ISABELLA’S POVI strode around the house, taking in every beautiful art lined up the hallway. Every stroke was detailed; I hummed as a smile graced my lips. We had a few unpacking tasks, and Alaric had left for work, so I had just a few sightseeing tasks before making a dish for us. It would feel so good to cook in this exquisite kitchen. I followed the path that led to the room, visiting each. There were ten rooms, but one was the biggest, which I presumed to be the Main bedroom. Living in a huge house gave me a sense of freedom. My phone vibrated against my jeans pocket, and I pulled it out to stare at the Doctor’s number. The same man who had saved my life the day I got into that accident and lost my baby.Weird how he didn't judge me when I informed him I was now back with Alaric after he noticed the ring on my finger.“If it makes you happy, child.” He had said.I knew he had to be the right one to tell me what drug it was. Luckily, Alaric had an important business to attend to,
ISABELLA’S POVThe drive back home was strangely relaxing, possibly because of my stress. Did I find this fun? Yes. Would I repeat it? No.Alaric’s face also showed fatigue, and all I wanted was to go home to a hot meal and a warm bath.Suddenly, I heard our car screech as a car swerved right in front of us, causing Alaric and me to bounce forward. A black Benz car was now sitting in front of us, unmoving. The owner didn't seem bothered enough to get down. I could feel my heart pounding so fast as the memory of the night I had lost my baby flashed through my mind.“Are you hurt?” Alaric asked, searching my face and body, and I shook my head in response.I watched him grit his teeth before storming out of the car to knock on the window. I don’t know what transfixed, but he stood like that for about a minute or two, and by the time he got back into the car, his expression had changed, and he wasn't saying anything. He drove around the car, whose tinted glasses were wound up, so I could
THIRD PERSON’S POVA part of her wanted to turn his proposal down because there was barely enough time to get the perfect dress and prepare. But deep down, she knew the time was ticking, and she might never be prepared to if she didn't do it now. She had searched through all the rows of dresses in the third shop today but found nothing that fit. Given that Alaric was having his suit checked out wherever he was, she had no one to ask. They had both agreed not to see one another’s outfits before the right time. She had no friends. No one to make this day more special than it was. She would have asked Enzo, but he was a man. She was disgruntled as she threw the last piece on the sofa before sinking into it, her face in her palms. Tears stung her eyelids. Mireille would have been thrilled if she was here.Enzo could see her from outside the boutique and near the car, and the inside was visible. He was contemplating going in to ask her what was wrong when his phone rang, and he picked u
ISABELLA’S POVMy ringtone sliced through my sleep, and I grunted, my eyes still closed, as I searched the bed for my phone. Alaric’s arms were still wrapped around me.“Hello,” I said sleepily.“There is a problem, Miss Isabella. All the paintings are missing.” I heard the CEO’s voice penetrate the air, and I sat up in a startle.My heart started racing.“What do you mean, sir?” I asked, my hands shaking.“All the clients called. The paintings they got at the last auction were all stolen. Somehow, someone broke into their homes and went away with them. Three of them who tried to fight back are in the hospital. They are accusing the company of scamming them. You need to figure out what is going on, Isabella.” He sounded annoyed.I gulped down a lump of saliva in shock, and even after the call ended, I was still staring blankly at the space.How? How the hell was that possible?In a second, I dashed from the bed and straight into the restroom. I tried to be as fast as possible, and soo
ALARIC’S POVSomeone was banging on the hospital door, which sounded like my wife’s voice. Fuck! I told her to stay in the car. Guess I should have dropped her home first. My brain was just too clouded by anger to think clearly. Some other voices were audible, too, but I couldn't care less because I wasn't leaving here without the needed information. Either that or I would sue the police for wrongly detaining her.I could see the fear of this man. He looked like he was in his forties, but hell hath no fury like a man in love because he would do anything to protect his wife.“You claim my wife attacked you. I need to see the evidence.” I seethed and watched him clutch onto his bedside.“Being here is enough evidence. What more do you need?” He scorned, and I closed the space between us in a rage, grabbing him by the neck. I heard him choke. I watched him plead. I watched as blood slowly drained from his face. This rage fueled every core of me. I had witnessed my wife at her lowest, sc
THIRD PERSON’S POVHe was tied up and dropped in a small wooden box, twice his age. Alaric was crying, yelling and pleading for mercy. The box opened, and a strong arm reached in. He tapped his mouth before grabbing his neck.“Die!!!” The voice yelled, and he gasped to reality with a scream. His heart was pounding so fast. His eyes darted round the familiar room, and it dawned on him that he wasn't seven anymore. He was 30 now. He was breathing so heavily while holding onto a small palm that he looked beside him only to see her resting her head on the edge of his bed. A slightly wet towel was now on his lap. His head was starting to ache, and he knew the best way to cure it with alcohol, just like always. This was a nightmare he thought he had overcome. Slowly, he carried her and put her on the bed; after covering her small frame with the duvet, he headed downstairs. She was still putting on the outfit from yesterday. Dragging in the air with every step he took.He poured himself s
ALARIC’S POVThe call he had awaited forever finally came through the next morning. His words last night kept playing in his mind as he drove them to the station. Isabella didnt make a mention of it, but he was curious to know what she thought of him right now. “About last night… I’m sorry I burdened you.” He let out. Conversation was the key, right?“I’m not burdened, Alaric. If nothing, I’m glad you deemed me fit to share that part of you.” Her tone was warm, and he could tell she meant it. They said nothing until they pulled up in the building, and he watched her freeze. “What are we doing here?” Her voice cracked.“I have a surprise for you, " he said as he walked over to her and held her hand. Her heart was pounding so loudly against her ribcage as they walked through the passway. She could imagine them coming to take her away. However, they stopped in front of two men.“Do you know these men, Mrs Wolfe?” A uniformed man questioned. Isabella looked at the two men dressed in s
ISABELLA’S POVIn the blink of an eye, ten days had passed. Days filled with laughter, love, unending compassion, and many dramas. The paintings were retrieved, and my name cleared. I even got an apology from the CEO.I also learnt about Alaric’s love for slow music and his carefree side. Knowing how much sacrifice he would make for me was almost amazing. Alaric was my light on the rough, dark road. He was the only one who truly believed in me and fought for me during those times. Seeing how love could really change someone like Alaric into who he was now was remarkable. But I didn't blame him for how he became; his father was nothing but a monster, and he had grown up believing he had to be that way, too. My heart ached terribly as I stood in line, a ticket in hand and my suitcase in another. Alaric had left to attend to some work emergency. A dark cloud loomed over my heart as I wished I could stretch the day longer than 24 hours to spend more time with him. I had branched Mireille
ALARIC’S POVIsabella walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hand with a napkin while a smile curled the tips of her lips.“You didn’t tell me you were coming.” She pointed out while he closed the gap between them, placed his palm on her shoulder, and then trailed it down to hold her palm. Something glistened in his eyes, and it only came on when he saw her.“I heard about the incident.” He started. “Are you okay?” The news carried it? How come I didn’t know that? I had ordered Henry to keep it low, but I could see that was impossible given how the criminal was a dangerous one. The police had said that it would unravel a long chain of crime and we might have to lay low for a while, although I didn’t tell Isabella about that yet cause I didn’t want to scare her or let it affect the competence of her job. Besides, I had lived and breathed danger all my life; I was almost immune to it at this point, so nothing fazed me. Nothing except losing her, so all I needed to do was keep her safe.
ALARIC’S POVEver since she hugged me at the hospital, all I have wanted was to feel her again, her naked body against mine. And heaven knows how hard I tried to get past the hospital days and not fuck her brain out right there with my Doctor nearby. That was what her presence did to me. Every single time I saw her, my brain would fry into toast.So the moment we got to her place, I knew I had to make the first step, and that was why I stepped out half naked, demanding soap; then, when I noticed her control wall breaking, I put the last plan in action. Get too close for comfort and seduce her.I knew she couldn't restrict my body.Until she did.She was standing here laughing aloud as she munched on her pizza while watching a movie I couldn't even make out. She hasn't sent me a glance since she handed me the soap and left me in front of her room.What was I doing wrong?I couldn't help but ask myself.Had I become so undesirable? Was her love confession only because of guilt? Or to
ISABELLA’S POV“Thank you.” Alaric’s mother said as we sat outside the hospital door. Her hands were firmly on her lap.“What for?” She blinked. “For saving my son, " she finally said after a moment of silence, and I only got more confused.“He saved me,” I explained, and then I watched her slowly raise her head, her eyes tender again.“No, Isabella. You saved him from becoming a shadow of himself by taking him back.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and next, her palms found mine. “I’m so sorry about how I treated you all those years. I have no excuse for what I did, but I hope you can forgive me.” Her eyes were glistening with tears now.But it was my choice. I was the one to go through the pain and live with it, so I slowly snatched back my hands.“I can't assure you that.” With that, I stood up and returned to Alaric’s side.Henry and he looked up at me. They had stopped talking.“I’m glad you both are okay,” Henry announced with relief. “We have to leave now. We will come b
THIRD PERSON’S POVThe Doctor told her he had gotten out of danger, but he was yet to wake up, so all she could do was sit beside his bed, holding his hand and weeping and blaming herself for not thinking this through in the first place. Maybe it was ill-fated, just like her stepmother had said. Perhaps that was why her parents had abandoned her. That could be the reason her best friend was dead, too. Maybe she needed to run away from the world and hide somewhere she wouldn’t be able to cause harm to anyone.“You have to wake up, husband. Please.” She sniffed back a tear. “I can't leave without you too.” Her heart clenched tightly as she sobbed. She had lost everyone. He was her last family. And she doubted that she could survive another loss. It was just too hurtful.Her tears drenched his hand, her face against it. It felt cold, so cold that she feared that he was gone. Hours ticked by, yet nothing happened, and even when the doctor told her to head home and come back the next day,
ISABELLA’S POVWhen I confronted him to turn himself in so he could heal from the guilt, I thought my words would touch him and finally give my late best friend some peace. After all, only a man ready to change would go through the stress of clearing his late GF’s lawn. I figured he probably needed a boost.But instead, he held a knife against my throat after I threatened to call the cops myself.“You should have died back then.” His voice was rough and cold. It lacked all forms of humanity.My heart started to beat so fast as I looked around for help. The neighbor rushed out, screaming that she had dialed the cops and they were on their way here, probably hoping to scare him. But it didn’t. Instead, something wet and very hot slipped down my legs.The metallic feel of the knife was still cold against my skin.“You don't know what you just got yourself into, Miss. I advise you to go in there and tell them it is a fucking prank so I kill her!” He yelled, his other arm wrapped around my
ALARIC’S POVIf Isabella had planned to frustrate me, then she had done a good job because I couldn't help but feel so dumb as I stared back at the report Henry had sent two days after. The man from earlier was just a cab man.Fuck!Blame her for toying with me.Now, I couldn't help but wonder why she lied. Was it because she despised me so much? A strange feeling shimmered between my skin as I got dressed, my nerves unsettling because now all I wanted was to confront her and demand an answer. I wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding, too. She probably hated me because she thought I abandoned her. Maybe that was why she was with that guy from the other day, to spite me. I have yet to find out his name, but once I do, I will have everything about him sent to him, and then I will find his most profound weakness and threaten him with that.Anything to get those leeches off the love of my life.Suddenly, my phone rang, and I pulled it out to see her name spread across my screen. Ta
THIRD PERSON’S POVIt was on a Tuesday. Isabella had called Rex to ask if he knew who the company’s CEO was before he recommended him to her, and his response had shocked her to the bone.“He wouldn't stop pestering me. I’m so sorry I didn't give you a heads-up. He showed up at my home for days, standing under the snow and half-freezing, to get me to hear what he had to say. I just had to give in. It was either that or the police come visiting to retrieve his body.” He had paused. “He seems to regret his mistake, Isabel. I think you should give that poor man a chance, too. We all make mistakes, after all.” And that had made her laugh. Alaric wasn't a poor, innocent man. He was a manipulative jerk who knew how to get what he wanted.But never her.Now, it made her wonder if he had chosen about a thirty-minute drive away from the start of Durango for his company on purpose. Had it been in a bid to get close to her?She was sitting at the table, files spread right in front of her, along
THIRD PERSON’S POVMonday drew nearer than she thought it would, and yet she didn’t turn down their offer. Every time she wanted to, she would remember Mireille’s wordsLive for us.So here she was, sitting at the long oak table after spending about an hour choosing the right outfit: a fitted cream blouse tucked into high-waisted navy trousers, her hair swept neatly in a low bun. On her way in, she noticed how boring the building looked, passing across information that it lacked life. The secretary had informed her that the boss would be here soon, so she waited impatiently, and soon, the door opened behind her.“Good day…” Her words slurred the second she turned around and saw Alaric. He was dressed in a tailored black three-piece suit that looked like it was made just for him. The white shirt underneath was crisp, clean, and ironed, and the black tie was knotted to almost perfection.Almost because she had been the one to make his tie previously.“Miss Phoenix. Welcome to Stonebrid
ISABELLA’S POVI stood tall in the grand hall with crystal chandeliers hanging low, their light hovering around the wall and painting it in beautiful strokes. The tables were draped in velvet clothes with a sculptured piece in the middle. A week had passed, and finally, I was learning to live again. The hall swarmed with people dressed elegantly. Kelvin offered to come with me, but I refused because I didn’t want any spotlight. From where I was, I could see some teenagers sitting, and most of them looked nervous. It took me back to memory lane—the first time I was in a competition like this, too. Mireille.“You made it. I was starting to think you would change your mind. What do you think of Florida?” Rex said as he stepped in front of me.You don’t want to know.I mumbled under my breath, then flashed him a smile.“It’s nice.” I half lied when in actual reality, I just wanted to get the fuck out of there. It reminded me too much of my best friend, and breathing had become tedious.