Isabella stood there, frozen in place, her ears ringing from everything that had happened. No one walked up to her. No one officially told her to leave. But it was already obvious that she could not stay any longer.
Everything had gone wrong.
Her punishment had already been increased, and there was nothing more she could do or say to fix it. Staying would only make things worse.
Without looking back, Isabella turned and walked out of the hall.
Outside, the cool night air brushed against her skin, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart. She searched the driveway for Julian's car.
It was gone.
He must have left earlier.
With no other choice, she flagged down a taxi and climbed in, clutching her bag tightly as she gave the driver her address. The ride home felt endless, her thoughts tangled in fear and dread.
***
Julian was already on the road, heading straight to the hospital to see his father.
Everything Adrian had done to him over the years had finally become unbearable. The control, the humiliation, the constant threats. Tonight had only proven that Adrian had no limits.
Still, Julian knew he had to be careful.
For now, he would play along.
The six month marriage was nothing more than words on paper. A trap Adrian believed would keep him obedient. Julian had no intention of remaining trapped forever.
Soon, he arrived at the hospital.
The staff recognized him immediately. They knew both him and his father well. But when Julian approached his father's ward, two attendants stepped in front of the door.
"I want to see my father," Julian said firmly.
"You cannot go in right now," one of them replied.
Julian frowned. "Why not? Is something wrong with him?"
"He is stable," the attendant answered quickly. "But you still cannot see him now. Please come back later."
Something about their tone felt wrong.
Julian stepped back and glanced down the corridor. That was when he saw him.
One of Adrian's guards.
Julian's jaw tightened.
So this was not a coincidence.
Whatever was happening inside that ward, Adrian was involved.
Julian forced himself to stay calm. Causing a scene would only worsen the situation.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the hospital, got into his car, and drove home, his mind already working through his next move.
Adrian had tightened the chains.
But Julian was already planning how to break them.
Adrian got home late that night. He parked his car in the driveway and walked straight into the house, exhaustion heavy on his shoulders. When he entered his room, the first thing that caught his attention was the suit laid neatly on the bed.
It was new. Clean. Expensive.
He did not need anyone to tell him who it was from. This was Adrian's plan, as always.
He walked closer and studied the suit. It was well chosen, the kind meant to impress, the kind meant for appearances. He checked the tag, and that was when he noticed the note attached to it.
He picked it up and read.
"Tomorrow by 7 o'clock, be ready.
The grand hall is being decorated.
Behave yourself and pretend to be happy.
If you try to run away or sabotage my plan, you know what will happen.
Be good. Show up."
Julian crushed the note in his fist.
For a moment, anger burned in his chest. Then he exhaled slowly. Fighting now would only make things worse. The only option left was to play along.
He let out a short, humorless laugh and dropped into his chair.
Isabella crossed his mind.
He remembered the humiliation she had suffered at the party, the way she had stood there helpless while everyone watched. For a moment, he considered calling her. His fingers hovered over his phone.
Then he stopped.
It was not his place. Not anymore.
He turned to his laptop instead.
Julian resumed his search, the one thing he had never given up on. His mother. Every night, the same hope, the same desperation. He searched and searched, following dead ends and unanswered questions.
There was still nothing.
But he refused to stop.
Maybe one day, something would change. Maybe one day, he would finally find her.
Until then, this was all he had left.
***
Immediately, Isabella got home, shocked to find Mr. and Mrs. Verne sitting in the living room. She hadn't expected them back so soon.
"Good evening, Ma, good evening, Pa," she greeted softly, feeling a mix of relief and nervousness.
"Ah, Isabella, how have you been?" Mr. Verne asked kindly.
"I'm fine, sir," she replied.
"So, you're getting married tomorrow?" Mrs. Verne asked.
"How… how did you know that, Ma?" Isabella stammered.
"Well, some people came by to drop your wedding gown," Mrs. Verne explained. "They said tomorrow is your wedding."
Isabella paused, unsure how to explain the complicated situation she was in.
"Well, it's a good thing. We wish you the best of luck in your marriage," Mr. Verne said warmly.
"Thank you, Ma, thank you, Pa," Isabella said, feeling a warmth in their acceptance.
After a moment, Mrs. Verne asked, "But where are my girls?"
"They are still at Mr. Adrain's party," Isabella replied, her mind still processing everything.
Then she walked to her room and found her wedding dress. It was exquisite. A note was attached, written in sharp, commanding handwriting:
"Do not try to run away or screw this up. You know what I can do."
Isabella sank onto the bed, trembling. Just then, her phone beeped. She picked it up and saw a new message from an unknown number:
"You are a twin."
She paused, staring at the screen. This was so strange. What was this all about?
Before she could think further, another message popped in:
"I hope you like your dress. Tomorrow, we'll see at your wedding. Enjoy this evening… because tomorrow…"
Isabella froze. What was happening? She knew this was definitely not a friendly message. So… who was it?