Both lovers stilled, frozen with both fear and excitement. Who could it be? Asher wondered. If it was Lucas, then he might as well be screwed. Luckily, he had locked the door, which gave them the needed time to get decent. “I will f*king murder whoever it is,” Isabella grumbled. It had only begun getting good, and someone had the audacity to interrupt.“Might be your old man.” Asher teased, making Isabella sober immediately. It would be embarrassing for her father to catch her in such a state. “He would fire you.” She worried.“He already knows we are fucking.” Asher snorted. Isabella gaped.“You told him?” She asked ridiculously.Asher chuckled lowly. “They all know we are in a relationship and as such… " Another knock echoed, making Asher trail. “Whoever it is, they definitely ain't playing.” Isabella smacked his ribs as they finished getting dressed. Isabella had to grab a new top from her wardrobe courtesy of her boyfriend. The comical part was the two trying to make their rag
When Isabella jolted awake, her lover was no longer beside her. Which was odd because she clearly remembered going to bed together the night before. After their vigorous activities, the two took their time cleaning each other and later, Asher carried her to bed where he cuddled her until she succumbed to sleep. Grabbing whatever decent clothes she could find, Isabella wandered downstairs, wondering what might have made Asher sneak out of her room. “Oh, sweet child…” Isabella bumped into Marcia, who was on her way to wake Isabella up. From Marcia's telling look, Isabella knew something what terribly wrong even before she asked. Her heart had already begun picking pace. Did something happen to Asher? She dreaded hearing what Marcia had to say. “What happened?” She asked Marcia, who was fawning over her excessively. “Where is Asher?” Isabella insisted after having received no answer from a somewhat disoriented Marcia. “Is he okay?” Just as the words fell out of her mouth, they heard foo
Asher and Isabella made it to the hospital. But Edith and her men didn't let them. I'm claiming he wasn't to be disturbed and all. Being the wife, she had rights not even Isabella, the daughter, could fight against. In the end, the two frustrated lovers left, scheming ways to return and bulldoze through Lucas' hospital room without Edith's knowledge. What they didn't know was that someone had been following them. They had just arrived at the Cabin at Asher's insistence that Isabella shouldn't go back to the mansion when they were attacked. Another set of gunmen. Two security lost their lives protecting Isabella, and Asher was able to whisk her away unscathed. “Give me that goddamned device.” Isabella took back the PDA and without hesitation punched in her mother's birthday. It was the wrong pin. Once again she punched a different date and, to both their shock, the device unlocked. Asher glanced at his lover quizzically. They were driving down to the police station after calling to
Asher thought back to three years ago when he so happened to save someone just by coincidence. It was a kid who almost got run over by a car. It's something mundane, but not for the mother of the boy. And since Asher had sustained a few scratches in the ordeal, the woman felt she owed Asher a life. Against the insistence of the bodyguard, the woman whose name was Dragana, urged Asher to exchange contacts and made him promise that if he ever needs someone to help him bury a body, she should be the person to contact. Of course, it didn't make sense to Asher until he ran a background check on the woman. Dragana is a well-known drug lord. With a lot of charges, but since no one ever knew what she looked like, and has never been betrayed, the woman roams free as she pleases. It surprised Asher that she revealed herself to him. And Though he has never felt the need to contact Dragana in any way, he kept the contact. Back then when he believed the Garcias were his mortal enemies. “Can this
Dragana was nothing like the image Isabella had conjured in her mind. She was a petite, tall walking goddess who looked like she had just walked out of a v*gue magazine. She could be in her early thirties from her appearance. And the spoiled heirless couldn't stop gawking. Not even after Asher jabbed her discreetly on the elbow a couple of times. Which Dragana found flattering and amusing. “What did you expect, princess?” Dragana joked. From Isabella's clothing and mannerisms, it was evident money was not a problem for her. “I honestly don't know,” Isabella breathed in awe. “But this,” she motioned at Dragana's frame. “This is not it.” Dragana burst out laughing. It was a reaction she received from many of her acquaintances, and unknown to many, is her greatest strength. Because it makes idiots undermine her. “Can you shoot?” Dragana asked Isabella seriously.“Not straight,” Isabella replied.“I like her,” Dragana who up to now was treating Asher like an old friend, declared. “You
When Isabella woke, her eyes met total darkness. Panicking, she carefully got out of bed and tried to look for her phone, which she found under the pillow. Using the flashlight, she looked for a switch and put the lights on. The strange-looking room was locked from the outside, she couldn't get out. Her panic spiraled. Did Edith finally get her? She wondered. The first person who came to mind was Asher. She began dialing his number but stopped as her last conscious memories began flooding in. Touching the back of her neck, a certain spot was sore. 'He knocked me out.' She fumed in realization. He knew she wouldn't consent to stay with Dragana. The more she remembered, the angrier she got. Who did he think he was to make such important decisions on her behalf? She was so going to kill him. Finally dialing his number, it went straight to voice mail. “Fucking bastard!” She screamed, tossing her phone on the bed and began pacing. Wondering how she was going to get out and go confront he
Isabella could have fainted. She had to hold on to the table as her whole body weakened. Blinking rapidly, she wondered if she had indeed heard Marcia right. How can it be? She saw Paul as family. Someone she could count on. And yet, all along he was stabbing them in their backs?“Bella,” Marcia called. “Are you still there?” She could hear Isabella's heavy breathing. “I am here.” Isabella croaked, her heart tearing broken. “But…what about Paul?” she stuttered. Shattered. And in disbelief.“I can't believe it either,” said Marcia. She is the closest to Paul. In all ways. And she thought she knew him. To her extreme shock, the man wasn't a trustworthy one. Merely thinking of his involvement in Marina's death makes Marcia want to strangle him to death. All thanks to Asher, who happened to bug Edith's phone and discovered Paul's involvement. Marcia was so ready to confront him the moment Asher told her. With much difficulty, he was able to persuade her to look at the big picture. There w
.”You should speak with her,” Marcia said, immediately she realized it was Asher who had entered the kitchen. The story going around the mansion was that Isabella had dodged her bodyguard, and Asher was doing his best to sell the who, 'I am looking for her act.' Luckily, Paul hadn't known yet that Asher had hidden Isabella, so he was just as blank as the rest. Marcia knew, of course, but she didn't know where. Asher kept that detail to himself, which the older woman appreciated. At least she was sure the young woman she sees as a daughter was safe and loved by someone who would go to great lengths to protect her.“I have no good news to offer her,” Asher grumbled. He knew he had to redeem himself in her eyes after the shitty move he had pulled, and the only way to do that would be to give her something she needed. Justice. But until he can corner Edith, there is nothing he can tell her that would make it better. He dared to knock her out, just to make her yield to his will, so her ang
FOUR YEARS LATER…Isabella couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight that met her eyes once she entered her daughter’s bedroom. The older was sprawled on the floor obediently while his granddaughter painted his entire face with all sorts of stickers, not to mention the colorful rubber bands holding his cropped hair messily. “Look Mummy!” The little girl shouted excitedly. “I am making gramps pretty.”“I can see that pumpkin.” Isabella chuckled. “Dont laugh.” The older man grumbled. But he too couldnt hide his happiness. “You are getting soft, oldman.” Isabella taunted. “Only for her.” The older man retorted. “For her i would go to the depths of hell and combat Lucifer if need be.” Isabella smiled wider. She knew those words to be true. Her daughter, Davina was immensely loved and protected. She will never know suffering like her mother did. The train of thought had Isabella flashabcking a few years ago when she had surmised that happiness was never in the cards for her. Boy had she b
Surprisingly to say, the older folks date was going well. Partially because they both went on gushing about their kids in turn and didnt shy away from mentioning their dead loves once or twice. That was ofcourse until Dragana dropped the bombshell. “What are we to each other Lucas?” She asked quietly. It was no secret that she was greatly enourmered by the man sitting directly opposite of her in the small vintage diner. But she wasnt the kind to drag things along. And blurry lines werent her favourite geometry. Lucas gulped. He quickly raised his champagne glass and in one long sip he emptied it before facing her. “It has been a while since i felt this nervous talking to a woman.” He admitted making Dragana smile. “Tell me about it.” She scoffed. “I got my daughter’s blessing.” Lucas said looking at Dragana in the eye.“My son gave his too”“Really?” Lucas beamed. Dragana nodded. “Does that mean we can make it official?”“Make what official?” Dragana asked making Lucas frown.“Our
"Please don't hurt her." Asher found himself begging. "You don't have to pretend to care for this wench son, " Silas responded smoothly. "I already confessed our plan to her. "Not to worry, she won't leave to tell a soul. You can go back to finish the rest like we agreed on." Isabella didn't even feel when the tears started. She was too hurt to feel anything, let alone liquid flowing down her cheeks. Asher wanted to fight. But he couldn't. For the fear that his old man might hurt his Isabella. So he decide to play along. Knowing very well that Isabella will never look at him the same way again. But at this point, there was no other option. He would rather have her alive and well hating him, because the alternative was unthinkable."And how will I explain that she slipped out of my watch?" He asked in a bored tone throwing Silas off the track momentarily. Isabella froze. Up until then, a small part of her heart hoped that everything was some twisted joke to test her trust in Asher. But
Asher couldn't contain his haywire horrific thoughts as he drove towards his childhood home breaking every speeding limit known to man. He knew his old man too well to know he wasn't bluffing about hurting Isabella. After all, he had been preparing all his life for that exact moment. Asher hadn't dared tell anyone of the call afraid that he would get the blame he so deserved for putting Isabella once again in harms way. He surprised himself when he began chatting to the deity to keep Isabella safe where his own strength would fail. By the time he got there, Silas had more than managed to convince Isabella that she was nothing more than a vengeance tool for Asher. "I am here, now you can let her go." He screamed at his old man kicking the basement door open. Isabella didn't even lift her eyes to look at him. She felt so betrayed and used and damn a fool for never questioning her knight in a black suit, earpiece and gun who practically appeared in her life when she desperately needed s
Silas Marlowe was in a foul mood. Scratch that; he was livid. Seeing red literally. His 'heroic' son had proved that when you want something done, you should do it yourself. That's why Marlowe was preparing to go after the Garcia's himself now. And if his ungrateful son attempts to get in the middle, Marlowe would serve him a similar fate to that of his enemies. While the occupants of the Garcia mansion relaxed, thinking all the threats against them had been neutralized, one bodyguard worried. For he knew his father too well, and there was no talking him out of the vengeance scheme that he had planned all his life. But what he didn't expect, was that his father was already on the move. It was two days after Isabella found out that the people closest to her had been keeping a vital secret from her, and she hadn't attempted to talk to any of them since. That's why when she left to meet with her old friend Elton, she didn't let Asher accompany her as always. Instead, she chose one of th
Isabella sputtered in surprise, not believing that Asher could be that shameless in front of her father. “Did you need anything?” She asked hurriedly. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” Lucas coughed awkwardly, forgetting momentarily why he had come into the kitchen to begin with. “Of course not but…” Isabella trailed, realizing that fast that Lucas was just messing with her. Their relationship had improved greatly, and she was slowly getting used to his witty side that she never knew existed. “What do you really want, dad?” “I thought we could talk.” Lucas replied seriously. It's about time he came clean to Isabella about her biological father and everything else Marina would have wanted her to know. Lucas had conveyed the thought to Marcia, who too agreed it's about damn time. “About?” Isabella frowned. One look at Lucas and Asher knew he should excuse himself. Kissing his girlfriend briefly on the forehead, he left, assuring her that her was going straight back to bed. Marcia h
It had been over three weeks since Isabella and her old man returned to their old mansion. Though Lucas was adamant about it, the two have already enlisted the mansion for sale and a new place is almost ready for them to move in. Isabella felt they had a lot of bad memories in the house to keep kivbg there like nothing had happened. Especially after Edith's hearing a week ago where she finally had the guts to tell Lucas to his face that he didn't father her daughters. And though Asher had already told Isabella and Lucas that days prior, it still sounded so callous and cold coming from the horses mouth. That left Isabella conflicted. On one hand she hated her step siblings, Jacinta and Olivia. But after the revelation, she pitied them more. Must be hurtful to know of their shameful bloodline. One moment they called him grandfather the next they can't fathom calling him father. After much negotiations, she and Lucas agreed the two had no choice in how they got into the world. But at the
“Shut up asshole.” Someone mumbled shakily. Leave it to Bich to water down heavy moments. The wailing couple didn't even seem like they had noticed the surrounding bickering. They only had eyes for each other. “ I can't believe you are back,” Isabella moaned, tightening her hands on her lover. It had been quite tough holding on to the belief that Dragana would get Asher back for her. “I am here.” Asher croaked, thankful for finally having the one person he can't imagine a life without in his arms. All the torture that Fredric had put him through felt worth it. He would gladly go through it again to ensure Isabella is safe. “You are here.” Isabella agreed. Marvelling at how surreal it all felt. “You are really here.”“He really is.” Bich spoke up once again in what felt like exasperation, but in reality his eyes were barely seeing anything. “Can we cut down the waterworks now?” Everyone laughed throatily. Asher realized Isabella was too emotional to let. And he would rather not sto
Asher grinned. In as much as he hated to see Isabella cry, it thrilled him immensely to see her emotional reaction due to his return. She squealed, decidedly freezing in her steps as undoubtedly happy tears flowed non-stop. “Go hug him already.” Dragana prompted, but Isabella didn't budge even a muscle. She wanted to. Badly. But her body didn't obey her mind, no matter how much she willed it to. Anyone present couldn't keep their emotions in check as Asher did the moving. More like limped to where his girlfriend stood and pulled her fiercely into his arms. For the two emotionally drained lovers, it felt like coming back hone as after months of starvation in the desert. They clung into each other and for the first time ever, Asher didn't give a damn who was watching or not. He broke down and sobbed his heart out alongside his girlfriend at the glare of their friends shamelessly. Thing is, no one would have dared judge them among their spectators be because none could claim dry eyes. T