~ ISLA ~We were already back in the car, and I didn’t much care where Alistair was taking me. My mind was still processing the marriage certificate I had held in my hands a while ago—too stunned to say a word.My fingers kept brushing against my empty palms, as if trying to convince myself that what had just happened was real.I am Mrs. Montgomery now.The thought alone was enough to make my stomach twist and turn.I threw Alistair a glance. He was focused on the road, looking so unbothered and calm—as if he hadn’t just tied me to him legally for life. Did he think marriage was just a game?Yes, I had finally broken free from my family’s manipulation. But now, I was bound to someone far scarier.“What’s with that sour look? Aren’t you happy that I’m your husband now?”His voice rang through the small space. The tone was low, but it made me shudder in my seat.My mouth twitched at his arrogant statement while I fidgeted with my fingers, forcing myself to meet his eyes.It was as if he
~ ISLA ~I finally wrapped up my rounds, but my head wasn’t clear at all. The scene from earlier clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake off. Elise’s trembling voice, Simon’s cold, cutting tone—it all kept replaying no matter how hard I tried to focus on my patients.“Abort it.”Those two words had been so sharp and final. How could someone say that so easily? Even if he didn’t want Elise, even if he hated her, what did the child do wrong?I couldn’t help but feel uneasy every time I remembered her tear-streaked face. I simply couldn’t believe Dr. Simon would ever do such a thing.I shook my head, forcing myself to push the thoughts aside. It wasn’t my place to interfere anyway. I didn’t belong in their mess.Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket.Alistair: I’m outside. Come down.I sighed, staring at the screen for a moment longer. I was too busy thinking about other people’s lives when I couldn’t even sort out my own. My world was already tangled enough, and now Alistair was ty
~ ISLA ~I still couldn’t shake the dominant side of Alistair from last night out of my head. Up until this morning, the tension and uneasiness lingered—especially when he said, “Prepare your household registration.”He wasn’t joking. He never said anything he didn’t mean. Which meant… he was really going to marry me.The pen in my hand paused halfway through a chart. My mind refused to move forward. Thousands of questions flooded through me.Why would he do that? He could have let me go. He could have chosen Liana—she was the perfect match for him, wasn’t she? Beautiful, well-bred, the kind of woman who belonged by his side. And the woman he once loved deeply.So why me?After thinking hard, a horrible thought hit me.Unless… unless this was about revenge. Maybe marrying me was just another way to crush my sister. It made sense, didn’t it? I’d just be a convenient pawn.Dread shrouded me entirely. If I was thinking correctly, I may have just become another pawn—one far more ruthless
~ ALISTAIR ~The morning light cut across the desk in a hard strip.My coffee had gone cold hours ago, but the taste didn’t matter. There were bigger problems to tidy up than that. People who thought they could play with my company, with my life, with what was mine—they needed a reminder of the cost.Evan reported the recent activities from overnight. The ghost contractor had already been seized by my men and was just waiting for my jurisdiction. The bastard had just been lurking here in New York all this while.What a fool. They truly underestimated what I was capable of. Now he would get a taste of how I punish those who dare to cross me.Secondly, I was satisfied with how Evan dealt with the Carters. They would surely learn their lesson well enough not to open their mouths again. However, the real culprit was still waving her tail proudly.But not for long.“Bring her in,” I told Evan, who had been waiting for my order at the side.He made a quick call, and a few moments later the
~ ISLA ~“What are you doing in my bedroom?”The words slipped out before I could stop them.Alistair turned his head slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips as if to tell me I had said something ridiculous. His fingers kept working the buttons of his shirt, deliberate and unhurried.“Your bedroom?” His tone dripped with amusement, but his eyes were sharp. “This is the master’s bedroom, Isla. Why wouldn’t I come here?”Heat rushed to my cheeks, my stomach twisting.Master’s bedroom? Why hadn’t Charles said anything earlier? I had actually assumed this entire lavish chamber was meant for me alone.Mortification burned through me as he peeled off his shirt and tossed it casually onto a nearby chair.His perfectly toned muscles came into view. I quickly tore my eyes away, but my stupid gaze had already caught the way his chest and shoulders gleamed under the soft light, broad and sculpted like they were meticulously carved.I couldn’t help but gulp hard as my throat went dry all of a sudden.
~ ISLA ~After office hours, we finally set off from the company.I had been so bored while staying inside for nearly four hours. I almost planned on slipping away, but under his watchful eyes, I didn’t dare. Alistair had just shown me how capable he really was. It was better not to provoke him—otherwise, I would be dead meat.We were already on the busy highway, and I thought we would drive straight to Montgomery’s mansion.But instead of taking the usual turn, the car kept heading downtown, and confusion crept in as I wondered where he was taking me this time.The city lights blurred past until the car finally slowed and descended into the underground garage of a towering six-storey building in Tribeca.My brows furrowed. What are we doing here?Inside the huge garage, rows of luxurious cars—different brands and models—filled the space. There must have been thirty or more vehicles in total.“Where… are we?” I asked at last, my voice tentative.Alistair only threw me a quick glance a