Semua Bab Bound by a billion hearts: Bab 61 - Bab 70

The hallway outside Isabella’s room went quiet.Not the natural kind of silence.Not the calm, controlled stillness she had grown used to inside the mansion.This silence was different.Heavy.Unstable.Like something was about to break.Isabella stood a few steps away from the door, her fingers tightening around the keycard. Her breathing had slowed, but her heart hadn’t.It was still racing.Still reacting.Still remembering.Daniel’s voice.Right outside.Close enough to feel.Close enough to make her skin crawl.“You always did hide when things got complicated,” he said, his tone almost amused. “I thought you’d grow out of that.”Isabella didn’t answer.Not immediately.She forced herself to stay still.To think.To not react the way he expected.Because that was his game.Push.Corner.Control.Her eyes moved toward the door.Then to the keycard in her hand.Then back again.He thinks I’m trapped.That realization settled something inside her.Not fear.Clarity.“You shouldn’t be

Her fingers tightened around the handle.One move.That was all it would take.One turnAnd everything would change.Outside the door, Daniel waited.Silent.Certain.Because he knew something dangerousShe was already thinking about opening it.Down the hallwayAlexander walked closer.Slow.Controlled.But there was nothing calm about him anymore.His eyes were locked on the door.On her.On the moment that was about to happen.InsideIsabella inhaled slowly.Her mind racing.What did he do the first time he found you?The question echoed again.Louder now.Closer.Her grip tightenedThe handle shifted slightly.And thenA hand caught her wrist.Firm.Sudden.Unmistakable.Isabella gasped softlyHer body reacting before her mind could.She turned sharplyAnd met Alexander’s eyes.Dark.Focused.Burning with something she hadn’t seen this clearly before.Not just control.Not just anger.Fear.Raw.Hidden.But there.“Don’t.”The word came low.Not loud.Not aggressive.But absolute.

Her fingers closed around the handle.No hesitation this time.No second guessing.Just decision.Alexander watched her.Still.Silent.Because he knewWhatever happened next…He couldn’t undo it.The handle turned.The door opened.Slowly.Quietly.And Daniel stood there.Exactly where she knew he would be.Calm.Composed.Like he had all the time in the world.His eyes moved past herTo Alexander.A faint smile.“Finally.”Alexander didn’t respond.Didn’t move.But the air around him changed.Sharp.Cold.Dangerous.Isabella stepped forward.Just enough to stand in the doorway.Between them.A line.Clear.Unmistakable.“You said you’d tell me the truth.”Daniel’s gaze softened slightly.“For you?”A pause.“Always.”Alexander’s voice cut in“You say another word"Isabella raised her hand.Not toward Daniel.Toward Alexander.“Don’t.”That single wordStopped him.Completely.Because it wasn’t fear.It wasn’t hesitation.It was choice.She chose to hear it.Daniel noticed.Of course

The car didn’t stop.It didn’t slow.It just kept moving.Through empty streets.Past lights that blurred into nothing.Farther away from everything Isabella knew.She sat still.Too still.Her hands resting in her lapBut her mind wasn’t.It was racing.Fast.Too fast.“…Somewhere he can’t reach you.”Elena’s words echoed again.Isabella turned her head slightly.Looking at her.Really looking this time.Not as an ally.Not as someone who helped before.But as something else.Something unknown.“You planned this.”Her voice was quiet.Controlled.Elena didn’t look at her.Her eyes stayed on the road ahead.“Yes.”No hesitation.No denial.That alone made Isabella’s chest tighten.“You were waiting outside.”Another simple answer.“Yes.”“Since when?”A pause.Then“Long enough.”Silence filled the car again.Heavy.Uncomfortable.Because nowEverything felt different.The help.The timing.The offer.None of it felt random anymore.Isabella’s voice dropped slightly.“You didn’t come

Silence.It filled the room.Heavy.Crushing.Unavoidable.“…Tell me she’s lying.”Isabella’s voice was quiet.But it carried.Straight to him.Alexander didn’t move.Didn’t speak.Because for the first timeThere was no version of this he could control.No version he could reshape.No version that didn’t destroy something.“Elena,” he said finally.Low.Warning.But Elena didn’t look away.“You had your chance to tell her.”A pause.“You didn’t.”Her eyes flicked briefly to Isabella.“Now she hears it from me.”Isabella didn’t break her gaze from Alexander.“…Answer me.”A beat.“Were you there?”Alexander exhaled slowly.Measured.Like he was trying to hold something togetherThat was already falling apart.“Yes.”The word hit like impact.Not loud.Not dramatic.But final.Isabella blinked.Once.Twice.Processing.Trying to catch up with something her mind didn’t want to accept.“…Doing what?”Her voice was tighter now.Fragile.Alexander’s jaw tightened.“I wasn’t part of the dec