A Dead End

Isabella'S POV

Lilith didn’t move. She stood there, blocking my path. Her sharp hazel eyes staring at me, as if daring me to react. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. “You’re pathetic,” she said, her voice low and mocking. “No wonder Simon got bored. You’re weak, Isabella. A nobody.”

“Move,” I hissed, my voice filled with both anger and despair. I had just given away everything to the worst monsters on earth. The sweat and blood of my father, all down the drain. “Or what?” she said, stepping closer. “What are you going to do? Cry? Throw a tantrum? Face it, you’ve already lost.”

My hand shot out before I could stop myself, and I shoved her back. “Get out of my way!” Lilith stumbled but caught herself, her smirk only becoming wider. “Touched a nerve, did I?”

“Enough!” Simon’s voice cut through the room. His expression was cold as he slipped the signed papers into an envelope. “You two are going to ruin everything,” he said, glaring at Lilith before turning his attention to me. “Isabella, don’t make this harder for yourself.”

I glared at him, my body shaking with rage. “Harder? You’ve taken everything from me. What more do you want?”

“Control,” Lilith said, walking past me to stand beside Simon. “And we have it now. So, be a good girl and go entertain your guests before you embarrass yourself even more.”

“You think this is over?” I screamed. “I’ll fight this. I’ll expose both of you.”

Simon laughed; the laugh was cold, mocking me, and it made my stomach drop. “Expose us? With what? Your word against mine? Against the photos, the evidence? No one will believe you.” I took a slow step forward. “I don’t care what it takes. I’ll find a way to make you pay.”

Simon’s expression darkened and his amused smile fell. “Don’t test me, Isabella. You signed the papers. It’s done.” Lilith smirked, leaning closer. “He’s right. You’ve lost. Now, go play the perfect hostess before someone starts asking questions.” My breathing became shallow, and hot tears slipped down my cheeks. But I couldn’t think straight. The photos, the lies, the betrayal—it was all too much. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes, and I turned to leave. I felt defeated.

“You always run,” Lilith said from behind me. Her tone was mocking. I froze, my fists clenching again, and it felt like any control I might’ve had was out the window. “You’re a coward, Isabella,” she continued. “Just like you were when you let that body rot. What was her name? Oh, right. Maggie.”

My breath hitched in my throat. “What did you just say?” I whispered, turning around slowly. Lilith’s smirk widened, happy to see me react. “You heard me.” Fury exploded in me, and I charged at her, shoving her hard. “Don’t you dare say her name!”

She stumbled back, her heel catching on the edge of the coffee table. Her arms tried to hold onto something as she lost her balance. “Isabella!” Simon shouted, but it was too late. Lilith fell, her head hitting the corner of the table with a loud sound.

Time seemed to stop. She lay motionless on the floor, her eyes half-open, and blood began to pour from her temple. “Lilith ?” Simon rushed to her side, shaking her. “Lilith !” I stepped back, my hands shaking. “I… I didn’t mean to—”

“You killed her!” Simon yelled, his voice a mixture of panic and anger. “No, I didn’t,” I stammered, my mind racing. “It was an accident. She—she provoked me!”

“She’s dead, Isabella!” he shouted, his green eyes full of fury. I stepped back, my chest heaving. “It wasn’t my fault. You saw what happened. You—”

“I saw you push her,” Simon said, his voice suddenly calm, cold. Too calm. “And now, you’re going to pay for it.”

“What are you talking about?” I whispered, goosebumps rising throughout my body. He stood slowly, pulling out his phone. “The police will believe me. The grieving husband. The evidence was already bad enough, but now? You’ve given me exactly what I needed.”

“No…” I shook my head; the room felt like it was spinning around me. “You can’t do this.”

“Oh, I can,” he said, standing up from Lilith ’s side. “You’ll go down for this, Isabella. Murder, embezzlement—it’s over for you.” I backed away, my heart pounding. “Simon, please. You know it wasn’t like that. You know—”

“Save it,” he snapped. “Run if you want. It’ll only make you look guiltier.”

I stared at Lilith ’s dead body, my mind screaming at me to move, to do something. But I couldn’t think.

Then from afar, I began to hear the sounds of a siren blaring in the distance.

“You hear that?” Simon said, his tone mocking. “They’re coming for you.” My legs finally moved, carrying me toward the door.

“Run, Isabella,” Simon called after me. “Run as fast as you can.”

I didn’t stop to think. My legs carried me out of the living room and into the hallway; I became breathless, breathing in heavy gasps.

The sound of laughter and music from the party grew louder as I approached the grand staircase. My chest tightened. They can’t know. They can’t see me like this. Heads turned and guests gasped as I tumbled down the stairs, barefoot, holding the railing to keep from falling.

“Isabella?” someone called, but I couldn’t stop. I pushed open the back door and ran outside; the night was cold. Beyond the garden was the forest, a dark, thick mass of trees that bordered the estate. My only chance.

Barefoot, I sprinted across the grass, the sharp edges of rocks and branches cutting into my feet. I didn’t care. I reached the edge of the forest and into the darkness, the trees swallowing me whole. Then I heard it. Footsteps. Simon’s men.

“Find her!” someone shouted. In front of me was a cliff, and below it… a river. 

My breath caught in my throat, and my chest pounded. Everything around me seemed to be swirling. My legs felt like jelly as I stumbled to the edge of the cliff.

It was a dead end.