Semua Bab His Betrayal, His Regret: Bab 271 - Bab 280

Isabel’s POVI sat propped up in bed, trying to read Emerson’s expression. He had always been sharp, but I hadn’t expected him to piece things together this quickly. Despite all Robert’s and my attempts to keep the details of the surgery planning under wraps, Emerson had unraveled the threads effortlessly.I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was relentless when it came to matters he cared about. And right now, that matter was me.Still, I didn’t react dramatically. This was Emerson, after all. It was natural for someone as intelligent and observant as him to sense when things didn’t add up. And despite his anger, I knew he wouldn’t jeopardize the efforts of the people working tirelessly to save my life. Whatever his feelings about Robert or Elias—or even Mateo—he wouldn’t risk doing anything that might hurt me. That, I was sure of.Emerson stood stiffly at the foot of my bed, his gaze boring into me. He was waiting for an explanation, but I wasn’t about to offer one on a silver platt

Isabel’s POVEmerson’s reaction was immediate and explosive. His hand shot out, seizing Robert by the collar with a force that made me flinch. “Are you kidding me?” he roared, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “More than once? You know what craniotomy entails better than anyone!” His eyes burned with fury. But beneath that, I saw something deeper—raw panic, the kind that comes when control slips through your fingers.I pressed my back against the headboard, anxiety rising in my chest. “Emerson, let go of him!” I shouted, but my voice cracked. He was hesitating, though. His grip tightened and loosened as if his emotions were at war.Robert, surprisingly composed, twisted Emerson’s wrist away with a sharp motion. His calmness wasn’t indifference—it was laced with disdain. “Yes, I do know. But that doesn’t change the reality of her situation,” Robert said, his voice sharp as glass. His eyes narrowed. “And if you want to talk about responsibility, let’s discuss how she

Robert’s POVAs I stepped out of Isabel’s ward, I couldn’t quiet the storm of worry inside me. The looming surgery hung like a dark cloud over my thoughts. She was so calm about it, but I couldn’t share her composure.Dr. Leighton had assured me that everything was as prepared as it could be. But the risks were undeniable. Isabel’s condition was fragile. The thought of losing her made my chest tighten. I didn’t want to imagine a world without her. I glanced back toward her door, as though I could will away the danger just by lingering nearby. Despite everything, the fire in her sapphire blue eyes hadn’t dimmed. That fire had drawn me to her all those years ago. And it still burned brightly now, even in her weakest moments.Isabel was a force of nature, enduring so much pain and heartbreak while somehow holding herself together. How could I not still love her? But that love wasn’t simple anymore. Emerson had built walls around her. Walls that were almost impenetrable. Almost.A memor

Isabel’s POVI froze. The nurse’s cold and detached voice echoed in my mind like a warning bell. My gut twisted with an inexplicable dread. Something was very, very wrong. I tried to get a good look at her face, but her cap and mask obscured her features. Her head was bowed so low I couldn’t even see her eyes.Who was she? Why was she acting so strangely?Fear clawed its way into my chest as I felt my body weakening. My hands trembled, then went limp. A numb heaviness crept through me, making my head swim. My words came out slurred and frantic. “What… did you give me?” My voice barely carried, thin and fragile like paper in the wind.The nurse didn’t answer. Instead, she moved with brisk, calculated efficiency. Her gloved hands gripped me under the arms. Her strength was surprising, almost mechanical. I couldn’t fight back—I could hardly lift a finger. She hoisted me onto a gurney and pulled a white sheet taut over my body. The weight of the fabric against my face felt suffocating.

Emerson’s POV"How the hell did this happen?!" My voice echoed through the cold, sterile halls of the hospital. "You assured me this hospital had the most high-end security in the country! Was that all a goddamn lie?!"I had never felt so panicked and furious as when I found Isabel’s room empty. How could someone have gotten to her, here, in this heavily guarded military hospital?The head of security flinched under my glare, stammering something about protocols and procedures. I barely heard him. My entire focus was on the CCTV footage playing out in front of me. Mateo, standing beside me in the small, dimly lit surveillance room, was furiously scanning the feed. His face was pale but focused."Stop. Zoom in here," Mateo ordered sharply, pointing at the screen.The grainy footage showed a nurse moving briskly down the corridor with a gurney. Something was off. Mateo muttered, “She’s not staff.”"What do you mean she’s not staff?" I barked.He leaned closer, squinting. “Look at the un