YSABELLEBefore I could run to the twin’s position, Ronan suddenly appeared, sprinting to the kids while holding a gun.A sigh of relief escaped from me before my sight went blurry.I felt the commotion around me while I tried not to lose my focus in standing up to get to the kids.But I felt lifted in the air. Based on the scent, it's Ronan. He carried me in his arms as he ran. I could feel his heavy breathing and the loud beating of his heart in his chest the same as mine.Worries and fear lingered inside of me.“T-The twins?” I asked with trembling hands.“They’re fine and are now inside the house.”“I wanna see them–”“You need to be treated first.”I closed my eyes and leaned my head on his chest, feeling the loud heartbeat as I held in the pain in my back.I know I was shot and I'm losing my consciousness.“It hurts,” I whimpered under my heavy breathing.“The doctor is coming, love. Please, don’t close your eyes...”Even though he pleaded, and I could feel the worries in his to
YSABELLEA morning came and I woke up without Ronan around me. He might be preparing my breakfast since I still could not stand alone.My arm was the one that was hurt, but my legs seemed weak to move. I only sighed as I stared at the bedside table where my handbag was.I remember the phone that I found in my father's bedroom and the hospital.Was it really my aunt who wanted me dead?I'm worried about Cleo and Jessica if they find out we are suspecting their mother.Speaking of, I haven't talked with Cleo after the shootout in the mansion. I saw her when I woke up but I never got a chance to have a conversation with her.The same goes for her mother.I hope Paul and his accomplices will be caught to make all of this over. I get even more frightened every time Paul attacks when I'm with the kids. I'm afraid they might get involved in the trouble of the elders.Just then, the door suddenly opened and my face brightened to see the twins running to my bed, carrying something in their han
RONAN “Mr. Cortez has an alibi that he's not the one who drove the car that night.”The amount of fury that I’m feeling right now is more spilling than it used to be as soon as I heard the chief of police regarding the case of Mr. Cortez.“Did you confirm it?”“Yes, Mr. Volkov.”I shut my eyes in rage.“Find the real murderer and put the name of Mr. Cortez out of this mess.”I throw my phone on the couch as I run my hands on my face, frustrated that why does it have to be Mr. Cortez’s car of all people?Someone must be framing him.The company's in shambles. No wonder Susan Cortez is not here.“If he's not the killer of Shaine… who is it then?” I confusedly questioned myself and then the face of Paul flashed in my mind. “That bastard Paul?”How did he even get hold of Mr. Cortez’s car? With the help of Belle’s aunt? Don't tell me that was really true.Jeez!Just having those thoughts was really a pain in the ass.If Mr. Cortez is framed, and then someone close to him is backstabbing
RONAN “I'm asking where you were?” I repeated as Cleo stood still in front of me, not showing any emotions on her face.“Don't give my daughter that tone, Volkov.” Belle’s aunt came out of nowhere as if she'd just been here all along.She glared at me intently as if she wanted to cut my tongue for raising my voice on her daughter.My jaw clenched at the two. She wants to protect her daughter from my yell but doesn't care about Belle and the kids, who are more in danger than her daughter.I guess she's only after the company and nothing else.I looked away to ease my tension.“Belle is missing and I'm speculating Paul took her,” I said as I looked around. “First the shootout with two gunmen and now the abduction. Was this place really not secure, Cortez? Or maybe someone is letting the enemies behind our back.”I looked at them as Mrs. Cortez's face turned red, and raging eyes shot into mine.“Are you accusing us?” She growled as she took a step towards me.“Why? Did I hit the right s
YSABELLE I was back to my consciousness when I felt the cold concrete floor under me and winced at the pain in my back.I groaned as I tried to reach my wound and felt a sticky liquid dripping down my back.It's obviously bleeding.I open my eyes and notice the darkness inside the room. “Hello?”I slowly sat up as fear delved into me while looking around and just remembered that the male nurse had taken me.“Damn it.”With heavy breathing, I endured the pain in my back and attempted to stand up. I use the wall to help me lean my uninjured arm to get my balance.Now what?How can I leave this place?There's only one door and two windows. I'm sure that's securely locked. But there is no furniture to use for breaking the window glass. I don't even have the strength to do so.I sat down back on the floor. I need to rest and prepare for the worst later.Seriously? I was abducted from my own property? What were the security guards doing and letting that bastard enter the premises without
YSABELLE My eyes widened to see Cleo, and I could not believe her sudden appearance. I looked at Paul and Cleo again, trying to understand the situation I was in.“Cleo? What… What are you doing?”Is she… the person…who helped Paul?She gestured to Paul to exit the room. As soon as he left, she sat on an empty stool and crossed her legs, unbothered.“It's payback time.”I confusedly glared at her. “What do you mean? Let me go, please!” I exclaimed in rage as I tried to get my wrists out from these handcuffs behind me.My arms are getting numb, and I think I'm losing energy because of the blood dripping out from my back.“I'm afraid I can't.” Cleo’s tone changed, which made me take aback. “It took me a year to plan this out, and you want me to stop this? Don't make me laugh.”A year?Did she plan this out for a year?For what purpose? I don't remember doing something horrible to her except making her babysit my kids while Ronan and I were busy with the issues in our lives.“I don'
YSABELLE Paul strides inside the room and puts unconscious Jessica on the cold floor. Rage ran in my veins to see her not responding even if she was placed in an uncomfortable place.“Cleo!” I yelled at her, who only scrunched her nose in irritation. “I'm not deaf, bitch.”“What have you done to her?!”“Ask her yourself. I'm tired of explaining.” She turned her back on me.“She’s your fucking twin sister–!”She halted in her trance and quiet for seconds before letting out a sigh.“I have to go. I still need to help Ronan to find you.” Was the only thing she said before completely closing the door.I scoffed at how terrible sister Cleo was. Jessica is her twin sister! She's a family! So, why did she include her own family in her psychotic plan?I slowly approached Jessica and lay down next to her. I'm glad she's still breathing normally, but I noticed how skinnier she was than before. “What did they do to you?”***I instantly woke up when someone was torturing my wound on my back
RONAN“Why can't we go out? I need to go to Paris!”Belle’s aunt hysterically yelled in my face.“It's part of the investigation.” I simply said and turned my back on her.“Why would I be part of the investigation?”I stopped at her tone.She's so eager to get out of here just to go to Paris and take care of the company. She's not making sense in the part that she will continue her duty rather than look for the rest of the members of the family.Jessica and Belle.Especially Jessica, who's her daughter by blood.I turned to her with a frown all over my face. “Are you really not worried about your niece?”Her jaw clenched as she looked away. She crossed her arms on her chest as she anxiously walked back and forth inside the living room.“Follow their protocol, or I will mark you as the prime suspect in her disappearance.” “Screw you, Volkov.” She gritted her teeth as she curled her hands into fists.My jaw clenched in irritation. “Why do you hate me so much?” She scoffed. “You're a