Chapter 9:
“I told you before, if you had any part in River falling into the sea, I’d make you pay for it Isabella’s voice was a low rasp, each word scraping its way from deep within her throat.\.
No sooner had she spoken than the shard of glass in her hand sliced across Dash’s face. The pungent scent of acid eating through flesh filled the air once more, mingling with Dash’s bloodcurdling screams
The guards, terrified, quickly released him and backed away, stumbling in fear
Freed from their grip, Dash seized Isabella’s hand, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pry it loose
Crying out in agony, he asked, “Isabella, why are you doing this to me? Why?“%
“You were the one who first claimed to love me. You wouldn’t even let anyone else touch me before. And now, for River, you’re willing to hurt me with your own hands? What does he have that I don’t? You were married to him for three years and yet you never let him touch you.”
Isabella didn’t respond. She only pressed harder leaving a long, bloody streak across Dash’s face.
She tossed the glass shard aside, her eyes locking onto mine.X
Fear surged through me and I instinctively pulled Breigh back with me.X
At the sight of my reaction, Isabella froze, her gaze wavering X
“River, are you afraid of me?”
Am I really that ugly now?“}
Her eyes drifted to the café’s menu board, where her reflection stared back at her. She stumbled back in shock, then bolted toward the door
“No, this isn’t me. What happened to my face? This isn’t me…”
The moment she pushed the door open, her body crumpled to the floor.
It was exactly then that the ambulance arrived.
The paramedics quickly loaded her into the vehicle !!
Dash, who had been sitting stunned on the floor, scrambled up as s soon as he saw the nurses, rushing toward them
“Doctor, please save me, save my face!”
Isabella’s face was beyond recognition. The acid had eaten away so much that the bones were exposed, the damage irreparable l
Dash was sentenced to five years for attempted murder and intentional harm. His face, too, was a permanent ruin.
Vincent and Samantha never imagined their adopted son would bring such destruction to their biological daughter. Heartbroken and enraged, they severed all ties with Dash 3
The family company was returned to Vincent’s hands, but with his daughter in ruins, he lost the will to carry on. Eventually, he sold the business, unable to hold onto anything that once mattered.
After that, Isabella was out of my life for a long time.
Life with Breigh was fulfilling
By day, I taught her self–defense. By night, I made sure she knew the art of husband–defense!
But even the best defenses couldn’t guard against everything; soon enough, she was pregnant!
When Azalea was bom, a figure began appearing outside the villa, cloaked in shadows. Judging by the silhouette, it looked like Isabella She kept her distance, her eyes fixed on the front gate as if waiting for someone to arrive.X
- r. full of
When Azalea tumed one, Breigh and I were in the front yard, helping her take her first steps. Isabella’s gaze lingered from afar, longing!
At three. Azalea received a sled in the mail from an anonymous sender.)
Breigh was annoyed and almost tossed the sled out, but when she saw how much Azalea adored it, she pouted and decided to keep it When Azalea turned five, Luke was born.
Luke, ever the bold one, would march up to the garden wall and wave of Isabella.
But Isabella never dared approach him, afraid she might frighten the child
One day, after a family walk, we came home to find Isabella standing like a lifeless statue a little way off.
Breigh, furious, yanked me inside and kissed mo with a fiery passion.!!
And just like that, time slipped away unnoticed.
When Isabella turned fifty, she fell seriously ill E
Before she passed. Breigh and I went to visit her.!!
She whispered, “River, I regret it. I’ve regretted it all my life.“%
“If only I had truly been with you from the start if I hadn’t clung to that foolish pride of staying pure, then today, I could’ve been the one with two kids and had a lifetime of happiness with you”
I stayed silent. There was no room for “what if” in my world.
If you couldn’t cherish something when it was right in front of you, what was the point of regretting it once it was gone?s
