LOGIN“Who… who are you?” Isabella asked, fear tightening her chest. She looked down at the hand gripping her wrist. It was deathly cold, as if she were being held by a corpse, yet his grip was like iron. She tried to wrench her arm away. “Let… let go of me!” She struggled with everything she had, but the man didn't budge. He just stood there, staring at her with hollow, frozen eyes. “Are you crazy?!” Isabella finally snapped, her panic turning into frustration. She scanned the hallway, but it was eerily silent. Not a soul was in sight. The emptiness made her heart race even faster. “Help! Someone help me! I’m being kidnapped!” she screamed. The man ignored her cries. Instead, he leaned forward and roughly shoved the fabric off her right shoulder. His eyes widened as they landed on a small tattoo of a crown. “I never expected you to be alive… let alone survive,” he said, his voice raspy and thin. Alive? Survive? Isabella’s mind whirled. What is he talking about? “You’re coming
Isabella stared at the massive shopping mall, her mind racing. What are we doing here? she wondered. Before she could make sense of it, a guard pulled open the car door, waiting. "Go with the guards and get yourself some new clothes," Tavian said, his voice flat. Isabella blinked in surprise."Huh?" Has he really brought her here just to shop?. For a fleeting second, she wondered if she’d misjudged him—maybe there was a shred of kindness under that cold exterior. But his next words shattered that thought instantly. "I don't want you looking like a disgrace," Tavian added, his eyes never leaving the window. "You're an embarrassment like that." The small spark of hope in Isabella’s chest died. She felt a sharp sting of humiliation, her face heating up. She was a fool to think he cared. If anything, he was crueler than she imagined.She gave a stiff, silent nod. "Use your words," he snapped. Isabella swallowed hard. "Yes, Mr. Tavian," she whispered. She climbed out of the
Isabella could hear the door of the bedroom opening and closing. "Madam, it is time for breakfast," Joy said as she walked forward and pushed the curtains aside, allowing the sunlight to seep in. Isabella could only hiss and groan as she struggled to sit up.When she finally did, she saw Joy standing in front of the bed, her arms behind her back with a smile. But just by looking at Isabella, Joy noticed her tired eyes."Are you okay, Madam?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Isabella was beyond tired; she was mentally drained. All through last night, she hadn’t been able to sleep, her eyes stuck on the door. She feared that the moment she closed them, Tavian would walk in and do the unthinkable to her. After all, for a man who could kill without batting an eye, he could definitely do worse to a living person like her. It was only in the early morning that she finally fell asleep, which made her eyes feel so heavy."I didn't get enough sleep last night," she simply said.
Isabella sat perched on the edge of the bed, her gaze following Joy’s frantic pacing. The maid’s feet drummed a restless rhythm against the floorboards. "Madam, you should have been more careful," Joy muttered, shaking her head sharply. "No... I should have warned you about the young Miss." She continued her restless trek, the constant motion blurring into a dizzying haze for Isabella. Isabella squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady the room. "Can you please stop? You’re making my head spin." Joy snapped to a halt, nodding submissively. When Isabella opened her eyes, the anxiety radiating from the maid hadn't faded; if anything, it had deepened."Why are you so terrified?" Isabella asked softly. "It’s been confirmed that she’s fine." "Oh, no, Madam. You don’t understand. If she reports this to the Boss, the consequences will be grave. He does not joke when it comes to his sister. The last person who offended her... they simply vanished. Wiped away as if they never existed.
As the car pulled into the Crowne Mansion, Isabella’s mind was a storm of fear. Everything finally clicked: the secret passages, the effortless way Tavian had committed murder without a flicker of remorse, the constant wall of bodyguards. She was married to the head of the country’s most powerful Mafia family. "Madam, we are here," the driver said, pulling her from her thoughts. Another guard snapped the door open for her. Isabella hesitated, the weight of her discovery making every gesture of service feel like a threat. The sun was dipping below the horizon, bleeding gold and violet across the sky. She sighed, wishing she were the sun—rising and setting in a simple cycle, free from the crushing secrets of the Crowne family. Shaking off the thought, she walked into the mansion. Inside, Princess sat in the center of the vast living room, her eyes glued to a phone that looked more like a piece of jewelry than a device. It was a limited-edition holographic sapphire handset, featuring
"So, the usual restaurant?" Isabella asked as soon as they left the office. "What?! No!" Heaven shouted suddenly, without meaning to. Isabella jumped, startled by the outburst. "Is something wrong? Why did you react like that?" Isabella asked worriedly. "Ermm," Heaven paused and cleared her throat. "We go to that restaurant all the time. Why don't we try somewhere new this time?" Heaven didn't want to go back there. She knew Jeremie knew the place, and she wanted to avoid crossing paths with him. It was better to stay away as she didn't want to risk seeing him. "Well, even so, you didn't have to react like that," Isabella said, folding her arms. Heaven nodded in agreement. She stepped forward, took Isabella’s hand, and smiled. "Come on, I know a new restaurant that’s becoming famous for its unique food. We should see if it’s actually good." That seemed to convince Isabella. She nodded, and they started to walk away, but the bodyguard who had brought Isabella blocked thei







