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Isabella Miller—

I didn't sleep all night long. I spent it all going through the net and browsing Clarissa's IG. I reminisced through the memories of us together where we snapped pictures. There were even some of when we were still in college. She always held a special place in my heart, even when she walked out that day. I felt a part of me leave with her, and I had been so broken. I was always looking for a way to win her back, but now what if she wasn't there to win?

She was so far away now, and it was heartbreaking.

How could Lily do this to her own sister, I thought bitterly? The two sisters always had a sort of tension between them, but lately, it had escalated to the top. Lily was just a bitter little hag who couldn't come to terms with the fact that Clarissa would always be better than her.

Maybe if the former had let go of the hate and just accepted things as they were, then all this wouldn't have happened. They were the villains now, I thought.

And somehow, I had to let the whole world know, too. I didn't know how, but I was going to make it happen.

On that happy note, I put on the leather jacket over my gray crop top and shuffled through the clothes, trying to decide between a pleated skirt and cargo pants. My hand brushed past a jacket, and I was shocked to realize that I still had Tristan's jacket with me.

I felt my breath hitch. How could I be so careless? All this while, and I forgot to give it back to him?

I picked it up from the hanger and folded it up, thinking that I would go and give it to him, that's what I remembered.

The jacket still held his scent, even though I'd washed it. It was deep and masculine, with a touch of cedarwood and bergamot. So male, I thought, and I didn't even know when a sigh escaped me.

"Stop it, Isabella," I chided. He was an officer, and I was just a girl who didn't know what she wanted. There was no use having these baseless fantasies. But ever since that night at the bar, I hadn't been able to sleep properly anymore. Most of the time, I woke up with his face in my head and my hands between my thighs.

"Way to go, Isabella," I thought. I ended up falling hopelessly in love with a stranger who didn't even know.

I forced myself to work, dragging myself out of the room before my imagination went wild again. I would go and give him his jacket, I decided, like I wasn't just looking for an excuse to see him.

I walked out of my apartment and caught the first bus to the station. He had given me his card the other time, so I knew where he worked.

I stopped at the station; this was the first time I was here, strangely enough.

I walked up to the nearest officer who looked pleasant.

"Please, can you direct me to Superintendent Tristan?" I asked politely.

He looked at me with a frown. "Do you have an appointment?" he asked instead.

I shook my head slowly. "I only wanted to give him his jacket, after all."

"Fine," the officer said. "I'll ring him up and tell him there's someone out here to see him. He's extremely busy on a case, too, so if I were you, I wouldn't have any hopes."

"That would be wonderful," I said hurriedly.

He gave a nod and pulled out his phone. "Superintendent," I heard him say.

I couldn't hear Tristan's reply because it wasn't on loudspeaker. The officer said something else into the phone and looked at me.

"Your name?" he mouthed.

"Isabella. Isabella Miller," I said immediately.

He gave a short nod. "There's one Isabella Miller who wants to see you," he said.

I found myself holding my breath as I waited for Tristan's reply.

The officer ended the call and turned back to me with a look of slight surprise.

"Well, you're in luck," he said with a shrug. "Go down the hallway and take a turn to your right. His office is down there," he directed.

"Thank you," I said, rushing off.

I did as he said and weaved my way through the station. Finally, I found the door and walked down the little corridor there.

There was a solid oak door at the end with a name printed on it.

"Superintendent T."

I braced myself, smoothing out the folds in my clothes, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. Now I was right in front of the office, and I didn't know if I had the courage to walk in after all.

His jacket was in a paper bag in one hand, and I was debating whether to knock on the door or just open it.

My knuckles were about to connect with the door when it swung open.

"Why, hello," Damien stood in front of me with a huge smile.

I stepped back, taken aback. My eyes instinctively darted down to the ground.

Damien stepped out of the office, and I could feel his eyes on me.

"I was just leaving," he said. "So you can have him all to yourself now."

"What?" I snapped my eyes back to him, more shocked. I felt my cheeks go red. Good lord, why was I being so damn nervous?

Damien looked between us and winked at me before striding off.

I took a deep breath and walked into the office.

Tristan stood there in his white uniform, with a gold badge and a name tag on his breast pocket. He looked at me with a hint of a smile as I walked forward and presented him with his jacket.

"I forgot to give it back the other time," I said.

Looking around the room now, I noticed that another dark blue jacket was hanging over his chair.

"Oh, thank you. I had quite forgotten myself," he said, taking the paper bag from me and placing it on the shelf.

"I was going to call you," he said, turning back to me.

"You were?" I asked dumbly.

"Of course, after all, you did say it yourself."

He nodded and walked closer to me, closing the distance until we were inches apart, and I had to look away.

"Isabella," he said.

I felt my eyes snap up to him. There was something about the way he said my name that left me helpless with butterflies in my stomach.

"Can I ask you a favor?" he asked.

I nodded, knowing that I would do anything he wanted.

He looked relieved and walked over to his table, sorting through some files. "It's about Clarissa's case," he said.

"Is she going to be found?" I asked hopefully.

His eyes locked with mine in a determined look. "She is. I'm going to make sure of that."

I felt reassured knowing that Tristan was putting his all into the case. The fact that he was the one handling it made me feel safe because I knew that there was possibly no way Clarissa would not be found.

"After all, he was the best in his field. He was not just the man I fell hopelessly in love with; he was Superintendent Tristan."

"What do you want? How can I help?" I asked immediately.

"It's good that you're willing," he muttered.

"Of course I am. I'm her best friend, and I will do whatever I have to make sure that she's found."

"And if it's a bit difficult," he continued to ask.

"Tell me what I have to do," I said determined.

He nodded in approval, and my heart might have skipped a beat.

"I would be able to close the case once I get Karl to admit that he is the one behind the kidnap. That will be the fastest and cleanest way to getting him behind bars," Tristan began.

"But I need you for something. I need you to get a confession out of him," he said, looking at me intently.

I felt myself burn under his gaze. "Concentrate, Isabella," I thought. This was a very serious matter.

"You want me to get him to confess?" I asked, trying to make sure.

"Yes," he nodded.

"But how am I going to do that?" I asked, confused.

After all, I couldn't just walk up to Karl Trevor and demand that he admit he was the one behind the kidnapping. The public would attack me for making such claims. His company might be falling apart, but he was still high up in social standings. It would be a miracle if I even got to see him.

"You're in his inner circle, Isabella," Tristan said reassuringly.

"I will have his office tapped, and then you're going to come in as Clarissa's best friend. You will play your part, won't you?" he asked, stepping behind me and placing both hands on my shoulders.

I nodded slowly.

"You will beg him to help you find your best friend. You will also accuse him of cheating on her and blame him for all that has happened. You'll be a teary mess and force a reaction out of him. Do what I say, and Karl will walk out of that office in cuffs."

All I could manage was a nod.

"Good girl,"