chapter 4

ISABELLA POV

A sense of unyielding resistance rose up inside me. I shook my head in defiance. 

         “ No.”

   My Dad’s face turned red with rage. 

   “ You will return to your room right this instant and forget about this nonsense, Isabella!”

   But, I refused to back down. “ It’s okay for Mia to complain unnecessarily for no valid reason whatsoever, and you don’t call that a tantrum.” I said, my voice steady.

    “ But when it comes to me, it’s suddenly a tantrum?”

   My Dad’s expression turned ugly. “ I’m not about to have this conversation, neither am I gonna argue with you, Isabella.”

   I smiled, but it was tinged with a deep-seated anger. “ You should be glad I’m leaving. After all, that’s what you’ve always wanted, right?”

   My Dad’s face twisted in anger, “ Isabella!” and he raised his hand to hit me, I flinched, preparing for the impact. But before his hand could make contact with my face, a firm voice yelled out from behind him.

    The loud voice cut through the air, making my Dad freeze. “ Mr Genovese, STOP!”

    My Dad slowly turned around, his eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of Ryan West standing in the doorway.

   A nervous and confused look crossed my Dad’s face, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he struggled to process the sudden arrival of the wealthiest and most influential man in the world.

    My Dad’s hands dropped to his sides, and my stepmom hastily smoothed out her dress, trying to compose herself. My Dad, still looking shaken, forced out a nervous laugh and said, “ Mr West, what brings you here?”

    Ryan’s expression was inscrutable as he walked towards my dad, his hands were tucked into his pockets. “ I could ask you the same thing, Mr Genovese,” His voice sounded low and even. “ What were you just trying to do?”

   My Dad’s eyes darted back and forth, and he cleared his throat before speaking.

   “ Oh nothing, Mr West. My daughter was just being stubborn. And I was trying to….ah….put her right in check.”

    Ryan’s gaze narrowed, his eyes never leaving my Dad’s face. “ I see.” He said, his voice dripping with skepticism. “ And does that usually involve raising your hand on her?”

    My Dad’s face turned bright red as he took a step back, his eyes darted to me and then back at Ryan. “ I…I was just trying to discipline her, Mr West.” He stammered.

     Ryan’s expression turned cold, and his voice icy. “ Discipline her? By hitting her? I think not, Mr Genovese.”

     My Stepmom stepped forward and intervened, a sugary, sweet smile on her face. “ Mr West, please, let’s not make a scene. It’s just a family matter.”

    But Ryan wasn’t having it. He turned to my Stepmom, his eyes flashed with anger. “ A family matter? You call hitting a child a family matter? I call it abuse, Mrs Genovese.”

    The room fell silent, the only sound one could hear was the heavy breathing of my Dad and Stepmom. I felt a surge of gratitude towards Ryan for standing up for me, also for seeing the truth and calling it out.

    Ryan’s eyes narrowed, and his voice turned firm. “ By the way, who gave you the right to raise your hand to my wife?”

    My Dad and Stepmom stared up at him, with confusion etched on their faces. My Dad’s eyes darted back and forth before he asked. “ Uh, Mr West, what do you mean?”

   Ryan cleared his throat, a sly smile appeared on his face. “ I don’t think we’ve properly met, I’m the man your daughter’s getting married to, Mr Genovese. And I believe you don’t have a problem with it.”

     My stepmom let out a nervous laugh, her eyes darted to me before she said, 

   “ Um, Mr. West, are you sure it’s Isabella here you want to get married to? I mean it could be the second one. My daughter Mia….”

    I stared at my Stepmom in disgust, my mind raced with the thought that even after her daughter snatched my boyfriend from me, she still wanted her to get married to Ryan.

    Ryan turned to my mom, his eyes glinting with amusement. “ Aren’t you tired of being a homewrecker, Mrs Genovese? Well, I guess it runs in the family, your family.”

    My Stepmom’s face turned red with rage, but she couldn’t say anything, not wanting to anger Ryan any further.

    Ryan then turned back to my parents, his expression turned stern. “ From now henceforth, Isabella’s no longer a member of this family. You have no right whatsoever to talk to her or to see her either. Unless she wants to see you, of course. And she no longer bears this family name. From now onwards, she’s Mrs. West. So I suggest you all give her the due respect she deserves.”