When Isabella woke, her eyes met total darkness. Panicking, she carefully got out of bed and tried to look for her phone, which she found under the pillow. Using the flashlight, she looked for a switch and put the lights on. The strange-looking room was locked from the outside, she couldn't get out. Her panic spiraled. Did Edith finally get her? She wondered. The first person who came to mind was Asher. She began dialing his number but stopped as her last conscious memories began flooding in. Touching the back of her neck, a certain spot was sore. 'He knocked me out.' She fumed in realization. He knew she wouldn't consent to stay with Dragana. The more she remembered, the angrier she got. Who did he think he was to make such important decisions on her behalf? She was so going to kill him. Finally dialing his number, it went straight to voice mail. “Fucking bastard!” She screamed, tossing her phone on the bed and began pacing. Wondering how she was going to get out and go confront he
Isabella could have fainted. She had to hold on to the table as her whole body weakened. Blinking rapidly, she wondered if she had indeed heard Marcia right. How can it be? She saw Paul as family. Someone she could count on. And yet, all along he was stabbing them in their backs?“Bella,” Marcia called. “Are you still there?” She could hear Isabella's heavy breathing. “I am here.” Isabella croaked, her heart tearing broken. “But…what about Paul?” she stuttered. Shattered. And in disbelief.“I can't believe it either,” said Marcia. She is the closest to Paul. In all ways. And she thought she knew him. To her extreme shock, the man wasn't a trustworthy one. Merely thinking of his involvement in Marina's death makes Marcia want to strangle him to death. All thanks to Asher, who happened to bug Edith's phone and discovered Paul's involvement. Marcia was so ready to confront him the moment Asher told her. With much difficulty, he was able to persuade her to look at the big picture. There w
.”You should speak with her,” Marcia said, immediately she realized it was Asher who had entered the kitchen. The story going around the mansion was that Isabella had dodged her bodyguard, and Asher was doing his best to sell the who, 'I am looking for her act.' Luckily, Paul hadn't known yet that Asher had hidden Isabella, so he was just as blank as the rest. Marcia knew, of course, but she didn't know where. Asher kept that detail to himself, which the older woman appreciated. At least she was sure the young woman she sees as a daughter was safe and loved by someone who would go to great lengths to protect her.“I have no good news to offer her,” Asher grumbled. He knew he had to redeem himself in her eyes after the shitty move he had pulled, and the only way to do that would be to give her something she needed. Justice. But until he can corner Edith, there is nothing he can tell her that would make it better. He dared to knock her out, just to make her yield to his will, so her ang
Dragana took in a deep slowly and exhaled slowly through her mouth, reminding herself that the young woman was going through a lot and couldn't really fault her for her skepticism and rudeness. With a much calmer demeanor, she explained, “Without his memories of the present, whose side do you think he will take?” Asher chewed on her inner cheek. How worse could things get? Will Lucas go back to being the asshole he was before? Is it permanent or just temporary memory loss? She has so many questions yet so little answers. And no matter how angry she was, there was no one she could blame but Edith and fate. Dragana, Asher, and Marcia were all just trying to shield her from a fate similar to her mother's. She wasn't an idiot not to know that. The lengths Asher is going to for her is unmatched loyalty. And she can't keep acting up like a kid and making their lives harder. “I am sorry.” Isabella blurted. “I have been behaving like some ungrateful teenager, which I know is annoying.” Dra
Somewhere in Garcia's mansion, Edith hid away in a room panicking. She had begun seeing ghosts of Marina everywhere, her unsuspecting daughters had no other option but to call their grandfather. Edith's father. The minute the older man stepped into the room, he dismissed his granddaughters. "Daddy..." Edith looked so relieved seeing her old man. She wobbled up and hugged him immediately. "Please take me away from here." She cried shaking like a leaf. "This damn woman won't leave me alone." Unknown to the old man, Asher's and Dragana's plan was going on too well. Especially when Asher began using illusions of Marina's bloodied body to scare her in the middle of the night. "Get a grip of yourself." Edith's father, Frederic boomed. The coffin dodger was known for his strict demeanor. "I am scared, Daddy." Edith tightened her grip on her old man when he attempted to step away. "Please don't leave me alone in this mansion. Marina is coming for me. She wants revenge." "Shut up!" Frederic
When Asher woke up the following day, he quickly spoke to his supervisor asking for the day, claiming that looking for the run-away heirless was taking a toll on his well-being. Of course, by now the security supervisor, Mathias, knew of their affair and felt more than pity for the fool who fell for the spoiled brat. Let it not be said that Mathias didn't attempt to warn Asher in advance. If anything, he advised him to resign and look for another job instead of compromising his morals, but the headstrong man wouldn't heed his words. And now he was paying the price. Mathias thought sadly. “Take care of yourself, Marlowe. No woman is worth dying for.” Mathias encouraged sincerely. 'She is worth every trouble.' Asher thought you himself but on the outside, he nodded wanting to be dismissed fast. After a firm yet cordial goodbye, Asher was about to step out of the Garcia mansion without suspicion whatsoever. His mission was simple, follow Edith when she leaves the mansion. Not because h
“I take it he wasn't so cooperative.” Dragana continued eyeing the limp body at the back of Asher's car. The bodyguard doesn't bother answering the rhetorical question. “She is still sleeping.” Dragana offered knowingly. “She stayed up late last night with her new boyfriend.” Asher's eyes snapped back to Dragana's face. His jaw tightened. He knew she was just pulling his leg, but the what-if at the back of his head showed just how insecure he was about their relationship. No day goes by he doesn't wake up and wonder why she would choose him. Some so many eligible men would be more than glad to call her theirs, and yet, he got the honor to. “My son is so smitten with her. I would suggest you watch your back.” She joked. Asher found himself exhaling heavily with a relieved chuckle. He was battling an urge to ask Dragana to take him to Isabella's room. He had missed her so damn much and wanted nothing more than to stare into her lovely face, even if it was just for a few seconds. And hol
“Let me go, you brute!” Isabella kicked Asher's leg to no avail. His steely hold on her remained.“You are angry,” Asher stated the obvious.“Really?” Isabella screamed. “I didn't know that. What gave it away?” She felt like all the anger that has dampened after talking to Dragana resurfaced. “I was able to get Lucas out.” Asher changed the topic. Isabella stopped struggling. “He is in the next room.” Isabella frowned. How comes she hadn't seen him?“Did he get his memory….”“No.” Asher cut in. “I am not sure if he ever will, but we can hope.” Isabella let herself relax in her lover's arms begrudgingly. She had plenty to a cold her for, but there would be plenty of time for that. Currently, she wanted to see Lucas and ensure the man was alive. At the risk of him not recognizing her or even hating her. “Can you take me to see him?” She asked with a small voice, telling Asher just how uncertain she was. “You can see him anytime.” Asher soothed, burying his nose in her neck. “He will