The closet door creaked open, and Isabelle instinctively stepped back, her body trembling with fear. The look on Eric's face was one she had never seen before—cold, detached, and terrifying. Gone was the sweet man she once knew; in his place stood a stranger.
"Baby, who is that?" Angelina's voice rang out from the bed. But Eric remained silent, his eyes locked onto Isabelle, who was desperately trying to hold back the sobs already shaking her frame. Angelina, sensing something was wrong, slipped out of bed and walked toward them. Her expression shifted from confusion to shock as she took in the sight of Isabelle.
"Isabelle…oh my goodness…what a wonderful surprise, I guess." Angelina's voice dripped with feigned amusement. She turned to Eric, silently seeking an explanation, but he looked just as stuck as she did.
Eric let out a frustrated sigh, then finally spoke, his tone cold and void of emotion. "Isabelle, what are you doing here?"
Isabelle's heart ached at his indifferent words. She had thought she knew this man—her fiancé—but the person standing before her felt like a stranger. With pain tightening her throat, she faced him, allowing the emotions to spill out.
"Is this… Can't I come to look for my fiancé? Have you forgotten that you gave me the keys to your penthouse, telling me I could come here whenever I wanted for my safety? And what is this? What are you doing, Eric? How could you do this to me? HOW?!" Her voice cracked as she pointed at Angelina, who averted her gaze and adjusted the blanket wrapped around her upper body.
"She attended our engagement ceremony and even interviewed us, so why are you with her? Why are you sleeping with her? What have I done that you aren't satisfied with? You told me you loved me… You said you couldn't wait to spend the rest of the year with me when you came back. But you've been back for so long and refused to come home or even tell me. Why? Why did you cheat on me? Why?"
Tears streamed freely down Isabelle's face, her vision blurring as she clutched at her dress. This was it—her whole world crashing down in an instant. Every dream, every ounce of happiness she had clung to was being ripped away. Eric remained unmoved. His hands slid into his pockets as he exhaled sharply. And then, without a flicker of remorse, he said, "I never said I would continue to love you. I never loved you, Isabelle."
The words hit her like a slap, causing her sobs to halt. She lifted her head, disbelief written all over her tear-streaked face.
"What… What did you say?"
Angelina burst into laughter, the cruel sound echoing through the room. She covered her mouth as if to stifle the sound, but the gleam in her eyes showed her sheer delight at Isabelle's suffering.
"Yes, I never loved you, Isabelle," Eric continued, his voice filled with mockery. "Hold on—did you really think that I, Eric Salvatore, the prestigious heir, would ever go for someone like you? That's laughable. It's downright degrading."
Isabelle's heart sank. The maids' whispers, the rumors, the condescending glances—every single one of them replayed in her mind. Was this really happening? Was this really Eric speaking?
Even in her devastation, she managed a brittle laugh. "No… No way, Eric. You know I can take a joke, but not this. This is too expensive a joke."
Angelina scoffed, rolling her eyes. "She must be crazy. What is she even saying?" But Isabelle ignored her, focusing solely on Eric, searching his face for even the smallest hint of regret.
Eric's lips curled in disdain. "Does it look like I'm joking? I said I don't love you. I never have, and I never will. You must be very foolish to think that I'd ever settle for someone like you. You're way below me, Isabelle—far below my league. I got engaged to you against my will. I had to act like I cared, let you touch me with those disgusting hands of yours. You must think you're smart, hiding the fact that you were once a prostitute, huh?"
Isabelle's entire body stiffened. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. Someone had to wake her up from this nightmare. She shook her head in denial, but the truth was staring her right in the face.
Eric scoffed and ran a hand through his hair. "You must think highly of yourself, Isabelle. You must think you're better than others. But you're nothing. An animal, even. I hate you. You don't fit into the Salvatore family, and you never will. Can't you see Angelina? Can you even compare yourself to her? Your family despises you. You are nothing but bad luck. Not even my mother likes you. The only person who would've fought for you was my grandmother, but she's sick and probably won't last long. Once she's gone, I can finally marry the woman I actually want.
"I only agreed to this engagement because I needed my name written in the will. But you? You have no worth, Isabelle. No dreams. No future. It'd be better if you just jumped off a bridge. No one would care. No one would even mourn you."
A hysterical laugh bubbled from Isabelle's lips as she screamed, the pain overwhelming her. Tears blurred her vision as she staggered forward, clutching Eric's legs, desperate.
"Please, Eric… Please, I beg you. Tell me anything—anything that you want me to do, and I'll do it. Please, don't end our engagement. I don't mind—I swear, I don't mind your affair with Angelina. Just don't push me away. I'll do everything in my power to make you happy."
She had nowhere else to go. Her stepfamily was a nightmare, and this engagement had been her only escape. Without it, her life would become unbearable. She might as well end it herself.
Eric sneered and shoved her away. "Don't touch me. You disgust me."
Despite her pleas, they ignored her. The mocking laughter from Angelina stung like a whip. Something inside Isabelle snapped. She stood abruptly, her fists clenching.
"You think you can get away with this? I'll make sure you're punished! I have proof of all of this." She held up her phone. "I'll expose you. I'll show the world who you really are." Before she could turn, Angelina lunged at her, yanking her by the hair and slapping her across the face.
"You must be really stupid." Another slap followed, and then Isabelle was shoved against the wall, her phone falling from her grasp. Eric bent down, picked it up, and inspected it with disinterest before smashing it under his heel.
"You feel entitled to something you should never have had in the first place."
"Help me… Ah—" Isabelle's cry was cut off as Angelina grabbed a metal chair and swung it against her legs. She screamed in agony, her body collapsing as searing pain shot through her limbs. She was losing strength. Her head pounded.
Angelina continued her assault until Eric finally intervened. "That's enough, darling. Let her be. You'll kill her."
Angelina huffed. "She's a fool. Do you have any idea how much pain I had to endure watching you with her?"
She turned to the helpless Isabelle on the floor, "Do you think it was easy leaving my man to be with you? Do you know the amount of jealousy, pain, and loneliness I had to endure each time he was with you?! Yet, you dare to threaten me? Go and kill yourself, b*tch." She spat on her face.
Eric bent and smiled at her, "You are useless and you are so irritating." He started dressing up and so did Angelina. They both carried some things out and Eric came back into the room alone with a keg of gasoline.
Even though she was losing consciousness, bleeding out of her wounds, and major cuts on her body, she could still smell it.
"I don't mind losing this penthouse for this mission. It's the least of my worries. I wish Angelina had not beaten you to this extent, but she did. And now, everyone is waiting for me at the mansion. If they get to hear that you came here and this penthouse is on fire, it's like killing two birds with one stone, if you understand what I mean." He chuckled, "I wish you luck on your journey to another life. If you happen to reincarnate, I hope you do so in a good place." He slammed her head against the tiled floor and walked out.
Isabelle was numb. She couldn't move any part of herself. The smell of flames started getting to her within a few minutes. The house was on fire. She was about to be burnt to death, and she couldn't even move her foot.
Did he have to go this far? Just because he didn't love her like he claimed? Isabelle couldn't believe that such cruelty could happen to her.
She slowly closed her eyes, offering her last prayers.
If this was how her life would end, then so be it.