Isabelle's POV "So how long is your sister going to stay here?" August asked when I mentioned Karen's breakdown and our plans to let her stay a little longer, at least until things settled down. "Don't be so cold. She's going through a difficult time, and it's not good for her to be alone at home. I'm going with her to her next appointment, and I'll talk to the doctor. She might need medication. Besides, I don't trust this whole story about Carl accepting everything so easily. Something isn't right." "Maybe he realized she's not alone. With you by her side, Karen has a chance of putting up a fight, and he can't threaten her however he pleases." "Maybe... but I still think he's capable of doing something." He didn't answer. He kept doing his sit-ups. It had been a while since I'd joined him for his five-in-the-morning routine. It was impossible not to stare at him, sweaty and shirtless, every muscle on full display. Ever since we'd made up, the tension between us had been pure

August's POV After everything that had happened, Isabelle returned home carrying an exhaustion that went far beyond the physical. Carl's latest attack had once again left her with that same sadness I'd seen on her face when we first reunited. The next morning, she woke up beside me and followed every step of my routine with a distracted look. Even though she kept insisting that everything would be fine, Isabelle barely seemed to hear me. She had a meeting with the lawyers first thing that morning to decide on the next steps for clearing her name and finding out where Carl had disappeared to. I wanted to go with her, but I had an urgent, unavoidable meeting with Marcellus Chester, CEO of Chester & Co., SEG29's direct competitor. Marcellus was worse than my father, and he had a habit of knowing things he had no business knowing. As soon as he'd heard I'd left the company, he'd found a way to contact me and arrange a meeting. I didn't have to be a genius to know what he wanted.

Isabelle's POV The smell of fried garlic filled the kitchen. With everything that had been happening, cooking was the best thing I could do. It was still the only thing I had any control over. Browning the garlic to make a nice pot of rice while the meat roasted in the oven. I was even planning to make a chocolate cake to add a special touch. "Want to hold him for a little while?" I heard Karen ask August. Automatically, I looked toward the living room. August tried to step back, but Karen placed Hector in his arms. The little boy giggled, and August, looking somewhat uncomfortable, ended up holding him. It was sweet. I stared at the two of them, feeling a confusing mix of emotions. Karen laughed, stepped closer to August, and adjusted something on his clothes. She was too close, laughing too much. He looked at her and laughed at something she said. From a distance, they looked like a family. Jealousy hit me like a tidal wave, blinding me for a moment. I had an insane urge

Diana’s POV Valentina pulled me into her bedroom as soon as I arrived, excited and eager for my help with her makeup and hair. "I want pretty makeup, you know? The kind that looks professionally done. Nothing too extravagant, but elegant... like yours," she said excitedly. "I want to be as pretty as you." "But you're beautiful." "But I want to know how to do my makeup and dress like you too. Everything looks so pretty and elegant on you." "Let's see what you have here, and I'll give you a few tips." I smiled and picked through what she had, trying to give her exactly what she wanted while teaching her a few tricks she could use every day. She was easy to talk to. In all my cowardice, I'd spent the entire week burying myself in work and avoiding Isaac. Oliver had come over for dinner, but we hadn't been able to talk, and once again, everything had ended badly. Now, on top of everything else, my father was demanding that I make things right with my fiancé. And here I was,

Isabelle's POV Camille arrived at the hospital running, completely out of breath, and I only had to look at her for a second to know that Karen was already at my aunt's house. "Did she sleep with August?" That was the first thing she asked. I hadn't explained the details. I'd only called to check on Hector and let her know that I'd kicked Karen out of the house. "Not exactly, I don't think. I haven't really had a chance to talk to him yet. How did she get to your house?" I asked. Just thinking about Karen made me sick. "Crying. And cursing you out, saying you'd thrown her out of the house without any clothes on. She was wearing a T-shirt... I think it belonged to the security guard who took her there. "And you know what my mother is like. She was furious with you. But I didn't need much to understand why you'd kicked her out." I looked around the hospital, feeling exhausted. The fury and shock had given way to a deep physical and mental exhaustion. "I'm so ashamed of myse