Italy

Isabella'S POV

It was a dead end.

I could feel my heartbeat pounding against my ears as I glanced back at the raging river below; it was as if it was waiting for me, waiting to swallow me whole. “She went that way!” I heard one of Simon’s men yell from the forest. 

No, this can’t be happening. Is this how it ends?

The sharp brightness of flashlights cut through the darkness, and I could now see multiple silhouettes coming towards me; I could hear my ears buzzing from absolute terror. Then I saw the figure I was way too familiar with. Simon.

“It ends here, Isabella….” He said, stepping closer, his eyes showed no emotion, no pity, no fear. “Isn’t it perfect? The heiress of Monroe Enterprises dies a tragic death; her loving husband inherits her wealth.” His voice was cold. Had he planned this all along, planned to end my life?

“D-don’t do this….” I barely managed to say everything I wanted to say; it was stuck in my throat. “Please.” I pleaded.

"Don't?" Simon's eyes darkened, and the amused smirk on his face fell. "Don't?" He chuckled, but there was no humor in his laugh; he took another step closer.

"You killed Lilith," he said, his tone sharp and accusing. "My wife of eight years. You killed her, and now you beg for mercy?"

"It was an accident!" I shouted, my voice breaking. "I didn't mean to—she fell!"

"Save your excuses," Simon said coldly. "You killed her, Isabella. And now it's your turn."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "Please... you know I didn't mean it. It wasn't my fault!" A deeper part of me knew I was pleading to a wall; I knew it was inevitable.

His eyes darkened. "It doesn't matter anymore." He motioned to his men as he took two steps back. "Do it."

“No!” I screamed, but the sound of the gunshot drowned out my voice. I felt it immediately—the searing pain in my shoulder, hot and sharp. My body jerked from the force, and my vision blurred as I clutched at the wound. Blood poured through my fingers.

I stumbled; I felt the world spinning around me. It was a type of pain I’ve never felt before; the ground beneath me crumbled, and I lost balance.

"Goodbye, Isabella," Simon said, his voice cold and distant; he didn’t even wait to see me fall. He turned around and began to walk away. I looked at his retreating back, my breath hitching as his figure blurred. His dark silhouette, the light behind him, and...

The forest green eyes I had once fallen head over heels for were now the eyes that looked at me with no ounce of emotion as I fell to my death.

The wind rushed past me as my body fell with force. And I saw it, what it was like to see your life flash through your eyes. Then I saw Maggie; I saw blood; I saw the smile she had on her face the last time I saw her alive.

It can’t be like this. The impact of the cold river swallowing my body hit me like a brick wall. I can’t die, not like this. The memory of Simon’s back as he left me to die flashed through my mind. I have to live for revenge, for justice. This can’t be the end. 

And then, darkness followed, consuming me.

***

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The sounds in my ears were faint and distant; it felt like a lucid dream. The sound grew louder, until it became the only thing I could hear. I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn’t, and my body was motionless. Am I dead?

My hand twitched; there was no cold, no wetness, no river….

Slowly, and painfully, I forced my eyes open, the brightness overwhelming. White. Everything was white. The ceiling above me was a harsh, sterile white, too bright to focus on. I squinted, my head throbbing, trying to piece together what had happened. The beeping continued. My chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

Sounds of footsteps made me turn my head, and it felt almost impossible to do so. A nurse stood beside me, wearing a white uniform; her face was a blur. She had dark hair tied back in a neat bun. She moved quickly, checking my vitals and adjusting something by the side of the bed.

My heart pounded in my chest. Where was I? What was happening? I should be dead. I should be—

The nurse turned toward me, her face with a kind smile, and she spoke. “Mi scusi, signora. Come stai?” she asked, her tone calm and professional.

I blinked at her, confusion rushing through me. The words didn’t make sense. I didn’t understand. “What?” I managed to croak. My throat was dry.

She smiled gently, as if reassuring me. “Mi scusi. Dove ti fa male?” she asked, her accent thick, but I only furrowed my brows.

The memories flooded. Simon’s betrayal, Lilith ’s death, and then…. I was shot. The day of my birthday and anniversary, everything returned. “How…?” The nurse didn’t answer right away, her expression turning into one of realization. She pointed to a machine beside me, a small IV attached to my arm. 

She then walked away, stopping at the other wall before she returned with a calendar in her hand. My eyes squinted as I tried to understand the date marked. My heart fell, February 15th. That was the date on the calendar.

How could it be? My birthday, my anniversary, the day I was shot…. It all happened six months ago? My gaze turned to the nurse as I tried to get my words out. “W-where am I?” I croaked out, hoping she would understand my words.

“Italia,” she said with a smile as she poured some water in a glass. Her words made my brows furrow. What is she trying to say? Italia... My eyes widened in realization as I tried to sit up.

I’m in Italy?!