YSABELLEI immediately rushed inside the house as soon as I heard Ashley's loud cry. Her wailing was getting louder and closer and led me to the pool behind the house.Ela and Ana were trying to calm Ashley while Ashton just watched them as if he didn't care about the commotion. “What happened?!”“Her jam escaped from the jar,” Ashton responded blandly.I tightly shut my eyes in frustration. The way Ahsley cried creeps me out of my nerves. I thought something bad happened to the child.“Don't cry, baby. There's still more in the fridge.” Ela ran inside the house to get another jar of strawberry jam. As Ashley slowly calmed down, my attention diverted to my phone, almost forgetting Ronan in another line.“Ronan?” I called him, but it was silent on another line. When I looked at the screen, I saw the call had already ended. I dialed him again as I paced back and forth while looking at Ashley eating her favorite strawberry jam. She's really into sweet things. It might be bad for her
YSABELLEAs I was eating my breakfast together with the twins and the nannies, I couldn't wait to go back to my father's office to open that goddamn hidden door.I couldn't get a chance to open it yesterday because Ashley kept calling me. But there's part of me not to open the door. Am I scared of what's behind the wall?Maybe… And nervous.My fingers tightened around the spoon handle.God knows what I will find in that room.“Ysabelle~” I tightly shut my eyes when I heard Cleo’s voice. “Oh! There you are~ Hi kids!” She entered the dining hall. The kids excitedly greeted their aunt because she bought snacks again. I bet they are chocolates and candies again.“Breakfast?” I politely.“Nah, diet.” She handed me a file of documents that made me almost choke at how chunky it was. “You need to read and check this, CEO.”With a sigh, I take the documents and place them on the empty chair beside me.“Shut up. I'm not taking over my father's position. He's still alive, Cleo.” “What if he w
YSABELLERonan walked back and forth in front of me. Bewildered at the appearance of the woman inside the room.It's indeed Lucia. Her clothes were still the same as the last time I saw her, but she was pale and skinny right now than before. She remained sitting in the corner of the room, hiding herself from us as if we were a predator.It's a different reaction she showed me before.Ronan seems surprised at Lucia because he knows that Lucia is dead. Why didn't he believe me?“What the hell is she doing here? How come she’s alive?” He hissed.I run my hands over my face and don't know what to do in this situation. “My father probably locked her inside–” I stop and gaze at Lucia. “How did he get Lucia? Connor was with her at the time Jacob and I were abducted. Right there inside the hidden room.”Ronan only scratches her head as he also doesn't know the answer to my query.My father… What is he thinking of locking up Lucia? He really needs to wake up and give us an answer that only
YSABELLE I was confused by Lucia's condition. She even remembers her son despite her situation. Can't she see that she was obviously abandoned by her own son?“Connor…” I avoided her stern gaze as I mumbled that jerk’s name. “I don't know where he is.”“I want my son!”I irritatedly scratch my head. “It seems like Connor abandoned you in that house–”“I WANT MY SON!”“HE'S NOT HERE!” I lost my temper as I snarled at her. However, seeing her eyes quiver at my sudden outburst, I bit my bottom lip. Why am I trying to fight with a person who has mental disabilities?I sigh deeply as I try to calm myself and calmly talk to her.“Your son is not here… I'm sorry.”I firmly shut my eyes in annoyance. Why am I even sorry? Why did I say sorry? I pushed my hair back from my forehead and stood up. She's still hesitant to get out of the blanket. She even scorched over into the headboard.“Why are you so scared of me?” I asked, but I shook my head because I knew she wouldn't answer me. “Do you
YSABELLE‘He's awake’As soon as my aunt called that my father woke up, I immediately went to the hospital with Ronan.“Don't get work up. He's still not in good condition, so ask him calmly.”I remained silent.Ronan keeps reminding me not to interrogate my father because he still hasn't recovered. He's just back to being conscious, but according to my aunt, he's still having a hard time breathing.As we entered my father's room, Aunt greeted me, but she was taken aback at Ronan’s presence. She didn't expect to see him in this situation. “You're here too, Mr. Volkov.” Her voice was firm as she stared at Ronan.“Glad to meet you, Mrs. Cortez.”Ronan greeted her politely despite the attitude that my aunt was giving.They really don't get along well. I'm hoping that my family's rage towards Ronan’s family will lessen.“How is he?” I diverted my aunt's attention.She sighs deeply and gazes at my father on the bed, still wearing those apparatuses.“He can't talk.”I immediately look at h
YSABELLEI stared at my handbag where the other phone of my aunt was hiding. My aunt didn't return to get her phone. I sighed deeply as I looked desperate to suspect my aunt over something not so crucial.What's wrong with having two phones? That's normal these days. Separating personal and business life.“You're quiet,” Ronan said beside me while he was peeling the apple.“I'm… I'm going to handle the company here.” He stopped. “So tell me… what was Aunt hiding from me?” I took the apple and knife from him.He doesn't have a choice but to coke clean as he scratches the back of his neck.“The company lost almost forty percent of shareholders.”“What? H-How? I thought you were helping the company?”“They don't trust your father anymore.” He glanced at my father on the bed. “Especially, he's here now.”“I will handle–”“They don't want to give you their full trust. You're still an amateur in this field.”My jaw clenched as my hand curled into a fist. They're really something and I hope
YSABELLEI stared at the twins inside their new study room while leaning at the door. One of the guest rooms was renovated into their study room.Their private tutor, Ms. Ami, was the best educator we found for our children. She has an excellent background and I know she is trustworthy since it's Ronan who hired her.The kids were surprisingly behaved, especially Ashley.As much as I wanted them to have a normal school life, I couldn't risk anything. Our situation was beyond normal. “Why homeschooling?”I was startled at Cleo’s sudden appearance behind me.“Cleo, you know how dangerous the outside world is.” I hissed quietly not to disturb the people inside the study room.Seeing the kids learning quietly was making my heart flutter but saddened at the same time.It was supposed to be my job to teach them first. I was supposed to be their first teacher. But here I am, struggling to cope and spend time with my children. Both Ronan and I have been so busy with the company and issues i
YSABELLEShaine's death left us all in confusion. I was left in deep confusion, here inside the car alone outside the hospital.Ronan doesn't want me to see Shaine's body in the morgue. The police said it was too gruesome to watch the body because she was burned inside the car.I gulp nervously as I scratch my head in frustration. I don't know why I'm even nervous. The car door suddenly opened, and Ronan got inside with a frown all over his face.“Too gruesome to watch?”He nodded as he fixed his sleeves before gesturing to the driver to start the car.“She doesn't have any relatives. So, after the autopsy, they will cremate her body.”My brows furrowed. “She's an orphan?”“Yeah.”I didn't know she was.But according to the police, she's still with Paul, working with him to hunt me and Ronan down.“How about Paul?”“The police will intensify their search for him.”“What if he was the one who killed her?”This time, his brows furrowed at me. “Why would he even kill her? She's his only