32. Sinner

'Why didn't you tell us you were leaving? @Nessa,' Scarlett's text popped up on the screen as Innessa opened their group chat. Elena had also become part of their secret chamber chat group. 

'Leaving? Where did you go?' Elena texted. 

'I thought of spending the semester break with my relatives. I just left in a hurry. Sorry for not informing you guys,' Innessa texted them. 

She knew she had to leave the night Issac safely dropped her at the dormitory. She booked a ticket to Balford and left in the early morning. She also apologized to Jasper for her sudden leave, but he was kind and considerate, giving her the leaves she needed. 

Innessa couldn't stay there knowing Issac was hell-bent on forcing her to give him a chance. Though she knew she shouldn't have left like that after telling him she needed time, Innessa knew he would be all over her, not giving her space at all. 

Oftentimes, she felt like he was there watching her; the feeling always left her shuddering in unease. 

He was behaving a bit obsessively, but this suits perfectly well with his true personality; if she had only known, she wouldn't have gotten tangled with him. 

She was the one who barged into his life, but he was the one who wasn't letting her go. 

Innessa didn't even tell her friends that she had come to her sister's place because Issac might try to interrogate them regarding her whereabouts. 

He might be angry with her, but she needed some time away from him to think it through. 

'When are you coming back?' Darla asked. 

'Probably in two weeks when the new classes start,' Innessa texted back. 

'I miss my little bro,' Scarlett texted. 

'You guys should go visit your family as well,' Innessa texted. 

'You're right. I'm planning to go,' Scarlett said as the girls talked a little more. 

After chatting with them, she put her phone on charge and cuddled on the bed, staring outside the window. The weather was so beautiful that it was drizzling outside. 

A knock on the door brought her back to reality. She hurried to the door and opened it to reveal Faina. 

She had a tray of snacks in her hands. "Come with me, quickly," Faina said as she began to walk to the back of the house. Innessa closed her door and followed behind her. They got to the porch as Faina set the tray at the coffee table and made Innessa sit on the chair. She hurried back inside and was back holding two cups of steaming coffee. 

She handed one cup to Innessa and sat opposite her in the chair, cuddled up, sipping her coffee as they stared at the beautiful weather, enjoying the silent company of each other. 

Once Innessa had some snacks and drank half of her coffee. Faina spoke up. 

"I'm here if you want to share," her voice was soft, and just as she said those words, tears gathered in Innessa's eyes, but she blinked rapidly to not let herself cry. 

"I just felt homesick. I'm glad I could get to you quickly. I miss Mama and Dad," she said, and Faina nodded. Faina knows her sister better than she knows herself. 

It was obvious the girl was so upset. She couldn't even have her breakfast properly. Barely ate a few spoons and said she was done. The girl who was a foodie said she didn't have an appetite. It was obvious something was stressing her, and she didn't want to share what. 

"We should FaceTime them," Faina said, retrieving her phone, but Innessa shook her head. 

"No, I'll get emotional, and they'll worry about me. I don't want that," Innessa said as her sister nodded. 

Later in the evening, Arthur came back from work. The three of them had dinner together, and he had a light conversation regarding her studies with Innessa. 

At night, she stayed up the whole night because sleep was far away from her. She couldn't sleep and kept thinking about Issac. Her heart still ached at the thought of him. Ironically, after everything he had done to her, she still missed him. The Issac she fell in love with. Not the one who scared her to her core. 

It was beyond her how someone could act so perfectly, but somewhere deep in her heart, she felt it wasn't all an act. Maybe somewhere he also felt for her; all those memories couldn't be a lie. 

Only if the truth never existed, she would've been so happy with him. She missed Issac so much that it hurts, but she'll never forgive him for how he betrayed her and did that blasphemous deed. 

Two days passed slowly. 

The next morning, Faina told her about the dinner they were going to have with Arthur's boss's family. They all headed to the five-star fancy restaurant. Though Innessa didn't want to go, Faina made her wear a pretty white dress that reached her knees. They waited for Mr. Smith's family to show up, and they did show up in a couple of minutes. 

Innessa greeted them all with a smile and shook hands with them. Mr. Smith was Arthur's boss; his wife and his younger brother were there at the table along with a young girl who was their daughter. 

Faina and Arthur conversed with them while Innessa passed them small nods and smiles, trying to stay present at the table. She was picking her food when Mr. Smith's younger brother, Kenny, spoke up. 

"Is the food not to your taste?" He asked, garnering her attention. He was observing Innessa for quite some time; she seemed absent. 

"No, it's delicious," she said, though she barely even tasted much of it. She was trying her best not to doze off into her thoughts, but it was becoming difficult. She kept wondering what Issac must be thinking because he hadn't even texted her until now, nor had he called her. At this point, she was scared to go back after the semester break because she didn't know what Issac might end up doing. 

Not only this. She was angry at herself because she also missed him immensely. 

"Is something bothering you?" Kenny asked. His voice was low, so only she would hear him. 

"No," She shook her head lightly. 

"What are you pursuing? Innessa, right?" He asked. 

She nodded her head. Innessa told him about her major, and to be polite, she asked him the same question as she fell into a light conversation. 

Arthur noticed them talking as he passed Innessa with a reassuring smile. 

Arthur was like an elder brother to her, whom she never had. 

The dinner went by smoothly as they all headed out of the restaurant together. Faina was talking to Mrs. Smith while the men discussed some things, as Kenny approached Innessa, who was staring at the sky silently, a few feet away from them. 

"The night is beautiful," he said, startling her as she masked her expressions and passed him a small smile. "It is, indeed." She agreed as he smiled back at her. 

Kenny had that charming smile that could lure any woman to him. Maybe his polite gestures might've affected her, but Innessa was completely consumed by Isaac's thoughts all the time that she couldn't think of anything else. 

"When can I see you again?" He asked as she blinked at him, surprised. 

"I... I'm not sure," she said truthfully. What else was she supposed to say to him? 

"Can I get your number?" He asked, and she was taken off guard. 

Innessa wasn't interested in him, and she couldn't help but think if she unintentionally gave him a hint or something. 

"I'm sorry," she said politely with a small smile, not wanting to hurt him, but thankfully, he was a gentleman as he placed his hand on his chest in fake heartache and sighed. 

"My bad, but it's okay. It's a healthy rejection, so I'll accept it," He mused, and a genuine smile donned her lips as Kenny grinned. 

They said their goodbyes to the Smiths and headed back home. On their way back, Innessa spotted a church very close to the house. They got home, and Arthur and Faina retired to their room. 

Innessa was wide awake, and she couldn't sleep. Changing into jeans and a shirt, she put on a cap on her head, grabbed her phone, and stepped out of the house. She quietly walked down the street. The area was safe, and there were people out there, so it wasn't deserted. 

Tucking her phone in her back pocket, she made her way to the church. She couldn't sleep because of the constant state of guilt that was eating her. She needed to get back in connection with God, and for that, she had to confess her sins and apologize. 

Stepping into the church, she quietly walked down the aisle, feeling her chest heavy. But she knew once she confessed, after that she'd feel a little better. 

Kneeling in front of the cross, she clasped her hands together and prayed for her peace and joy to return in her life. She also prayed for Issac to move on, though it killed her, but she didn't want him coming after her like that; it scared her. She prayed for his happy life and hoped she'd move on as well. A tear trickled down her cheek as she apologized to God before pulling to her feet; her knees hurt from kneeling for so long. 

Innessa inhaled sharply when she noticed a guy stepping out of the confessional. 

With all the mustered-up courage, she ambled into the confessional and pulled the curtains. She could see the priest sitting on the other side of the screen. 

"What is it, child?" The priest asked. 

A huge ball of emotions clogged her throat as she swallowed it down. Her eyes watered. What she did might not be wrong in many eyes, but for her, it was wrong because she had promised God not to do any such thing before the holy Bond, and she broke that promise. 

"I've sinned, Father," She whispered. Her voice was small and broken. 

"I broke the promise I made to God. I... I didn't mean to do it, but it happened and I... I didn't hate it," She whispered. 

Innessa chewed on her bottom lip, completely unaware that someone was standing on the other side of the curtain, hearing her confession with fury coursing through his veins. 

"I want to repent-" The curtain slid to the side with force, making a rattling sound of the rings hitting the corner as a huge frame stepped into that small booth. 

The hair at the nape of her neck stood up, feeling the body heat of the person on her back. The familiar scent of that rich, heady Cologne wafted through her nose as her body stiffened and locked up. 

A veiny hand slid across her shoulder before those strong fingers wrapped around her delicate throat, pulling her head back as she faced the ceiling. 

Issac leaned down, his hot breath fanning her throat as he dropped a gentle kiss on her pulsing vein. 

"Forgive me, father. For I'm going to abduct this little sinner," the deep, familiar voice rasped in a dark rumbling tone. 

The Pope watched, stunned, as the tall guy yanked the girl out of the confession box and stomped out of there. 

Innessa stumbled, but Issac didn't stop. He dragged her out of the church as she watched his massive shoulders in dreading shock. 

How? 

How was this possible? 

How did he know about her whereabouts? 

As soon as he stepped out of the church, the cold breeze swept past her, a shuddering breath left her lips, and she tugged at her arm to stop him. But it was a wrong move. 

In one swift move, he turned around and hauled her up on his shoulder, earning a shriek from her, her cap falling on the floor as she clutched the back of his shirt in tight fists, afraid of falling. 

Innessa was so stunned and scared as she tried to form a coherent word, but nothing escaped her lips. 

He prowled over to the street, and she raised her head, staring at the way she came from. He was walking in the opposite direction. She didn't even tell Faina that she was going outside. 

"P... put me down-" The words died down in her throat as he swiftly put her down on her feet. The blood rushed back to her body as she swayed, but she winced when he forced her body against a huge truck, and he grabbed her throat again. 

Her breath was stifled when her eyes met his enraged cognac hues. The rage and fury in those deadly eyes had her legs turning cold in lethal fright as he tightened his hold on her neck. He looked different. His eyes looked ominous, and his stubble had grown a little more, giving him a rugged look. 

Tears brimmed in her eyes, but her eyes widened when he pressed a wet cloth on her nose and mouth. 

Her heart lurched to her mouth, and her hands shot up to free herself and remove that cloth from her face, but he squeezed her neck hard enough for her to inhale a sharp gasp. 

She still tried to fight him off, her vision blurring again and again as tears slid down her cheeks and were absorbed by that cloth on her mouth and nose. 

Innessa shoved at his chest, clawing at his neck and jaw, but to no avail as he kept the cloth pressed on her nose until she inhaled the drug properly and her struggles faded away. Her hand dropped to her sides as her vision blurred. Her eyelids drooped, and she slowly drifted off to darkness. The last thing she saw before succumbing to darkness was his cold, void eyes that held the promise of her misery. 

Issac was so happy when she asked for some time. He knew deep in his heart that she loved him and would give him a chance. He was on cloud nine and didn't want to mess things up, so he kept his distance from her. 

He waited patiently for her to contact him for three days. He didn't text her, call her, or even stalk her. Issac was so earnest that he didn't even check her live location. He genuinely wanted to give her space so she could think it through. 

He was certain that if he'd behave, she'd choose him. And he was so sure and adamant to never lie to her ever again. He lost her once, and it brought him to the edge of losing his f*cking mind. He didn't want to lose her ever again. He'll do everything that she'd want from him. He'll even stop fighting in the ring for her. 

He was happy and patient. Patience wasn't his trait, but he did it for her. 

But imagine his surprise and rage when he found out she was gone. She left the very next morning after giving him hope. After agreeing to think about it, she just escaped. 

He waited two days for her text, anything from her side, but he got nothing. She didn't care about him. She didn't love him. He was a f*cking fool to believe her. She just tricked him and left. 

Why the f*ck did he think that she couldn't leave because of her scholarship, and now she was gone? It was then that he realized that if she wanted to leave, even that scholarship wouldn't stop her. 

The haunting realization that she could easily leave him messed him up badly. The fact that he didn't mean anything to her triggered him immensely. 

There was dark anger bubbling inside him. He tried to vent it out on the punching bag, but failed every time. 

Issac traced her live location, and it wasn't so far away. She was in Bradford. 

He couldn't wait till morning, so he left and was there at midnight. He found the house she was staying at with ease. He had tossed a little money to one of Victor's spies and easily found out everything about the owner of the house and the people who lived in it. It was Innessa's sister's house. Faina and her husband, Arthur. 

Issac might know that she must've come here to spend her semester break, but the possibility that she could leave just like this didn't sit well with him. What if he hasn't linked her live location with himself? What then? He would be losing his damn mind not knowing where she had disappeared to. 

He climbed into one of the windows and got into the house. He searched the rooms on the second floor, and there she was. Cuddled up in the bed, sleeping peacefully. 

He couldn't explain the peace he felt at the sight of her, but that wasn't the only emotion he was feeling. With peace came the vicious rage that he was suppressing with all his might. 

He didn't step closer because he was afraid of hurting her. He turned around and left the house. 

Issac still waited, hoping that she would text him or say anything, but he was wrong. He didn't go back. He stayed there watching her leave the house with her sister and brother-in-law. 

Issac watched as that pathetic, good-for-nothing, soon-to-be-six-feet-under-the-ground guy kept talking to Innessa, who seemed deep in thought at the dinner table. 

But Issac lost the last of his remaining patience when he watched her smiling and talking to that f*cker who put his hand on his chest in hurt as if they were long-lost friends. 

He wanted to walk up to them and slice that motherf*cker's throat right then and there. At that particular moment, when he watched her smiling at that man. Issac knew. Either he'd make her his, or he'd destroy the whole damn world and put it on f*cking fire right in front of her eyes. 

It was his luck that she sneaked out of the house on her own because he was planning to sneak in there. 

He wasn't surprised when she headed inside the church, but he was surely astonished when she was confessing to the Pope. 

He had already started working on the plan when he saw her smiling with that guy. All he needed to do was abduct her, and he did exactly that. 

There was no way out for Innessa anymore. 

She won't be able to leave him. 

Not now. 

Not ever. 

He gently lay her unconscious body in the back seat of the pickup truck and roared the engine to life as he sped down the road. His cognac brown hues were blazing with a sadistic determination that would turn her life upside down.