ISABELLA I stretched, feeling the warmth of the bed and the softness of the blankets. As I sat up, I noticed a note on the bedside table. It was from her, written in her familiar handwriting."Good morning, sleepyhead," the note read. I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. I folded the note and tucked it into my pocket, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. I couldn't wait to see her again and continue where we left off.I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes, trying to shake off the haze of sleep. As I looked around, I realized I was in my own room, surrounded by familiar walls and furniture. But as I thought back to the previous night, I couldn't quite piece together how I had ended up there.I vaguely remembered watching movies with her, laughing and snuggling on the couch, and then... nothing. My memories seemed to fade away, leaving me with a puzzled expression.I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, planting my feet firmly on the ground. I stoo
ZADE I didn't want to be doing this. The words hung in my mind like a reluctant confession. Whatever "this" was, it felt like a burden, a weight I carried with each passing moment.The reluctance seeped into my bones, making every step feel like a chore. I trudged along, driven by obligation rather than desire. The thought of continuing down this path filled me with a sense of dread, a feeling that I was trapped in a life that wasn't mine.As I stood there, frozen in the moment, my gaze became inexorably drawn to Isabella, her presence radiating an otherworldly aura that seemed to command my attention, and it was her eyes that truly captured me, those beautiful, shimmering orbs of light that sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight, holding me spellbound in their mesmerizing depths, as if the very essence of her being was distilled into those two glittering pools of blue, inviting me to lose myself in their tranquil beauty."My heart heavy with resistance, I felt the weight of duty set
ISABELLA The dinner was super awkward, and we barely said a word to each other. The only sound was our spoons clinking against the plates, which was kinda weird. But honestly, it was better than trying to make small talk and having an uncomfortable conversation. The whole vibe was just really tense, and I was feeling pretty uneasy. Sam attempted to break the silence, clearly uncomfortable with the quiet atmosphere. “Bella, have you settled in okay?” he asked, and I initially responded with just a nod. But when my mom shot me a warning glance, I knew I needed to play along. “Yes, Sam, thanks for asking,” I said with a hint of sarcasm, almost rolling my eyes in annoyance. Zade remained silent throughout dinner, not even bothering to glance my way. He just kept eating, his expression unreadable. My mom picked up on his unusual mood and tried to break the ice. “Zade, are you enjoying your dinner?” She was clearly proud of the effort she'd put into cooking. But Zade didn't even l
ISABELLA As I quickly moved away from Zade, a wave of embarrassment washed over me. I couldn't help but hope that my mom hadn't witnessed the exchange, or worse, that she wasn't jumping to any conclusions. Panic began to set in as I thought about how she'd react - she'd be furious, and I'd have to apologize profusely. My mind was racing with different scenarios, but before I could process any of it, my mom's next words cut through my thoughts."Oh, Bella and Zade, it seems like you guys are getting along quite well," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I realized I must have misread the situation earlier, and I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding. Zade didn't seem fazed by the situation before my mom spoke . I wondered if he thought it was normal to have a romantic relationship with his step-sister. Did he not consider the potential consequences or the unconventional nature of their relationship? Or was he simply c
ISABELLA My heart sank as I turned to face Zade, his gaze piercing through me. I felt a wave of mortification wash over me, and I wished the earth would swallow me whole to escape his intense stare.He stood there, looking like he'd just stepped out of a shower, water droplets cascading down his chiselled chest from his damp hair.I couldn't help but feel like I was trapped in a rom-com, with Zade as the ridiculously handsome leading man. The kind of guy who makes your heart skip a beat just by being in the same room.His face was etched with annoyance, and I scrambled to come up with a plan to defuse the situation, desperately searching for an escape route from this awkward confrontation.I stuttered out an apology, feeling like a total jerk. "I’m sorry, I was actually looking for you to, uh, ask for a favour." Yeah, I was a horrible liar, and as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I sounded super sketchy. But weirdly, I felt like he was actually buying it, which only made me f
ISABELLA The silence in the house was deafening, and I couldn't help but wonder where everyone was.I glanced around cautiously, ensuring I wasn't being followed, before making my way stealthily to the room I suspected belonged to Sam.Honestly, finding my way around this massive house was a total pain. It was like, a never-ending maze, and I was getting super frustrated trying to locate Sam's room.My instincts screamed that this was Sam's room. The door stood out - it was the largest I'd seen so far, and there was something enigmatic about it. I couldn't explain why, but everything about it felt off, and I was convinced that this was the room I was searching for.Just as I was about to enter, my phone's shrill ringtone pierced the air, freezing me in my tracks. I muttered a curse under my breath as I glanced at the screen to see who was calling at such an inconvenient time.The sight of Ariana's name on my screen slightly cleared the fog from my mind. I hesitated for a moment, wond
ISABELLA "What?!" I exclaimed, my cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and embarrassment as I met his teasing gaze.He took a step closer, his face bending down towards mine, his warm breath caressing my skin. "You heard me right, mi Tesoro," he whispered, his voice low and husky. For a fleeting moment, I found myself lost in the depths of his perfect brown eyes, my heart skipping a beat.The memory of that night lingered, and for a moment, I wished we could relive it. But I quickly pushed the thought aside. "How many times have I warned you not to call me that?" I tried to sound stern as I shifted back, creating some distance between us. The movement helped to clear my head, which had been clouded by the intoxicating scent of his cologne that had filled my nostrils."You know I can't stop," he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he took another step closer. I reactively brought my hand up, palm facing outward, as if to physically halt his approach. "Don't come any close
ISABELLA "Is everything okay?" my mom asked, noticing my reaction as I stared at my phone. "Uh, no...nothing, Mom," I stuttered, trying to brush it off. "Just Ariana telling me some gossip about someone."She totally bought it - why wouldn't she? There was no reason for her to suspect that the person I was talking to was her own stepson. I felt a pang of guilt for even thinking of him that way; it was a harsh reminder that our world was indeed very small."Shall we get packing?" my mom asked, and before I knew it, we were done. She had packed enough for an eternity, despite insisting it was just a weekend getaway. "You never know what you might need," she always said, but I couldn't help but tease her about preparing for a permanent relocation.As the chauffeur swung open the door, I stepped out onto the driveway and was immediately struck by the grandeur of the building before me. The mansion loomed above, its towering spires and turrets reaching toward the sky like giant's fists.
ISABELLAMy mom rushed into my room in an instant, her eyes frantically scanning the space to see what could have triggered my sudden, ear-piercing scream."Why did you scream like that?" My mom asked, her arms crossed over her chest, her brow furrowed in concern, but also with a hint of annoyance, as if she was already defensive, anticipating that whatever I was about to say would be something she didn't want to hear."Come see," I said, my eyes locked on hers, watching for her reaction as I gestured for her to come closer.She hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, her eyes scanning the computer screen, and when she saw the picture, her expression changed, her eyes widening in shock.The room fell silent, the tension palpable, before my mom finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly."How recent is this picture?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the screen, her tone laced with a mix of shock, concern, and a hint of fear.I quickly checked the information and replied to her al