Breaking His Law (English)

Chapter 16 - Threat

I thought that my conversation with Mr. Morteo was over, but I didn’t know that I had pissed him off big time to the point that he couldn’t leave me alone.

“That man is really crazy. He’s so obsessed with you!” Sittie said, shaking her head. “Are you sure you’re okay, girl?”

I nodded, and we just sat down in the cottage. “I was so nervous, Sittie. He’s creepy as heck.”

“Do you want us to tell Miss Clau? I’m sure she can do something about it,” Sittie said worriedly.

I heaved a sigh but chose to shake my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sittie... Amore might be affected if we have a problem with him.”

Sittie didn’t argue because it was true. Mr. Morteo is one of Amore’s biggest investors. I don’t know what he could do if he decided to retaliate.

“You should have someone by your side, Nathalia. Someone who will protect you. Do you know that many people are trying to get to you? Not just men! You’re a target in their eyes, especially since you’re new to the industry. You’re the heiress of Sandoval’s enterprises, after all.”

I sighed. “Well, I have some bodyguards...”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. Yes, your bodyguards are a big help, but someone who... truly cares for you! Someone who will really watch over you,” Sittie explained.

Mr. Morteo’s words about Isles came back to my mind. That he didn’t see him with me! Did that mean he was having me followed? It’s been a year since he started approaching me, and he has openly shown his intentions.

I sighed. Isles hates me. He doesn’t have a reason to protect me. He wouldn’t do that. Maybe it would even work in his favor if something happened to me and he saw that our family was already in trouble.

I realized that there were many things I didn’t know about Isles. No matter how much I searched for him on the internet, I couldn’t find any deeper information about him.

Of course, I’m not stupid. I’m not innocent either! I shouldn’t trust anyone easily, especially since the Sandovals have many competitors and hidden enemies. Some are out in the open, while others are very good at hiding.

That is the life of our family. We’re a controversial family, after all. Ever since it spread throughout the country that the famous Thaliana Ramos, a showbiz icon and a successful model, had disappeared from the world of showbiz after getting pregnant by a politician, who is Kuya Cielo’s biological father.

That heated issue started with the death of Kuya Cielo’s real father, and his death was linked to Dad, who was the one Mommy married.

It was also a controversy that my mom only married Dad because he was arranged to marry her. They said that Dad didn’t really love Mommy. That it was only a one-sided love.

Dad was cruel to Kuya Cielo at first when he came to our house when he was fourteen, but when he realized that Kuya Cielo had potential and intelligence in the field of medicine, everything changed. He accepted Kuya Cielo even though he was Mommy’s child from before she was married.

I never saw my father hurt my mother. He was cold toward Mommy, but he never managed to hurt her. Maybe Dad is just harsh with his words, and my mom is simply too good at hiding her pain.

I sometimes hate my mom for that. It’s as if her whole life revolves around a man who doesn’t truly love her. Dad probably loves her a little, but maybe it’s only because of how long they’ve been together, or because I was born into this world. Maybe I’m the reason they had to get married? I don’t know.

For some reason, Isles’s cold treatment toward me came to mind. I know he wasn’t lying when he said he hates me. I just don’t know why, and until now, I still don’t understand.

“M-Maybe I’ll ask Dad for more bodyguards,” I finally answered Sittie, which only made her sigh.

There was a change of plans for the team. They planned to extend for one more night, but I had to go back to Manila because I have class tomorrow. I told Miss Clau that I would go home ahead of them.

They allowed me. They insisted on providing me with a driver, but apparently, he would still arrive at dawn.

“No need, Miss Clau. Our driver is already on his way. I told him earlier. He’s on his way,” I said, referring to Alfred.

They let me leave anyway. I thought nothing bad would happen, and besides, we weren’t that far from Manila. I didn’t want to interrupt their little unwind, so I chose to travel alone since I couldn’t be absent tomorrow either.

Alfred arrived exactly at eight in the evening. I had already packed my things, so we were able to leave right away.

“Take care, Nathalia,” Miss Clau said goodbye and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you again, Miss Claurice. See you again soon. Enjoy your stay tonight,” I said goodbye. Once we had settled everything, I got into the vehicle Alfred had brought.

“Where are we headed, Ma’am? To Sir Isles?” he asked as soon as he started the engine.

I leaned against the backseat. For some reason, I wasn’t in the mood for the entire day, and I didn’t really understand why!

I squeezed my eyes shut. Isles... Isles again.

I took a deep breath. I felt like my face was turning red again when his image suddenly came back to my mind.

When he looked at me while I was wearing my bikini. When he couldn’t stop himself and kissed me. The blood on his lips after I slapped him. When he said... those words. He admitted it himself to me. That he wants me... that he wants us. In his bed. Doing things while we’re alone!

What happened that night came back to my mind. If he knew that I wasn’t Sabrina, would he... do the same?

Probably not. Because he hates me, right? Can you even have s*x with someone you hate? Someone who annoys you and makes your blood boil. Ugh, I don’t know. I’m not married!

I looked at my hand and became lost in thought. I didn’t realize that I had bitten my lip.

“That’s hard...” I whispered absentmindedly, remembering the scene at the mansion.

“Po? What’s hard, Ma’am? The road? Alright, I’ll just slow down while driving,” Alfred answered, bringing me back to reality.

“Huh?” I murmured with a flushed face, feeling embarrassed by my own thoughts. “Uhm, yeah. D-Drive safely...”

I spent the rest of the time resting while we were on the road and looking for a cheap hotel because I still don’t have a home. I’m banned from the mansion, and even if the world explodes, I’m not going back to Isles.

It was a peaceful and safe trip until we reached the boundary between the province and Manila.

The car suddenly stopped, causing the cellphone I was holding to almost fly out of my hand. If I hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, I might have been thrown forward too!

“What the—” I stopped myself from complaining when I saw Alfred’s shocked and seemingly tense reaction from the driver’s seat while I was in the backseat. Our car was moving slowly now. “What’s wrong, Alfred? Is there a problem?” I asked.

It was already dark around us. It was so dark that I could no longer see the trees outside. I could only see what was illuminated by our headlights, especially since we were on a long road where it was quiet.

“Alfred? What’s wrong?” I asked in confusion, already becoming nervous.

“Ma’am Nathalia, please call Sir Isles...” Alfred said quietly, almost in a whisper, without taking his eyes off something outside. I looked at him with a furrowed brow.

What was that? Did we hit someone?! Why would I call that man?

“Ma’am Nathalia...” Alfred trailed off. I noticed him opening the glove compartment of the car, slowly, while keeping his eyes focused on the road ahead where our car had stopped. My eyes widened when he pulled out a gun hidden inside.

“W-What are you do—”

Before I could finish what I was saying, I immediately screamed. It was as if cold water had been poured over me when I heard a series of gunshots coming from somewhere. I covered my ears.

“Ma’am Nathalia, get down!”

I heard Alfred’s shout. I didn’t know what was happening, but the sound of gunfire being exchanged suddenly echoed through the road that had been quiet moments ago.

“What is happening?! W-Who are they?!” I screamed between the sound of gunshots.

Alfred quickly backed up our vehicle. We had already passed the intersection by quite a distance, but he forced the car into reverse even as bullets rained down on us and someone was coming toward us.

I looked up at the road ahead, and my eyes widened when I saw bright headlights from a vehicle that seemed to have no brakes and was driving straight toward us, getting closer and closer... while our car was moving farther and farther backward.

I know Alfred was struggling, and it was hard to escape from those bullets. He was also trying to fire back at the other side, but there were more shots coming from there.

“Ma’am! Get down!”

I saw that Alfred had already been hit by a bullet in his shoulder, especially when he cried out in pain from it. My heart stopped when I saw the car approaching us at high speed. I thought it was going to hit us, and I was just waiting for the heavy impact, but before our car could hit that vehicle, Alfred turned the steering wheel and quickly drove the car onto the other road.

Several more gunshots rang out before the surroundings became quiet. I could hear Alfred cursing repeatedly as he struggled to drive. I couldn’t believe what had happened!

My breathing is ragged, and I feel a searing pain attacking my head. I felt as if I had gone deaf even though I knew I wasn’t injured.

“Ma’am Nathalia! Are you okay?!”

Alfred’s voice was blurry to me because of my panic attack. I didn’t know how he was still able to turn the steering wheel despite the bleeding in his shoulder.

I felt my lips grow pale, and the corners of my eyes began to burn with fear. I kept looking behind our car, but I couldn’t see anything anymore because of the darkness around us. The car windows were shattered from the bullet holes, and I didn’t know how I had managed to avoid being hit because the bullets had passed through the spaces between the car windows.

W-What the f**k was that? Did we almost get killed?

“Alfred! What was that?!” I asked, still in a panic. I was freezing. Our car was moving even faster now.

“Ambush, Ma’am Nathalia. Good thing I noticed it immediately in the dark, because if we had continued, we wouldn’t have escaped it! I have a feeling there wasn’t just one person waiting there!” he explained while groaning as he endured the gunshot wound.

“Y-You were shot! I will drive! Stop the car!” I ordered.

Alfred looked at the rearview mirror. “I’ll endure it for now, Ma’am. They might be following us!”

“But you can’t drive!”

Alfred simply nodded. When I took hold of the steering wheel and Alfred was left tending to the bleeding in his shoulder, I quickly sped up the car. I didn’t care about the damn speed limit!

“Ma’am Nathalia... s-someone... someone is trying to take your life. T-The reason why Sir Stan has been keeping you away, and why he had you arranged to marry Sir Isles...” Alfred said as he endured the gunshot wound.

My breathing stopped, and goosebumps spread all over my body...