March, 2022Isabella hastily untied her apron, dumped it weakly on the counter and rushed out of the kitchen. Her hair was messy, eyes puffed from staring into hot moist smoke for long hours. With several heart wrenching thoughts flapping through her disarrayed mind, accompanied with the fear that gripped her heart, she prayed silently that nothing would go wrong. More than it already had. On her way out she bumped into Mrs Rhoda Bennett. “I'm sorry Mother!” Isabella called as she dashed off, shutting her thought away from the obvious scowl in her stepmother's face. When she return hopefully everything would have gone alright, then she wouldn't mind listening to every one of her nag and even if it meant running errands deep into the next day. She could even have one of her fingers if she so much as wanted it but till then she had not a single second to spend in that house. “Isabella! Where are you headed off to? Get back here and finish making our meal!”She heard her mother bark
“Please…mummy…I beg you…I will do anything you want me to do… anything… I have to save my brother…”“Look Isabella, feeding you and having you under the same roof is enough trouble. But, I have some good news for you.”Isabella's swollen eyes lit up for the first time that day. Mrs Rhoda Bennett rose, her heavy ornaments dangling at the movement as she advanced towards Isabella.“Marry the bastard son of Walter Enterprises and well, I will consider asking my husband to save your little brother's life.”“Getting your brother to do a Lung transplant will be much better. Of course, you know how costly it is going to take to have it done?” She said, narrowing her eyeballs.Isabella’s brows twitched. Surely she knew of Walter Enterprises and infact had heard of the Walter bastard son but never knew him personally.“But mummy, I don't wish to get married now…”“Then I take it you do not wish to save your brother.” Mrs Rhoda Bennett retorted.“No, I want to save my brother but…”“You want my
MARCH 2023ONE YEAR LATERNEW YORK CITYIsabella drew in a slow breath. She watched as Doctor Miles pressed his stethoscope on Ryan's chest and plugged the end into his ears. He listened for a moment and nodded satisfactorily. “He is alright,” he said with a smile.“He just needs to take his medications and eat well.” He added, ruffling Ryan's hair gently. “Thank you so much, Doctor Miles.”Doctor Miles squeezed her shoulder, dished out some instructions to the nurses. He casted another warm smile at Isa, patted Ryan and trotted out with the nurses. Isa watched them until they disappeared out of the room. Then she grabbed her brother and hugged him tight. “Thank you Ryan… thank you for staying alive… thank you for not leaving me all alone…” She mumbled, dragging in what seemed like an emotion swaying wind.Later when Ryan fell asleep, she pulled the covers over him and just watched him sleep. It was the most peaceful she had seen him sleep. A year ago she had embarked on an arrang
A month after their wedding, Isa, not able to get rid of that memory, had brought it up with Douglas and Douglas had assured her she had nothing to be afraid of. In his words, he had come to adore her and was willing to let go of his past love yearnings for her sister. Why wouldn't he? She had sacrificed a lot for him. She had been there for him, the company had stayed afloat and he was grateful to her. And no, she didn't regret any of it. But why was she feeling…uncertain? Why was she feeling so uneasy…so anxious?There was a rap on the door and a second later Isabella's assistant walked in beaming with smiles. “Ma'am, it's all set now. The commissioner will be on air soon. I think the announcement will be made soon. Congratulations ma'am,” Miss Clara announced.Isabella sprung to her feet and grasped Miss Clara’s hands. “Really?”“Yes ma'am,” Miss Clara nodded.“But… What if I got it all wrong? What if he announced a different place? What if the commissioner announces South Str
She looked away and swept past him ignoring the pitiful look he had on. She just wanted to run. Away from everyone, everything. “Isabella!”He called behind her but she didn't stop. She continued to run. Breathless. But it was nothing compared to the feeling of storm that had swept through her and the weight of sadness that had settled in her chest. Just as she was crossing the road, she ran into a speeding car. “Isabella!!!”That was the last Isa heard. Up High in the sky she flew and on the ground she landed. Blood splattered. Without struggle, she gave into the darkness reaching for her. Before Raymond Walter got to the spot, the driver maneuvered his car and zoomed off.He definitely knew what would become of him after realizing the victim he struck down is one from the Walters Family.With mouth opened in shock and heart throbbing in pain, he cupped Isa into his broad arms. He pressed her body against his chest. His heart was begging her to hold on and wait till he got to
“Her parents knew I never wanted her as a wife. Isa knows herself. She knows that I have always wanted her sister and not her.We just had an agreement.”“What kind of agreement?” Raymond asked a bit perplexed.“She got married to me to save her brother's life and take my company's name to the top.”Douglas smacked his lips at his last words and shot a glance at his wrist watch.“I think I will get going now. I need to catch up on something.” He said and turned to leave. Just then, Doctor Miles walked out from the theater wearing a tiresome look.He reached out his hands and shook the two men, “Congratulations! She will be fine.”At the end of Doctor Miles’s words was a long, gloomy look.“Is it alright, if we go in and see her?”“I am sorry…I don't think she would recognize any of you.” Doctor Miles dropped what sounded like a bombshell.Douglas didn't seem concerned but he needed to listen to know his next plans.“What do you mean, Doctor Miles? Are you trying to say that she lost h
Isabella wakes up in the hospital. She squeezed her eyes with difficulty for some minutes before they finally opened.“Where is this? Where am I?” She mumbled softly, narrowing her eyes. She felt weak and empty. She tried to lift her legs but she couldn't, so she rather curled it up like a newborn baby.“What I'm I putting on?” She mumbled and scrutinized herself in a hospital gown.“Is this a hospital? Oh! no, hope nothing happened to Ryan?” “Ryan…” She stuttered and burst into a silent cry.Just then, a nurse walked in.“You are awake.” The nurse exclaimed and placed her mild palm over Isa's forehead.Isa dragged off the pulse oximeter clipped to her fingertip and tried to climb off the bed.“No. Don't. You just had surgery. I will go and call the Doctor.” The nurse placed Isa back in a proper position and hastily ran to call the Doctor.“Surgery? What does she mean by surgery? Aaah…my head hurts…” Isa cried out, cupping her head with her palm.Doctor Miles trots in with his nurses
At Walter's residence, friends and well wishers trot inside the over furnished sitting room in Douglas's quarters.Mr Walter wanted to help in the little way he could even though it was hard. He knew it might take some time before Isa's memory could come back.At least, it would be better than undergoing another surgery. That’s the reason he insisted on having a get together party, hoping that Isa's memory reconnects.He threw a glance at Isa smiling at some people that came by to introduce themselves.She looked really pretty wearing those smiles but her happiness would have been complete if she didn't lose her memory.Moments later, all attention diverted towards a figure. It was Raymond Walter wrapped up in a black designer's suite. “Oh! Son, you came back right on time. You closed the deal quite fast, I guess.” Mr Walter said, hoping nothing had gone wrong with the deal.Raymond halted halfway as his gaze fell on Isabella. He swallowed a lump and let shivers run across his spine.
She had a grimace on her face as her eyes scanned through it.“Let me take a look.” Raymond said and she gave it to him. His lips parted in shock and disappointment.He shot a hostile glance at the pathologist and felt like strangling him.“You had the original results in your briefcase, why then did you choose to tell us lies?” Raymond shrieked at him.“I am sorry.” Mr Fabian pleaded with a sober voice.“There's nothing to be sorry about. I know quite well that this is the same reason why the Government is desperately searching for you.” “You go about, giving people fake or forged results. How do you feel after doing it?” Raymond's tenor voice sent cold shivers across Mr Fabian's body.“Do you even think of the damage or pain you bring to those people?” “You hide the truth from those that desperately need it.” He said, his veins all popped out around his neck. He felt a little bit of exhaustion. His last words emerged out with a faint tone.“Who paid you to do this?” Raymond asked
At this point, Raymond couldn't ask for anything more. Their goal was to run an autopsy and walk out with the results, not to make a poor innocent man lose his job.They watched him as he went inside the frizzy room to speak to the anatomist on the phone. Raymond had no choice than to let him do his own part of the deal.“He will be here in at least twenty minutes.” He whispered to them as he walked out of the room.“So we could quickly go out and grab a drink, right?” Raymond requested, cutting an eye for Isabella.“Yes, you can go.” He replied with relief. Raymond seems to give him a hard time.While they were away, he wished they could disappear and never come back. To him, Isa wasn't the problem but Raymond was the problem he had.Minutes later, they both walked back inside the office energetically. Isa was holding two cups of the creamy juice.“You can have this too. You are a good man.” She said and handed a cup to the morgue attendant.He collected the creamy juice with a grin
Raymond couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't stand eavesdropping on the morgue attendant. He heard everything the latter said to Mrs Rhoda Bennett.He angrily pushed the door open and walked towards the man, stopping some inches away from him.Isabella didn't feel his absence. She was petrified the moment she saw her father's cold body. “Are you trying to sell us?” Raymond started, noticing the man's trembling lips.“What I'm I even saying? You were actually selling us, huh?” Raymond said and saw the man trying to hide his phone behind him but he grabbed the phone from him and went directly to the last call made.His jaw dropped in shock. He had actually assumed that the man was speaking with Mrs Rhoda Bennett but it was only an assumption until now.“So you are her accomplice?” “That's why you persisted on seeing his bio before letting us get access to him?” Raymond asked bitterly.“How much were you even paid?” He asked rhetorically and punched his fist in the air.“You know wha
Isabella and Raymond both narrowed their eyes in confusion. They got their mind wandering like wildfire. There's a lot of dots that need to be connected. For goodness sake, Mrs Rhoda Bennett earlier told the Corp that she went for an urgent business meeting.Since it was urgent, what time did she get to still register Mr Bennett's body to the morgue?Talking of how she walked inside the mansion; like she heard the news on reaching the gate.She even passed out in front of everyone.It could be that she heard the news during the meeting and went straight to the morgue from there.Or what is this whole thing all about? The witch is so smart that nobody has ever caught her in all her acts.“Please sir, what time was Mr Bennett registered yesterday?” Isa asked, curiously.“Ma'am, I'm afraid but I can't tell you anything more until you provide the original copy of the bio used to register him here.” The man replied and pinched his brows.Isa cast a tiresome glance at Raymond.“I can't be
On the express road to the city, Raymond had to ask for directions to the hospital where the ambulance came from.He couldn't bear seeing the look on Isabella's face anymore. She looked so pathetic, embracing the brown envelope like it meant the whole world to her.“Isa, I don't like what you are doing right now.” He mumbled and pressed the deceleration button. “What I'm I doing?” She mumbled, trying hard not to look up at his face.“If you are confident that you did nothing wrong, why then are you avoiding looking up?” He asked, keeping his gaze glued at her.Isa kept mute. She couldn't feel the breeze from the high speed of the car. She imagined that something had gone wrong and finally looked up to check for herself.“Just the traffic.” He responded before her eyes met with his.At that moment, she swallowed a lump. She felt wet tears gathering in her eyes. She must have been deeply in tears that's why she didn't notice it on time and now, Raymond's gaze.She just wished that he d
She stubbornly struggled with him. Corp Bellick's rage heightened instantly. He forcefully locked her wrists inside the cuffs and escorted her to the Hilux.He didn't care anymore. She must have thought that this case would turn out like the numerous cases where they got a special order from the general not to meddle into Bennett's family affairs.Not anymore. Not when Mr Bennett died a cold death. He knew the general and of how much he hated Mrs Rhoda Bennett.Perhaps, he would use this opportunity to reopen her formal cases; the cases that were buried due to Mr Bennett's influence.Mrs Rhoda Bennett turned around and her last gaze fell on Isabella.Isa bit her lips. She could feel the pit of her stomach churned in excitement. This is exactly how she would punish each and everyone of them.She knew that in no time, she would be granted bail. She assumed she would use Mr Bennett's burial as a key excuse.She didn't care, she just wanted to do what she always wanted to do.“An autopsy.
“But you know what, I aren't acting any drama this time around. I'm doing this for the safety of my health.” Mrs Rhoda Bennett mumbled and snapped her fingers.Isa ran her eyes over the latter's body in scrutiny.No matter what she said, she wasn't ever going to take in her words.She felt this was the only opportunity for her to pay her last respect to her father.That last picture of him couldn't leave her memory. She continued replaying his soothing voice in her head. She wouldn't have believed it if someone had told her that it would be the last time she would get to see or speak to her father.At this point, she felt like giving up on everything; her revenge plans. She felt like backing off and running away to a far away land.Because for some minutes, she wondered what would be her yield if she eventually won the battle.Would she be the only person to celebrate her victory? Her Mom and her father have joined their ancestors.What if she backs off and disappears to a far away c
Back at Bennett's mansion, Raymond drove into the compound at a high speed. He drove in with a high speed, not expecting to see any other car in the parking space except for Mrs Rhoda Bennett's car.There was a black Acura parked beside Mrs Rhoda Bennett's car.As she climbed down from Raymond's car, she stared intensely at the car. “It's just a car. Why are you mopping at it that way?” Raymond teased, following her gaze.“C'mon, we have to go in. Once everything is over, I am going to get you exactly this type of car if that's what you want.” He added and jammed the car door.Isa's gaze wouldn't tear off one bit from the Acura car. It didn't seem as if she was staring at the car in admiration.The car reminded her of something.What exactly? She mumbled to herself and racked through her brain.“This car looks familiar, right?” She asked Raymond with a curious glimpse.“I don't think so.” Raymond replied with a shrug.“If you say so.” She responded and turned around to go into the ma
Just as Evelyn walked her Mom to her room, she made her lie on the bed and tossed the duvet over her body, allowing it to stop around her shoulder.She paced to and fro, thinking of the next steps to take. She had heard Douglas offering to walk the Corp around the Mansion, the pit of her stomach churned in uneasiness.What if the Corp finds something?No way, she would definitely go and find them and restrict him from going into some areas.Just as she was about to leave, her Mom called her with a soft voice.“Evelyn, come back.” Mrs Rhoda Bennett mumbled and puffed out hot air, shoving off the duvet from her body.Evelyn was astounded. She turned around and saw her Mom already seated straight up on the bed.She lost her words for a few minutes.“Mom…I thought you passed out.” She stammered, advancing towards the bed.“Hmmm…” Mrs Rhoda Bennett muttered with a scoff. She tilted her neck sideways for a crack.“I had to do what I knew how to do in order to tear off accusing fingers that