As Isabella drove towards the mansion, the weight of Ethan's words pressed heavily on her heart. She couldn't reconcile the calm, supportive friend she had known with the person who had just revealed such earth-shattering news. Something didn't feel right. Ethan had always been there for her, guiding her when she felt lost, but now, doubt crept in. She had sensed his tension in recent weeks, but she had never imagined it stemmed from something darker.
What she didn't know was that Ethan wasn't as innocent as he appeared. Behind his charming smile and caring facade, there lurked a man driven by ambition—one who had been slowly manipulating the pieces on the chessboard to ensure that everything fell into place according to his plan. He had gotten close to Isabella not just to bring down her family, but because he saw an opportunity: a chance to eliminate Alex as competition and take everything for himself.
Ethan had always been a man of control, someone who needed things to go his way. His calm demeanor was a mask, hiding the cruel determination that lay beneath. In the underground world, he had been known for his ruthless tactics, working behind the scenes to dismantle those who stood in his way. Alex was an obstacle, but not for long—not if Ethan played his cards right.
The more he had gotten to know Isabella, the more his ambitions shifted. His original plan had been simple—use her as a pawn to bring down the De Santos family and Alex. But he hadn't anticipated falling for her. When that happened, his strategy became more personal. Now, it wasn't just about taking down Alex's empire or her family's—it was about having her for himself.
He had timed everything perfectly. Feeding Isabella bits of information about Alex's secret plan had been a move designed to create tension and doubt between them. He knew Isabella's insecurities—how she feared that Alex didn't truly care for her. And now, Ethan would exploit that weakness to push her away from Alex and into his arms. What Ethan didn't reveal was that he had orchestrated much of the fallout with her family from the start. He had planted rumors, created chaos, and now, all that was left was to wait for Isabella to sever her ties with Alex for good.
Back at the mansion, Alex sat in his study, unaware of the storm that was brewing. He had spent the last few days piecing together his plan against the De Santos family, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Isabella had been distant lately, and he couldn't understand why. Their time together had been better than ever before, but there was still something she wasn't telling him.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming. Alex rose from his desk and walked out to find Isabella standing in the hallway, her eyes filled with fury.
"Isabella?" he asked, confused by her sudden appearance and the tension in her posture.
She glared at him, her hands trembling. "Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, her voice thick with emotion.
Alex's brow furrowed. "Tell you what? What's going on?"
"Don't act like you don't know, Alex!" she snapped, stepping forward. "You've been planning to destroy my family. I know everything. Ethan told me."
At the mention of Ethan, Alex's expression hardened. "Ethan?" he repeated, his voice cold. "What exactly did he tell you?"
"He told me about your plan. About how you've been investigating my father and how you've been planning to bring his empire down ever since we left Brazil." Her voice cracked, but she kept her composure. "Why didn't you trust me enough to tell me the truth?"
Alex took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I didn't want to hurt you, Isabella. I was going to tell you once I had all the facts. But your father—what he did to my family—it's unforgivable. He's responsible for my grandfather's death."
Isabella recoiled as though she had been slapped. She had never known the full extent of her father's crimes, but hearing it now, from Alex, it broke something inside her. "And what? You thought keeping me in the dark would make it easier?"
"I didn't want you to have to choose between me and your family," Alex said, his voice low. "I know how much they've hurt you, and I didn't want to put you in that position."
"But you did, Alex," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You put me in the middle of a war I didn't even know I was a part of."
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Alex watched her, his heart aching. He had done everything to protect her, but now it seemed like his decisions were unraveling their relationship.
"Ethan's been manipulating you," Alex finally said, his voice colder now. "He's not who you think he is."
Isabella's eyes flashed with anger. "Ethan is my friend. He's been there for me through everything."
Alex shook his head. "No, Isabella. Ethan is dangerous. He's been using you from the start. He's not some innocent friend—he has his own agenda, and it involves taking down your family and mine. He's been playing both sides."
Isabella froze, doubt creeping into her mind. She thought about how Ethan had always seemed so calm, so understanding. But could it be true? Had he been manipulating her all along?
"How do you know?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I've had Victor looking into him ever since Brazil," Alex admitted. "He's connected to some of our old enemies. He's not the man you think he is."
For a moment, Isabella didn't know what to believe. She felt torn between the two men who had been closest to her in recent months. But deep down, a small part of her knew Alex was telling the truth. Ethan's sudden revelations, his insistence on driving a wedge between her and Alex—it all made sense now.
Alex stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "I know I've made mistakes, Isabella. But I never wanted to hurt you. I love you."
The confession hit her like a tidal wave, taking her breath away. She stared at Alex, stunned by his words, unsure of how to respond.
But before she could say anything, the door opened, and there stood Ethan, his face calm but his eyes dark with something far more sinister.
"Isabella," he said softly, "I came to check on you."
Alex's gaze hardened as he faced the man who had been scheming against them all along. The confrontation had finally arrived, and there was no turning back.