Masuk~Isabel POV~The ride back to the Sterling mansion felt agonizingly slow, and my mind was a chaotic storm of runaway thoughts.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those shoes sitting by the door, if Juliana saw them, she would know without a doubt that a woman had been in William’s room, it wouldn't take much for her to realize that woman was me, his own step-sister. I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white, wondering what I would even do if she began to suspect the truth. I supposed I would have to find out tonight at the gala.I finally drove up to the gate, and the sensors triggered the heavy black iron to slide open immediately as they felt the tires of my car. I desperately wanted to stop thinking about William. I tried to tell myself that maybe I was wrong, that he wasn't just using me to get information about my mom or whatever, but the logic was hard to ignore. How could he ever truly trust me or even like me when he was busy suspecting my own mother and having her
~Isabel~ “I have to go. Shit!” I hissed out loud, the words echoed in William’s bedroom as the reality of the time finally crashed down on me. I rushed into the bathroom, the cold water splashing against my face as I tried to scrub away the lingering haze of sleep and the warmth of the night before. I dashed back out, my movements faster as I snatched my clothes from the sofa. Within thirty minutes, I was dressed and ready to leave, but my escape was stalled at the door. I headed toward the door and could hear voices, though I couldn't pick out the exact words. Bored and restless, I paced the room impatiently. Why was she here? I kept wondering. What is their relationship? Juliana met him at the office yesterday and spent her break time with him. What could be so important that she had to come to his house? The fact that she even knew where his private residence was felt concerning, especially since I had only found out myself last night. “Never mind, Isabel. D
~Isabel~“Jax is sweet and funny,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. “He’s my new friend. He’s been really helpful at the office.”I heard him snort, he turned around and sat on the stool opposite mine. He began pouring the wine into two glasses, his eyes fixed on the dark liquid. “Men are always sweet when they meet a very beautiful woman, Isabel. Don't be naive.”He looked at me then, his gaze serious and intense.“Like you’re being now?” I asked jokingly. I watched his eyes, Those whiskey-colored depths darkened for a moment, the heat in them flaring up, he didn't answer, Instead, he passed me a glass of wine, his expression unreadable.“Drink,” he said, ignoring my sarcasm.I took the glass and took a sip. It was sweet and sharp, the alcohol hitting the back of my throat and warming my chest. I liked the feeling, so I took another long drink until the glass was empty, I set it back on the table with a soft clink.“Careful,” he said, watching me. “You need to eat, not just
~Isabel POV~“What? Like you’ve never lied to her before?” William asked, cocking his head to the side and giving me a dirty smirk.I felt a laugh bubble up in my chest. I couldn't help it. I shook my head, my eyes lingering on the sharp line of his jaw. “Okay, okay. You win. Oh, William, you really are the greatest temptation in my life.” Dipping my hands into my bag, I brought out my phone.I called my mom and told her I wouldn't be coming home tonight. I told her I had to take care of my sick friend. She was fine with it, but she gave me one condition: I should invite Chloe over after she gets better. I accepted.“Done!” I said after cutting the call. He nodded just once and entered his car, gesturing for me to follow him.Just like that? I thought. Shouldn’t he be showing some excitement? I rolled my eyes and stomped over to my car, the heels of my shoes clicking loudly on the pavement. I started the engine and trailed behind him, my headlights reflecting off the back of his c
~Isabel~“Maybe he has something he needs to find out about,” Jax said, his voice cutting through the fog in my head.I just kept watching them through the glass of the restaurant. My mind was spinning, was this about the maid? It didn't feel right, hiring a private investigator felt like bringing a cannon to a knife fight. It was too much. There had to be something else moving in the shadows, something William wasn't telling me.I watched as they shook hands. It was a quick, firm motion, Mr. Henry Clark climbed into his car, the engine turning over with a low growl before he pulled away into the city traffic. William stood perfectly straight, his shoulders broad under his black shirt. He looked around, his head turning slowly as if he could sense eyes on him.When his gaze swung toward the restaurant, I looked down at my plate immediately, focusing on the last bit of my lunch like it was the most interesting thing in the world. My face felt hot.It felt like he saw me, even thou
~Isabel~I followed Juliana down the long, bright hallways of the executive wing. The air here felt different, colder, and more expensive. Every few feet, we passed another row of glass offices where people in tailored suits paused their conversations to watch us walk by. I could feel their eyes tracking me, moving from my face down to my shoes and back up again.In that moment, I sent a silent prayer of thanks to my mother. If I had walked in here wearing my old, thrifted blazer with the slightly frayed sleeves, I would have felt like a stray cat in a ballroom. Juliana would have torn me to pieces before I even reached my desk, but the milky dress fit perfectly, and my heels gave me a steady, confident click on the polished floors.She stopped abruptly in front of a door with a plaque that read: ‘Sterling-Vane Legals’ Juliana pushed the door open and marched in, her pink suit a sharp contrast to the grey and white of the office. I followed her, my breath caught as the door h







