"Nobody ever knows this, but I will tell you so that you will understand why I chose the gift strategy to use on Ethan Mark," Isabella said and continued."When Ethan and I were newly married, I had three friends who were daughters of rich men too: Debra, Lucy, and Betty. Each night, we met at the Opulent Elegance, an expensive restaurant that only the wealthy could afford.""Every night, when we went to this restaurant to have some girls' time, Ethan was always at work, toiling away so that we could have something to eat the next day.""Wait! I have a question," Alexa interrupted."Go ahead, Alexa," Isabella said."You said you and your three friends went to Opulent Elegance every night, and this place is an expensive restaurant that only the rich can afford. But at the point when you eloped with Ethan against Master Alexander's wishes, I was the one Master Alexander used to place a restriction on all your accounts, preventing you from accessing money, and you were only allowed to re
With a sad expression written all over Isabella's face as she told the story to Alexa, she heaved a sigh at that moment and continued talking. "Why would Ethan say such a thing to my friends? Why would he decide he wanted to appreciate them and ridicule me in front of them?" Isabella said. "So, what happened after he appreciated Lucy and the rest for their supposed kind gesture towards him?" "What else could have happened?" Isabella said, her voice going a little bit higher than it was before. "Lucy was confused, Betty was confused, and Debra was confused. They knew they never gave me any money to gift my husband; instead, I have always been the one to always sing it to their ears that my husband was a rich man, hence they wanted to meet him." With a carefully crafted fake smile, Lucy looked back at Ethan and asked him, "Are you not wealthy, Mr. Ethan Mark?" "Silly Ethan, how dare he not think deeply before he answers that question? He looked back at Lucy, then gazed slightly upo
"Alright then, if you say so, let's give it a try," Alexa said."Great. The other time, you said Ethan was going to a board meeting in one hour. How many minutes are remaining for him to go now?" Isabella asked immediately."Isabella, though we spoke at length, we haven't spent up to twenty minutes. We only spoke for a minute, and if you are fast enough, you can still catch up with Ethan in 45 minutes.""Great!" Isabella sounded.Hence, at this moment, she sprang into the bath. In about ten minutes, she was done and delved into one of the clothes in the closet."I can see that you are now rushing, Isabella," Alexa's voice said at this moment."Of course I am. Could you help me calculate the total amount of time I spent in the bath?""Certainly, I can do that, Isabella. You spent a total of ten minutes and 12 seconds in the bath and exactly two minutes dressing up. Your makeup took a total of 9 minutes and 30 seconds, and you have 23 minutes and 18 seconds more to see Ethan before he h
As soon as Alexa's question reached Isabella's ear, she exhaled a heavy sigh, as if a multitude of worries burdened her mind and weighed on her. Consequently, after her sigh, she spoke, saying, "Now, I am ready."Alexa made a turn and drove slowly down Ethan Mark's street. To the great surprise of Isabella, she noticed two vans already parked at the gate of Ethan Mark's residence.One of the vans was sleek and black with silver accents, featuring the company's logo elegantly displaying a symbol of a suit on the sides, exuding a sense of sophistication.On the other hand, the Gourmet Delight Rover van was colorful and inviting, showcasing vibrant dishes, making it look both delicious and appealing.Upon seeing these two vans at the gate of Ethan Mark's home, Isabella also observed that no one had stepped out of either of them."Why are they not doing anything? Shouldn't they present the gifts to Ethan and let him know I sent them?" Isabella inquired."No, Isabella. That's not how it wo
Ethan was in the dressing room with Sartorial Elegance, his personal tailor, who had just brought him a new high-end suit, unveiling it like a craftsman presenting a priceless masterpiece."Master Mark, this suit is crafted from the rarest and most exquisite materials. The fabric is a blend of pure Vicuña wool and silk, with a lining made from alpaca fur. These materials cannot be found anywhere in the country, and they are exceptionally expensive, ensuring that your suit is truly one of a kind.""Is that so, Mr. Sartorial Elegance?" Ethan asked, a faint smile gracing his cheeks."Of course, Master Mark. I am your personal tailor, and besides, I am the most expensive fashion designer in the whole country. I cannot provide you with anything less than exquisite materials," Sartorial Elegance proudly explained.In no time, as Ethan was being dressed in his new suit, Mr. Smith entered the room and respectfully bowed to Ethan. Ethan understood that Mr. Smith had important information to co
"Why all of this?" Ethan asked again, his stare becoming too serious, and hence, Isabella saw it as if he meant his question. However, it didn't mean Isabella understood the question any better."Why all of what?" she asked again."Okay, I will put it to you directly. Why are you struggling so hard to be welcome here? You can't be welcome here, no matter how much you try," Ethan said coldly.As Ethan said this, there was a sudden pause between him and Isabella. Similarly, while Isabella was dishing the food onto the plates, she paused. It was a moment when silence became too loud. However, it did not last more than thirty seconds.Hence, Isabella took a deep sigh and crafted a smile at Ethan once again. Purposefully, she pretended not to have heard what Ethan said, and the next words she spoke were a change of subject."I was very careful in choosing this special treat for you. I want you to eat and enjoy. This food is healthy and very nourishing for your body."Ethan chuckled like a
If nothing made sense to Isabella, it was not the last few words of Ethan. At this moment, her eyes first widened in maximum surprise. Nevertheless, as if she hadn't heard him the first time, she wanted him to repeat what he had just said, like a deer caught in headlights. Her curiosity piqued."What did you say?" Isabella asked."What? Are you deaf now? You couldn't hear me all along." Ethan said, his voice calm yet painful, like a sharp dagger cutting through the silence of the night."I just want to make sure I hear the last few words," Isabella said once more."Move on, Isabella. I already did," Ethan declared once again.She widened her cheeks in the most delicate way that showed her fake smile so obviously, and with this smile, she made a chuckling sound.She paced to and fro around the table, and afterwards, she placed her hands on the table."You did what, Ethan?" she asked again, as if she could not seem to comprehend what Ethan had said before."You dare not, Ethan! You **in
The loud gunshot, like a thunderclap in the still night, was so deafening that Isabella knew she could be in trouble if she stayed. The sound had likely attracted the police and the press to the scene like moths drawn to a flame."Sh*t, f**king sh*t!" she exclaimed, then opened her car door, slipped inside, and sped away at a high speed."What did I just do? What the f**k did I just do?" she muttered, her words echoing like haunting whispers in the night."F**k!" she exclaimed again, scrathed one of her hands into her hair, and also, with the same strength, flung the pistol in her hand to the back seat of the car as she continued driving to the back of the car."I just f**king ruined everything. I just f**king ruined everything. F**k me!" She yelled loudly, and saliva sprayed from her mouth like a sudden rain of droplets."Who is that f**king woman he moved on with? Does he love her more than he used to love me?" She seethed, her jealousy burning like a wildfire in her heart.The fact
Pushing her back into her prison cell like a reluctant pawn being returned to its square on a chessboard, Isabella fell on the prison floor, resembling a fragile autumn leaf descending with a surrender to the inevitable embrace of the cold, hard ground. No matter how her voice had risen in anger towards her mother in the meeting room, she knew very well that she wanted to read the contents of the letter in the envelope and discover the help Ethan Mark had promised her. "Would he file for my release?" "Has he bought me a home as a sign of my forgiveness?" "Would he take me back as his wife?" Different questions rushed through her mind like a tumultuous river, each query cascading over the other. As she held the envelope in her hand, she sat at the corner of her cell and stared at it much more closely. In this way, she saw that the surface of the envelope bore a faint trace of handling, like a blank canvas marked only by the weight of the untold. She also observed the edges, crisp
As Isabella saw her mother through the glass panel, her eyes first peered at her face, which was fresh and glowing like a sun-kissing morning, radiating warmth and vitality. Similarly, she observed her hair, cascading strands of silk, flowing effortlessly, resembling a gentle waterfall gracing a serene landscape.But if that were all, it would be a lie. She also noticed her dress, which was as beautiful as a field of blooming flowers, each petal a vibrant hue, creating a tapestry of elegance. Likewise, her neck, ears, and wrists were adorned with jewelry, resembling constellations adorning the night sky, each piece a sparkling star in the galaxy of her elegance.Taking in this perfect image of her mother, the thought immediately struck Isabella that her mother's current appearance was the complete inverse of hers—a mess in a uniform and in a confined space, akin to a wildflower struggling to bloom in a cramped garden bed."Been a while," Victoria Sinclair said again, immediately as Is
Like a fish forced to live in the desert for the crime she had committed, Isabella's prison days wove a bleak tapestry of monotony and despair. The cold, unforgiving reality of prison life left her yearning for freedom, with each passing moment feeling like an eternity. The absence of familiar faces and the pervasive loneliness created a profound sense of desolation that permeated every aspect of her existence.Most especially, the daily beatings from her tormentor, Elara Whitewind, resembled an unrelenting storm, leaving Isabella's spirit battered and broken, akin to a shipwreck in the tempest of her despair. This was the reason she wished she had never set foot in the prison yard, mess hall, or communal bathroom ever again.However, whether she wished to visit those places or not, prison protocol had to be followed, leaving her no choice but to be present even in the devil's face if the protocol demanded it.In the dimly lit mess hall, clattering trays and hushed conversations fille
Ethan said nothing in response to Mr. Alexander's words. Instead, as if he hadn't heard him, he seized a seat on the other side of the table and crossed his left leg over his right.Yet, this did not mean he spoke at this moment. The only sound was the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the table, as if he were playing an invisible piano.In this manner, Ethan Mark exuded authority. Gazing calmly from Mr. Alexander's feet to the tangled mess of hair atop his head, he looked at him. With a serenity akin to the gentle flow of the Nile and a voice as soft as a satisfied dove contemplating a defeated jungle lion, he suddenly spoke."Kneel and apologize."Upon hearing these words, Mr. Alexander's eyes widened in shock. He never anticipated a day when he would be asked to kneel and beg for mercy, especially from the person he had always regarded as a poor bastard.Like an enslaved cat in the presence of a lion, Mr. Alexander fell to his knees as Ethan Mark instructed, pleading, "I was a ter
Seeing how bold, tall, and dangerous this prisoner appeared and observing his audacious manner of poking at him was akin to witnessing a prowling lion, confident in its dominance, taunting its prey before the impending strike. Mr. Alexander then immediately turned his back, attempting to escape from this menacing part of the communal bathroom like a startled deer seeking refuge from the looming threat in the dark forest. "I have to run," he muttered in total fright, his voice a tremor in the echoing silence, like a desperate whisper carried away by the chilling wind of impending danger. However, if his intention was for success, it was a futile hope. "And where do you think you are running to, huh?" Another prisoner said this behind him and pushed him forward like a pawn on the unforgiving chessboard of the prison's power dynamics. As Mr. Alexander was pushed forward, he witnessed how the older prisoners immediately surrounded him. He also noticed how they revealed smirks on their c
After speaking for hours, the man who had conversed with him advised Mr. Alexander to get some sleep. He emphasized the importance of having alert eyes to observe any unfortunate events that might occur in the morning. And with that, Mr. Alexander retreated to the corner of his cell once again, burying his head in his ankle like a ship seeking refuge in the harbor of solitude, sheltering itself from the tempest of the prison's harsh reality. He sat on the ground, succumbing to a haunted sleep. *** The next morning revealed Mr. Alexander as a mere specter of resilience, marked by the weariness of a night spent in the clutches of haunted dreams, like a tattered flag fluttering weakly after enduring the relentless storm of a sleepless night. His eyes, burdened with unrest, betrayed the toll of his surroundings. Disheveled strands of hair clung to his forehead, bearing witness to the restless hours entangled in unsettling dreams. As he rose from the dark corner of his cell, his eyes fir
"Long story, man," the man answered. However, if this was all he said, it was a lie. He began to unravel his own narrative, detailing how his legs became amputated and one of his hands irreparably broken and dislocated."You see, I entered this prison as a healthy man. My crimes weren't that significant. I robbed a bank because I couldn't bear to watch my daughter suffer. We hadn't eaten for days, and robbing the bank seemed like my only option." He took a deep sigh and continued talking."Yes, you guessed right. The mission was unsuccessful, and before I knew it, I was completely surrounded by the police. I had no guns, only a knife and a dagger. I never headed to the vault but collected pieces from each person I encountered in the bank. I just wanted to be able to feed my daughter and move on with life the next day.""While being surrounded, there was nothing more I could do than raise my hands in the air and let the police apprehend me. God knows it was the biggest mistake I ever m
Arriving at the prison, Mr. Alexander saw how the prison walls were imposing, resembling a fortress of despair that stood as a testament to the shadows of society. Certainly, he shook his head in regret, as he had never been to a place this horrible before.He observed cold steel bars, like sentinels of incarceration, confining notorious men whose stories were etched in the graffiti of hardened souls. Similarly, he noticed how the air hung heavy with the weight of regret, whispers of past misdeeds echoing through the dimly lit corridors.The sounds of his handcuffs tucked in chains down to his ankle made obvious sounds as he was escorted through the corridor harboring the cells of different notorious men by two prison officers whose faces lacked smiles, as if they hadn't smiled for many notorious years. Hence, he saw individuals behind these cells harboring untold secrets with their unappealing faces and frightful behaviors.Upon witnessing him and the others being escorted to their r
“Detective Sharon, we would love to ask you a few questions if you do not mind. We are sure this would help the public understand more of what is going on,” one reporter said immediately. “Alright, please go ahead. If this would help the general public understand more of what is going on, “Thank you, Detective Sharon. Now that Mr. Alexander, Mr. X, and Attorney Hughes have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, and Attorney Reynolds is awaiting the outcome of his investigation before he is sentenced, do you think that would be the end of this deadly organization?” “Yes, Mr. X. Mr. Alexander Rosewood and Attorney Hughes have been sentenced to prison for a very long term, and if care is not taken, for life imprisonment. However, this is not the end of the organization. As you might already know, the deadly organization is a large organization that has penetrated every sector, which could even include the police, the prison officers, the legal system, and many more, which could even i