Chapter 14: The Breakthrough
1116 Words
"This isn’t over," my mother said, her voice colder than before.
I felt Alexander’s hand around mine. His warmth was the only thing keeping me from shaking. I stood my ground, even as my mother’s eyes burned into me, filled with quiet anger.
I knew what she was thinking. She thought I was making a mistake, that I was toiling with my future, or maybe I was taking the wrong step.
But I could not feel anything of this; I wasn’t afraid.
She inhaled deeply and breathed out before looking away. "We’ll talk later." Her comments weren’t a refusal but a warning.
I didn’t answer. My heart was beating too quickly. Alexander and I shared a look at each other, but before either of us could say anything, his phone rang.
He quickly went for it as he took it out of his pocket. Immediately, he glanced at the screen, and I saw something change in his countenance.
He let go of my hand to reply. "Yes?"
His tone of voice was mixed with something I couldn’t quite place. What I could only hear was….
"Understood. I’ll be there."
The conversation went dead; he turned to me. There was something in his expression—something serious.
"Alexander?" I said my gut knotting.
He thought for a second before answering. "I need to take care of things. It’s business-related."
"Is it bad?"
He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he held my hand as if protecting me from something. "I will handle it," he said. "But first, I need to know, are you okay?"
His anxiety made my throat clench. Despite whatever the call was for, he was still concerned about me.
I nodded, though I was not sure of what to answer. "I will be dear."
He observed me for seconds, then leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "I will be back soon."
And suddenly, he was gone.
The second the door shut behind him, my mother’s voice ripped through the air. "You need to end this, Isabella."
I turned to face her.
She sighed, shaking her head as if she was fatigued. "This… whatever this is between you and Alexander—it isn’t it foolishness. Do you even know what you’re doing?"
All I could say was. "I love him."
"Love?" She gave out a humourless chuckle. "Do you think love is enough? Do you think it will shield you from the consequences?"
"What consequences, Mom?" My voice was rising now, feelings running through me too fast. "The only consequence I see is that you don’t get to control me anymore."
Her face clouded. "You’re throwing your future away. He’s not one of us, Isabella. He’s not the type of guy you should be with."
"And what kind of man should I be with?" I fired back. "Someone you approve of? Someone who fits into your beautiful little world?"
She didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. I already knew.
I breathed, trying to keep my feelings under control, but it was useless. I tried to remember everything—the years of expectations and my failed business, the silent judgment, the constant pressure—crashed over me. Alexander was my escape route.
I hated the fact that she could still make me feel this way. No matter how tough I tried to be, her words could still break me.
I turned and stepped out of the house.
The outside air was chilly. My chest felt tight when I remembered my mother's conversation. I walked out to cold my head. I didn’t stop until I reached the far end of the yard, where it seemed silent.
And then I let the tears flow.
I could not remember how long I stood there, but at some time, I felt and embraced behind me.
Alexander.
I didn’t hear him arrive, but he was one standing behind me, his presence.
He didn’t say anything.
He merely waited.
"I can’t do this," I murmured.
He turned slightly. " You can’t do what?"
I swallowed hard. "Be their dream daughter. Be who they want me to be so that they can push me up and down anyhow they so desire. They will never accept me for who I am because I won’t give them that room, Alexander."
His eyes softened. "It’s okay, Isabella. It’s alright to get hurt. But you have to always forgive and let go; you need to live, Isabella."
I stared at him, tears still fresh on my face. "Then who do I live for?"
A faint grin pulled at his lips. "For yourself. For us. For your family"
Something within me changed.
I had been stuck between two worlds—the one my family wanted for me and the one I wanted for myself.
I was scared. Afraid of losing them. Afraid of failing them.
But standing here, with Alexander alongside me, I knew something.
I wasn’t alone.
I had him.
And it was enough.
I straightened my hands as he used the handkerchief with him and wiped the tears from my face.
"I’m done letting them control me."
A spark of pride crossed his face. "Yeah"
"Yeah," I answered firmly. "I am going to fight for what I want. All I want is you, Alexander."
He held my hand, looking penetrating mine.
I met her eyes, my voice calm. "I love him, Mom. And nothing you say will change it."
She could not say anything. Instead, she merely watched me for a long while before sighing. " Since you’ve made your choice, I pray you don’t regret it."
"I have."
Her lips got open, but she did not utter for some seconds. "Don’t come crying to me when it falls apart." She finally said
This word of hers felt hurtful to me, but I didn’t let it show.
Alexander put his arm around me and felt the comfort I had long been looking for.
And then, just when I thought we were getting beyond the worst of it, his phone rang again.
His eyes clouded as he took it out. He peered at the screen, and something changed in his eyes—something serious.
"Who is it?" I asked.
He paused. "A work partner. It’s about the merger."
I frowned. "Is it bad?"
He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he looked at me, his eyes opaque.
And then he said, "This could change everything. It was the person that called, the one I went to attend to."
My heart tightened suddenly, and a new worry crept in.
Would Alexander have to choose between his business and me?
Or worse…
Would I lose him before we ever had a chance?
Find out in the next chapter!
- Writer
