Chapter 5
1059 Words
After thirty minutes of surveying the room, Isabella's belongings had already been moved from her princess-like guest room to this abandoned store.
Did Alex order this? Did he want her isolated because she was nothing but dirt to him?
The thought made her chest tighten.
Maybe she should just leave, take her things and walk away. That would bring peace, right?
But then her mind went straight to her children.
Cas... Soph... how are they? Are they okay?
Determined, Isabella turned toward the hallway. But just as she reached the entrance, two security guards appeared, guards who hadn't been there before.
"Uhm," she muttered, confused.
"You can't leave here until tomorrow. You need to get sanitized," one of them said flatly.
"Sanitized?" Isabella repeated in disbelief. "Who gave that order?'
The second guard gave a mocking look. "Are you questioning us?"
Before Isabella could respond, the door slammed shut in her face.
She didn't flinch. She just stood there, frozen.
The weight of the humiliation, disappointment, and rejection pressed down on her until she could hardly breathe.
Tears welled up again.
Why am I this weak? she thought bitterly. I can't do anything right. Always disappointing, always discarded.
Then she took a shaky breath. No. I have to be strong, for my children. Everything will be fine.
She walked back into the room, put on a nose mask, and began cleaning. Dusting, sweeping, arranging, she worked until time slipped away unnoticed.
By the time she opened the window, the evening sun was spilling through, warm and soft.
"Phew," she whispered, relief washing over her. "At least these two windows will keep me alive."
The room, though bare, looked almost livable now. She had pushed aside all the junk, arranged her few belongings neatly, and placed her thin mattress on the floor.
Isabella let out a small laugh. Even in her parents' house, where she thought she had suffered the most, she had never slept on the floor.
-----
Isabella didn't know how she slept, but when she woke up the next morning, she felt oddly light, a little hope glimmered in her chest. Today, she would finally see her children.
She stretched, then froze.
Wait… there wasn't even a toilet in the room.
"Woah?" she muttered in disbelief, glancing around. "Where am I supposed to bathe?"
Stepping outside, she noticed a line of women carrying buckets, heading down the hallway toward a general bath area.
Woah… so this is my lifestyle now.
Well, she had lived worse before. No big deal.
She went back inside, grabbed her bucket, towel, and a simple dress, then joined the queue.
---
Nearly an hour later, it was finally her turn to bathe. She washed quickly, eager, almost desperate, to see her children.
---
Isabella stepped out of the maids' quarters, clutching her stomach as it grumbled. It was already past 8 a.m. Helena would probably want her to work soon, so she slipped quietly away toward the main building.
She wore a simple sky-blue gown, one that had long lost its shine, yet her presence carried a quiet grace.
As she entered the dining hall, her heart froze.
There they were, Alex, Camila, and her two children.
Lucas sat on Alex's lap, while Sophia rested comfortably on Camila's.
"Mum, I want to eat that red shiny thing," Sophia said innocently, tugging at Camila's sleeve and pointing at a large crab.
"Okay, Mom's going to get it for you," Camila replied sweetly.
Isabella's heart shattered.
Was this what wealth and influence could do?
Would her children, her life, her world, one day forget her too?
Lucas refused the food Alex offered him.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Alex asked gently, stroking his hair. "You don't like any of this?"
Lucas pouted, then shouted in his small, defiant voice, "Lucas won't eat without Mom!"
Alex chuckled.
But Isabella's eyes widened, joy flooding her heart, at least one of her children still remembered her.
Hearing her brother, Sophia also pushed away her food. "Soph's going to wait for Mom too!"
Camila smiled faintly, then carried Lucas from Alex's lap to hers.
"Sophia, Lucas…" she said softly. "I'm your mom now."
Isabella froze.
She wanted to scream, to run in and shout that's a lie!, but she couldn't. Doing so would only worsen things. It might even endanger her children.
Alex nodded. "Soph, Cas…" he called, using the same nickname he had heard Isabella use.
Both children turned to him, their eyes lighting up.
"Your mom dropped you here and left," Alex said flatly. "She's not coming back."
The words sliced through Isabella like a blade.
The children didn't fully understand, they simply nodded, innocent and trusting.
Their mother had always told them to be good and obey their father.
Tears streamed down Isabella's face.
She despised herself.
'Crying', that's all she ever seemed to do.
How could she protect anyone when she couldn't even protect herself?
Lucas slid down from Camila's lap and stood before Alex. "I'm sorry, Dad. Lucas will be obedient from now on," he said, bowing slightly, a gesture Isabella had taught them.
Camila smiled. "What a sweet boy."
Sophia climbed down too, copying her brother's actions, slower but sincere.
"It's fine," Alex said, scooping Sophia up in his arms.
These were his children, his precious gems. He'd never let anyone harm them again.
Camila ruffled Lucas's hair. "So, will you two eat now?"
Both kids nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mom. We'll eat now!"
Isabella's heart was no longer just breaking, it was shattering.
Maybe she should have raised them differently. Maybe if they had disliked Camila, she'd still have a place in their hearts.
But no. At least her children were loved, safe, and cared for.
Still… what about her?
Her promises? Her place in this house?
She didn't notice the shadow creeping behind her until a hand clamped over her mouth.
"Mmm......" she struggled, but the grip was too strong.
She turned her head slightly, it wasn't Helena this time. It was the same security guard from before.
Before she could react, she was dragged away, away from the scene of a perfect family.
A scene she didn't belong in.
Her tears flowed freely.
She was invisible. A ghost of the woman she used to be.
She'd lost her love, her dignity, her children.
Maybe she should never have come to the capital.
- Writer
