I could deal with the fallout. I could deal with Maxwell.I inhaled deeply, trying to steel myself for what lay ahead. A part of me was tempted to call him right now, to end it all be
ISABELLA.I leaned back against the chair, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to breathe through the pressure building in my chest. Each choice felt like a trap, pulling me deeper into a web of lies and manipulation that had no clear way out. I hated Henry for putting me in this position. I hated Maxwell for being so oblivious to what was happening around him. But most of all, I hated myself for letting it get this far. For not stopping it sooner.A part of me wondered if this was how it would always be—caught between two impossible choices, unable to do what was right because of the fear of losing everything. Maybe this was my punishment. Maybe this was what I deserved for being so blind for so long.I opened my eyes, staring at the phone again. If I called Maxwell now, it would all be over. The lies, the pretending. I could tell him everything, and he would take control. He was good at that—fixing things, handling problems. But what if I was the problem this time? What if my betra