Ryan’s POV I stood at the altar, waiting for Isabella to walk down the aisle. The grand ballroom was filled with prestigious guests, including governors, business associates, and family members. The orchestra played softly in the background, setting the tone for what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.But little did I know, my happiness was about to be shattered.As the priest asked if anyone objected to our union, Levi emerged from the crowd, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I do," he said, his voice dripping with malice.The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Levi. "I have reason to believe that Isabella is not the woman she claims to be," he said, his eyes locked on mine.I felt a surge of anger, but I remained calm. "That's not true," I said, defending Isabella. "She's an amazing woman, and I love her."Levi sneered. "Really? Then why did she sleep with me last night?"The room gasped, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Isabella's face turned bri
Cario’s pov)I watched as Isabella's life fell apart, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I had provided the video footage that Levi and Mia had manipulated, and now Isabella's reputation was in tatters.I knew I had made a mistake, but I had been blinded by Mia's promises of wealth and power. I had let my ambition cloud my judgment, and now I was paying the price.As I saw Isabella struggle to rebuild her life, I knew I had to make things right. I started by trying to gather evidence to prove that Mia and Levi had manipulated the video.But as I dug deeper, I realized that I was in over my head. Mia and Levi were powerful, and they would stop at nothing to keep their secrets safe.One day, I saw Isabella walking across campus, looking lost and alone. I followed her, wanting to make sure she was okay.She ducked into the school's bathroom, and I hesitated for a moment before following her. I didn't want to intrude on her private moment, but I had to make sure she was safe.As
Isabella's POV.I lost every bit of patience I had left inside of me. I organized for Cario and I to meet so she could hand over the evidence that could clear my name but she was nowhere to be found. I kept on refreshing my phone as I hoped that I would see a text message or a missed call from Cario, but nothing of that sort happened.If Cario doesn't understand what it means to have courtesy demands then I wasn't going to be like her. I scrolled through my phone and I dialed her number but the phone rang countlessly without her picking it up, then the call was hung up.“Where the hell is that excuse of a girl? she invited me out but I'm here before her, isn't it so funny?” I muttered to myself as I sighed out loudly.Anger and frustration resonated inside of me and I halted up abruptly to my feet as I grabbed my bag. I was about to leave when a second thought crossed through my head. I needed to exercise patience because the proof of evidence was needed to prove my innocence to Ryan a
Isabella's pov contd “Easy does it, Cario. I just asked a question” I let out.“It's okay Isa, I'm perfectly fine now. The thing here is I don't know the name of my boss and I hope I won't be labelled as a bad employee because of that” Cario aired out. II was stunned at first then confusion swooped inside of my head.“Aren't you weird Cario. I mean who wouldn't know the name of his or her boss and to guess that you are his personal assistant?” I asked.“It's not like I don't know the name of my boss but I always forget it”“You are really weird, Cario. Why would you forget the name of your boss?” I asked Insistly. It's a long traditional name. I mean, he said his grandmother gave him the name so I always address him as sir instead of adding his name to it” Cario explained and I nodded at her.“Anyways, let's forget about his name, once you are fully settled in the office. You can invite me to your office. I would love to see your new place of work”I suggested as she smiled at me wit
Mia's POV.I heard the doorbell ring but I was too lazy to get up from my bed especially when I knew that I wasn't expecting any visitors in my house. After a lot of hesitance, I finally stood up from my bed and walked downstairs.Once again, the doorbell sound filled my ears and I balled my hand into a fist. I knew it could only be the delivery guy, he always behaved in a very weird way. He was always impatient and it irritated me.“Don't you know how to exercise some patience?. You blockhead” I cursed out as I twisted the knob of the door open and pulled it forcibly towards me but then I was taken aback by who stood in front of me.Ryan.I gulped hard as my eyes widened at him. His presence was a shock to me, a surprise I didn't know I needed.“Ryan. How come you are here? I mean you didn't inform me that you are coming. I would have prepared myself for you” I voiced out with a shaky tone.“You don't need to prepare yourself for me Mia but it seems I am an unexpected guest so I will
Mia's pov contd“What's wrong Ryan? you looked disturbed all of a sudden?” I asked.“Yes Mia, I'm disturbed. I won't lie to you but I don't like the way Isabella says such bad things about you” he said.“What did she say?” I pronounced.“Earlier today before I came here. She told me she had the proof of her innocence, she kept insisting that you and Levi planned all of that to tarnish her name and break off our wedding” he explained.“And then what happened?” I asked.“She showed me the proof but the flash drive was empty” he replied.“That is how Isabella has been. I can bet you she didn't have any proof. she just wanted you to at least give her some attention she craved for” I replied, knowing fully well Isabella was right about the proof she had against I and Levi but before Cairo took it to her. I made sure to delete everything from the flash drive so whatever Cairo was holding onto was empty but she had no idea.It was funny enough to think that the two of them thought they could
Cairo's POV.I thought I would finish my presentation early but I couldn't and I needed to see Isabella. I promised to take her out for fine dining and she texted me that she was on her way to the location.I was already dressed and I stood in front of my locked door as I hurried downstairs to see the private car I hired waiting for me. I quickly hoped inside the car, I couldn't afford to be late again and disappoint Isabella like before.I was ready to show her how much I cared and loved her. If no one was going to stand by her, I was going to do so and I would make sure she forgot her pain through me.The ride to the location seemed very long and I was impatient because I needed to find out the good news Isabella had for me, that Levi and Mia had been exposed and her relationship with Ryan was back once again.I looked outside the window as I felt the cold breeze blow against my skin and I closed my eyes not knowing I drifted off to sleep.“Hello ma'am we are here” I heard a voice sa
Mia's POV.The doorbell rang once again as fear gripped my heart. I wondered who could be there at the door.“Mia” I heard a familiar voice call out and it belonged to Levi. I was taken back and beyond stunned, why was he at my door without informing me?“Ryan you need to hide” I said as Ryan frowned at me.“Why do I need to hide Mia? I'm not a little child,” he replied with a cold tone and I let out a loud sigh then I cupped his cheeks in my hands.“I know you aren't a little child but Levi is at the door and I can't risk him seeing us together, at least not now. You know your wedding just got called off” I explained, with the hopes that Ryan was going to understand.“Yeah you are right about that. I didn't even think that far” he replied and I chuckled.“So now, do you agree that I'm the wise one here?” I teased and he rolled his eyes at him.“You wish”, he answered back and I hugged him tightly then I kissed his forehead.“Where should I hide?” he questioned.“Just go upstairs and h
Isabella's POV.I stood behind the reception desk as I tried to clean it. I have been working all day and it was already getting tiring, I didn't even have the time to rest but it didn't bother me much when I knew that once I was done with the reception, my work would be over and I would finally get to go home and get some rest.I finished cleaning and I was about to go back into the main hall when I felt someone behind me. I turned to see who it was as my eyes met his and my heart skipped a beat.It was Declan but what the fuck was he doing here in my place of work? I know I didn't give him directions to my workplace, so how did he find it? I didn't need to stress myself about all that because Declan had become a private investigator who goes around spying on me whenever he wanted to.He smiled at me and I felt a flutter in my chest. I wouldn't lie that of lately, I have found myself thinking about him often as I wondered if I would ever see him again but here he was now, and right i
Ryan's pov contd“I will forgive you because you are sounding so sweet. Just make me feel good like a woman again. I guess you know what I mean by that” she whispered and I looked down at her to see a mix of mischief settled in her eyes.I knew I was more than ready for what would happen next between us. She removed her body from mine as she walked further into the living room and I couldn't help but notice how she was drawing me into her temptation. The way she moved her hips as it swayed to each step she took. It was a good sight to behold and I was mesmerized. She stopped in front of the sofa and turned to face me as her eyes sparkled with excitement.I knew exactly what she was doing to me and I had already fallen for her seductive moves. “So what is the next step we are taking Ryan?” I took a step closer to her as my eyes were locked on hers. I could feel the tension and the anticipation building up.“What do you want to happen now?” I asked with a low and sultry voice. I coul
Ryan's POV.I stood outside Mia's door. I had been standing in one position for so long and I kept on hesitating if I should knock on the door or not. In that moment, my head had so many thoughts and ideas lingered inside of it and I was confused on which one I had to listen to.Earlier on I didn't think much about it but now, I couldn't help but wonder if I made a mistake by coming here due to the way Mia stormed out of my house angrily. Probably I should just turn around and leave? What if she didn't want to see me? and what if she was still angry at me? How do I cope with all of that? Her anger was no joke after all.I wanted to turn back but something deep inside of me stirred up and I knew I couldn't just resist the urge to be near her when I have been thinking about her all day. After a whole lot of contemplation. My fingers finally found the doorbell and I pressed on it repeatedly as the sound echoed through the silence.“It’s you again! I thought I told you to leave me the f
Levi's pov“If Mia doesn't want to be with me anymore then I am not going to force her to do so. Because that isn't love but toxicity and obsession, which is extremely bad. If I force her to be with me, I will be hurting her” I lashed out and my mum also stood up to her feet, challenging me.“You are talking about love right? Don't you dare talk about love to me. We sent you into Mia's life to trick her into falling in love with you but just take a good look at you, everything backfired in your face. She became the woman who tricked you into falling in love with her. She got into your head and now you are acting like a lovesick fool” my mum expressed in a harsh tone and I balled my hands into fists, clenching them tightly beside me.“You can talk to me in whatever tone you want mum but don't talk about Mia like that” I warned.“If you don't want me to talk about her like that then grow some guts. You have to fucking grow it Levi, because if you don't do something about this matter we h
Levi's POV.I stared at the untouched coffee in front of me as my mother's voice resonated in my ears. “Levi?” my mum called out my name, bringing me out of my thinking phase and I turned to look at her.“Yes mum” I answered.“Have you spoken to your girlfriend lately?” “What girlfriend are you talking about mum?”“Are you really serious? Don't act as though you don't understand what I'm saying to you. Why would you even ask me such a question? Who is your girlfriend, isn't she Mia Genovese?” my mum asked and I chuckled at her words.My stomach clenched tightly inside of my body and I knew much earlier that this day would finally come and play right in front of my face. The moment I agreed to have lunch with my parents in the same house, I should have known that they weren't after family bonding like the usual family would do. I noticed the way my dad folded his newspaper and kept it aside then he looked at me straight into the eyes. “One of the reasons why we called you here is be
Ryan's POV.I was seated in the living room and the entrance door swung open as I watched Isabella step inside the house. She didn't notice me at first or maybe she just pretended not to notice me, she can always be guilty of that. I crossed my arms as she shut the door behind her. “Where are you coming from?” I asked as my voice interrupted the silence that erred in the air. She stopped in her tracks, then she turned to look at me. For a moment, she just stared at me with her unreadable eyes and then before I could blink. I noticed her moving towards me and she stood in front of me. She was too close to me and he began to have an effect on me. I inhaled the sweetness of her usual familiar vanilla perfume. She rose on her toes and her face was barely an inch away from mine, just as if she was about to kiss me and my heart pounded in my chest. But then she smiled, I wasn't expecting her to smile at me. “None of your fucking business” she whispered and her breath was warm against my
Ryan's POV.I leaned against the edge of the bed as I folded my arms across my chest. My eyes were locked on Cairo and and I couldn't stop staring at her because I felt as though she had completely lost her mind.“Cairo, are you fully aware that we could have talked downstairs? So why did you want us to come into one of the rooms?” I asked and she closed the door behind her with a soft jam.She walked towards me and her heels clicked against the cold tiles as she smiled at me. “It's because whatever message I have to give to you is important and I had to rush to you immediately. I got the chance to,” she replied with a low voice.“Is there a problem at the office?” I asked as I felt bothered and I needed to hear her answer in order to quench my curiosity.She didn't respond to me immediately. Instead she just stood still and stared straight into my eyes, making me feel more nervous than ever.“Cairo, can you please speak up and not just look at me like that” I snapped at her and she d
Ryan's POV.“Grandma” I screamed and I rushed downstairs, towards her then I knelt down beside her. I picked up her body and placed it in my arms as I tapped her cheeks trying to revive her.“Grandma. Please wake up, you know you can't fucking do this to me. I need you more than ever” I begged and she opened her eyes slowly then she shut them again.“I told you I wasn't immortal right?” she said in a voice that was audible enough but I had to strain my ears just to hear her.She tried to speak but then she began to breathe heavily as she struggled with herself. I didn't know what to do, if I should take her to the hospital or just wait for the family doctor’s arrival. The doctor said he was close by so I expected that he was going to reach here soon enough. But if I decide to take her to the hospital, we might arrive late because the hospital is far from the house and what if she doesn't make it?I shook my head as I removed such thoughts out of it. I wasn't meant to be thinking abou
Isabella pov's condI stared hard at him. He always looked so sure, like he would carry the world on his shoulders and he wouldn't even flinch while doing that. And a part of me just wanted to let go of everything but I couldn't. At least not yet. When I was still hiding the truth from him.“Very good Declan. You have to stay with me for a long time, because I think I will need someone to forcibly feed me my medicines for a while”“Then it's a deal between us” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The nurses checked on me before leaving and the doctor said I would be discharged the next day because I was still placed under observation and there were a lot of samples and medical tests they were to carry on me.Visiting hours had ended but Declan sat beside me as though he belonged here. Like there was nowhere else he would rather be and maybe for the first time in a long time. I would let myself believe that someone would want to stay just for me.“Are you cold?” he asked as he noticed the way I curled my f