All Chapters of HOUSE OF FORBIDDEN DESIRE : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Family dinner arrived. I sat at the head of the table next to Dad, trying to keep my breathing even. The dining room felt smaller tonight, candles throwing long shadows across the mahogany, rosemary scent from the lamb still hanging in the air. Everyone was here. Everyone who had ever mattered, and everyone who had ever hurt us, all in the same room for the first time in years.Mom—Blair stood by the sideboard pouring water like she’d never left. She wore a navy silk jersey dress, simple gold hoops, hair in a loose chignon. She looked calm and steady. Like the house had been waiting for her to come back and fill the quiet spaces she’d left behind.Then Camilla walked in.In an emerald-green silk that clung in all the right places, long sleeves, high neck, that keyhole slit at the back showing just a hint of skin. Diamonds at her ears and throat catching the candlelight. Heels clicking slow with that aura she always carried when she wanted to look imposing. She looked like she stepped

Isabella’s POV “Shut up, are you serious right now?” Sasha's voice came through the line.“Yeah, like hell.” “I won't lie, I want that too.” She purred.I rolled my eyes. “No, really, sorry, but I don't wanna share any of them”“That's unfair Bella, you just gave me a literally description of how you fucked your stepbrothers together, how hot it was and your expect me to sit back?”“Yeah, why not show up, we'll talk about it.” I was pissed, Sasha always wanted what I got, right from when we became besties in middle school , sometimes during high-school I found out we were dating the same guy.I shook my head, put on my robe, slipped out of bed barefoot, the hallway was dark except for moonlight pooling on the floorboards. My mind ran through Mom’s careful smiles, the way Dad’s eyes lingered on her a second too long, the unspoken history hanging over the table while we had dinner that night.I told myself I was heading for water, or the library… anything but toward the terrace doors

I was almost stepping into the mansion when Camilla’s voice cracked through an open window sharp and accusing, something about “those fucking videos” and “Isabella’s marks.” I couldn’t hear the rest, because a black van sped and stopped at my front. Marcus. He whispered “Get in, now,” I didn’t argue. He slammed the sliding door behind us and the world narrowed to the dim glow of the dashboard clock 11:14 a.m. and the rough weave of the cargo blanket he shoved under my hips. The engine growled to life, vibrating up through my thighs as he drove out of the long driveway without headlights. “Where are we going?” My voice came out smaller than I wanted, a bit scared. “Somewhere they can’t find you tonight.” He didn’t look at me, eyes locked on the dark road unwinding ahead. His knuckles were white on the wheel, veins standing out like cords. “Cops might already be on their way. Or worse… your dad.” My stomach flipped. Dad. The word tasted sour. What was this about? Did Camilla

Isabella’s POV Marcus and I got back three hours ago. I woke up to the sound of someone crying in the hallway.It was too loud, not the kind you can pretend is the wind or a nightmare. This was ragged, choking sobs that made the floorboards creak every time the person tried to catch their breath. I knew that pitch. I heard it before, years ago, when Claire came home from her first real heartbreak and locked herself in the guest bathroom for three hours.I rolled out of bed, still wearing yesterday’s tank top and nothing else, and walked barefoot down the corridor. The sobs were coming from Claire’s old room… the one she still claimed whenever she stayed over, even though she had her own apartment downtown now.The door was slightly opened. I pushed it open without knocking.She was sitting on the floor with her back against the bed, knees pulled to her chest, face buried in her arms. Her phone lay face-down a few feet away like it had been thrown. The screen was still glowing faintly

Isabella’s POV Camilla didn’t say another word when she walked in on us; she just smiled that venomous smile she usually gives when she knows something everyone doesn't. She glanced at the crumpled letter in my fist and left without closing the door. Dad was weirdly silent, too. There was this look he gave Victor, like he was seeing a ghost, then walked away. No one’s spoken above a whisper. At 4:17 p.m. the front gate buzzer went off. The security footage on my phone showed a black cab pulling up. Mom stepped out alone. No luggage. Just a cream trench coat, dark sunglasses, and the kind of red lipstick that looks like fresh blood.I watched her from the upstairs landing window—heart slamming so hard I felt it in my teeth. Mom, Dad, Camilla, and Victor in one roof.The front door opened before she could knock. Victor. Of course, Victor opened it. But he didn’t hug her, didn't say he word. Just stepped aside and let her in.I walked down the hall, my bare feet silent on the runner d