Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0e41\u0e04\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest clenched. \u201cThe kid too?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d he said casually. \u201cDragged them out like it was nothing. And guess what else. Caius Felipe and Colt Blackwood are the same man. Doctor by day, mafia king by night.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head rang. \u201cThat\u2019s- that\u2019s impossible!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always say that when you don\u2019t want to hear the truth,\u201d Troy said, leaning forward. \u201cColt was her ex. He didn\u2019t just save her. He rebuilt her. Trained her. Gave her a whole new life. New name. New spine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shoved my wallet out and threw a thick stack of cash onto his lap. \u201cTake it. Forget everything you just said.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t even look at the money. Instead he leaned close, his voice low and ugly. \u201cI don\u2019t want cash. I want leverage. You come to this address tonight, or I tell David everything. That you didn\u2019t save him. That Isabella dragged him out of that wreck and you stole the credit while she was unconscious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat went dry. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI would,\u201d he said, smiling. \u201cAnd while we\u2019re being honest, those babies you lost. They weren\u2019t David\u2019s. Could\u2019ve been Westley\u2019s. Could\u2019ve been mine. Hell, you were sleeping with all of us back then. Even you didn\u2019t know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I lost it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I screamed and hurled my wine glass across the room. It shattered against the wall, red streaking down like blood. \u201cYou piece of trash!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I still went.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because survival always wins.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he opened the door, everything exploded. Anger, hate, history. We crashed into each other like we were trying to hurt something invisible. I hated him. I wanted him gone forever. I told myself it meant nothing. That it was just control. Just insurance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He grabbed my face afterward, fingers rough under my chin. \u201cYou\u2019ll never get rid of me,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI know too much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced a smile, slow and sweet. \u201cAnd you\u2019ll never be more than a secret,\u201d I said. \u201cI only need David. You\u2019re just a backup plan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That wiped the smug look right off his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked out without looking back. In the car mirror, my lipstick was smudged and my hair was a mess. I fixed it all, slow and precise, until I looked perfect again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chester 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:13 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time I stepped into my villa, I was glowing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as David never hears the truth,\u201d I whispered to my reflection, smiling like an angel, \u201cI still win.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But no matter how hard I tried, the name wouldn\u2019t leave my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caius. Colt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella wasn\u2019t just alive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was protected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And for the first time in years, I felt my crown starting to slip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ISABELLA\u2019S POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a week and I already knew what I was going to do. Hiding was pointless now. If I wanted to cut them where it actually hurt, I had to use my name, my face, and my\u00a0<\/p>\n
truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Colt\u2019s voice stayed in my head while I got dressed. Never tell anyone you are Isabella. Not yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled at my reflection and slipped into the silk dress anyway. Soft. Expensive. Clean lines. The kind of dress Mrs. Vanderbilt used to wear before she drowned. His rules were meant to protect me. This was something else.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I told him I was going to the library, he just looked up from his tablet and smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake care,\u201d he said, calm like always.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kissed his cheek and walked out without another word. He had no idea where my steps were really headed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
David\u2019s office still smelled the same. Wood polish, leather, power. His assistant nearly choked when she saw me walk in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cM-Mrs Vanderbilt?! But- but you are\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t let her finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell him his wife is here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t wait for permission. I pushed the door open myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
David looked up and went white. Not pale. White. His chair screeched back as he stood too fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsabella?\u201d His voice cracked and he took a step toward me, arms opening like instinct. \u201cGod, I fucking missed you so much! I thought I lost you forever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped back before he could touch me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
77.6%\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:13 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou buried me too early, David.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
The silence dropped heavy between us. I let it sit there and then I sliced through it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour marriage to Roxanne means nothing,\u201d I said, slow and clear. \u201cA piece of paper signed on a lie. You are still bound to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His throat moved as he swallowed. His hands were shaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember now,\u201d he said hoarsely. \u201cMy head is clearer every day. Faces. Voices. The night you disappeared. You were my wife. You are my wife.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched his knees give out. He dropped to the floor right in front of me. The sound of it made my chest tighten even though I refused to show it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBelle,\u201d he whispered, head bowed. \u201cIt was always you. I loved you. I let her poison me. I let her turn me against you. I was blind and stupid and weak.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He lifted his head, eyes red.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI investigated after they declared you and our sin Ryle dead. Roxanne bullied you. She ruined your family. She pushed you until you drowned. I knew something was wrong and I did nothing. Forgive me. Please.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a second my lungs forgot how to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he said it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is our son?\u201d His voice broke. \u201cWhere is Ryle? Is he alive? Tell me where he is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I said nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I just stared at him until the silence answered for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I straightened my spine. My voice stayed steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Now you remember. Keep that memory. But I am never coming back to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door opened before he could speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heels clicked sharp against the floor. Roxanne.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She froze when she saw me standing there, in that office, in that space that used to be mine. Her face drained so fast it was almost funny.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at her once. Just once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I let my knees go weak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
David caught me instantly, panic exploding out of him. \u201cBelle? Belle, look at me. Someone call a doctor!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne stood there shaking, mouth open like her soul had been ripped out of her body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perfect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
70 19\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:13 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let myself go limp in his arms while he rushed me out, his voice breaking as he shouted for help.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let her watch. Let her feel it. Let her choke on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took me straight to the hospital. Roxanne followed like a stray dog, clinging to his sleeve, whispering like she still owned him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kept my eyes closed and my breathing shallow. Every word hit me sharp and sweet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRoxanne, stop,\u201d David\u2019s voice was tight. \u201cShe is my wife.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo she\u2019s not!\u201d Roxanne snapped, hysterical. \u201cI am your wife now! She\u2019s dead. Everyone knows that. I am the one who stayed with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not dead. She came back to me. And you? Our marriage was a lie. Leave now before I forget myself and throw you out with my own hands and remember everything. Be grateful that my memories right now are only fragments.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door slammed. Silence spread like peace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt his fingers brush my cheek, warm and shaking. \u201cI will never lose you again, Belle,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I clenched my hands under the blanket so I would not smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His phone rang.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d A pause. \u201cInvestors? Keep them waiting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he left, I opened my eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I peeled the IV from my arm slowly and ignored the sting. My legs shook as I slid off the bed. I had just stood up when her voice cut through the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing somewhere, ghost?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned calmly and sat back on the edge of the bed, crossing my legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSurprised to see me again?\u201d I asked lightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes were wild. Her whole body was shaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are ruining everything. Why did you not just stay dead? Why are you even alive?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head, smiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlive or dead, Roxanne, I will always be the name you can never steal. You destroyed me once. This time I destroy you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She lunged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed right in her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nurses rushed in, grabbing her arms, dragging her back. I walked up to her slowly and slapped her hard enough to snap her head to the side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11\u00e413, Wed, Jan 28 huyo ap nei neauto\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lift slut.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her gasp echoed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door flew open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRoxanne!\u201d David roared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let myself fall to the floor, shaking, crying like I was breaking apart. \u201cShe hurt me,\u201d I sobbed, voice trembling perfectly. \u201cDavid, she hit me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? No.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prepare the divorce and ruin your husband by Mark Twain 20 Chapter 20\u00a0 \u0e41\u0e04\u00a0 My chest clenched. \u201cThe kid too?\u201d\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-his-regret-my-victory-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23551"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23551\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}