Isabel’s POV“Isa, what are you doing?” Emerson’s voice broke through the tense silence as he stepped into the room. His sharp gaze landed on me, standing awkwardly in front of the bathroom door. I was painfully aware that my posture was far too rigid to appear casual.My heart raced, hammering against my ribs. Emerson’s brow furrowed as his eyes flickered between me and the door behind me.“Why are you standing there like that?” he asked, suspicion lacing his tone.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to take a steadying breath. “It’s nothing,” I replied, too quickly, too flatly. I winced internally, knowing how unconvincing I sounded.Emerson tilted his head, scrutinizing me with the sharpness of a man who had spent his life mastering observation. “Nothing?” he repeated, taking a slow step closer.I tried to regain control, plastering a strained smile onto my face. “The toilet’s broken,” I said, gesturing vaguely toward the bathroom door behind me. “It’s just… acting up. That’s all.”Hi
Isabel’s POVThe air was thick, suffocating. As though the room itself held its breath. I stood motionless, my mind racing as Emerson's piercing gaze locked on me. His brow was furrowed, his expression a calculated mix of curiosity and suspicion.“A man?” Emerson’s voice cut through the tension, cold and deliberate. His eyebrow arched slightly. But his eyes betrayed nothing.I shifted on my feet, unable to meet his gaze directly. My hands felt clammy. I clasped them together to keep them from shaking.“Yes, sir,” the repairman piped up, oblivious to the storm brewing in the room. “Maybe he was looking for someone. Although the security system here is excellent…” He trailed off, his cheerful tone faltering as he seemed to sense the change in atmosphere. “Uh, did I say something wrong?”Emerson waved a hand dismissively. “Go on,” he said, his voice calm, almost too calm. He leaned back slightly, his sharp eyes flickering between the repairman and me. “What did this man look like?”I sw
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s lingering presence in the room was suffocating. His imposing figure loomed near the window, arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on the horizon as though seeking answers out there. His bossy attitude frustrated me, but I bit my tongue. Now’s not the time, Isabel. You need him—for Liam.I sank into the chair near the bedside, the unopened report heavy in my hands. The weight of it seemed disproportionate, as though it carried more than just words on paper. It held my future, my son's future, and perhaps even Emerson’s—whether he realized it or not.I glanced at him. His jaw was set, and his lips pressed into a thin line. The tension was rolling off him in waves. It was a rare moment where his cold exterior cracked, replaced by something I dared to call concern. I let out a slow breath, steadying myself.Maybe it’s not a bad thing if he knows, I thought. If the truth forced him to see the gravity of the situation, maybe—just maybe—he’d step up, not for me but for L
Isabel’s POVMy husband Emerson hadn't come home for a whole week. I stayed in our huge villa all alone, waiting. The grand mansion with marble floors and chandeliers felt empty and cold without him.I placed a hand on my big belly and hoped he'd come back soon. I’ve been having strange, severe headaches lately. At 7 months pregnant, that wasn’t normal. We had to go for a pregnancy check-up.Where was he? My heart ached with worry and fear. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.Our life together had always seemed perfect. Emerson, a successful businessman, had swept me off my feet. We had everything—wealth, status, a beautiful home and a baby on the way.But recently, things changed. He seemed distant. I tried to ignore the signs. But the longer he stayed away, the harder it became to believe everything was fine.I tried to keep myself busy. I rearranged the nursery, folding tiny clothes and organizing baby toys. Each little onesie and stuffed animal made me
Isabel’s POVWhen I woke up, the room was dimly lit. The low hum of medical machines noticed that I was in the hospital bed again. The difference was that I had a throbbing headache and intense stomach cramps that were worse than the last time. Where was I? What had happened?The soft hum of medical machines surrounded me. I had a throbbing headache and intense stomach cramps. Where was I? What happened?I suddenly remembered Lilith’s evil smile and hard push, then the painful fall down the staircase. I had ended up on the floor, flat on my belly with Lilith’s weight on top of me. Oh no… I gasped and jolted upright, causing another contraction in my womb. “My baby!”The doctor noticed I was awake and walked over to me. He stood by my bedside, his expression somber. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Williams," he said gently. "Your baby didn't survive the fall."His words pierced my heart like a dagger. I felt an overwhelming wave of grief wash over me. My hand instinctively moved to my now empty bell
Isabel’s POVFacing the fear of death for the first time, I found myself clinging to the hope that my husband could be my anchor. I remembered our early days together. The joy and love that had filled our lives. Emerson had been my everything. My knight in shining armor. The memories now felt like distant dreams. He wasn’t here for me in my darkest moments. I spent a few more days in the hospital, under the watchful eye of a team of doctors and nurses. When they finally told me I could leave, I took a long shower in the sterile bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize myself.My once bright blue eyes were now dull and tired, shadowed by sleepless nights and endless tears. My long blonde hair hung lifelessly around my face, lacking its usual shine.I glanced down at my belly, still a bit swollen from the baby I once carried. The slight curve was a painful reminder of the life that had been growing inside me. A life that was now gone. I gently touched my stomach, feeli
Isabel’s POVThe hospital corridors seemed endless as I hurried towards my father's room. My heart pounded in my chest. My thoughts were racing. I had to be strong. I had to be there for him. As I reached the ICU, a nurse stopped me."Ms. White, your father's condition has deteriorated. He's at risk of brain death," she said gently.Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt my knees weaken. But I couldn't afford to fall apart now. I needed to know more."What do we do now?" I asked, my voice trembling."The medical account balance is insufficient for further treatment. We need to make a decision soon," the nurse replied, her eyes filled with sympathy.Panic surged through me. My father's life was on the line, and I had no idea how to save him. Just then, my phone rang. It was Emerson."Where are you, Isabel?" he demanded, his voice sharp with irritation."I'm at the hospital. My father's condition has worsened," I explained, holding back a sob."You're just making excuses to avoid
Isabel’s POVThe jewelry shop’s overhead light glinted off the bracelet in my hand. The little gemstones casted tiny reflections around the room. The bracelet had been a gift from Emerson. A symbol of a love that now felt like a cruel joke.“Wow, that's a beautiful bracelet!” Lilith’s voice broke through my thoughts, dripping with feigned admiration.She turned to Emerson, her brown eyes wide with innocent concern. “Isabel must be short of money if she's selling her jewelry. Should we help her?”Emerson’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. He snapped, saying how this behavior humiliates him, and his family. His voice was low and menacing.I bristled at his accusation. “Humiliate you? You’re the one who insisted I give up my job to raise our child. I had no income and never asked you for extra money.” “I do need money, but not for myself,” I continued, my voice shaking with anger and desperation. “I need it to help my father. Since you refuse to help him, I ha
Isabel’s POVEmerson’s lingering presence in the room was suffocating. His imposing figure loomed near the window, arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on the horizon as though seeking answers out there. His bossy attitude frustrated me, but I bit my tongue. Now’s not the time, Isabel. You need him—for Liam.I sank into the chair near the bedside, the unopened report heavy in my hands. The weight of it seemed disproportionate, as though it carried more than just words on paper. It held my future, my son's future, and perhaps even Emerson’s—whether he realized it or not.I glanced at him. His jaw was set, and his lips pressed into a thin line. The tension was rolling off him in waves. It was a rare moment where his cold exterior cracked, replaced by something I dared to call concern. I let out a slow breath, steadying myself.Maybe it’s not a bad thing if he knows, I thought. If the truth forced him to see the gravity of the situation, maybe—just maybe—he’d step up, not for me but for L
Isabel’s POVThe air was thick, suffocating. As though the room itself held its breath. I stood motionless, my mind racing as Emerson's piercing gaze locked on me. His brow was furrowed, his expression a calculated mix of curiosity and suspicion.“A man?” Emerson’s voice cut through the tension, cold and deliberate. His eyebrow arched slightly. But his eyes betrayed nothing.I shifted on my feet, unable to meet his gaze directly. My hands felt clammy. I clasped them together to keep them from shaking.“Yes, sir,” the repairman piped up, oblivious to the storm brewing in the room. “Maybe he was looking for someone. Although the security system here is excellent…” He trailed off, his cheerful tone faltering as he seemed to sense the change in atmosphere. “Uh, did I say something wrong?”Emerson waved a hand dismissively. “Go on,” he said, his voice calm, almost too calm. He leaned back slightly, his sharp eyes flickering between the repairman and me. “What did this man look like?”I sw
Isabel’s POV“Isa, what are you doing?” Emerson’s voice broke through the tense silence as he stepped into the room. His sharp gaze landed on me, standing awkwardly in front of the bathroom door. I was painfully aware that my posture was far too rigid to appear casual.My heart raced, hammering against my ribs. Emerson’s brow furrowed as his eyes flickered between me and the door behind me.“Why are you standing there like that?” he asked, suspicion lacing his tone.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to take a steadying breath. “It’s nothing,” I replied, too quickly, too flatly. I winced internally, knowing how unconvincing I sounded.Emerson tilted his head, scrutinizing me with the sharpness of a man who had spent his life mastering observation. “Nothing?” he repeated, taking a slow step closer.I tried to regain control, plastering a strained smile onto my face. “The toilet’s broken,” I said, gesturing vaguely toward the bathroom door behind me. “It’s just… acting up. That’s all.”Hi
Isabel’s POVA grin spread across his face, wide and self-assured. He placed a hand over his heart and gave a slight bow, his voice playful but tinged with sincerity.“Elias Woods, at your service.”The name hit me like a thunderclap, my breath catching in my chest. Woods.“It’s really you!” I exclaimed, my voice a mix of astonishment and relief. A smile broke through my initial nervousness, an unexpected balm to the tension that had taken root in my chest.Elias’s grin softened, his eyes gleaming with warmth. “It’s me.”I felt a strange mixture of emotions—gratitude, disbelief, and an undeniable sense of connection to the man who had once saved my life. But beneath all that, there was still unease. His sudden appearance couldn’t just be a coincidence.“I’m so glad you’re safe,” I murmured, my voice thick with sincerity. Memories of the chaos that had brought us together, of Margot’s terrified eyes and Sebastian/Elias’s calm resolve, surged through me.He nodded, his grin fading into
Isabel’s POVI sat on the edge of the hospital bed, my mind racing. My hands gripped the thin blanket, knuckles white. Emerson’s questions from earlier still echoed in my head.Do I tell him the truth?The thought churned my stomach. Maybe this was the right time. Maybe I had pushed it off long enough. But how? How could I look him in the eye and admit that I’d been keeping something so monumental from him? That I had been living with an expiration date and hadn’t told him?I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath. My fingers trembled as I ran them through my hair. Emerson’s reaction was the unknown I feared the most. My heart felt like a trapped bird beating against its cage.The door clicked softly. I opened my eyes as the doctor stepped in, holding a tablet. He gave me a small, professional smile before turning to Emerson.“Mr. Williams, can I have a word in my office?”Emerson looked at me, hesitating for a moment, before standing. “I’ll be right back,” he said, his voice low, a
Isabel’s POVWhen I awoke, the first thing that hit me was the sharp, sterile smell of disinfectant. The faint beeping of machines and the distant hum of voices told me I wasn’t at the villa anymore. Blinking against the harsh fluorescent light, I slowly opened my eyes.The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor. The walls were stark white, broken only by the green glow of a clock on the far wall. My body felt heavy, my limbs weighed down by an exhaustion that went bone-deep. And then I saw him.Emerson was slumped in a chair by my bedside, his head tilted to the side. He was fast asleep. His usually impeccable appearance was gone—his shirt was wrinkled, the top button undone, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. His face was pale, etched with worry even in sleep.For a long moment, I simply watched him. His chest rose and fell in steady breaths. His hair was slightly disheveled. I had rarely seen him look so… human. So vulnerable.My hand moved to my
Isabel’s POVDarkness crept at the edges of my vision, but I clung to consciousness as if it were a lifeline. On the cold floor of Emerson’s study, the thud of my fall still echoed faintly in my ears. The world was already slipping away. The last thing I felt before giving in was the warmth of his arms wrapping around me.“Isa!” Emerson’s voice cracked, raw with panic. His hold was tight, almost crushing. As though his sheer will could tether me to him, to this moment.I managed to keep my eyes half-open, though my limbs felt like lead. Through the haze, I could see his face above mine, pale with fear. His lips moved, frantic, as he barked an order over his shoulder.“Marianne! Call the family doctor! Now!”The pounding of feet, the sound of something falling in the distance—all of it blurred together in my mind. Emerson’s voice came back, softer, trembling as he murmured against my hair. “You’ll be okay, Isa. Hold on. Please… don’t scare me like this.”I wanted to answer him, to tel
Isabel’s POVThe air between us felt heavy, laden with the weight of unspoken fears. Emerson sat across from me, his brow furrowed in discomfort. His initial reaction to my plea had been resistance, but I wasn’t about to back down. My chest ached with the need to protect my son—to secure his future. Even if it meant pleading with the one man I swore I’d never rely on again."I need your promise, Emerson," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me."If anything happens to me, you'll take care of Liam. You'll protect him at all costs."His brows furrowed in resistance. "Isabel, why are you even talking like this? Nothing is going to happen to you. I won’t let it."I crossed my arms, the weight of my secret pressing harder than ever. The surgery had been delayed time and time again. And even though it was coming soon, there was a chance I wouldn’t survive. But I could never tell Emerson that. He would freak out and control me even more than he already did."You don’t k
Isabel’s POV“Sure. Come on in,” he said gently. I followed Emerson into his study with a resolute heart. My breath was steady despite the pounding in my chest. The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the crisp rustle of papers. I was a little startled to find another presence in the room. Behind Emerson, standing silently against the desk, was Caleb. His gaze flicked up, a hint of unease in his eyes. It was evident he had been in the middle of a serious conversation with Emerson. My sudden arrival had clearly thrown off whatever plans they were discussing.“Am I interrupting something?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Don’t worry. We’ll catch up later,” Caleb said with a half-smirk before silently slipping out of the room, leaving just Emerson and me. The door clicked shut, and the tension in the room thickened in an instant. My heart pounded as I met Emerson’s gaze. I took a deep breath, feeling the gravity of everything I was about to say sink d