“Ethan,” I mutter, my voice shaking with relief as he approaches me. But his face is stone cold, devoid of emotions.
“Ethan, thank God you’re here. Please, tell Sydney I’m not Isabelle. She’s got the wrong person.”
But instead of helping me, Ethan takes a step closer, with a file in his hand. His voice is laced with anger, making my heart quiver. “Do you think I give a fuck what she does to you?” he growls.
I’m taken aback, shocked by his words. “But… but I thought you were here to help me,” I stutter.
“Do you think I’m here to exchange talks with you? I’m here to make sure she finishes you, just like planned.”
Ethan’s words are like a death sentence. I’m trapped, with no escape from Sydney’s wrath.
“Oh, so you mean to tell me that this was a plan worked out between you two?” I ask, trying to process the betrayal.
Sydney’s face twists in a snarl. “You still have the mouth to say rubbish? Many authorities want you dead. And it will be with great pleasure to end your life.”
“Imagine you thinking you’ve found your happily ever after with Logan after killing my brother,” she sneers with venom. “You lie, Nadine.”
The mention of Logan’s name sparks a flame of hope in me. Maybe, he’ll find a way to save me from this nightmare. But Sydney’s next words crush that hope.
“You’ll never see him again,” she spits out, her eyes glinting with malice. “You’ll never escape us. He even took you to bid on an island you knew nothing about, thinking it was yours just because your name was on it.” She sneers, “You’ll never have your happily ever after. One of the reasons I sent that picture of you and Asher in bed.”
I gasp, realizing the extent of her manipulation. “You sent that picture of me, Isabelle, in bed with another man, knowing Logan would see it and send me away.” The pieces fall into place, and I understand her game.
She continues, “You think you can have men at your beck and call? First, it was Asher, and now Logan.” I feel a chill run down my spine as I realize the truth.
My mind races back to the times Sydney called me, claiming to care about me. It was all a ruse, an ulterior motive to manipulate me. And now, I’m trapped in a case of mistaken identity. They think I’m Isabelle, but I’m not.
Ethan’s voice is cold, “I have the document right here, and it belongs to my family. And yes, I have it now, and God knows I’m going to end your life. But before I do, you’re going to sign the transfer of property to me, so it will serve as evidence that you’ve given it up.”
I slowly close my eyes, and tears start streaming down as I try to come to terms with what Sydney and Ethan are saying. The realization hits me: they’ve been working together all this time, pretending to care about me, but plotting my downfall.
I know Logan left the island in my name after the bidding, but I never imagined it would lead to my downfall. But how did they get the document? It was safely stored in Logan’s house.
Sydney’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, her words sending a chill down my spine. “Once I kill you, I’ll take your son as mine.”
Something inside me breaks at her words. I feel a surge of adrenaline to protect my child. “You lie, Sydney!” I spit out, in a firm voice. “None of that is going to happen. You can’t succeed in killing me, and you will never have my son. I’ll hunt you till death, you hypocrite and callous fellow.”
“We’ll see about that,” Sydney sneers, taking a step closer to me.
“You’re not in a position to make threats,” Ethan says as he moves to stand beside her, his eyes cold.
“If I were you, I’d watch my mouth, because, girl, your life is in my hands, and I don’t mind squeezing it out of you.” With that, she turned and made her way out, while Ethan stepped closer.
I shook my head slowly, as I looked at Ethan, thinking about the times we shared. He seemed so sweet, caring, and concerned about me. But it had all been a lie. He tilted my face up, forcing me to meet his gaze. The smirk on his face made my blood boil. Thankfully, I had managed to slip out of the handcuffs.
With one swift move, I stood up and kneed him hard in the groin. He stumbled back, clutching himself and screaming like a banshee. Fueled by adrenaline, I stomped him to the ground, watching as he writhed in pain.
Ethan lay on the ground, groaning in agony, his hands still clutching his groin. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
I glanced around, searching for an escape, the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall. They’d be here any minute. My hands shook as I rifled through Ethan’s pockets. Finally, I found the keys.
Just as I was about to slip past him, his hand shot out, grabbing my ankle with surprising strength. “You’re not going anywhere,” he growled.
I yanked my leg free and kicked him again. “Watch me,” I said, my voice steady, even though fear clawed at my insides.
Suddenly, men rushed into the room. They must have heard his screams. Panic surged through me as I frantically looked around for something sharp, anything to defend myself. But there was nothing.
Before I could react, they overpowered me. Their hands grabbed me, too strong for me to break free. I struggled, twisting and kicking, but it was no use. They had me.
Ethan’s face twists in rage as he slowly gets up, his hand flying towards me in a vicious slap. “You bitch! How dare you!” he screams, his eyes bulging with fury.
I reel from the impact, my cheek stinging in pain. Ethan’s fingers tap out a signal, and a group of men approach with a large bowl of water. My heart sinks as Ethan rushes towards me, grabbing my head roughly and dunking it into the water.
I struggle to break free, but his grip on my neck is like a vice. He raises my head, and I gasp for air, but it’s hard to catch my breath.
Again and again, Ethan dips my head into the water, each time holding me under for a few seconds before letting me up for a gasping breath. I’m exhausted, my body screaming for oxygen. I’m afraid I’ll pass out any moment, unable to withstand the torture.
Just when I think I’m going to pass out, Ethan pulls me out of the water, and I gasp for air, my lungs burning. I’m limp in his grasp, my body weak from the ordeal.
Sydney steps forward, a smirk on her face. “Enough, Ethan. We don’t want her dead… yet.”
I try to speak, but my voice is hoarse from the water and the struggle. I can only manage a weak whisper. “Why… why are you doing this?”
Ethan’s gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of emotion on his face. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead to me.
He takes a step closer, his hands grasping my cheeks, pulling my face towards his. His lips crash onto mine, but I won’t give in. I’m repulsed by him now. With all my might, I bite down on his lip, tasting his blood.
He winces in pain, stumbling backward, but his anger quickly takes over. He raises his hand, slapping me hard on one cheek, then the other. “You bitch!” he sneers.
Ethan’s gaze lingers on me for a moment, then he turns and storms out of the room, stomping his feet in anger.
I’m left alone, and a heart-wrenching cry erupts from my body, shaking me to my core. I feel like I’m shattering into a million pieces. This can’t be real, this is a nightmare, a dream I’m desperate to wake up from.
The tears flow uncontrollably as I curl up into a ball, my body wracked with sobs. I feel like I’m losing myself like I’m disappearing into this darkness.