HER FACE, MY WIFE'S SHADOW

Chapter 9: I Am Not Isabella!

Alexander’s POV

My heart tightened painfully the moment I saw Aria standing only a few steps away. My mother was still there, trembling, her finger hovering near the trigger of the gun pressed to her own temple.

"Get back inside the house! Right now!" I commanded loudly.

But she didn't move. She stood completely still, her wide eyes locking onto the older woman who looked at her as if the devil had just crawled out from the depths of the earth.

Seeing Aria in the flesh – the woman she blamed for all her misery – only fed the fire of her rage.

"So… you really are alive, Isabella." She whispered, her gaze tracing Aria's features as she took a step towards her.

I saw the terror wash over Aria's face. She didn't know this woman, but she knew the look of a killer. She stumbled backward, her hand clutching Mila’s arm.

"W-Who are you? And… why are you holding a gun?" Aria’s voice trembled. "Don't you know that's a crime?"

My mom laughed, not reaching her eyes as she aimed the gun. "A criminal lecturing me about the law?"

Aria’s brows were pulled together as she stared at her. "What do you mean? Listen to me: I’m not the woman you think I am! My name is Aria Bennett. Even Mr Sterling knows that. You can ask him."

"Mr Sterling?" she chuckled darkly. "You can't deceive me with your pretence, Isabella. You played that game years ago, and I won’t fall for it twice."

“Mr Sterling, please! Tell her!" Aria cried out, her eyes pleading with me to save her.

"My second son died because of you. And you have the audacity to come back, pretending you’ve lost your memory?"

"Mom!" I called out.

"Please… don't kill me.”

“I am not Isabella!"

"Please, ma'am, spare her life. She's my best friend; she hasn't done anything to you," Mila cried, shielding Aria with her body.

"I’ll end this today," she said with determination. Her fingers tightened around the gun, ready to pull the trigger.

Aria shut her eyes, her body going still as she waited for the end.

The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air.

I had moved just in time to throw my weight against my mother’s arm, forcing the barrel upward just as the weapon discharged. The bullet whistled into the empty sky.

Before her brain could even process the failure of the execution, I twisted the gun from her hand and tossed it to Williams. Then, I pulled her into a hug, pinning her arms to her sides.

“Mom, stop! I won't let you do this," I groaned into her hair.

She collapsed against me, wailing with a grief so deep it made my own heart bleed. I looked over her shoulder at Aria. She was sprawled on the grass, shaking violently while Mila held her.

I caught the eyes of two maids who were watching the scene from the shelter of the main entryway. "Take her inside the car," I said to the maids.

I turned my gaze to the security team. "Drive her home safely.”

My men nodded as they moved towards the car.

"I will never forgive you for this, Isabella," she moaned on my shirt as the maids gently guided her away from my body. "You destroyed my family."

The maid led her into the car.

The gate hissed shut behind the car, leaving a heavy silence in the compound. I ran, crossing the grass to Aria’s side.

"Aria? Look at me. Are you okay?" I reached out to touch her cheek. Her skin was burning hot, her pulse racing. She stared back at me, but it was as if she were looking through me.

"Come. Let me take you to your room." I slid my hands beneath her arms, attempting to lift her up.

"Why is your mother saying those things to me?" Aria said. "What are you hiding from me, Mr Sterling? Is Isabella a killer? Is she a criminal? If she was such a bad woman... why did you marry her?"

"Aria, you're still in shock. You need rest. You’ve been through a lot today.”

“Why do I even care?" She pushed my hands away, standing to her feet. “You're also a criminal too, even your mother as well. So I won't be surprised if you marry a criminal.”

“Mr Sterling", she pointed her trembling finger at me. “If anything happens to Mila because of your selfishness. I will forget my principles and shoot you right in the head.”

She fled into the house while Mila ran after her.

Williams stepped up beside me, his face grim. "What now, Alex? I told you. Knowing she shares a face with Isabella, who was once a killer… it's going to break her."

That wasn't the problem now. The problem was my chest; it ached so badly I could barely breathe.

"The gun," Williams murmured, staring at the spot where my mother had stood. "I recognised it. It belongs to my dad."

"I am aware, but how did she get it?"

"I don't know. I will ask my dad. She must have taken it without his knowledge."

I rubbed my face with my hands in frustration. I hate remembering that night when my world ended.

I had lost two special people in my life on the same day. My brother died, and Isabella vanished into the ocean.

Three days later, she was found dead.

Isabella was a highly efficient killer, yes… but she was never a mindless monster. I could stake the Sterling fortune on the fact that she had nothing to do with my brother's murderer.

Williams placed his palm onto my shoulder, squeezing the muscle firmly.

“We'll get through this. One day, she will remember you.”

James ran towards me with a worried expression.

“Sir"

He extended his arm, handling over my private phone, which I had forgotten on my study desk the moment I went to Aria’s room to give her medication.

The phone hadn't even been in my palm for five seconds when it began to vibrate.

I stared down at the caller ID, then raised my eyes to look at James.

“Sir, he has been calling you nonstop.”

I swallowed hard, swiping to answer the call.

“Get your ass to my study. Now!" my grandfather roared as the line went dead.