CHAPTER 4

HIS CURSE; HER BLESSING

 

 (Isla’s POV)

The chriping sound of the birds woke me up from my  sleep.

I barely slept after meeting with Sebastian. His words ringed in my mind, each laced with a warning I couldn’t ignore. 

I had known stepping into the Seedorf family wouldn’t be easy, but I hadn’t expected to be threatened within the first twenty-four hours.

Still, I wasn’t going anywhere.

I dressed quickly, choosing a simple outfit, and stepped out of my room. 

The Seedorf estate was awfully quiet, its grand hallways echoing with nothing but my footsteps.

I knew where I had to go.

Ethan’s study.

If I was going to get through to him, I had to do it now—before anyone else poisoned his mind further.

As I reached the heavy wooden doors, I stopped for a few minutes before pushing them open.

Ethan sat behind an big desk, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the top buttons undone. 

His sharp features were darkened by the morning light streaming through the windows. He barely looked up, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his wheelchair.

"You’re persistent, I should give you that," he murmured, not bothering to greet me.

I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. "And you’re still pretending you don’t care."

I saw the look on his eyes and how he quicky wanted to believe me but then it had dissolved before I got any closer to him. 

"If you came here to waste my time, I suggest you leave."

I stepped closer, meeting his gaze head-on. "I came here to tell you that you don’t have time to waste."

His fingers stilled.

I knew I had his attention now.

"I don’t need to remind you what’s happening, Ethan," I continued. "Your company is under attack. Your enemies think you’re weak. Even your own brother—"

His jaw tightened.

I knew I’d struck a nerve.

"Sebastian came to see me last night," I said carefully. "He made it very clear that he doesn’t think you’ll last much longer."

Ethan exhaled slowly, his gaze met mine. "What did he say?"

I hesitated.

He must have seen the flicker of uncertainty in my eyes because his expression hardened. "Tell me, Isla."

I swallowed. "He said you’re a dead man walking."

The room became silenced and neither of us talked, I could feel his anger as he had his head bent in sorrow. 

Then, without warning, Ethan let out a low, humorless laugh.

"I should have known," he muttered. "Sebastian’s always been waiting for an opportunity to sink his claws deeper into the company."

I took another step forward. "Then don’t let him. Let me help you."

His expression remained unreadable. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

I met his gaze, unwavering. "By making you walk again."

For the first time, I saw something in his eyes. Like he was beginning to hope everything I claimed, said, was true 

"You’re serious about this," he murmured, more to himself than to me.

"I am."

He looked at me in silence, his  gaze assessing every inch of me. Then, he leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "Fine," he said at last. "You have one month."

My heart skipped a beat. "One month?"

"If you don’t show me results by then," his voice dropped, dangerously quiet, "you’ll regret ever making me hope again."

A shiver ran down my spine.

But I refused to back down.

"I don’t need a month," I said firmly. "You’ll see results sooner than that."

Ethan held my gaze for a long moment before finally nodding. "Then we have a deal."

—

The rest of the day passed in a jiffy.

I spent hours researching, gathering everything I needed. I didn’t just believe Ethan could walk again—I knew it. But convincing him was only half the battle.

The real challenge was ensuring no one else got in the way.

I had barely finished my notes when a sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

I frowned.

Before I could answer, the door swung open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

My sister.

Lena Carter.

She stood there, dressed in designer from head to toe, her long dark hair styled to perfection.

 A smirk curled on her lips, her gaze filled with amusement as she scanned the room.

"Well, well," she drawled. "It looks like our little outcast has settled in nicely."

I stiffened. "What are you doing here?"

She let out a soft laugh. "What? No warm welcome for your dear sister?"

I clenched my fists. "You lost the right to call yourself my sister the moment you threw me to the wolves."

Lena tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Come now, Isla. That’s not fair. You took my place, remember?"

My face burned with anger, but I forced myself to stay calm. "You didn’t want this marriage, Lena. You made that very clear."

Her smirk widened. "Oh, I didn’t want it then."

The air turned suffocating.

I took a slow breath. "What are you trying to say?"

Lena stepped closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. "I made a mistake."

My pulse pounded.

She leaned in, her breath warm against my ear.

"And I’m here to take back what’s mine."

The words slammed into me like a physical blow.

I pulled back, my heart racing. "You’re insane."

She only smiled. "Am I?"

"Lena, this marriage is already arranged. You can’t just—"

"Don’t be naïve, Isla," she cut me off, her voice filled with amusement. "You really think Ethan will choose you over me?"

My stomach twisted.

She saw it. And she laughed.

"You’re nothing, Isla," she whispered. "A replacement. A placeholder. The moment I tell Ethan the truth, he’ll realize who he really belongs with."

I forced myself to meet her gaze. "You’re wrong."

Her smile didn’t waver. "We’ll see."

And with that, she turned around and walked out, leaving me standing there, not sure of what was going on. 

I clenched my fists, forcing down the wave of panic rising in my chest.

Lena thought she could take Ethan from me.

She thought I was weak.

She thought I would break.

But she had underestimated me.

I wasn’t going to let her win.

Not now.

Not ever.