جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 60

~Isabel~The iron gates of the Sterling estate groaned as they slid shut behind us, a heavy, final sound that seemed to lock the rest of the world away. Outside, the sky had bruised into a deep, ink-stained purple, and the driveway was filled with cars but no Bentley. No sign of the man who had been in my thoughts all day.The weight of the black shopping bags in my arms felt heavier as I stepped out of the car, they felt like they were filled with stones instead of silks and laces. All through the drive, the voices from the mall had played on a loop in my head. ‘Gold-digger’ ‘Scandalous’. Eleanor.’ The words felt like tiny paper cuts on my chest deep inside. I looked at my mother as she hummed a tune, her eyes were bright and vacant, seemingly untouched by the poison we had walked through. Her indifference was a shield I didn't know how to wear.Upstairs, in my room I spent an hour untangling the mess of hangers and tissue paper, there were dresses I’d never asked for, casual wea

~Isabel ~"Who could it be?" I whispered. I tried to push against William’s chest, but he wouldn't budge he stayed over me, his eyes locked on the door with a chilling calm.The knock came again.This time impatient and demanding."Isabel? Are you awake, darling?"My mother’s broke from the other side of the door, it was too clear, too close. I felt the blood drain from my face, leaving my head light and spinning, the door handle rattled, but metal click of the lock held it firm, and that was the only thing that stop my world from exploding into a million pieces, I felt my pulse thrumming loudly in my ears."Relax, Isabel. See how you’re shivering."William finally pulled away reluctantly, his movements slow and agonizingly deliberate like he had all the time in the world. He didn't look like a man who had almost been caught with his step- sister in bed, he looked like a man who had just finished a cup of coffee. He stood up, the shadows of the room dancing across the hard outlin

~Isabel~The house felt far too quiet that night. I stayed awake for a long time, staring at the shadows on my ceiling, waiting for the sound of a heavy door closing or the low rumble of an engine in the driveway. But William never came back. I had sent him a text, my fingers shaking as I typed out the question‘Who was at the door?’ but the screen stayed dark. No reply. No little bubbles popping up to show he was typing. Nothing.By the time the sun started to peek through my curtains, I had convinced myself that he probably had another place. A man like William, twenty-six and drowning in Sterling money, wouldn't want to live under his father’s roof forever. He probably had a sleek apartment downtown, something with floor-to-ceiling glass and cold furniture, where he went when he didn't want to be a dutiful son.It made sense. At twenty, I was still the girl living in a guest room, but he was an adult with a life I clearly didn't understand.I pushed the covers back and swung my

~Isabel~I followed Juliana down the long, bright hallways of the executive wing. The air here felt different, colder, and more expensive. Every few feet, we passed another row of glass offices where people in tailored suits paused their conversations to watch us walk by. I could feel their eyes tracking me, moving from my face down to my shoes and back up again.In that moment, I sent a silent prayer of thanks to my mother. If I had walked in here wearing my old, thrifted blazer with the slightly frayed sleeves, I would have felt like a stray cat in a ballroom. Juliana would have torn me to pieces before I even reached my desk, but the milky dress fit perfectly, and my heels gave me a steady, confident click on the polished floors.She stopped abruptly in front of a door with a plaque that read: ‘Sterling-Vane Legals’ Juliana pushed the door open and marched in, her pink suit a sharp contrast to the grey and white of the office. I followed her, my breath caught as the door h

~Isabel POV~“What? Like you’ve never lied to her before?” William asked, cocking his head to the side and giving me a dirty smirk.I felt a laugh bubble up in my chest. I couldn't help it. I shook my head, my eyes lingering on the sharp line of his jaw. “Okay, okay. You win. Oh, William, you really are the greatest temptation in my life.” Dipping my hands into my bag, I brought out my phone.I called my mom and told her I wouldn't be coming home tonight. I told her I had to take care of my sick friend. She was fine with it, but she gave me one condition: I should invite Chloe over after she gets better. I accepted.“Done!” I said after cutting the call. He nodded just once and entered his car, gesturing for me to follow him.Just like that? I thought. Shouldn’t he be showing some excitement? I rolled my eyes and stomped over to my car, the heels of my shoes clicking loudly on the pavement. I started the engine and trailed behind him, my headlights reflecting off the back of his c