Isabella As I made my way through the corridors, the heated voices outside reached my ears. Damien and my father, Emilio, were at it again. I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease knowing that they were arguing over my safety, over me. It was a constant battle between the two men who held such significant places in my life, yet seemed worlds apart in their beliefs and methods.I paused, leaning against the wall, feeling torn between the two. Damien, my husband, was determined to protect me at all costs, even if it meant facing dangerous adversaries head-on. His love for me was unwavering, but sometimes I feared that his recklessness would only lead us deeper into peril.On the other hand, my father, Emilio, was pragmatic and calculating. He believed that the only way to ensure my safety was to distance me from Damien and the dangers that came with him. His intentions were rooted in his paternal instinct to shield me from harm, but his methods felt suffocating, as if he was trying t

Isabella As I found myself residing in my estranged father's home, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of discomfort lingering in the air. Every moment spent alone with Emilio was fraught with tension, as the weight of our complicated relationship loomed heavily over us.We had spent so many years apart, estranged by his absence and my resentment. Now, thrown together by circumstances beyond our control, we were forced to navigate the awkwardness of our newfound proximity.It was during these moments of solitude with Emilio that I felt the full weight of my abandonment issues pressing down on me. Growing up, his absence had been a constant presence in my life, a silent reminder of his priorities and the void he left behind.As we awkwardly exchanged small talk and forced pleasantries, I couldn't shake the feeling of resentment bubbling just beneath the surface. Despite my efforts to bury the past and move forward, the wounds of my childhood remained raw and unhealed.I str

Isabella It could not be. I refused to believe it. I dropped the call and left a confused-looking Emilio where he stood. "What is it, Isabella?" Emilio asked with concern. I was too disoriented to answer as my heartbeat increased exponentially. I did not want to believe that it was who I thought it was. Maybe I had overreacted and it was somebody else entirely. I played the event of this morning in my head as I took a seat on one of the couches in the living room. I struggled to breathe as I tried to relax. "Isabella, who was it? You look pale!" Emilio came closer as I struggled. I did not want to admit that it was him but it was him. As I sat beside my father, Emilio, in the dimly lit living room, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions consumed my thoughts. The urge to confide in him battled against the deep-seated fear of vulnerability and betrayal. Part of me longed to unburden myself, to seek solace in his presence and share the weight of my troubles. Yet, another part hesitated

Isabella 227I spent the next half hour telling my dad about the person who called. It felt so impossible as I spoke to him about Robert James. Robert was my first boyfriend before I met Damien.However, before I uttered any word to Emilio, I had to get myself together because hearing the voice of my presumed dead ex had rattled my world.Maybe if Damien had been here, things might have been a little better and his presence may have helped me calm down a lot quicker but he was not and I was unfortunately stuck with my estranged father who knew nothing about my life."I knew him before I met Damien," I started. "But then, I was working under Camilla, and she was the reason we ended things," I said.Emilio said nothing but the rapt attention on his face gave me the courage to continue."It turned out that Robert was somehow involved with Camilla but he would not let me know what was going on between the two of them," I recalled, getting angry as the countless scenarios kept on playing in

Isabella As I sat alone in the dimly lit living room, the minutes stretched into hours, each one filled with an unbearable sense of fear and anxiety. My mind raced with thoughts of Robert James and the terror he had instilled in me with his menacing phone call. Every sound outside the window made my heart leap into my throat, every creak of the floorboards sent a shiver down my spine.I longed for Damien's reassuring presence, for the comfort of his arms wrapped around me, but he was still nowhere to be found. The weight of my fear pressed down on me like a leaden blanket, suffocating me with its suffocating embrace.Emilio, my father, sat across from me, his face a mask of concern and anger. "We can't just sit here and wait for him to come after you," he said, his voice tight with emotion. "We need to take action, now."I nodded, my throat constricted with fear. "But what can we do?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "He's out there, somewhere, waiting to strike."Emilio's eyes bl