Gray clouds roamed in the sky and shadowed the sun, warning everyone about the impending rain. The cold wind hit Isabella, making her silk hair blow in the air.
She had sent Elena to the company and come to pick up the twins. She was standing in front of the kindergarten. She was waiting for them, as there was still some time left for the class to end.
She was staring at nothingness as she was still in a daze because of what happened a few hours ago. It had been only a few hours since she met Nicholas. She was with him for a little moment, and he had already made her a mess.
All the things that happened in the meeting room kept playing in her mind without any will to stop. His predatory golden eyes made her unable to think. And since she was now away from him, all the things he had said were repeating in her mind one by one.
She wondered what she had gotten herself into. She wanted to stay away from the devil. She had done everything she could to stay away from him. But all her attempts were futile. No matter how hard she tried to run away from him, she was still back to him.
Despite her best efforts to get away from him, she kept going back to him. It was like some unseen force kept pushing her back towards him. It was as if all the paths she had chosen to run away from him always brought her to him, as if she was chained to him.
Even though she tried her best to avoid him, she still ended up meeting him at that club five years ago, and she ended up meeting him once again today. It was like she was bound to be with him. Like she could never run away from him.
It seemed like he was telling the truth. She would never be able to escape from him. She would never be able to escape from the devil.
She wondered from where things had gone wrong. She wondered how she ended up getting involved with the devil. The devil, whom everyone fears. The devil who wanted to own her. She wondered why he chose her. Why her?
What would have happened if she hadn't saved him that night? What would have happened if she hadn't gone to that club? What would have happened if she hadn't slept with him that night?
Maybe she wouldn't have ever crossed paths with him. Maybe she would have been safe from him. But it was good that it all happened. Because if all the "ifs" she thought would have happened, her little angels wouldn't have existed. They were the blessings she needed in her life.
She thought she was safe from him. She thought she had escaped the devil, but in reality, she never did. She had caught the devil's eye. And the moment the devil laid his eyes on her, there was nowhere she could escape, nowhere she could hide.
The thought of him looking for her like a madman for five years made her heart stir. A tingling sensation went into her heart when she remembered that he counted times. He counted even seconds. He was looking for her. He was waiting for her.
And that made Isabella realize that he had never forgotten her. She thought he would, but he remembered her every second. This knowledge made her breathless, and her heart beat wildly with unknown emotions. She felt treasured, special, and loved.
The wild emotions in his eyes and his words made her perceive that he was obsessed. He wanted to own her. He wanted her to belong to him. No, he was certain that she belonged to him. She was his maddest obsession.
His obsession made her heart act weirdly and made her feel a trickling sensation in her stomach. She hated to admit that she liked his madness toward her. Even though she knew that obsession was never good, oddly, she liked it.
He said he would woo her. He said he would make her fall for him. Isabella felt thrilled in her heart as she looked forward to what he was going to do, what he had planned to make her fall for him.
Isabella's eyes widened as a sudden realization hit her. She was looking forward to him, and it was the same as letting him into her life.
"Isabella, what the fuck are you even thinking?" Isabella breathed out as she ran her fingers through her hair.
No, she could never let him into her life. She would never fall for him. She would never belong to him. He was the devil. He was a sin that Isabella refused to commit. A virus she couldn't let in her system. He was the devil that would ruin her.
And it wasn't just for her. It was for her little angels too. The twins' lives were already in danger because of Isabella. And if Nicholas came into their lives, their lives would be in a red zone. And Isabella didn't want it to happen.
Moreover, Isabella's goal was to get revenge. She had been thirsty for revenge. She didn't have time to play any kind of game with Nicholas. She wouldn't let anyone ruin her plans.
She wouldn't run away from him. But she wouldn't let him come into her life either. She would protect herself from the devil.
Isabella thought Nicholas just wanted her body and heart. But it was her mistake. He wanted her. He was a greedy devil who wanted her wholly. Everything she had. Everything she was. He wanted her everything. And he would have it.
Isabella was in deep thought when two small figures suddenly wrapped their tiny hands around her waist and said cutely,
"Mommy."
The cute voices pulled Isabella out of her thoughts, and she looked at them. A smile spread to her lips instantly as she stared at her little minions, who were looking at her with bright smiles. She crouched down and cooed,
"How did the day go, sweetheart?"
"It was good," Angelo said simply.
"It was amazing. Let me give you the details, Mommy." Aria uttered, making Isabella smile.
"Okay, but before that, let's get inside the car, okay?" Isabella said, making the twins nod.
Isabella opened the backseat door and helped the twins sit inside. Angelo suddenly remembered something as he was seated, and he looked at Isabella before asking,
"Mommy, you said today Uncle Andrew would be picking us up because you had an important meeting and you would be late. Then how did you come? Did the meeting end quickly?"
Isabella's eyes widened as Angelo's words made her recall the true purpose of the meeting. The reason she went to the meeting was to discuss the project. But the moment she saw Nicholas, she forgot everything.
For the Phoenix project to work, she needed investment from the Valentino Group. She rejected the Costa Organization because of Nicholas, but he ended up buying the Valentino Group for her.
Isabella was sure that Nicholas knew that she must get the investment from his company or the Valentino Group. He did it on purpose. He wanted to cage her. Now she could only get the investment from him.
But if she did that, it would be the same as walking into the devil's trap. But she didn't have any other choice. What should she do now? Before Isabella could dwell on it more, a familiar voice pulled her attention.
"Isabella," a young man whispered in shock. His tone was filled with astonishment and happiness.
Isabella looked at the owner of the voice, and she was shocked when she looked at the man. A few steps away from her stood the man for whom her ex-best friend had betrayed her, and he stared at her with eyes brimming with unmistakable joy. She stared at him in surprise and uttered,
"Massimo."