Chapter 10 Ethan Scott's Father

Leaving the bathroom, she made her way to the lounge exit which was exactly her father’s very own office. She roamed her eyes around the wide and luxurious yet simply decorated  room and noticed that the interior design of her daddy’s office doesn’t even change through out the years.

The room still look the same as it look like before, white and gray in color with a huge book shelf full of business books in a right corner, a new set of black leather couch with a glass coffee table in its center. And still stood in the corner of the right a mini bar with his own collection of aged wines that serves his little scape from everything. 

While observing the whole wide and spacious office her eyes fell unconsciously into an old and antique familiar oil painting which was attached on the wall for ages across her father's office table.  

It was their complete family of four. On the painting, her parents are sitting side by side on the elegant couch starring at each other’s faces affectionately while smiling. On the carpeted floor was the little Izzabelle and little Inzo who are busy playing with their toys happily. The atmosphere painted at the image was genuinely harmonious that nobody could ever imagine that their family would ended up in the most tragic way. 

Reminiscing and deeply engrossed  about the old memories, her sight started to blurred and few fresh tears are threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes. She blinked it for a few seconds and took a deep long breath to hide her emotions. She needed to keep it well wrapped from her father just in case he might get worried about her again. 

Taking a last glance at the painting, she turned her attention back to where she is supposed to be going. 

Izzabelle walk leisurely towards the sitting area in which was located at the other end of her father’s wide office.

From a distance, she could vaguely heard their faint voices talking. She was assuming that they might be discussing something important about the company mattersbased on the serious expressions plastered on their faces. She faked a cough to announce her presence and greeted them cheerfully.

“Ahem! Dad..! Uncle Daniel..!”

The two handsome elders tilted their heads at the same time and look at her directly and their gazes meet. Mr. Smith waved his hand gesturing her to move closer and pointed at the empty seat across them. 

Izzabelle followed her daddy’s gesture and settled herself comfortably in the sofa. She clasped her hands together, pursed her lips and inhaled deeply to ease her nervousness. Curiosity and confusion are visibly written in her face. She was puzzled as to why and what would  her dad’s friend wanted to talk about to her.

“Princess, your Uncle Daniel wants to tell you something important, please listen to him first.” Her dad speaks gently.

Izzabelle nodded.

“What is it Uncle? Please tell me..!” She inquired immediately.

Mr. Scott starred at the young lady’s face for a while and started to spill out everything that keeps on bothering his mind. He wants to confirm his own suspicion and hopefully sort out his own dilemma. 

“Izzabelle, I would like to ask you something, I  do hope that you could tell me the truth though it was already in the past.” He chose his words carefully observing the young lady’s facial expressions from time to time. 

Izzabelle, who was listening intently, becoming agitated and nervous. Her heart skipped several beats.  She couldn’t understand why but her gut feeling told herself to keep her emotions on check. So, she just nodded her head to assure him that she’s willing to listen and answer his questions.

“Do you... by any chance got acquainted of a certain Ethan Scott?” He asked mildly focusing his gaze at her hazel fiery eyes. 

Hearing his question, she was surprised. Her beautiful eyes widened in confusion. Her heart was beating so fast like those of a horse galloping miles in an hour. Why is Ethan Scott being mentioned here? But still, she just nodded her head  politely and let himself finish his words.  

To answer her confused look, he continued to narrate his own story.  

“Ethan is my son, he studied in the same school ahead of you. Few hours ago, when your father brought you at my office, I immediately recognized you. 

My son once told me that he has found a girl that he likes so much. He was much more happier than before when he told me that this girl finally becomes his girlfriend and that they always hang out to relax and have fun together. That’s the time when he showed me your photo. 

I told him to bring you home to meet me and we will  have a family dinner together.”

Mr. Scott’s voice almost came to a whisper enough to make them hear. He seems to be very sad when telling his memories of his son. What does this mean?

Izzabelle was momentarily stunned, she was dumbstruck by her newly uncle’s confession. She had totally ignored the surname ‘Scott’ that connects them. It doesn’t ring a bell to her brain instantly. Who would have thought that their fathers are even best friends.  What a small world isn’t it?

Lost in her terrain of thoughts, she began to question herself. ‘Why was he looking so sad while reminiscing those memories of his son? Shouldn’t he be happy remembering those memories? What's the matter? Could it be?’

Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. 

‘No! No! No! It can’t be..! Please no..!’ 

She prayed silently. She was hoping that her assumption was totally wrong. She wants to speak but she felt a large lump blocking on her throat. Her sight became blurry in an instant. Her tears came down her cheeks freely like a non-stop waterfalls. Her heart hurts so much that she found it hard and difficult to breathe. She sobbed uncontrollably.

Mr. Smith, who was also listening to his best friend's story became emotional too. He knew exactly what happened next to his friend’s son.