It just pays twenty bucks for a day. By now, she had amassed one hundred and eighty bucks. She needs that twenty bucks to cover the first part of her father's hospital bill which is almost five hundred dollars. Though she still needed to make the three hundred dollars, she could at least petition the hospital administration for an extension of time to pay with the little money she had. This was the end of her patience. Just as she was beginning to feel she could actually live a better life, everything shattered again. Robert studied the open display of despair unfolding in front of him, a sense of delight lighting up his eyes. He sneered and said, "You want money..." she looked up and nodded. "Work for me..." he said and Izzy felt her whole body break into a cold sweat. He pulled her face closer to him, just an inch away from his lips. "Please me and I will pay you" Izzy quivered. Her eyes turned red. "Aren't you good at that?" he sneered. Izzy was furious. What th
Author's point of view... Fear and panic were swelling inside her whenever she thought of her father and she didn't know what to do now. If this man wanted to harm her family, there was no way she could save them anyway. She had exhausted all her options. Her heart beat furiously in her chest. In that panic, she could no longer feel the pain in her foot or her cheek, all her mind was filled with the fear that something might happen to her father. She whispered, her voice trembling, "If I accept this. Will you save my father?" Robert studied her face for a long time. Eventually, he seemed to decide he could get her any time. He smirked. Izzy sighed in defeat. This man before her is way too dangerous and powerful than she imagined. In just a few minutes, he managed to dig out all her information and even made her father suffer. She can't let this man go ahead with this. She didn't have the money she needed yet, and she certainly didn't want to spend the rest of her life
Author's point of view... "Sign this!" he demanded. She took the paper from him and began to flip it. At first, she thought it was some kind of contract or something but as she saw it, her brows creased. It was blank. Izzy was horrified. She started to feel faint and sick again. This is so unfair! she thought despondently. How could he make her sign a blank paper? When she regained consciousness, she shook her head vehemently. "No..." she said defiantly. "It's a blank paper. I will never agree to sign that." He gave a brief sneer before his eyes became icy once more. "Do you have any objection?" he asked in his ever-cold tone. Izzy couldn't think of anything to say. She was exhausted and she felt she could no longer fight him. He looked at her with a contemptuous smile, pulled out that piece of paper from her hands and stared at it. "Do you want me to write something on it? Maybe I can help you to write" Izzy stared at him, what did he mean? What will he write?
Author's point of view... Lissa and Claudia were waiting in the hospital lobby after the hospital authority had sent someone to inform them that they would have to stop the treatment if the due bills were not cleared tonight. Claudia received a call and went to attend it."Are you crazy? Why did you call me now?" she hushed through gritted teeth, her anger and frustration evident."Hey, darling, don't worry. I just missed you. This little doggy is making a ruckus here. Did you find that thing?" the man on the other side asked gleefully. Dave was tied to a chair before him, struggling hard to free himself."Not yet, keep your mouth shut, don't call me from now on. I will contact you once I get that thing and you can kill that doggy if you want by then" Claudia heaved a sigh and walked in towards the corridor. It wasn't an hour when some men in black uniforms stormed into the hospital lobby. Both the ladies stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock and confusion as the guards swi
Author's point of view... Izzy felt as if a huge burden was lifted from her head. She will be meeting her father after so long. Though he is in a coma, for now, he will get better soon. After all the doctors who serve the patients in the VIP rooms are all the most efficient and experienced ones. She was appreciative of the stranger who had hired her. Though he is a monster, he is still a better man after all. Reaching the VIP section, Izzy saw Lissa at the entrance, eagerly waiting for someone. Despite her troubles and those pains, Izzy forced a smile on her face and made her way towards Lissa. She hugged Lissa, relieved. She was glad that her family and her father would soon be fine, despite everything she had to go through. "Mom, don't worry, everything will get better now..." she said closing her eyes. "Everything is resolved..." Izzy was so happy that he didn't hesitate to hug her Mom who despised her every time. However, her happiness and her relief were not long
Author's point of view... After a while, Claudia got up from her seat and walked out, "Mom, let me get some coffee for you..." Lissa smiled affectionately, "How considerate... You take rest, let me get some for you" she offered but Claudia insisted. Coffee was just an excuse, she just wanted to see how miserable Izzy might be. After all, that was like a candy to her eyes. How could she not enjoy that pleasing moment? Lissa agreed as Claudia insisted. She walked out of the VIP room and looked at the entrance door where Izzy was supposed to be. Unexpectedly, Izzy was taken away. She stomped her foot and walked out frustratingly. "Agh...that bitch...was she just pretending to faint?" Claudia looked around but couldn't find her. After scanning everywhere, Claudia asked a nurse about the girl fainted in the corridor. The nurse told Claudia that one of the hospital doctors had taken her to the emergency room. Claudia sighed, at least she was injured. As she walked back t
Author's point of view... After quite a while, Izzy felt a soft touch on her forehead and slowly opened her eyes. She observed a man's somewhat hazy visage looking at her through her impaired vision. "Hey get up" A man's concerned voice echoed in her ears, "Are you okay?"She heard him talking but that voice was just like someone talking inside a trunk. Audible but not clear. Her head throbbed as she tried to focus on that face. As she couldn't take that pain anymore, she closed her eyes again. It was in the night that she regained her consciousness and this time it was much better than before. Her gaze swept across the dimly lit room and she froze immediately. That place wasn't a hospital room or her dormitory, it was a presidential suite. Oh God...! How did I end up here? She jolted up into a sitting position. "Lay down..." a cold voice reverberated in the room. Izzy instantly steadied herself as she recognized that voice. "It...it was him!!" Why was she with
In just a few seconds, the door of the room flung open and Robert rushed in with a few more people following him. "What...! What's wrong...??" Robert yelled in desperation. He spoke in a hard tone devoid of any sympathy. Izzy was dumbfounded. She felt for the first time that Robert would punish her for crying in front of him. Izzy was astonished when they entered in a rush. Taking hold of the blanket, she ducked her head inside and tucked herself into a corner. Such a little kid...! Is she in pain? Robert thought as he gave her a worried glance before abruptly turning to face the two men behind him and growling at them. "What the heck is going on...!" his tone immediately dried everyone's throat, and Izzy felt a shiver run down her spine. Did she just angered him? But she really didn't know that crying here was not allowed. Robert glared daggers at the man behind, "Didn't you say that she was not in pain...? Were you just bluffing..." Izzy parted her lips. Was he worried
Author's point of view...Just then, the kitchen door creaked open, and Lissa stepped out. She looked pale, her face carrying the weight of guilt and shame that had built up over years. She stopped a few steps away, her gaze glued to the floor. Izzy felt a tug of empathy at the sight of her aunt, who had always been hard on her. But now, seeing Lissa’s pained expression, Izzy understood the complicated truth. Slowly, Lissa took a deep breath and, with trembling hands, sank to her knees in front of Izzy. Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with tears. “Izzy… I don’t deserve your forgiveness, not after the way I treated you. I was so blinded… by jealousy, by my own misunderstandings. I thought—I thought you were Isaac’s mistake, something that reminded me of a betrayal that never even happened.” She covered her face, breaking down. “Stella… your mother… she gave us everything. And I repaid her by hurting her daughter. I’m so ashamed.” Izzy’s heart ached at the rawness in Liss
Author's point of view... The next day, they received an invitation for a family banquet from the Sintclair family. The old patriarch of the Sintclair family had arranged this banquet just for Izzy to introduce her as his granddaughter. After being dressed up, Robert drove them to the Sintclair family mansion, nestled among vast gardens and surrounded by elegance that hinted at generations of stories. Izzy’s nerves tightened as the towering mansion loomed closer, her hand instinctively reaching for Robert’s. He looked over, his eyes warm and steady. “Don’t worry, Izzy,” he murmured, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’m here, every step of the way.” She nodded, offering a small, grateful smile. “Thank you… I don’t think I could do this alone.” They stepped inside, and she was greeted by a room filled with unfamiliar yet strangely welcoming faces. She felt the weight of their gazes, curious, surprised, even delighted. She heard whispers of, "Doesn’t she look just li
Author's point of view... Getting back to the city, Robert immersed himself in his work. It was his way of dealing with grief. Though Izzy was always by his side, they rarely had anything to talk about. They eat together, live together, and sleep together, but there is still a distance between them. After a few days, Robert arranged for Izzy to return to her studies. Though she was so surprised, she was happy to be able to continue her studies. She took a specialization course in psychology. It was her dream to become an efficient Psychologist just like her mother and with her mother's professional books at her assistance, she was destined to exceed in everything. It had been six months since Izzy started college, and she had to stay in her college dormitory as the college she chose was far from the city. Robert missed her so much. He often drove all the way, for hours, to her college just to see her and hug her. Though she wasn't allowed to step out of the dormitory, who
Author's point of view... The day had begun with an air of hope, but it would end differently than anyone could have foreseen. It was a beautiful day, peaceful and filled with happiness scattering everywhere. Robert and Izzy stopped by to have a heartfelt meal with her and Nancy insisted on cooking it herself. Meanwhile, Robert took Izzy to roam around and she enjoyed playing in that beautiful scenery. Fresh air, fragrance of flowers and greenery. It felt like she was in heaven. "This is so beautiful..." Izzy exclaimed and Robert hugged her. "If you like it, we can visit more often in your holidays" "Hmm..." Izzy looked up and Robert smiled. Their cute conversation was interrupted by an affectionate call from Nancy."Kids... come here, the food is ready" When she called, Robert recalled his best days from the past when Nancy was with him, taking care of him, cooking for him. Though he can't get those days back, at least he have her now. He smiled and grabbed Izzy's hand to walk
Author's point of view... The very next day, Robert took Izzy to the Erickson estate in the country side. They had a vast land with so many farms and a lot of greenery, quite pleasing to the eye. As they drove into the countryside, Izzy’s eyes sparkled with delight. She took in the lush green fields, the quaint little cottages, and the open sky that stretched endlessly above them. There was a refreshing, earthy scent in the air, and Izzy felt as if she'd stepped into a fairytale.Her eyes lit up and Robert, who was in a deep thought, was so pleased to see her shine. He was silently sitting beside her, watching her with a gentle smile spreading across his handsome face. He’d never seen her this excited before, and it softened something within him. When they reached the village, they were greeted warmly by the locals. Though the villagers had little in terms of wealth, their welcoming smiles and heartfelt gestures more than made up for it. Erickson Corporation had implanted many
Author's point of view...! After saying whatever he wanted to say, Marco brushed his suit with his hands and walked over to the entrance. He stopped and stared back at Izzy as if filing his thirsty eyes with her one last time. She resembled so much of her mother, those beautiful pair of eyes and that adorable face, everything of Izzy, reminded him of his love, Stella. After admiring his long-lost daughter, Marco's gaze shifted back to Robert. And there was a change in his demeanor. The once soft and tender look was replaced with a harsh and cold one, but strangely, his gaze had a mixture of satisfaction and jealousy. He was indeed satisfied as his daughter was with a strong man, just like him but there was a pang of jealousy in his heart too. Izzy slowly clung to Robert's arms; her eyes were fixed on the stranger, who was supposed to be her father, though. If things were not what they are now, would she be looking at him with those scrutinizing gazes? He scoffed internally, pro
Author's point of view...! Marco looked down, guilt etched into his features. It was true. He was indeed a monster at that time. “Perhaps I did. But she was my life, and I will regret letting her go until my last breath,” he said, regretfully. "I want to take you with me, Izzy. I want to make up to you, to Stella. I want. To give you everything that I wasn't able to all these years..." "Enough..." William roared, "Take that kid with you...? Are you not satisfied that you destroyed my daughter? And now you want to ruin that innocent child...! I would never allow you to do that." The room fell into silence again. The old man was so angry that his entire body was shivering. "I will never allow you to take that child away?" William turned to his granddaughter and then to Robert as he declared in a commanding tone, "I am here to take my grandchild along with me today, she is my blood, the only thing that my daughter left behind..." the old man couldn't hold on any longer and bur
Author's point of view... As everyone settled into the grand sitting room of the Erickson mansion, the air was thick with anticipation. Marco took a deep breath, his usually hard gaze softened by sorrow and reflection. He stared at the floor for a moment, his voice low as he began. "Back then, I was the king. The one on the top where no one ever dared to look into my eyes." He said, though the words sounded as if he was proud of himself, his expression showed darkness that held inside his heart. He continued, "When you're at the top, people assume you have it all: power, respect, wealth. But the truth is, you are utterly alone," Marco stared, his gaze distant, caught in memories of the past. "I was strong, alive, yes, but I was not living. Until one day, I met someone who didn’t care about my status, my wealth, or my power. She was the first person who looked at me as simply a man. She dared to slap me across the face when I crossed a line, unafraid of who I was." He gla
Author's point of view... "Let's fight till the end..." Robert and Marco were like two huge bulls ready lock their horns. Their men were ready to start a fight on the spot. No one intending to back off. As Izzy noticed the thickness in the air, she shuddered and as if smacked back to reality, she instantly stood between them. Stopping them from fighting. "Please stop it..." she said to both while turning her head to Marco, she requested in a low tone. "Sir...I think you got the wrong person. I don't know you sir. My name is Izzy Brown and my father is Isaac Brown. My mother died when I was young and I never heard her talk about you or anything related to you..." "Isaac ...that bastard..." Marco gritted in frustration. "He was her bodyguard not her husband..." Izzy frowned. She was so angry that she wanted to push that man away and yell at him. She scoffed bitterly. Did he mean that her mother, the lady who lived her entire life, though smaller, in dignity had ch