Christian entered Isabelle's room without knocking, heading straight to the balcony. She was holding the chocolate that Sean had opened and was about to take a bite. Her hands froze mid-air, right in front of her parted lips, when she saw Christian. He hadn't looked like that when she saw him earlier that day. Her eyes raked over him, taking in his unkempt state. He reeked of alcohol, his bloodshot eyes completing his distressed look."It wasn't your fault." Christian started after standing awkwardly at the door that led to the balcony. His arms itched to embrace Belle in the warmest hugs he had ever given her."The doctor had told me that my stress hormone cortisol production was rapidly increasing." Christian almost peed himself when he heard Isabelle's voice for the first time since her discharge."It gradually suppressed the production of progesterone, and without enough pregnancy hormone, we stood no chance." Isabelle's shoulders shook and her chin trembled. "Can I hold you, ple
"You have been awfully quiet, Chris; is anything the matter?" The next day, Sean passed by to check on his friends and brief Christian about what was happening at the office. "My mother is sick," Christian admitted, perusing the file that Sean had brought. "Let me guess, your father told you?" Christian nodded, not really going through the information in the file thoroughly. "You do still care; it's human, you know." Sean knew when something was bothering Chris, even when he tried to hide it. "What she did to me... no child should ever go through that at the hands of their parents. That's why I want Isabelle's father behind bars soon." They had been tracing Sam to try and corner him. They had a theory too: somehow Isabelle's father was involved in the pictures.Footage from Morgan's house had been recovered by Sean and the security team he was working with. He just needed to review it with Christian, probably when he resumed going to the office. "We are still gathering enough evi
"What did you just say?" Christian looked at Isabelle, who casually stood, shrugging her shoulders. She winced, when her lower belly cramped, hiding it with a smile. She had been on painkillers and would likely take them for two weeks, until the bleeding stopped."You heard me, or are you telling me you didn't see how Dion looked at Sean?" She wiggled her eyebrows, biting her lip when another pain hit. "Sean got so nervous when he was talking to me about Dion. But I'm sure it's not what you think. Sean is not gay." Christian dismissed, heading to the kitchen to warm up leftover food. Isabelle had insisted on taking mashed potatoes and beef stew with a side of spinach. The same meal they had eaten during lunch. "I'm telling you something is going on between those two. Anyway, we'll find out as time goes." Isabelle knew that Christian had a hunch; he was just finding it hard to believe."Shower before dinner or after?" He shouted from the open kitchen, opening the fridge to fish out t
"W-what?" Isabelle stuttered, making a connection with what Christian had just said."She fell down before she could..." He paused, getting himself together. His jaw ticked as he turned and faced the sky, remembering that fateful night. Isabelle observed the rigidity of his shoulder muscles under the shirt he wore. She could see the side of his jaw moving, ticking."You don't have to." She tried averting the whole conversation when she sensed the change in his moods. It was almost palpable, the anger his few gestures and responses were depicting.Christian scoffed."No, you wanted to hear it. Shut up and listen." He didn't mean to come off as rude and inconsiderate, but she had pushed him to the wall. Isabelle flinched at the ascend of his voice, coiling in the lounge chair. His shoulders rose up with every rapid breath he took. "She and my father had been having serious problems. I won't get into details about it right now, but it eventually made our family drift apart. "Isabelle di
Days passed rather quickly; it had already been a little over three weeks since Isabelle miscarried. The moment the bleeding stopped, she insisted on following Christ to the office. She would relax in bed in the adjoining room at his office, when she wasn't hanging out with Dion. The two had become quickly inseparable, following each other around the building."Do you trust me Dion?" Isabelle asked, standing in front of Dion's desk outside Christian's office. "Of course... weird, right?" He flashed a smile, arranging files in alphabetical order according to the names. There was a cabinet behind his cubicle where all the files were locked up after Chris evaluated them."I know, I feel like I have known you for days." Isabelle smiled back, sitting on the edge of the desk. She had to push the calendar slightly to fit. "Okay, so I want to go back to work." She had been thinking about resuming work at the hospital. She was tired of getting paid for a job she wasn't even doing. Christian
"Are you serious right now?" Christian pulled up his briefs and trousers as he dragged his feet to stop Isabelle from leaving. He didn't bother with the belt once he zipped his trousers and put the button in place."Do I look to you like I am joking?" She yelled, putting her hand on the knob, only to realize Christian had locked it using his key card."Hand it over." She spread her palm, referring to the key card. Christian ignored her; he had no intentions of allowing her outside the office until she understood him."You have not healed completely." He lowered his voice, trying to reason with her. Her cheeks were flushed a nice pink, and her burn was messy thanks to his hold while he fucked her mouth. Her eyes had moisture in them, making him lower his head. He couldn't look at her without feeling sorry, even though he knew he was doing the right thing."You have been saying that for the last one week Christian. A whole fucking week of saying no to me!" She poked her chest when she r
"What the fuck, man?" Christian became defensive, shielding Isabelle from his father. He pulled her behind him, widening his stance as his nostrils began to flare."Disrupted your little kissing session?" The man nonchalantly asked, closing the door with his foot."What now?" Christian's chest rose, his breath coming in and out in short puffs. Isabelle peered at the older man, placing her hand on Christian's clothed bicep to calm him. "Your mother won't stop pestering to see you." Christian tensed further, his jaw clicking. Isabelle felt his bicep harden further, so she began rubbing the spot. Christian gritted his teeth, staring straight at his father."I told you I don't care." He sneered, holding his burning gaze."Do you remember what we talked about three weeks ago?" The older man with silver hair asked, throwing a glance at Isabelle. To some extent, she felt like he was referring to her. She couldn't shake off that feeling when Christian hesitated to reply, tilting his head to
The next day, Isabelle arrived with Christian at his office, both of them seeming drained. Dion observed quietly as his boss entered his office without saying good morning. He closed the door with so much force that the bang made him flinch."Trouble in Paradise?" He asked Isabelle when she stopped by his desk."Something like that." She mumbled, eyeing a cup of coffee that was on Dion's desk. "Here." He pushed the cup towards her after following her line of vision."No, thank you." She declined, even though she yearned for even a sip. She hadn't enjoyed her breakfast after an argument broke out between her and Christian. She had poured the coffee in the sink and the corn and eggs inside the dustbin in the kitchen.Dion sighed, placing his phone on the desk."Wanna talk about it?" He skeptically asked."He got mad when I told him I wanted to resume working at the hospital." Dion had an inkling given how Christian had become overprotective of Belle."Give him time." He wasn't good at g