SARAHWhen I opened the door, a maid stood in front of me. She wasn’t one of the regulars I had gotten used to seeing around here. This one looked unfamiliar—too unfamiliar for my comfort. Her eyes darted around nervously, and she didn’t meet my gaze directly.“Mr. Marco is at the party,” she said, her voice soft but firm, “and he’s requesting your attendance.”I blinked, stunned. Had I heard that right? Marco had been clear—so clear that his words echoed in my mind. “Stay put. Don’t leave your room”. The message had been firm, almost like a command. And now, this maid was here telling me the exact opposite? Something didn’t add up. I narrowed my eyes at her, trying to gauge if she was joking, but she looked dead serious.“Wait… What?” I said, my tone laced with confusion. “Marco asked for me? You’re sure?”“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Marco requested you,” she repeated, as if I hadn’t heard her the first time. “And… I think he’s getting tired of waiting.”Her words lingered, unsettling me. I bit
SARAHI stood there, staring at Isabella, feeling my pulse race with irritation. Of all the people I didn’t want to deal with tonight, she was at the top of the list. Her smug expression made my skin crawl, and I knew she was hoping to get a rise out of me. But not tonight. I wasn’t about to let her win.“How did you manage to beg your way into another one of Marco’s parties?” I shot back, keeping my voice steady, trying to sound as bored as possible. “You’d think after the last time you’d be done embarrassing yourself. But I guess that’s your thing now, huh?”Isabella’s smile faltered for a split second, and I saw the flash of anger in her eyes. It was quick, but it was there. She wasn’t expecting me to push back like that. I felt a flicker of satisfaction. Good. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.“I don’t beg, sweetie,” Isabella said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Marco and I… we have history. I don’t expect someone like you to understand.”I crossed my arms, ref
SARAHIsabella’s voice cut through the air like a siren, shrill and demanding attention. I had tried to ignore her, hoping that if I kept my distance, she would just burn herself out and leave. But it was becoming impossible. The more she yelled, the more people began to stare. Eyes started to turn, and I could feel the weight of them falling on me. I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms as I tried to block her out.“Where is it?” she screamed again, her voice rising to a near hysterical pitch. “I know I had it with me! Someone must’ve stolen it!”I glanced over my shoulder, watching as Isabella frantically searched through her bag again, her fingers shaking. Her perfectly styled hair was now a mess as she pushed it out of her face, desperation written all over her. It was almost… entertaining. I fought back the urge to smirk.“You sure you didn’t leave it at home, Isabella?” I muttered under my breath, but it wasn’t low enough. Danzo must have caught it because he turned his head slightl
SARAHIt happened so fast. One of the servants moved my pillow, and there it was—Isabella’s prized jewel, glinting in the dim light. My heart dropped into my stomach.“What the—” I froze, my mind racing. No. No, this can’t be happening. How? I didn’t put that there. This doesn’t make sense.For a second, I couldn’t speak. All I could do was stare at the shiny, expensive object in front of me like it was a bomb about to go off. I could feel the eyes of the people behind me burning into my back. The whispers started immediately.“This is… this is impossible,” I muttered, my voice barely audible. I shook my head, backing away from the bed, the sight of the jewelry making me dizzy. “No, I didn’t… I didn’t take this. I swear, I didn’t.”I looked around frantically, my vision blurring as I tried to make sense of what was happening. Panic set in. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. How did this even get here?Just then, I saw Isabella step forward, her expression twisted into something dark an
SARAHI could see Isabella’s face shift the moment Marco spoke. It was subtle, but I caught it—the way her smile faltered just for a split second before she quickly regained her composure.“Marco,” she said, her voice suddenly softer, a fake tremor in it as if she was on the verge of tears. “I don’t think you understand what’s happened here.” She glanced around the room, making sure everyone was still watching her. “I found out my jewelry was missing. My priceless piece, the one my grandmother gave me. And... I panicked.” She placed a hand over her heart, like she was trying to steady herself. “I had no choice but to check with everyone in the room. It was stolen, Marco.”She looked at him then, her eyes wide, shimmering with unshed tears that I knew were nothing but an act. “When I realized it was gone, I felt... violated. Unsafe.” Her voice cracked for added effect. “And then... to find it in Sarah’s possession? I just don’t know how to feel. I’m hurt, Marco. I feel betrayed.”She w
SARAHI stood frozen, the accusation hanging heavy in the air, Marco’s words still echoing in my ears. Isabella set me up? It felt surreal, like I wasn’t fully there. My eyes darted around the room, and all I saw were shocked expressions. No one moved. Everyone stared at Marco as he stood, calm and collected, accusing Isabella of something so… unthinkable.“This is ridiculous,” Isabella hissed, her voice sharp and venomous. “What are you even talking about, Marco?”She looked around the room, clearly trying to find someone—anyone—who would back her up. But all eyes were still on Marco, waiting. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my skin hot and tight like it was burning up from the inside. Isabella, the jewelry, this entire situation—it was spiraling out of control.“You paid someone,” Marco said coldly, “to lure Sarah out of her room with a false message that I needed to see her. Meanwhile, you planted your jewelry under her pillow.” He paused, his gaze hardening as he locke
SARAHThe TV flickered on, and the room fell silent. All eyes turned to the screen as the image sharpened into focus. There was Isabella, pacing in what looked like one of the mansion’s empty rooms. She was talking to someone, but the figure was hooded, their face completely obscured. The audio wasn’t great, but it was enough. I could make out fragments, little pieces of their conversation that were more than enough to send chills down my spine.“… Sarah… nuisance…” Isabella’s voice was crystal clear. Her tone was mocking, like she was enjoying every bit of what she was planning. She laughed, a nasty little giggle that sent a sick feeling swirling in my stomach.The hooded figure leaned in, whispering something that wasn’t entirely clear, but I caught the words, “…jab at her… easy to frame…”Isabella snickered again. “She’ll never see it coming,” she said, her voice dripping with glee. “This party will be unforgettable… for her.”I stood frozen, my eyes wide in shock. How could she? M
SARAHAs I sat on the edge of the bed in Marco's room, I found it hard to pull my eyes away from him. My mind was still racing from everything that had happened earlier, the adrenaline slowly wearing off, but now, instead of focusing on the chaos of the night, all I could think about was Marco. How effortlessly cool and calm he had been when he stood up for me. He had exposed Isabella’s lies without hesitation, and for the first time in a long while, I felt protected. I watched him move from the counter to the bookshelf, his presence filling the room. Every motion was purposeful, and I couldn’t help but let my eyes linger. He looked different to me now—more than just the man I was forced to marry. He was... something else. Someone I couldn’t quite figure out. My heart beat faster, and I swallowed, suddenly aware of the way my gaze followed him.And then, he turned to me, catching me completely off guard."Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked, his voice teasing. His lips cur