Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

ISABELLA’s POV

What was this place? My hand suddenly passed through the wall, this was something that I only saw in movies and now it was happening to me. I realized I was just a ghost. I was still sitting in the actual position I was when I was shot. My spirit didn't seem willing to leave due to my anger.

I gradually lifted myself and stared at my pitiful body on the floor. Shaking my head for having such a cruel fate. I floated with the wind to the rooftop of the car park. With each gust of wind, the sand rustled and quivered, adding a sense of motion and life to the park.

I could see Nicollete and Tyler further away from the park, but they were not alone. There was another man there, his face covered with a mask. But unlike the person that shot me, he was wearing a blue overall while the former was on black shirt and top. My eyes had become bloodshot as I glared at them, wishing to tear their bones apart and drink their blood.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get close to them. As I moved closer to them, the little distance between us always remained the same.

“Is it done?”. There was a sinister look on Tyler's hateful face. I was a little resentful. I wondered how I hadn't gotten any clue at all about this guy. He had always been a hypocrite but I failed to uncover his mask even though we had been together for many years.

“As you predicted, he drove here very fast. My truck came out of nowhere in front of him, so he couldn't stop the car and hit it head-on”.

The masked man seemed rather proud. He then added. “He died on the spot, no treatment was possible!”. I tried poking my fingers into his eyes as he spoke but all to no avail.

Satisfied, Nicollete threw an envelope at the masked man who swiftly caught it like his life depended on it. “Leave Mercury City with this money. Don't ever be seen anywhere near here. Otherwise, you will know the stuff I am made of.”

“Of course, the story is simple. In a hurry to help his dying sister, Mason was burning with anxiety. He didn't notice an oncoming truck from the corner adjacent to the road. He didn't even have the time to bother if he was overspeeding or not.”

“Good, you must never be caught and you’ll be well taken care of.”

“What?”. I felt I had been struck by lightning. I suddenly came to my senses. They couldn't even let Mason go. To what end was this evil done, was it to further hurt me?. They even brought someone to fake an accident and eventually killed him. Mason would never forgive me.

My heart tore in pieces as sadness welled up like vinegar at the back of my throat. It was Mason who opposed my marriage to Tyler from the beginning. He never liked him.

He told me that he sensed an air of deceit with him. However, I was blinded by love at that time which hurt him, but he still remained supportive of me.

How was I going to tell Mason that I regretted my actions? I had indirectly killed my only brother because of my foolishness. If only I had a second chance to life, I would heed to his advice and suggestions.

At this moment, I just wanted to kill these two. I hated myself for not seeing through them. My blind faith in love had caused me the life of my only brother. I clenched my fist and glared at the two who were beaming triumphantly. They had won the fight.

“Let's go to my mother-in-law's place, we need to break the news to her. I have called an ambulance using the public phone booth. They'll be there in no minute to take Isabella's body to the hospital”. Tyler threw back his head in sarcastic laughter and gently took Nicollete's slender hand in his.

Nicollete rolled her eyes and smiled viciously. “Do you remember that my step mom has myocardial infarction?”

“You know what that means right? If she finds out that Isabella and Marvis are both dead, it will shock her beyond repair. And she might also lose her life too”

“Oh my God, baby! You are getting smarter by the day”. Tyler laughed as he held Nicollete affectionately and they slowly walked towards the car and drove off. The distance from my mom's house to the office was barely ten minutes, so I was sure they would get there in no time.

I felt suffocated. Was it not enough that they had already killed I and Mason? Couldn't they just let my mother be now? How will they live the rest of their lives carrying all these guilt? I bet they didn't care. They only wanted to do what made them happy.

I hurried to catch up with them, I wanted to see everything, no matter how painful it was. I had caused this mess for myself afterall and forced my family members to bear the brunts.

I realized there were limit to how close I can go to them, at least, 6 steps in between or I’ll return back to my body side and continue my journey from the beginning again.

At the door of my mom's house, my mother, Julie opened the door for them as they walked into the room. I followed suit. I tried to warn my mother and call out to her to stay away from the two devils.

I shuffled back and forth in front of my mother, hoping to get her attention. Poor me, I was only a ghost now. She couldn't see me, talk more of hear my voice. She was sitting on a chair in front of the hypocrites, not responding to any of my stunts.

From their conversation, my mom was already aware that Mason had come to pick me after the message he received that I was paralysed.

“Where is my daughter? Why are you here? Where is she now?”. My mom cried out almost sitting on the cold ground.

“Mom, Isa– Isabella is dead”. Tyler called out dejected.

“What?”. She flinched. “How is that possible? How can that be possible? She was never sick, how can she suddenly die?”.

“She died due to chronic paralysis.” Seeing that Julie was in a total daze, Tyler winked at Nicollete with his ferocious eyes. They both understood what they were doing.

“Mason heard that my sister had a serious attack. He tried to rush there, but got into a car accident. And– and he died on the spot”. Nicollete concluded, wiping fake tears from her face. Nicollete understood the plan and moved towards Julie.

As Julie just stared into space, utterly blank with despair. Bitter tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't bother to wipe them as she let them flow freely. Nicollete leaned against Tyler's side, like a helpless little woman.

Who would have thought that this woman was wicked and had any viciousness at all? Except for me who had witnessed it at the car pack. It came as a shocker to me. She was always very sweet and loving, it's a pity that it was only a disguise. And I fell for it.

As if she has been struck by lightning from the blue, Julie stared into the distance with lifeless eyes. Her strenght seemed to have been sucked, and her body was weakly leaning against the armrest. Her eyes spoke volumes, I'm sure she couldn't figure out what went wrong.

Everyone of us were just fine in the morning. Her children were sitting together enjoying the happiness of a family reunion after I stopped by the house before going to the office.

She was fantasising about carrying her grandchildren. How she would wash and fold their little clothes and we all laughed heartily at her humour and drama.

All these beautiful bubbles had turned to sorrow within the twinkle of an eye. With dull eyes and muddled mind, Julie walked towards the door aimlessly. Opened it and went outside.

Looking at each other, Tyler and Nicollete burst into silent laughter. Satisfied sneers appeared on their faces.

“The legitimate daughter and son of the Monroe family are both dead. Next the old bastard, Julie. After that, the Central Group Company will automatically belong to us completely.” I had no energy to care about these two psychos now, I was only focused on my absent minded mother. I followed her subconsciously, trying to comfort her. She was obviously brokenhearted.

Julie walked towards the road like someone hypnotised. I'm sure she had lost it, she had lost her consciousness. She missed her step, leaned forward slightly and then fell down in the middle of the road”.

“Mom!” My eyes widened as I screamed loudly and rushed forward, trying to save my falling mother.

Unfortunately, my soul was getting weaker every second. I couldn't even catch hold of my mother's hand. I fell down quickly as I felt dizzy as If I had been sucked into an endless abyss.

A vehicle approached my mother from the distance, but she was already lost and was no longer aware of her surroundings. I tried to call out to her as the car drew closer. The car came closer, and my mom was just lying there helplessly on the floor. No one to help her, she was left alone, to her cruel fate to be crushed by the running vehicle.

Like vapour, my helpless soul gradually dissipated into nothingness and was gone! Like I was falling into a pit without nowhere to come out.