My Deadly Desire

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: All About the Truth

Isabella's POV

The pale light of dawn crept through the bedroom window, casting long stripes across the rumpled sheets. Sleep eluded me entirely. My mind was a whirlwind, replaying the explosive events of yesterday – the accusations hurled, the tension thick enough to choke on. I craved answers, a way to untangle the web of deceit surrounding Alexander.

Last night, fueled by a potent mix of confusion and a desperate need for truth, a plan had taken root. During our initial investigation, I'd stumbled upon David's contact information. In a moment of impulsive clarity, I'd sent a text requesting a clandestine meeting. To my surprise, his response came swiftly, a single address leading to a secluded park on the city's outskirts.

Now, as I dressed, a cold knot of unease tightened in my stomach. Alexander lay beside me, fast asleep, utterly oblivious to my secret mission. Leaving a simple note on the kitchen counter about a morning walk, I stole out of the house, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

The address led me to a quiet corner of the park. Joggers and dog walkers were the only signs of life at this early hour. On a weathered bench sat David, his demeanor far less hostile than yesterday's confrontation.

"Isabella," he greeted me with a nod, his voice devoid of the mocking tone I had come to associate with him. "I'm glad you decided to meet."

I took a deep breath and sat down next to him, my eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. "I need to know the truth, David. All of it."

He nodded, his expression somber. "I understand. And you deserve to know."

He began to speak, his voice steady, as he recounted his story. "Alexander and I grew up in a family deeply entrenched in illegal activities. Our parents controlled everything with an iron fist, and we were expected to follow in their footsteps. From a young age, we were groomed to take over the family business."

I listened intently, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together. "But you didn't want that life," I said, more a statement than a question.

"Exactly," David confirmed. "I wanted out. I wanted a normal life, free from the darkness that consumed our family. But Alexander embraced it. He thrived in it."

My breath hitched in my throat, a wave of icy shock crashing over me. "Hold on a second," I stammered, the weight of his words threatening to topple me over. "Alexander told me he never wanted to be part of the family business, that he was forced into it by your parents. Are you saying that was a lie?"

David's eyes narrowed, a spark of anger igniting within them. "Isabella, manipulation is Alexander's specialty. He spun a tale to suit his needs, to weave you into his web. The truth is, there was no coercion. He craved a role in the family business."

The very ground beneath my feet seemed to crumble. "So you're telling me this life... he chose it? It wasn't forced upon him?"

David offered a curt nod. "Absolutely. I was the one yearning to escape, the one who loathed our parents' criminal enterprise. Alexander, on the other hand, thrived in that darkness. Power and control were his aphrodisiacs."

I shook my head in disbelief, desperately trying to reconcile this new image with the man I thought I loved. "But he always insisted he hated it, that he was trapped and longed for a way out."

David's voice turned bitter. "A ploy for your sympathy, that's all it was. He knew the truth would drive you away. So he donned the mask of the victim, convincing you he was a prisoner in his own life."

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything. "So Alexander... he never loved me?"

David looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of pity and regret. "I don't know if he ever truly loved anyone. To him, you were a means to an end, a way to control and manipulate."