Breaking His Law (English)

Chapter 17 - Protector

After what happened, Dad had the incident investigated. Since there were no people around that night, no one knew what happened. It also didn’t reach the public.

I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. We’ll receive fewer threats if the ambush against us isn’t made public because surely, if it becomes publicized, more people with bad intentions toward our family will come out. If one potential enemy resurfaces, others will follow, too.

It will happen one after another, and it will once again become difficult to silence the threats.

Unfortunately, Dad is linked to many controversies in the country, some of which are even political matters. Those are the consequences of having connections with different people to expand his power.

Take Mr. Morteo, for example, Dad’s biggest connection in the world of media. That’s why he can manipulate the news about us. That’s how rich and powerful people do it, through allies. That’s why betrayal is the biggest downfall.

“I don’t understand why they would do that!” Dad shouted angrily after slamming his hands down on his desk.

We were in his office, talking about what happened. I didn’t say anything. I don’t know what to say, and I was still in a state of shock from what happened just last night. Mommy patted my shoulder.

“Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.

I nodded and forced a smile. I’m tired and I don’t feel okay. What happened is traumatic. Our family has made many enemies, but this was the first time that I was their main target and they acted so quietly.

If it weren’t for Alfred being alert, I doubt that I would still be alive today.

I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling weak. I’m still shaking from what happened last night, and I want to rest, but I’m being held back by my desire to understand what is happening and what Alfred said was the reason why Dad keeps me away from them, from Mommy and him, and the reason why I am arranged to marry Isles!

The door opened. We turned toward it, and I froze.

Isles.

Our eyes met. From the couch, his eyes found me. I noticed he was wearing slightly formal attire. I don’t know where he came from. I don’t even know what he’s been busy with aside from law school.

I couldn’t help but stare at him. His black long-sleeved shirt hugged his tall and lean body perfectly. His muscles were in all the right places, and there were obvious veins running from the backs of his hands to his forearms. They were especially visible whenever he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows.

The manly features of his face looked rough and hard. The way his eyes searched for mine... is lethal.

The only time he seems to become gentle is when his eyes are half-lidded. Most of the time, they’re playful. Hard to read. Impossible even!

Or maybe it’s only with me since he hates me.

“Isles,” Dad called.

There was a meaningful exchange of looks between Isles and me. He clenched his jaw when he entered Dad’s office. I swallowed and looked away, still not forgetting our last encounter. He didn’t bother me after that, after saying the most intrusive thoughts he probably has.

“Sir,” he called.

Dad sighed. He was trying to fight the urge to explode like a bomb. He slightly calmed down with Isles’s presence.

“I heard what happened. I’ve already gotten information about what happened,” Isles said as he placed some papers on Dad’s table.

I raised my eyes again. I found his eyes looking over and scanning my whole body for any injury. If that incident hadn’t happened last night, I would have thought he was checking out my body again.

He shook his head slightly, as if saying he was right and I was wrong. In his eyes were mixed irritation and something amusing because I wanted to think that there was concern there!

Dad picked up the papers, and I saw how intensely he focused on whatever was written there. He didn’t say anything. Isles looked meaningfully at him, and Dad did the same, as if the two of them understood something about it.

“W-What is it, Dad?” I asked as I stood up.

Dad didn’t answer me and instead put the papers away again. I almost stepped back when he gave me a nasty look.

“Because of your stubbornness, they tailed you! You never listen, do you?” Dad asked disappointedly. “You gave them a reason to threaten us! Now, those people have the courage to come out into the open, and you’re the one they’ll target!”

“It’s not my fault that this family has enemies and that—”

“Nathalia,” Mommy reprimanded me. I clenched my hands tightly. She shook her head, telling me not to provoke my father anymore. “It’s not... my fault,” I continued, swallowing hard.

I saw Isles watching me. His eyes were serious. I tried to find sarcasm and traces of amusement there because of the misfortune happening to us, and I hated it when I couldn’t find what I was looking for.

Shouldn’t he be happy? Or was he simply good at hiding what he felt?

He noticed that I was looking at him. I can’t read him because he’s too good at hiding. He’s good at hiding his emotions. Well, aside from when he’s lusting over me!

“They attacked when they found out that Miss Nathalia was traveling alone out of Manila. We don’t know how they found out about the timing,” Isles said as he handed over another paper. “I had the scene checked by someone. There was a crashed car. A car with no brakes that was deliberately made to crash into Miss Nathalia’s vehicle.”

Daddy’s brows were almost touching as he listened to the explanations. He took the papers and examined them carefully.

“I don’t know which one of them did this...” he said, shaking his head, which only made him angrier because he didn’t know which of his enemies had done it. Or was it really one of his enemies? Or perhaps someone they thought was an ally?

“I’ll try my best to find out, Sir,” I heard Isles say.

Dad held his temple. Mommy immediately went to him, leaving me standing alone.

I shook my head and was about to leave the office when Isles subtly blocked my way. He stopped me and lightly held my wrist. Our skin only touched slightly.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly while looking into my eyes.

I clenched my jaw. I subtly pulled my hand away. “Stop hiding the fact that you’re happy,” I said bitterly.

He glared at me. When I pulled my hand away, his fingers slipped off. The feeling of the slightest electric shock awakened me. We looked at each other, and it only ended when I looked away as Dad spoke.

“Why do you never listen, Nathalia? Why did you even go out of Manila without security? What do you take all this for? A joke?!” Dad asked. I saw him shift his eyes to Isles, who raised both of his brows. He wasn’t afraid and looked like he knew exactly what Dad was going to say. “Mr. Privello... I don’t like the fact that you let my daughter go alone...”

Because of what Dad said, I looked at him, unable to believe what I had heard. My attempt to protest was stopped when Isles nodded, which I couldn’t believe even more. I expected him to get mad!

He glanced at me again. “It’s all my fault, Sir. I will take better care of my future wife from now on... it won’t happen again, don’t worry.”

My future wife... my future wife! He’s really good at playing with his words!

My lips almost parted in disbelief. I stared at Isles, and if there weren’t people here, we probably would have been shouting at each other again! He just looked at me and raised a brow, with a smile he tried to hide.

“W-What? I don’t like that! I don’t need someone to protect me! I can handle myself, Dad.”

Of all people, why Isles? Alfred can surely do his job properly! Besides, I’m always at school anyway. Surely, they can’t get to me there, and this was probably just a coincidence.

“I really hope this will never happen again, Mr. Privello,” Dad said instead of answering what I said. He didn’t even pay attention to me.

Isles answered with a nod, completely sure of himself, and looked at me again as if asking whether I had heard that properly. He looked proud... and arrogant.

“Yes, Sir. I assure you that... I won’t let her leave my side anymore,” he said meaningfully.

Our eyes didn’t break. If our looks alone could create lightning between us, it probably would have happened already!

“I’ll even tie her up if I have to,” he added raspily.

My eyes widened, and I felt my face turning red. How dare he say that in front of my parents?!

Mommy and Dad couldn’t say anything anymore. Before I could protest and defend myself, Isles already wrapped an arm around my waist to guide me out of the office.

“We’ll go ahead, Sir. I’ll have what happened checked again and make sure your daughter won’t be put in danger again.” He smirked playfully, and I watched him while slowly glaring at him.

I brushed his hand away from my waist and left ahead of him, marching out of the office. I heard him chuckle before looking back at my parents to excuse us. I continued walking away from Dad’s office, and no matter how fast my steps were, Isles was just casually following behind.

His strides were long, so I couldn’t get too far away from him!

“Why did you leave alone? You should have told me so I could have accompanied you,” he said quietly, not angry, but I was still offended.

“Who are you? My husband?” I asked.

“Yeah, in the nearest future,” he answered carelessly.

I stopped walking and faced him. He stopped as well and looked at me.

“Why are we still pretending, Isles? It’s just the two of us here. Stop hiding how happy you are that I got into trouble. Isn’t that a favor for you?” I asked angrily. “Stop saying that you’ll protect me because we both know you’ll never even bother to help me.”

His eyes became cold at what I said. His jaw tightened. “Don’t blame me for your stubbornness. You’re getting mad at me because you have no one to take your frustration out on.”

“That doesn’t answer what I said!”

“Stop shouting,” he said softly. The maids were already looking at us because of our argument. “Sorry, Nathalia’s just tired,” he told the maids.

I blew out a breath and immediately walked away. He followed me again. Why does this man keep following me? Don’t tell me Dad is actually going to take that seriously!

“Give me your schedule. I’ll accompany you to your photoshoots. I’ll drive you to school every day. No late-night parties anymore... without me,” he said seriously.

I wanted to laugh, but no laughter wanted to come out because I was thinking more about what he had said.

“And I’ll pick you up after your class.”

“Shut up. I don’t want that. I’ll find a bodyguard!”

“Then, I’m your first applicant,” he said with a smirk. I stopped walking and looked at him, full of irritation.

“Are you that happy, Isles? Are you insulting me now?”

Isles shrugged. “Which part of that was me insulting you? Come on, Miss Nathalia. I’m worried about you.”

He stared at me, and I think this was the first time I hated hearing Miss Nathalia from him the most!

“I will not accept you. You’re fired,” I said and continued walking out. Why is this house so damn huge?!

“You’re too much. I haven’t even applied yet.” He smirked.

“Oh, yes. You haven’t even printed your résumé yet, and you’re already fired,” I said and almost ran away from him, but he quickly caught my arm. I tried to push his hand away, but he only tightened his grip.

“Go home later. We’ll talk,” he reminded me as if I couldn’t disobey him. His eyes were now warning me. Before I could say anything, he let me go because Dad called him back into the office. His hand slipped away, and his eyes looked at me meaningfully before he finally left.