Ignoring the stranger flattering question, Isabel walked past the stranger, keeping a straight face.The last thing she needed was having another man hit on her when she was yet to get rid of the two on her neck."Come on, a pretty lady like you shouldn't walk around with such expression. It doesn't suit you." The man persisted, while she walked away briskly, not wanting to be left in an awkward situation with the stranger.However, he following her, talking to her, even though she outrightly ignored him.What kind of an idiot doesn't read the atmosphere to know when a lady wants to speak to him, and when she doesn't?"I couldn't help but notice you from earlier, while you were speaking to Principal Anderson. Honestly, I was beyond captivated by your beauty and I knew I'd to speak to you before the day runs out." He continued, while Isavel hastened her steps, barely saying anything to him."I understand that you are skeptical about indulging in a conversation with a man you just me
Getting the boys out of the arcade wasn't an easy task for Isabel. She had to promise to make it up to them, before they begrudgingly followed her out."But we've not spent up to an hour there, why do we have to leave?" Oliver grumbled, as she led them to where Zachary was waiting for them.Damien Giddorti and his bodyguard, Taylor had left by the time they returned."Are we all set to leave?" The man asked them,"Yes--""Why do we have to leave now?" Oliver questioned Zachary tersely, cutting off his brother's reply."I don't understand we have to leave now, when there are still lot of games and activities to be done.""There has been an emergency, so we have to leave now." Zachary replied to the boy, expecting him to throw questions at him.Oliver would never obey any order without questioning its reasons, even if God came down and ordered him Himself.The boy was a little too assertive for his age. Reynolds too."What emergency?""I will explain better when we get to the car. Now,
Two nights later, Isabel and the boys were having dinner, when her phone began to ring from the kitchen.She excused herself, then got up to go pick the call, out of the boy's earshot.Seeing Austin's name on the caller screen, she felt a tinge of disappointment.Not that she didn't appreciate Austin who have been calling her nonstop for the past two days, to check up on her, but because deep within herself, she wished it was Sebastian calling her not him.She wanted him to be the one calling, not anyone else.But despite her disappointment, she accepted the call, placing the phone against her right ear."How are you doing, Isabel?" He asked her the second she accepted his call, his voice laced with concern and care like always."I'm fine, Austin.""You don't sound fine, Isabel. At least, not to me." He persisted,"I will be fine." She told him, sounding as convincing as she could,"Has there been any news about his whereabouts?""Not yet. The search is still ongoing, but they've found
"But, sir---""Zachary, I'm as sure as night and day, to know that someone intentionally sabotaged the helicopter, to kill me." He apprised the man, whose expression was ashen.He was in disbelief.How possible was it that someone was after his life?It seemed impossible to Zachary.Of course Sebastian Bernadotte was a wealthy man, and with such wealth comes power and fame.Such recognition comes with plenty of rivals, however, he didn't think anyone of these rivals would be so petty and stupid to attempt murder on the man."Sir, are you certain about what you are insinuating now?""I am insinuating nothing, Zachary. I am telling you what I know and believe is the reality of what happened. Someone is after my life. Someone intentionally sabotaged the helicopter's engine to kill me." He insisted, staring intensely at the man, whose lips were left slightly apart."You might want to close your mouth, before an unwelcome guest invades it."Zachary closed the gap between his lips, but the s
"What are you talking about, Isabel? Why are you asking me this?" Sebastian's brows furrowed tentatively as he stared at her,"I am asking because I need to know what I'm signing up for. I know you've just survived a near death experience and this shouldn't be the base of our discussion for now, but I need to know what I'm signing myself up for." She explained to him, ignoring the unfathomable look on his face."Should I expect loyalty from you, as much as you desire it from me? Let's talk about commitment. Is this a long term relationship or a short term relationship? Is there a future to this, or does it lead to a dead end?"Sebastian opened his mouth to reply her, but he knew he'd be lying to her, if he told her what she wants to hear.The fact remained that he has never met a woman he's so obsessed with, as much as he was obsessed with Isabel. She was the only woman who'd ever brought him real pleasure. The only woman who has left him wanting for more every single time, despite he
Throughout that remainder of that day, Isabel wasn't herself. She kept thinking about her meeting with Jasmine, her adoptive family's biological daughter, earlier that day.She was quite disappointed at the condition she met the girl. Not like she'd any expectations from them, but she felt their lives would've improved after she left.She'd always believe that Jasmine would become a model like she'd always wanted, or she would be married to a rich older man, with children older than her."What use is school and getting good grades, when I use my beauty and become a model or marry a rich man who's just few years away from his grave?" She used to brag to Isabel and her mother,"When my husband dies, I will inherit all of his properties and become a billionaire widow. I don't need good grades to achieve all that. Beauty is my asset."Her mother would give her one hundred percent support, applauding her absurd ideology."Your beauty will take your places, Jas. You don't need to be book-sma
"Wow! That is a quite a long while to be away from your family. We thought you were dead or something, until I overheard Jasmine telling mother that she met you at the ice cream parlor a few days ago."Isabel managed a grimace, but did not say anything.Even after all these years, she was still nervous about being in his presence. And although she knew he wouldn't do anything to her now, she couldn't suppress the discomfiture.Gone are those days he would threaten to unalive her if she snitched on him, or try to have his way with her.Suddenly, a voice came from upstairs and from the sound of it, Isabel could tell the owner."Why are you trying to yell down my roof, boy?"However, her heart didn't race this time, hearing the familiar voice. Her heart wasn't beating fast, nor was she scared that she might've done something wrong.This time, she was calmly waiting for the woman to come downstairs and join them.She was eager to see what her reaction would be, seeing her after nine years.
That night, while she and Sebastian were making love, she decided to bring up the subject of helping the Hadids to him."Sebastian, I want to speak to you about something." She whispered to his hearing while he was buried deeply inside her.He stopped thrusting, breathing heavily as he searched for her eyes,"What do you want?""A favor."He kissed her sweaty forehead, still lodged inside her,"Anything for you, Little Rabbit." A glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes as he stared into her,"Tell me anything you want and I will make it happen." "It's about my adoptive family." She told him, and his demeanor changed,"What about them?""I went to visit them today." She began, "And I was appalled at the condition I met them. Jasmine is a single mother, Khalil is jobless and their father, died two years ago."Sebastian cleared his throat, but did not say anything."Mother said he did some bad investment, which cost him almost everything they had, except the house. He died not long aft
Several days past, and Isabel was still struggling to get used to living without her son. There were some mornings she rose very early, fretting about what breakfast to make him, only to be reminded of his absence, by the cold silence coming from his bedroom.One afternoon, she left the cafe and drove down to his former school, only to remember that he was no longer schooling there, when she was almost at the schoolThat day, she cried.She cried so hard, she began to feel lightheaded and nauseous, yet the tears wouldn't stop falling.Her whole body was quivering as if someone had ran her an ice bath on a snowy day, sobs and sniffles escaping from her trembling lips.Isabel had never felt so frazzled like she did that day.After crying herself to stupor for over an hour, she managed to calm her frayed nerves and she drove herself home.She'd wanted to call Austin or one of her employees to come drive her home, but she didn't want them to meet her in that condition, and certainly didn
Several days past, and Isabel was still struggling to get used to living without her son. There were some mornings she rose very early, fretting about what breakfast to make him, only to be reminded of his absence, by the cold silence coming from his bedroom.One afternoon, she left the cafe and drove down to his former school, only to remember that he was no longer schooling there, when she was almost at the schoolThat day, she cried.She cried so hard, she began to feel lightheaded and nauseous, yet the tears wouldn't stop falling.Her whole body was quivering as if someone had ran her an ice bath on a snowy day, sobs and sniffles escaping from her trembling lips.Isabel had never felt so frazzled like she did that day.After crying herself to stupor for over an hour, she managed to calm her frayed nerves and she drove herself home.She'd wanted to call Austin or one of her employees to come drive her home, but she didn't want them to meet her in that condition, and certainly didn
Despite Austin's subtle objection, Isabel accepted the package sent from the delivery guy, and she carried it into the house, but did not open it.She dropped it on the dining table and left without sparing it a second glance."I don't understand why you won't let me deal with the bastard." Austin was still fuming,"He needs to be taught a lesson, after everything he has done.""Austin, I don't want you to get involved in a rivalry with Sebastian. It is not worth it." She advised him,"Sebastian is the worst person you'd want to get into a feud with, and I wouldn't want you to get hurt because of me.""I am not scared of him, Isabel and you shouldn't be. That bastard wronged you, and he took your son away from him, I don't see why you should be afraid of him." He admonished her,"You've to fight for yourself and for Reynolds. You've got to fight to get your son back. Stand up to that bully.""I can't!" She screamed at him, her voice raised to a crescendo,"Don't you understand tha
Sebastian stood in the hallway, his eyes fixed on the closed bedroom door, Reynolds was knocking against, his mind reeling with regret and guilt. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, his breath knocked out of him.He thought about the look on Isabel's face, the shock, the anger, the hurt. He knew he'd broken her trust, shattered the foundation of their relationship. He couldn't blame her that she hated him, and if she chose to leave him, he deserved worst.Reynolds stopped knocking and turned to him,"Daddy, she won't open the door." The boy inveighed,"What did you do to her?"His eyes dropped to the floor, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his guilt. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of regret, unable to keep his head above water.He wished he could bring himself to tell his sons the truth, but they would hate him even more than Isabel does now. They would despise him, knowing he was the cause of their mother's loss and misery.And once his whole family
Before Sebastian could say anything else, she ended the call, clenching her fist tightly.Isabel was having the strong urge to haul her phone against the wall, but she restrained herself, knowing the damage it will cause the phone, which was purchased barely three days ago.She burst out of her closet, slamming the door behind her. She strode across her bedroom, her feet pounding the floor in frustration. She felt like she was going to explode, her emotions boiling over like a pot left unattended on the stove.She flung open her bedroom door and stormed out into the hallway, not sure where she was going, but knowing she needed to get out of there. In fact, she didn't want to see Sebastian even if he teleported himself home right that moment.That was how mad she was at him.She paced down the hall, her hands clenched into fists, her mind racing with thoughts and feelings she couldn't process.She was livid, but the rest emotions she couldn't process accurately.How dare that bit
Later that day, Isabel was on the phone with her employees from the cafeteria, when a knock came on the door."Excuse me, Sarah." She told the girl, then told whoever it was at the door to come inside.The door opened to she was surprised to see the Oliver and Alexander march into the bedroom, glum look on their faces."Sarah, can we have this conversation later? I need to attend to something very important.""Okay, ma'am. I will forwards the inventories to you now.""Thanks, dear. Send my regards to everyone.""I will, and my regards to Reynolds and your father. He should get well soon."Isabel muttered an inaudibly reply to the lady, before ending the call, then she moved her attention to the boys who were approaching her.Her first concern was their unhappy faces, which she pointed out immediately."Why the unhappy faces, boys? Did anything happen? And where is your younger brother?"Oliver was first to speak up,"Reynolds is in the bedroom, trying to solve some mathematical equati
The day of the hearing finally came and Sebastian was ready.He'd Miranda, his secretary postpone every appointment he'd during the time of the hearing. He was determined to be there, since the man's sentence also meant justifying Isabel and all the women he'd sexually assaulted.Surprisingly, the courtroom was almost filled, and there were plenty of reporters scattered everywhere.Being one of the hotshots in the city, with lots of recognition, everyone was hungry for firsthand information about the judge's verdict on Damien Giddorti's case, since he'd pled not-guilty to the charges against him.Wearing a turquoise shirt which was nicely tucked into a pair of gray golf pants, and a black sunshade to cover his eyes, Sebastian blended into the croud, taking a seat on the fourth to last row. He didn't want to be recognized by the press, and have them shove their microphones and cameras in his face, asking him questions he'd no intentions of answering.With his choice of dressing, he was
Two days later, Shakira was still on the run. Sebastian had his men scattered all over the city, in search for her, but they was no sign of her. Even when he tried to use her father to bait her, yet she did not show up."How disappointing that your only daughter would rather have you suffering, than turn herself in." He spat disappointedly, looking at the man and his wife."Chester, you should be shameful of the kind of child you've raised. One who'd rather watch you die, than take responsibility for her doings."The man did not say anything, neither did his wife.Of course, they were disappointed that their daughter, whom they've raised properly would be capable of kidnapping a child and hiding the child under the roof, making them look like accomplice to the crime.Who wouldn't?Chester knew that had the girl not been his only child, he would've allowed her bear the brunt of her actions, without any hesitation. However, those admonitions were reserved for later. Now, he was proud
Isabel couldn't catch any wink of sleep that night, as she kept thinking about Madam Magdalene's words of advice.The words were stuck in her head, replaying like they were taped to her memory. No matter how much she tried to shut the voice, the continued to play relentlessly.Of course, she love Sebastian and it was undeniable that he loves her too. Maybe, a lot more than she loves him. However, she loves her sons more. She loves them more than anything in the world, and wouldn't trade them for anything.She could survive anything, but not something happening to any of them.Reynolds's disappearance nearly drove her insaneAfter much tossing and turning, she pulled her weight up from the bed, and picked u her phone which she'd left to charge, on the nightstand.She unplugged it, then dialed Sebastian's number, hoping he would pick up.Fortunately, he did after the second ring."You're still awake, Isabel?" He asked her, his low voice filled with concern,"How are you still awake by t