Chapter Three...

MARCH 2023

ONE YEAR LATER

NEW YORK CITY

Isabella drew in a slow breath. She watched as Doctor Miles pressed his stethoscope on Ryan's chest and plugged the end into his ears. He listened for a moment and nodded satisfactorily. 

“He is alright,” he said with a smile.“He just needs to take his medications and eat well.” He added, ruffling Ryan's hair gently. 

“Thank you so much, Doctor Miles.”

Doctor Miles squeezed her shoulder, dished out some instructions to the nurses. He casted another warm smile at Isa, patted Ryan and trotted out with the nurses. 

Isa watched them until they disappeared out of the room. Then she grabbed her brother and hugged him tight. 

“Thank you Ryan… thank you for staying alive… thank you for not leaving me all alone…” She mumbled, dragging in what seemed like an emotion swaying wind.

Later when Ryan fell asleep, she pulled the covers over him and just watched him sleep. It was the most peaceful she had seen him sleep. 

A year ago she had embarked on an arranged marriage to save her brother's life. Not knowing anything about marriage, having to live with a man she knew nothing about, she had delved in. But she had given everything. Her time, her love, her intelligence. She had swallowed insults and condescending remarks from clients. She worked hard, like a crazy person. 

But it had all amounted to something. Her brother was safe and alive. She had a job and the best husband. Yes, she had come to accept and respect Douglas Walter more than she imagined. People approved of her for being a good wife. And she was willing to do anything for him. To make him the successor of Walter Enterprise over his brother.

A few hours later she headed to Walter Real Estate after making sure Ryan was alright. She had hired a private nurse to tend to him in her absence and as usual, she made sure to instruct on things to be done on her way out.

She pushed the door and got in on arrival at Douglas’s office. 

A woman figure was hugging Douglas from behind but slipped away behind the bookshelf once the door opened. 

Douglas turned around, slightly irritated. “You should knock before you enter one's office. Were you not taught?”

Isa felt a hint of annoyance in his tone. 

“I'm sorry. I didn't know you were with someone…”

Almost at the same time, her sister came out from behind the shelf. 

Isabella’s brows folded. 

“Evelyn? Is that you?”

“Yes dear sister. Happy to see me?”

Evelyn strutted toward her.

Thrown into a veil of confusion, Isabella looked from Douglas to her sister. 

Evenly frowned. “What's wrong? What are you thinking?”

“Urhm…” Isa stuttered. She must have seen wrong. Sometimes even the eyes can misunderstand a scene. 

“No, it's nothing. But… Why are you? Why are you not at Father's company.”

“Well, I was bored and I came to see you. Amazing right?”

Confusion itched at Isa's face. It was the most unbelievable thing she had heard her sister say in the many years she had known her. 

“See me? But this isn't my office…”

“Well, I went to your office and you weren't in and so I just popped in here to say hello to my sister's husband. Is that so bad? Wait… now you are making me look bad! What the heck is going on in your head?” 

Evelyn became infuriated. She turned to Douglas. “I told you she will be like this. You should have let me go. I'm gonna grab the pizza I got for her and leave now.”

“No. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for misunderstanding you,” Isa apologized. 

“What about me? Don't I deserve an apology too? You just made your husband look like a fool. Are you happy?” Douglas fumed. 

“No, I'm sorry, honey. I'm really sorry for misunderstanding you. It won't happen again.”

“It's fine. But why are you here so early? Didn't you go to visit your brother?”

“I did,” she said with a smile, the memories of the last few seconds gone. 

“He is feeling so much better now. I couldn't have been any happier. Can you believe it… Doctor Miles said…”

“Urhm, I see you must be over the moon now about your brother but that can wait,” Douglas cut her off with a displeased scowl. “Get back to work. We don't have the luxury of time to waste on frivolous things.”

“Frivolous? But it's my brother…”

“Isabella Bennett!” Douglas growled. 

Isa quaked. The rage burning in Douglas’s eyes sent fear chilling down on her. She had seen him yell but the look in his eyes… she hadn't seen it before. 

She recoiled. “Fine. I will be going to my office now.”

She casted a look at her sister who had turned her back at them and seemed to have not being paying attention. 

Outside, Isabella halted and expelled the breath she didn't know she was holding for so long.

She was angry about how Douglas spoke of her brother but she still couldn't understand why her sister remained in her husband's office while she left. 

“No, I must have seen wrong…” she tried to convince herself. 

But the moment at her wedding flashed before her eyes again. 

As she trudged along the marble floors to her office, the scenes both at her wedding and the minutes ago chased her. How could any of those have been a mere coincidence? Douglas with her sister?

No, it couldn't be. Evelyn had no inkling of love for Douglas. To her, he was only but a mere bastard son of Walter. 

As if the universe knew she desperately needed someone to talk to, Crystal was in her office already. She was holding a cup of coffee in her hand.

“Hey, where have you been leaving your office empty to?”

Isa plopped into her sear and let out a heavy sigh. 

Crystal picked up her coffee and walked over to her. 

“What is it this time?”

“Crystal, remember when I told you I felt something iffy about Douglas and my sister?”

Crystal’s brows arched, ears popping out like antennas.

“You mean the time you saw her picture on his phone. Apparently that was on your wedding day decades ago. So, what about that? Thought you guys had settled that and now Douglas is all crazy for you.”

Isa managed another sigh. She had thought the same too. But now she wasn't sure anymore. 

“Right now I saw them together in Douglas's office and it was in the most awkward position. I don't know if I saw wrong or something.”

Crystal laughed. “Look, I think you are being unreasonable here, Isa. Douglas likes you. He would never get down with your sister. And as for the picture of your sister you saw on his phone. That was ages ago. Besides, it was just that one time and that was before you wedded him and what can they possibly do in his office.”