1. A NEW CHAPTER

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

" Ma'am. " A guy knocked at the office of the CEO of Anderson Enterprises.

" I told you to not bother me. " A hoarse voice sounded from inside, a woman's.

" It's urgent. " The man said and the door opened, revealing a woman of five feet seven inches, slender figure, but most eye-catching, those amber eyes, which had sleep in them. Still the power in her voice wasn't less, " What is it? "

" Sir.. He… " The man stammered, not being able to take the pressure.

" What? " All the signs of sleepiness were gone at his mention, in its place there was the seriousness of a leader.

" He met with an accident. "

" Where is he? "

" Royal London. " Royal London Hospital, one of the major trauma hospitals in London.

" The car. " She picked up her mobile and followed behind the guy.

" Already ready. " Nodding at him once, she relieved him of his duties for the day before leaving for the hospital, to meet her grandfather.

.

" Connor Anderson. " She said to the receptionist, who looked up and after recognizing her replied, " OT number 3."

Muttering a thanks to the receptionist she made her way to the direction she had implied.

There were many people present, not just people but acquaintances, everyone from the Raynotts was present.

" Isa, you're here." Amelia, the lady of the Raynott family whispered to the girl, Isabella Cheryl Anderson, the sole heir to Connor Asher Anderson, who was lying in the OT. The families have always been close and with Isabella's parents dying when she was young, Amelia had been the only mother figure Isabella knew all her life.

" What happened? " Isabella asked

" A lorry lost control. " Andrew, Amelia's husband, replied to her question. A frown marred her forehead, she couldn't understand why it would happen, " How long had he been in? "

" Two hours. "

" Where's Seth? " Isabella turned to them asking about her fiance, Seth Benjamin Raynott, they got engaged last year. Even though she didn't want to, she complied when her grandfather asked her to, she knew the person she loves doesn't feel the same so it didn't matter to her if she marries Seth or someone else.

Amelia's silent sniffles turned into cries, " What's wrong? "

" He was with Connor. " It was Nicholas who answered her, her grandfather's friend as well as Seth's grandpa.

His words took time settling in but when they did she couldn't think of anything else. Her grandpa and fiance met with an accident. That's why everyone was here, not just because her grandpa was in but because Seth was too.

The next few minutes were excruciating for everyone and one of the doors slid open after fifteen minutes. Isabella didn't have any idea who was behind that door but everyone else did.

" We are sorry. " The doctor shook his head and Amelia sobbed, falling to the floor while her husband supported her. Nicholas slid onto his chair with his palms on his forehead lamenting about fate.

Dread and relief washed over Isabella all at once, dread because she knew that Seth couldn't make it and relief because her grandpa still had a chance. She felt guilty for feeling this way but no one could blame her for not wanting to lose the only family she has.

Footsteps sounded in the otherwise silent lobby, there stood Aiden Sebastian Raynott and he knew the situation just by the look on his grandfather's face, not to mention her mother's cries. He knew his brother couldn't make it, his fist tightened and his jaw clenched. He had gone to investigate the accident and it took much longer than he had expected, he hadn't thought that his brother wouldn't make it. He was expecting it to be some injuries but not this.

The second door opened soon after, Isabella's heart tightened with the look on the doctor's face. " We are.. " She knew what he wanted to say so she stopped him, " Don't. " She wasn't ready to hear that. She didn't want to hear that.

The doctor shook his head, already expecting such reactions and said, " You can meet him one last time. "

Isabella ignored his comment about last time and went ahead.

Nicholas stood up from his seat, he wanted to meet his friend one last time, " Come with me Aiden. "

" Yes grandpa. " Aiden nodded before following his grandfather in.

Isabella was just sitting by his side not letting him say a word as if his words would break the spell she was in.

" Hey ol' man. " Connor said with difficulty, still not above teasing his best friend.

" Hello old man. How're you? " Nicholas went to his side and took his seat while Aiden remained standing by the door.

" As fit as a fiddle. "

" Good. "

" Seth? " Connor asked and the silence gave him the answer, " Alright, you take care of cheryl here and I'll keep an eye on Seth there. Deal? "

" Deal. "

" No. " Both Isabella and Nicholas said at the same time.

" You aren't going anywhere. Take care of me yourself if you want to. " She said adamantly.

" I love you Cheryl. Remember it okay. Grandpa loves you. " Connor said with a sigh as his eyes closed.

" Don't. Grandpa, Grandpa open your eyes. " She shook him but he wasn't responding.

Tears started to stream down her face.

Nicholas gestured for Aiden to take her out while he covered Connor with the sheet.

" No, don't do this. " She started to thrash, but Aiden held her before she moved ahead.

" Calm down. "

" No. No. " All the tears she had been holding came out in a jiffy, her voice pained trying to reach her grandpa.

Aiden turned her towards himself and hugged her, she thrashed for a while but eventually lost her strength to move further as she slumped against him.

He moved her a little and found her passed out, picking her up he moved her out of the ward.

The funeral wasn't a grand affair but it also couldn't be anything small given the person who passed away.

Seth and Connor were buried the same day, both families silently accepting the void that'll forever be present among them.

Nicholas was scared to leave Isabella alone after the happenings but he couldn't pursue her to stay with them.

He knew she was grieving and he gave her time but after a month he announced without asking her, Isabella and Aiden were to be married. It shocked everyone but Andrew and Amelia accepted it, they too loved Isabella and knew that no one would be better for Aiden than her and this way she could be with them forever.

Isabella couldn't deny after he publicly announced it, her engagement to Seth had been a secret all this while and now asking Nicholas to take back his word was too much and to her it never mattered who she married.

But she was surprised when Aiden agreed too, he showed no resistance towards Nicholas's decision and so they were married in a month.

23rd September, that's the day they got married, exactly two months after the accident. And thus began a new chapter of their life.