Isabella woke up around 4 a.m. the next morning. She yawned and slowly got out of bed, but the moment her feet touched the floor, memories came rushing back. She was getting married today.
Her chest tightened.
Trying not to think too much, she forced herself to start the day. She freshened up, took her bath, brushed her teeth, and changed into clean clothes. When she was done, it was almost 5 a.m. She sat on the edge of the bed and picked up her phone.
A message notification flashed on the screen. It was from the same unknown number.
Meet me at G Garden at exactly 5 o'clock. There is something very important to discuss. It's about your mother.
Isabella's heart began to race. Her mother? Her mother was already dead. Who was this person, and how did they know anything about her?
Her hands trembled as she stared at the screen. She did not know whether to go or ignore the message. The wedding was not until 7 a.m., and curiosity slowly overpowered her fear. If this person truly knew something about her mother, she needed answers.
She quickly changed into another outfit and quietly left the mansion. Only a few workers were awake at that hour, and no one noticed her leaving. She boarded a taxi and headed straight to G Garden.
When she arrived, the place was quiet and almost empty. G Garden was a popular spot in the city of Lumeria. Its neatly paved paths were lined with small tables under colorful umbrellas, and the flowerbeds scattered throughout gave splashes of color.
She chose a table and sat down, her fingers clasped tightly together as she waited.
Whoever this mysterious person was, they had succeeded in getting her attention.
The message about her mother still lingered in her mind, but another thought crept in, the message from yesterday: "You are a twin."
She frowned. Were these messages connected? Or were they just cruel games from a stranger? She tried to reason it out, but nothing added up. Her mother had died years ago, or at least that's what she had been told. And now someone was claiming to have answers. And a twin… she had never even thought about it before. Could it be true? Was there really someone out there, a sister or brother, she didn't know about?
Everything felt off. Two separate messages, both from the same number, one about her twin, one about her mother. Something was definitely happening, and she couldn't ignore it. Her hands shook slightly as she hugged her arms around herself. The calm morning air of G Garden suddenly felt heavy, almost suffocating.
She didn't know who to trust, what to believe, or what would happen next, but she knew one thing: she needed answers.
As Isabella sat there, someone suddenly walked up to her.
The person wore a hoodie. A mask covered their face.
Her heart jumped. The reality of what she had done hit her hard. She had agreed to meet a complete stranger. This was dangerous. Very dangerous.
The stranger pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
The moment he spoke, Isabella knew one thing.
It was not a woman. It was a man.
"What do you know about my mother?" Isabella asked immediately.
"Your mother died when you were seven," he said calmly.
Isabella froze. He was right. Too right.
"Yes," she whispered, fear slowly creeping in.
The man reached into his pocket and brought out a photograph, sliding it across the table.
"This is your mother."
Isabella's breath caught in her throat. It was her. The same face she had carried in her memories for years.
"How did you get this?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"That's none of your business," he replied. "What matters is this. Your mother didn't really die."
Isabella stiffened.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I can't tell you everything," he said. "Not yet. But I'm here to strike a deal."
Isabella swallowed. "What kind of deal?"
"I know Adrian is forcing you into a marriage today," he continued. "And I also know you'll now be close to Julian, which means you'll have access to Adrian."
Her hands began to tremble.
"Yes," she stammered.
"I want you to work with me," the stranger said. "Help me ruin Adrian. In return, I'll tell you everything about your mother. Including where to find her."
Isabella's heart pounded violently.
"Where to find her?" she repeated.
"I won't say more unless you agree."
She shook her head slowly. "I don't know. What if Adrian finds out?"
"He won't," the man said calmly. "All I need is your cooperation. Adrian has already ruined your life. He humiliated you. He forced this marriage. He's your enemy, whether you accept it or not."
Isabella was silent.
"And I have my own reasons," he added. "Together, we destroy him. You get your freedom. And the truth about your mother."
She looked down at the photograph again.
Her life was already in ruins. Adrian had made sure of that.
After a long moment, she lifted her head.
"Okay," she said quietly. "I'll help you ruin Adrain."
A smile curved beneath the mask.
"Good. I'll see you at your wedding."
Before he stood up, Isabella asked, "Okay… but what about the message you sent yesterday about my twin?"
She kept wondering if he was telling the truth, how her mother, her twin, could be involved in all of this.
The stranger smiled under the hood and said, "Don't worry. We'll see at your wedding."
He stood up and walked away without another word.
Isabella remained seated, her hands shaking, her chest tight.
She didn't know if she had just made the worst mistake of her life or the most important decision she would ever make.
Slowly, she stood up and left G Garden, her mind racing, her heart pounding, knowing there was no turning back now.
***
Back at G Garden, Camila slowly stepped out of her hiding spot.
Her eyes scanned the area before she walked toward the corner table where the mysterious man waited. This had all been planned. Every step. Every word. The goal was simple. Ruin Isabella completely.
"Well?" Camila asked calmly as she sat down. "Did she agree?"
The man nodded. "Yes. She walked straight into it."
Camila smiled faintly. "Good. Did you record everything?"
Without a word, he pulled out his phone and played the audio.
Isabella's voice filled the air.
"I'll help you ruin Adrian."
Camila's smile widened.
She listened carefully as the recording continued. Every word. Every promise. Every dangerous agreement.
When it ended, Camila let out a low laugh.
"Perfect," she said. "Adrian is going to love this."
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "You finally got her to confess. She just dug her own grave."
The man handed her the recording file. "Everything is there. Clean and clear."
Camila reached into her purse and paid him. He counted the money briefly, then stood up.
"No more business after this," he said.
Camila smirked. "Same here."
They shook hands.
The man walked away without looking back.
Camila picked up her phone, her fingers tightening around it. This was more than enough to destroy Isabella.
Without wasting another second, she turned and headed straight for Adrian's mansion.