Chapter 6: Interrupted Confessions.

ISADORA'S POV.

If Rafael took another step toward me, I knew I would tell him everything.

I pressed my back against the wall, but he continued closing the distance between us.

I told myself to keep silent, but the look in his eyes said that he finally lost his patience.

"You need to stop running from me, Isadora,"Rafael said, stepping right up to me and grabbing my wrist.

"I am not running from you,"I lied, pulling my hand away from him as I decided to stand my ground and look him in the eyes as I refused to let him know how his presence affects me.

"You think this is all about a stupid business contract, but you have no idea what you are getting into,"Rafael said in a quiet tone.

"I know exactly what I am doing,"I said, lying once again.

"No, you do not,"Rafael said, squeezing my hand so that I would not try to escape again as he leaned in, and I saw the fear in his eyes for the first time.

Then I realized that he was not trying to scare me but was worried that I would put myself in danger.

"Your father is going to ruin you if you stay here tonight,"Rafael said, stepping right up to my face.

"Oh fuck that! He cannot do anything to me that he has not already tried,"I said defiantly still looking sternly at him.

"He is going to do something far worse than take your company, and I cannot let you walk into that,"Rafael said with his voice shaking slightly.

I hesitated a bit, torn between believing him and wanting to protect myself.

At first, I wanted to trust him, but I had been burned too many times. So immediately, I pushed him in the chest, putting some distance between us.

"Wait! Why do you even care what happens to me?"I asked, studying his face.

"Because I cannot stand the thought of him hurting you again,"Rafael said, brushing some hair away from my face.

"Oh well, oops! Im I interrupting something personal?"Rosalind asked, walking around the corner with a fake smile on her face as we both turned and faced her unaware that someone has intruded.

I immediately pulled away from Rafael, putting more distance between us and decided to pretend that nothing was happening, smoothing my dress over my hands.

"We were just finishing up a private discussion,"I said, meeting Rosalind's eyes.

"Well, the keynote presentation is starting now, and Rafael needs to be on stage with me,"Rosalind said, walking over to him and putting her hand on his shoulder as she looked at me with cold eyes, silently telling me that he belonged to her.

"You should really go back to your seat, Isadora, before security asks you to leave,"Rosalind said coldly with her voice dripping with venom.

I saw the evil look on her face and realized that she wanted me to leave the family business for good.

"I will leave when I am ready to leave,"I said, standing my ground.

"Oh please honey, do not make a scene here, Isadora,"Rosalind said, pulling Rafael by his jacket toward the main hall.

"I am not making a scene, but I am not taking orders from you either,"I said, meeting her gaze until she looked away.

Rafael looked at me over his shoulder, silently telling me something with his eyes, but he ultimately walked away with Rosalind.

I watched him leave, and immediately a part of me died, but I swallowed my pride and held my head high as I knew that I could not keep relying on him to protect me.

Then, I turned around and was about to walk away when suddenly someone grabbed my elbow from behind.

I gasped and spun around, ready to fight whoever it was and behold, it was Aunt Katie, who stood before me with her face pale, and her eyes darting around the empty hallway.

"Shh! Now listen to me, you have to take this right now and do not let anyone see it,"Aunt Katie said, shoving a small silver keycard into my palm.

I looked down at my hand, seeing the cold plastic with a small slip of paper attached to it.

"What is this?"I asked, closing my hand around the card so that no one could see it.

"It is the key to the old Fenwick estate in Segovia,"Aunt Katie said, her voice shaking with panic.

"Why are you giving me this now?"I asked with my heart pounding in my chest.

"Your father is driving down there early tomorrow morning to burn all of Rosalind's old medical records,"Aunt Katie said, stepping closer to me as my stomach turned at her words.

I had to decide what to do next. Either to go home and pretend that none of this was happening, or I could risk everything and go to Segovia tonight.

"If those files are destroyed, you will never be able to prove what he did to her or how he stole you both identity"Aunt Katie said, gripping my shoulder tightly.

"I cannot just break into his private estate,"I said, struggling with the decision.

"You have to decide right now if you want the truth or if you want to remain a victim,"Aunt Katie said, looking me in the eyes.

I stood in the silent hallway, gripping the small keycard in my palm as the noise from the ballroom drifted away and I knew that going to Segovia meant that I would commit a crime against my own family.

I knew that if my father caught me on his private property, he would most likely lock me up forever, just like he did to Rosalind.

I looked at Aunt Katie and took a deep breath again before making my final decision. "I will go to Segovia tonight,"I said, slipping the keycard into my pocket.

"Go right now through the side exit before Peter sends his security team to follow you,"Aunt Katie said, pushing me toward the service door.

I turned my back to the ballroom and all the lies, choosing to walk away from my reputation, my money, and my safety all dawned on me.

I pushed the heavy exit door open and stepped out into the cool night air, knowing that I could never return home again.