Bounded by something else

Chapter 1

Isabella's Pov

Love? I love love.

I’m a sucker for it. I read about it in books, watched it on TV, and even fell in love with fictional characters. The kind of love that makes your chest ache and your stomach flip. But in real life? It’s never been my reality.

I’m the only child of my parents, and maybe that’s why I crave love so much. Not because I wasn’t loved at home, no, it’s just that my parents were too busy being celebrities. The model and her “perfect actor” husband. That’s the image they try to show the public. Truth? I don’t think they even have each other’s phone numbers.

But me? I wasn’t going to be like them. I was going to experience love. Real love. And as the daughter of celebrities, you’d think I was also living in the spotlight. Wrong. Life’s not like that for me. My face rarely made the tabloids, my fashion choices weren’t newsworthy, and the only attention I got was from fans of my parents who somehow thought I had inherited their fame.

My bedroom door flung open. Who could that be?

“Heyy bestieeee!” Anna called.

Oh, Anna. My best friend, my chaos in human form. I completely forgot we were supposed to hang out today.

“Don’t tell me you haven't already gotten dressed,” she said, eyes wide like she’d just caught me committing a crime.

Honestly, I hadn’t even taken a shower yet. I know I probably stink right now.

“Fine, fine! I’ll get ready,” I said, heading for the bathroom.

While I washed up, my mind wandered back to how Anna and I even became friends, because, honestly, our friendship is ridiculous and I love it.

We met at a bookstore, both reaching for the last copy of Twisted Lies by Ana Haug. I guess you could say it was fate or at least love at first, shared obsession. We argued for maybe thirty seconds, then decided to share it. I’d take it home for a week, then she’d have it the next. From that moment, we were bonded over our love for fictional love, dramatic love, the kind of love that makes your chest hurt in the best way.

Anna talks about boys the way some people talk about weather: constantly and with exaggerated emotion. “Omg he is totally my type!” she’d scream about one guy. Ten minutes later: “No, no, no, he is totally my type!” And then: “Yess, he is absolutely my type!” Different guys every time, but always with the same intensity. I never get tired of it.

The best part? Anna doesn’t make a big deal about my parents being celebrities. She doesn’t care. She just cares about books, boys, and dragging me into small adventures that always turn into huge stories later.

I finally got dressed in something casual, nothing fancy just jeans and a hoodie. Comfortable, unremarkable, invisible. Sometimes, invisibility is a blessing. Other times, it feels like the worst curse.

I stepped out of my room and immediately noticed Anna pacing like a tornado had taken human form.

“Why can I hear screams? What’s going on?” I asked.

As we peeked out the window, my eyes wandered across the neighborhood. It’s not exactly Beverly Hills, but it’s definitely a place where people try a little too hard to look rich. The sidewalks were lined with fancy cars, manicured hedges, and houses that screamed, “We made it, look at us!” Meanwhile, pigeons strutted around like they owned the place, oblivious to the chaos humans created.

Kids were playing in front yards, some with brand-new bikes and others chasing old soccer balls that had clearly seen better days. The smell of fresh bread from the bakery two blocks over mixed with the faint exhaust from cars, creating that oddly comforting city-life perfume.

And of course, everyone was out today, drawn like moths to a flame by the screaming crowd down the street. I guessed whatever was happening was big, because in our neighborhood, nothing ever drew this much attention unless someone famous or ridiculously wealthy decided to show up.

Anna practically bounced onto the balcony, yelling again, “That’s Keon West!!”

I froze. Keon West? Who’s Keon West? I asked myself, my heart skipping a beat not because I knew him, but because everyone else seemed to. Phones were out, cameras flashing, people screaming his name like he was royalty or maybe he was.

I peeked over the balcony, squinting at the crowd. A sleek black car had just parked, and someone tall stepped out. He moved with a kind of effortless confidence that made people stop in their tracks. I couldn’t see his face clearly from here, but there was something about him, something commanding that made me want to step back.

Anna was bouncing on her heels beside me, practically vibrating with excitement. “You have to see him up close!” she whispered.

“Why?” I muttered, more curious than I wanted to admit. “He’s just some rich guy, right? Celebrities everywhere.”

“No, Isa. Not just any rich guy. He’s he’s Keon West!” She was practically hyperventilating. “Out of all the sons in the West family, he’s the one people actually care about. The one everyone’s been waiting for!”

I blinked. The West family. That explained something. I’d heard of them, of course who hasn’t? Billionaire moguls, always in the tabloids, always the topic of some scandal or another. And if people were this excited to see one of their sons, well… it must be serious.

I sighed, trying to mask my curiosity. Honestly, I didn’t care. I was happy living my small, quiet life, avoiding drama, avoiding attention, avoiding all the things my parents had. But Anna’s enthusiasm was contagious, and a tiny part of me wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

I grabbed my phone to scroll social media while keeping one eye on the crowd. The feeds were blowing up: “Keon West spotted!” “Is that the West heir?” “Crowds go wild for Keon West!” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop reading. It was addictive, like watching a car crash you didn’t want to see but couldn’t look away from.

As I joined the crowd, I noticed the way people whispered when he passed. “There he is…” “Finally…” “He’s even taller in person!” I couldn’t help but study him from a distance. He looked calm, collected, almost untouchable. I didn’t know if it was his money, his reputation, or just the way he carried himself, but there was a presence about him that made the air feel heavier.

I turned to Anna. “Okay, so why are you screaming like a lunatic?” I asked.

“I just can’t believe it’s him! Keon West! The golden boy, the one everyone wants to marry into the family!” She was practically bouncing in place, her excitement unbearable.

I swallowed. I had no idea who he was, and yet, something in the pit of my stomach tightened. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was the thrill of seeing someone so untouchable in person. Or maybe it was just that life… sometimes had a way of dragging you into things you never expected.

I took a step closer, squinting at him again. My pulse quickened not because I had any reason to notice him, but because he was there, and the world around him seemed to pause.

And in that moment, I knew one thing: my life was about to get a lot more complicated.