Damien 182I sat alone in my office, the weight of Emilio's revelation bearing down on me like a leaden cloak. My mind raced with a million questions, each more terrifying than the last. How could Emilio, the man I had trusted as my father-in-law, be connected to something as sinister as the Puppeteer? And what did his involvement mean for Isabella, the woman I loved more than life itself?I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach, a gnawing sense of dread that threatened to consume me whole. The thought of Isabella caught in the crosshairs of Emilio's dark past sent a shiver down my spine, filling me with a bone-deep fear unlike anything I had ever known.I had always prided myself on being able to protect those I cared about, to shield them from the dangers of the world. But now, faced with the realization that I may have unwittingly led Isabella into harm's way, I felt utterly powerless, a mere pawn in a game I could scarcely comprehend.As I sat

Isabella 184.I was anxious to get home not because I wanted answers this time, but I could not stop being afraid for my husband. I knew that there was no way to dissuade him from his pursuit of the truth but it did not mean that I did not have to try. There was something disturbing about the puppet I had seen at Ava's place. The image of the ragged wooden stringed up puppet with an almost life like imagery of Ava's fade made me suddenly unsettled.This was because I had seen something like this before and it was way bloodier and very sick. I used to be unfairly picked on by a sister in the covenant that had taken me in. Sister Monica.She would deliberately starve me and called me a child of sin. I had no idea what I did to her to get such treatment. One day, she had beaten my knuckles red and swollen because I failed to recite a part of the book she was teaching about.I was just twelve and I had cried myself to sleep. The next morning, sister Monica was f

Isabella 186.It was still morning and Damien did not feel like going to work after what my dad had done. We walked slowly back to his car after the nasty confrontation that took place moments ago between him and my father.Damien had no actual destination in mind so he just drove aimlessly."What is going on in your head?" I asked him as he watched the road, a grim expression etched on his face."You don't want to know," He gruffly replied."Damien, you are shutting me out again," I let him know. "And that makes you no different from my father," I added and quite frankly, I had no idea where those words came from."I am thinking of punching your dad in the face, I want to wrap my hands around his neck and keep squeezing," He curtly replied.I raised my eyebrows, mildly surprised that he told me."I told you that you did not want to know," Damien said when he saw my shocked expression."That is not it, I am actually shocked that you told me," I replied."Which part? About me kicking y

Isabella 188.I stayed over at Ava's where the security was tightened and my father was banned from entering the premises. It was safer that way and I had no current desire to ever see him again. Ever since he came into my life, it had been one lie after another.I could not even deny that I was not impressed by how he emotionally insinuated his way into my life and tried to turn me against Damien by painting him in a bad and mysterious way. He sounded almost accusatory whenever he mentioned Damien.It was as if he had a personal issue with Damien's existence. I had never understood why he was not in acceptance of my husband but he could take his concerns to hell. I could not believe that I even consoled him when he shed those tears of regret.Were the tears. even real?"Earth to Isabella, my dear you were long gone," Ava said as she joined me at the backyard porch.I smiled sheepishly."Just lost in thoughts, that's all," I replied."I understand perfectly what

Isabella 190.As Natalia's piercing gaze met mine, I felt a shiver run down my spine, the memory of her tumultuous relationship with Damien still fresh in my mind. She was a force to be reckoned with, her confidence bordering on arrogance, her beauty a weapon she wielded with deadly precision. But beneath the facade of glamour and allure, there lurked a darkness, a shadow of manipulation and deceit that made my skin crawl.I glanced over at Ava, my mother-in-law, her expression tight with barely concealed disdain as she regarded Natalia with narrowed eyes. She had never been shy about her feelings towards Damien's ex-girlfriend, always quick to voice her disapproval at the mere mention of her name.Natalia's lips curled into a smug smile, her gaze flickering between Ava and me with a hint of amusement. "I heard Damien was in town, so I thought I'd come and say hello," she replied, her tone sweet but laced with a subtle undertone of malice.I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails dig