Chapter 24 – Defiant Savion
Isabel’s POV
As I slowly regained consciousness, I realized I was no longer surrounded by smoke or flames. Instead, I was in a luxury Porsche Panamera. The soft leather seat beneath me and the quiet hum of ‘the engine were a surreal contrast to the chaos I’d just escaped.
I glanced around. I tried to piece together what had happened, when my eyes landed on Emerson.
He was driving. His face was tight with concentration and–was that pain? Cold sweat dotted his forehead. His jaw clenched as if he were trying to keep himself together.
What on earth happened? I looked down at myself, taking in the soot- stained clothes, the scrapes, and burns on my skin. The memories of the fire came rushing back. Emma’s apartment, the smoke, the panic.
And then, like a flash, I realized who must have pulled me out of that inferno. Emerson. But why? Everything was a blur. The confusion made my head spin.
I stared at him, trying to make sense of it all. But he avoided my gaze. His silence felt heavy. I was still too dazed to form a coherent thought, let alone speak. The awkwardness in the car was
suffocating.
Finally, as if he couldn’t stand it anymore, he broke the silence. “I didn’t come to save you on purpose. Don’t flatter yourself,” he spat out, but then winced in pain.
“Are you okay?” I asked. I noticed he was gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. His knuckles were white.
He didn’t answer, just kept his eyes fixed on the road. I was too tired
1/4
to push him for more. But the questions were swirling in my mind. Why was he even at Emma’s apartment? Why would he risk himself to pull me out of that fire?
“Why were you at the apartment?” finally asked, unable to keep the curiosity at bay.
“I was on my way to pick up my son,” he replied. “I just happened to pass by Emma’s place. I should have been with my family tonight, but you-” He paused, his voice thick with frustration. “You messed up my schedule.”
The way he said “family” hit me like a punch to the gut. I lost my family because of him–because of his betrayal. How dare he throw that word around like it meant nothing? I was too angry to let it slide.
“You just happened to pass by?” I echoed incredulously. “If I remember correctly, Emma’s place is in the exact opposite direction. And by the way, I never asked you to save me.”
Emerson’s jaw tightened at my words. His anger matched my own. He always knew how to hurt me, even when I was at my lowest. How could he be so cruel?
Before he could respond, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen- Emma. “I have to take this,” I muttered and answered the call. I could hear the panic in her voice.
“Oh, Isabel! Thank god, you’re alive!” she cried, her voice thick with. tears. “I was at work when I heard about the fire. I can’t believe it. I’m so glad you made it out!”
I reassured her that I was okay. I kept my voice steady to not worry her further. I decided not to tell her that Emerson was the one who’d saved me. That was a conversation for another time. We ended the
call.
I turned to Emerson, ready to give him a piece of my mind. “I don’t
need your help,” I said, my voice sharp. “I can handle it on my own from now on.”
He didn’t even flinch, just looked at me with that infuriatingly smug expression. “If you’re so capable, why didn’t you know it wasn’t the first time that building caught fire?”
His words caught me off guard. How did he know that? Did he look into where I was staying? And if so, why?
Before I could ask, he cut me off, “Don’t get any ideas. I don’t care about you that much.”
His dismissal stung, but I wasn’t about to let him have the last word. “Emma was letting me stay there for free. You know my situation. Not everyone has the luxury of living in a mansion,” I shot back, my anger bubbling over.
For a moment, he looked shocked by my outburst. Like he hadn’t expected me to push back. But then his expression hardened again. He made a decision that left me reeling.
“You’re staying at my villa until you find a safer place to live,” he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I don’t want people thinking I mistreated my ex–wife. It’s humiliating.”
I stared at him, stunned by his audacity. The last place I wanted to be was under his roof. But the look in his eyes told me he wouldn’t
take no for an answer.
I was stunned by his casual decision. I immediately demanded that he stop the car. “I told you, I don’t need your help!” I said with an exasperated sigh. He ignored me and locked the doors with a click.
His voice was firm, almost daring me to argue. “Don’t negotiate with me. Eric is bringing a doctor. I’m going to find out exactly what’s wrong with you!*