جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 9

Chapter Two: flush everything we had stepson.Isabella's POVThe word “son” still burned on my tongue like acid as Richard turned to greet one of his business associates. For half a second, Salvatore and I were alone in a crowded room full of politicians, billionaires, and socialites who had no idea about the bomb that had just detonated between us.His eyes darkened, intense and unyielding. “We need to talk. Alone. Now.”My pulse hammered against my throat. I almost said yes. Almost let him pull me toward the side exit like the weak girl I used to be five years ago. But Richard’s warm laugh cut through the air as he glanced back at us.I forced my lips into a polite smile, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me. “Later, Salvatore. This isn’t the time.”Salvatore’s jaw tightened, the muscle ticking visibly, but he stepped back smoothly, playing the perfect son. “Of course… Mother.”He turned and walked toward the front row, his broad shoulders cutting through the crowd with

Chapter Four:Conversation with Richard Isabella's POVThe first light of dawn had barely crept through the heavy velvet drapes when Richard gently shook my shoulder. I stirred, my eyes heavy and gritty from the few hours of restless sleep I’d managed after Salvatore’s menacing messages. My body ached with exhaustion, both physical and emotional, but Richard’s voice was soft, almost apologetic, as he leaned over me.“Isabella, darling. Wake up. I’m sorry to disturb you so early, but there’s something important I need to speak with you about before the day begins.”I blinked against the soft glow of the bedside lamp he’d turned on, sitting up slowly in our grand four-poster bed. The Egyptian cotton sheets pooled around my waist, and I pulled them closer, suddenly self-conscious. Richard was already dressed in a crisp white shirt and trousers, looking every bit the composed businessman even at this hour. He sat on the edge of the mattress, his hand covering mine.“You only slept a fe

Shattered vows and shattered glassIsabella's POVI burst through the side door, my heart slamming against my ribs like a caged animal desperate for escape. Khole’s venomous voice tore through the mansion like a jagged blade, each word sharper than the last. The grand foyer, once a symbol of elegance and new beginnings, now rang with the violent crash of shattering crystal—something priceless, no doubt, worth more than everything my family had lost before Richard stepped in. The sound reverberated off the marble floors and high ceilings, followed by Richard’s low, commanding tone trying desperately to contain the hurricane he never saw coming.“You lost every right to this house the day you walked out, Khole,” Richard growled, his voice steel wrapped in ice. He stood tall, shoulders squared in that charcoal suit that still carried the faint scent of his cologne from the wedding. “The divorce was final. The papers were signed in blood and lawyers’ fees. You don’t get to crawl back here

The Serpent at the Breakfast Table.*Isabella's POV*The morning light filtering through the tall windows of the mansion felt like a cruel joke. After the explosions of shattered glass and accusations the night before, I had expected the nightmare to be over. Richard had promised—*sworn*—that security would escort Khole out at first light. Yet as I descended the grand staircase in a simple cream blouse and tailored pants, my stomach already twisting with dread, the scent of fresh coffee and danger greeted me.There she was.Khole Moretti sat at the head of the long breakfast table like a queen who had never been dethroned. Her dark hair was swept into a flawless chignon, her designer silk robe draped elegantly over her shoulders as if this were her domain. She sipped from a porcelain cup, perfectly at ease, while a maid hovered nervously nearby. The shattered remnants of last night’s chaos had been erased, but the real destruction was just beginning.My steps faltered on the marble. *