RONANWhen I landed back in Paris, my phone couldn't stop receiving calls and messages from someone I didn't know. I refused to answer them and turned it into silence. But one message that caught my attention was the news from my secretary in New York.George Cortez was now in hospital arrest.The news didn't give the full details, but I know this has connected to Lucia or Shaine.I'm not sure if this makes me happy or not because I know Belle is now stressed out about the situation. However, there's part of me that George deserves this.I headed to the hospital and found Belle looking distressed while on the phone. She must have called her aunt or Cleo.I immediately rushed to her when she met my eyes. Her eyes start to well up in tears. I held her hand tightly as I gazed at the door of where George was. Police officers are standing at the door.I pulled Belle in the corner. “Belle, what happened?”“They said he killed Shaine and they know about Lucia. He’s now in hospital arrest.”
YSABELLE Even though I am so damn mad at Ronan, I still went home to be with the kids. I can’t reach my aunt but I forgot she’s in Russia. I know she's coming back because the news broke out. However, as I arrived home, a lot of reporters were outside the villa. As soon as they spotted my car, they sprinted to me and flashed those lights from their cameras. I covered my eyes because it hurt even though there was a car mirror.“Ms. Cortez! Ms. Cortez!”The driver was having a hard time getting inside the villa because of the people blocking our way.“Is there any other victim?”“Is your father now leading the mafia of your uncle?”I shut my eyes tightly while devastatingly grasping my hair.“Are you back to doing dirty business?”“What will happen to the company?”“Is he guilty of the accusations?”“What is his intention for killing someone?”And those questions go on and on like a damaged disc in my ear until we finally enter the villa. The securities immediately close the gate bef
YSABELLEMy fingers tightened around the phone. I couldn't believe I heard his voice again after a long time.“Connor?”“Is my mother okay?” My lips parted as I walked back and forth, and I didn't know how to answer his query.“Where are you?” I instead asked.“Is my mother doing well?”He instead repeated.I tightly shut my eyes in frustration. “Yeah, she's doing better in our hands than yours.”“I need her back.”I rolled my eyes and walked to the window, gazing outside the house to see if there were still reporters outside. I guess he already knew about my father's issue, that's why he wants to attack anytime now, and he started to attack me by taking his mother.“Don’t drag her in your mess, Connor. She’s sick and I know you know it too well.”“She’s my mother, so it's my decision whether she stays in your hands or not.”My jaw clenched. “Just surrender, Connor. You will only get a light sentence if you do. Stop adding to the fuel.” I said with gritted teeth.What does he want? H
YSABELLE“Ronan, can't you knock?!” I couldn't help but exclaim at his sudden appearance at the door. He startled me to death, wearing that long face.He stared at me intently before lowering his eyes to my hands behind my back.“What's that?” My fingers tightened around the phone. “I'm not hiding anything.”“Belle.”This time, he used his warned tone, which made me gulp anxiously. Even if I lie to him, he will still find out. So I should come clean before he spews fire.I handed him the phone.“I found this under my father's bed.” He seemed stiffened while staring intently at the phone, which made me frown. “What? Is it suspicious? Let's open it. Maybe we can find something–”“I'll take care of this.” He immediately grabbed the phone from me.“Don't be selfish. I want to see–”“Belle, we will surrender this to the police.”I stopped. Seriously? Can he at least investigate if the police’s accusation was true or not? Does he really believe them that my father killed Shaine? Just b
YSABELLEWhen we arrived at the mansion in Nice, Ashton was burning. So we immediately called an in-house doctor to check if he was severely sick. Thank God, he's not critical.Ashley was now with Cleo in her room. She was so worried about Ashton that she couldn't stop crying. Cleo calmed her down before we arrived.However, my aunt is nowhere. She left when they arrived here and didn't even tell Cleo where she was going.I wonder where she is.After dinner, I have my dinner with Ashton in his room and I'm glad he's not picky in food, unlike Ashley when she's sick. After an hour, he goes back to sleep.While tucking him in his bed, the door suddenly opened and Ronan came in with milk for Ashton.“How is he?”“His fever went down.”I accepted the milk and drank it instead of my son because he was already asleep; it would be a waste if I didn't. “That's good.”He sat at the bedside of Ashton and kissed his forehead. He then strokes Ashton's hair with his warm and big hands.“He rarely
YSABELLE I tapped my fingers on the table while waiting for the iced tea I ordered for myself while the woman in front of me was waiting for her coffee.My adoptive mother.We were in silence for five minutes after she asked me for tea. I glance at Cleo at another table, having her own iced tea while taking a picture of meI bet she's going to send that to Ronan.“What a coincidence.” I was startled when she suddenly spoke out.“Yeah.”I don't know why I felt awkward to be with her. Seeing her after years was really new to me.Our relationship faded when Dad died. She became cold to me and I always noticed her dislikes towards me.However, staring at her now seems like she changed.When our orders arrived, I immediately sipped at my iced tea to refresh myself.Noticing her silence, I started to talk first because I couldn't take this awkwardness between us.“Why are we here? Do we have something to talk about?”“I heard about the issue.”My hand tightened around the glass.“I still d
YSABELLE “You're quiet.”I was startled at Cleo’s voice in front of me, almost forgetting her presence for hours.“I'm listening,” I said She's ranting something about her love life and career life but here I am, spacing out instead of helping my cousin to move on from that cowardly jerk for throwing their relationship like trash. She opened another can of beer and handed it to me. I looked down at my beer and didn't notice it was empty again.With a sigh, I took it from her and drank almost half of it.“What did that woman say and you are dumbfounded like that?”“My adoptive mother and father are not actually married.”She just shrugged. “That was a trend. Living with the partner before marriage.”“Not that… Why does have Dad to make a big lie like that just to–”“Ask the deceased, Ysabelle.” Hse sarcastically said, which made me frown. “It's already in the past. Your adoptive father is already resting and your adoptive mother seems to be having a great life. Don't be stuck in the
YSABELLEMy hands were trembling as I pushed Ronan and got off the bed while glaring at him with disbelief.I couldn't believe my ears.“Are you fucking messing with me, Ronan?” I exclaimed with gritted teeth.Is he hearing himself? Does he think that's a funny joke? He sighed deeply and got off the bed and put on his pants.“The phone you found in your father's bedroom… The evidence is in there, Belle. I saw it with my own eyes.” My hands curled into fists as I stared at Ronan with watery eyes. “It's not my father, Belle. It's Mr. Cortez all along.”***I am staring blankly in the mirror, trying to forget what Ronan had said to me last night. Though I was quite drunk, I still remember every word he said.My father… I tightly shut my eyes when his face flashed through my head.What happened to our family? If my mother is here… will she feel more betrayed? But they were obviously forced to be together."Belle, do you want to confront your father?"I immediately opened my eyes and f