Chapter 76 The Shadow at the Window

Chapter 76 The Shadow at the Window
The car slowed to a crawl as it approached the end of the dusty, untarred road. Isabella leaned forward, her eyes scanning the cracked gray walls of the abandoned house. It looked unstable—broken windows, peeling paint, and a porch that groaned under the weight of time. But to her, it looked like heaven.
Because standing by the front door, half-hidden in the shade of a dying oak tree, was Alexander.
The car hadn't even fully stopped before Isabella shoved the door open. She ran across the dry grass, her heels sinking into the dirt. Alexander caught her mid-stride, lifting her off her feet. He spun her around, his face buried in the crook of her neck.
"You’re here," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "God, Bella, I thought I’d never hold you again."
Isabella didn't answer. She couldn't. She pulled his head down and kissed him with a desperate, hungry intensity as they clung to each other, their breath hitching in the quiet afternoon air.
When they finally pulled apart, Alexander cupped her face in his hands, looking at her with such fierce love that it made her knees go weak.
"I got the package," he said quickly, his words tumbling out. "Isabella, you’re a genius. Those files... they change everything."
"Did you find someone to help?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Lorenzo is moving so fast, Alex. The merger meeting is today."
Alexander nodded, a grim smile touching his lips. "I found an ally. A real one. You won't believe it, I found Valeria, the woman Luca was dating. She’s Vincent Harrington’s sister. She saw the files and already knew about Bianca’s pregnancy and the games she was playing."
Isabella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "A Harrington? Alex, is she safe?"
"She’s more than safe. She’s powerful," he assured her. "She’s formulating a plan right now to verify the bank transfers and the murder orders. She’s going to back us up. Once she’s done, we won't just stop the merger. We’re going to bury Lorenzo, Bianca, and Dorian Vane for good. Everything is going to be fine, I promise."
Isabella felt a sob break through her chest. The tension she had been carrying for weeks snapped, and she leaned into him, crying into his shirt, her body shaking with relief.
"I thought I was going to die in that house," she sobbed. "I thought I was alone."
"Never," Alexander murmured, kissing her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks. "You are never alone. I love you. Do you hear me? I love you more than my own life."
He pulled her into another kiss, deeper this time as they moved further into the house, seeking privacy. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the smell of old wood, but they didn't care. They were lost in each other.
Alexander’s hands moved to the zipper of her dress, his touch urgent and hot as Isabella tilted her head back, her fingers tangling in his hair. They were undressing each other with a frantic hunger, pouring every bit of their longing into the touch. 
Outside, a sleek white car sat hidden behind a cluster of overgrown bushes. Bianca climbed out, her heart racing with a toxic mix of excitement and malice.
She crept toward the side of the house, her expensive shoes crunching softly on the gravel. She reached the large, dirty window and peered through the grime.
She froze. Her jaw dropped, and her breath hitched in her throat.
"What...?" she whispered.
The man inside wasn't Lorenzo. It was Alexander. The bodyguard. She watched as Isabella leaned against a peeling wall, her dress pooled at her feet, her eyes closed in bliss as Alexander kissed her neck.
Bianca felt a twisted laugh bubble up in her chest. This was better. This was so much better than what she had planned. Isabella wasn't a victim; she was a cheater. 
"You stupid girl," she hissed.
She reached into her purse to pull out her phone, trying to put a call through to Lorenzo. She was going to make him come here and see what his loyal wife was up to. But as her finger hovered over the call button, she heard the low hum of an engine.
She turned back, and a red SUV entered the driveway, tires spitting dirt, screeching to a halt just feet away from her.
The door flew open, and Lorenzo stepped out, his brow furrowed, his lips drawn into a thin line. He looked at the abandoned house, then his eyes landed on Bianca.
"What are you doing here?" he barked, his voice hard. "Camilla told me Isabella was meeting me here. Why are you standing outside?"
Bianca smiled at him. She didn't say a word. She simply reached out, grabbed his arm, and dragged him toward the window.
"Look for yourself, Lorenzo," she whispered. "See the truth about your precious wife."
He leaned toward the glass, and his entire body went rigid. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the windowsill. He saw Isabella, his wife, in the arms of another man. He saw the passion on her face. He saw the way she looked at Alexander, a way she had never, ever looked at him.
A roar of pure, animalistic rage erupted from his chest.
"No!" he screamed as he charged toward the front door. He raised his heavy boot and kicked the wood with brutal, crushing force.
Alexander and Isabella jumped apart at the loud sound, their eyes wide with terror. They were half-dressed, their skin flushed.
"What was that?" Isabella gasped, grabbing her dress and pulling it against her chest.
Before Alexander could answer, heavy footsteps pounded across the floor as Lorenzo burst into the room, looking wild. His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in a snarl, and his fists were clenched so tight they were shaking.
He didn't even look at Isabella. His gaze was locked on Alexander.
"You!" Lorenzo screamed. "How dare you! How dare you touch what is mine!"
"Lorenzo, wait!" Isabella screamed, her voice cracking with fear.
Lorenzo didn't wait. He didn't listen. He charged across the room, put all the weight of his rage into his arm, and swung. His fist connected with Alexander’s jaw with a sickening loud thud.
Alexander’s head snapped back. He staggered away, his shoes skidding on the dusty floor. He hit the wall hard, his eyes glazing over for a second as he fought to stay on his feet.
"I’ll kill you!" Lorenzo roared, stepping forward to strike again. "I’ll bury you under this floor!"
"Stop it!" Isabella shrieked, throwing herself between them, her hands out to push Lorenzo back. "Lorenzo, stop!"
Lorenzo raised his hand again, his face inches from hers. "Move, Isabella. Or you’re next."