6

Izzy felt like her own lips were about to bleed from how hard she was biting them.

The reason?

She didn’t know how to answer her best friend’s question.

Did you do something illegal?

Could what she did really be considered illegal? With the large amount of money she got from Seth Santiago—money he willingly gave her before throwing her out of his grand mansion—she wasn’t sure.

She didn’t even know if it should be considered a debt, knowing full well what he might ask for in return if given the chance.

Izzy let out a deep sigh, and as she lifted her gaze, she was immediately met with Carl’s scrutinizing eyes.

"Don't try to look away again. It will only convince me that you did something bad—so bad that it’s making me worry, Isabel."

His voice was serious, and he didn’t break eye contact with her.

Without realizing it, Izzy bit her lower lip again before forcing herself to meet his gaze.

She chose to ignore how her lips parted slightly—only for her to press them shut again when she realized she had no idea what to say.

"Seriously, Isabel... What did you do? Where did you get the money?"

"F-from the ti—"

Izzy took a sharp breath, struggling to come up with a good excuse. She quickly looked down and rubbed her forehead.

"I-I don't think that's important anymore. W-what matters is that Mom’s surgery is done... She’s going to get better…"

"That is 1.5 million, Izzy… I might believe you if we were talking about a few thousand, but 1.5 million isn’t a joke. And you must be tripping if you think I’ll believe that you just magically got that much money overnight. Come on, tell me… If you did something really, really bad, maybe I can help you."

Help…

Izzy couldn’t stop a bitter smile from forming on her lips at his words.

"I don’t know what kind of help you can still offer… Or if I can even accept help from you anymore. You’ve done so much—not just for me, but for Mom too. Carl, I can’t—"

"And I don’t expect you to pay me back or return the favors, Izzy. I am your best friend. Do you really think I can just let you suffer alone when I’m right here and I know I can do something?"

"It’s not like that… I know that, and that’s exactly why I feel so ashamed… I-I’m sorry. I just think that if I go to you again, I’d lose whatever face I have left…"

"Okay, you’ve made your point… So where did the money come from?"

Izzy instinctively looked away when Carl pressed the question again.

"M-my boss… A-at the coffee shop where I work… I-I borrowed from him…"

She lied, and Carl immediately tried to catch her gaze.

"One and a half million?"

His voice was full of doubt, and guilt washed over Izzy.

"I-I didn’t do anything illegal like what you’re thinking, Carl… Do you really think I could do something bad?"

"That is exactly my point. You are Isabel Vergara, my best friend for seven years. I know you better than I know my own sister. I know you’re not capable of doing anything bad, which is why I don’t understand why you’re lying to me right now…"

His words were long and heavy with disappointment, his gaze unwavering.

"I-I just don’t know how to say it… I-I didn’t do anything wrong or illegal… Maybe something foolish, but—"

She whispered the last part while forcing herself to meet his eyes.

"Carl, I-I know you’re worried, b-but for now… C-can you just hold on to my lie?"

She pleaded, and Carl let out a sigh before giving her a long look.

"I love you, Izzy… And I’m really, really worried about you… But can you promise me something? Can you promise that if things—whatever it is—start to get ugly, you’ll tell me?"

The worry in his voice didn’t fade, but Izzy forced a small smile and slowly nodded.

"Th-thank you, Carl…"

That was all she could say.

Despite the weight of their conversation, and the lingering anxiety over Seth Santiago—who, no matter what, remained a stranger—Izzy still managed to smile when her Uncle Oscar came running toward them, grinning widely.

"Izzy, your mom is awake! She’s looking for you!"

He said excitedly. Izzy playfully pouted and rolled her eyes.

"Uncle, she was awake just a little while ago."

"I know, but I don’t know… Now that she seems better, it feels like such a huge blessing to see her open her eyes without being in so much pain."

For the second time, Izzy smiled at his words.

Her uncle was right.

Before her mother received the proper treatment, fear and anxiety constantly gripped Izzy's heart every time she saw her mother close her eyes to sleep—worried that it might be the last time.

But now…

Izzy’s smile suddenly faded. A wave of fear and anxiety swept over her as she spotted a familiar face in the distance.

Seth Santiago?

She silently uttered his name, her eyes locked onto him.

Even though he was far away, she was sure it was him. His cold gaze was fixed on her, as if he was studying her every move.

His face was void of any emotion, making her even more uneasy.

Is this the moment you plan to collect payment?

She asked herself. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when Carl suddenly called her name.

"Izzy? Are you okay? You look pale…"

"H-huh? Oh… Yeah, I’m fine… You always say that, though. You always tell me I look like a ghost… W-what was that again?"

She tried to joke, sneaking another glance at where Seth had been standing.

She exhaled in relief when she didn’t see him anymore.

"See? Now you’re spacing out. Your mom is okay now, and I know she’s going to get better. You need to stop worrying. You know what I think? I think you should take advantage of this and stay here with your mom. That also means you get a few days off work."

Carl’s long-winded reasoning somehow helped ease her nerves.

"Alright, Dad! You’re nagging me like an old man… But I think you have a point."

"I know I do. Of course, I do. All I want is what’s best for you. Oh, by the way, since you were out of it earlier, I know you didn’t notice that your Uncle Oscar already went inside. So, let’s go?"

Izzy scratched her head, realizing her uncle had indeed left.

The moment she stepped inside her mother’s hospital ward, all her worries seemed to melt away.

Her mother, now looking more lively, greeted her with a warm smile.

Although still leaning against the raised hospital bed, it was clear that her breathing was much more at ease.

Izzy was about to approach her mother when her old cellphone suddenly chimed with a message alert.

As she read the text, all the color drained from her face.

0949*******

My driver is waiting for you in front of the hospital.

Let’s have lunch, my place…

P.S. This is not an invitation, it’s an order…

See you, Isabel.

-Seth