Chapter 4 Escaping Howard Estate
1197 Words
"Your voice is unpleasant?"
Andrei's words were void of emotion, but his grip on her chin slightly loosened.
Isabel had no idea if he bought it or not. Nonetheless, she put on a forced smile and gently removed his hand.
"Yes, exactly that," she said.
The soft touch on his hand made Andrei let down his guard a little. He started to size Isabel up.
After what had happened earlier, though the girl before him remained beautiful and elegant, she now seemed a bit disheveled, with her hair messily clustered around her shoulders. It was difficult to connect her to the girl in his image from that night.
Maybe it really wasn't her? Did she have a twin sister or something? Andrei wondered.
While Andrei was deep in his thoughts, Isabel tiptoed her way out of his room, then basically sprinted back to her bedroom. Her heart only settled once she secured the door behind her.
Had she managed to alleviate Andrei's suspicions?
She hoped so.
Exhaling deeply, Isabel peeled off her torn clothes and set about tending to her wounds.
Each touch to the gash on her leg sent stabs of pain through her, causing her to wince.
After a cursory treatment of her injuries, Isabel was so spent she could barely stand upright.
Lying on her stark, wooden bed, she replayed the assault scene in her mind, still trembling from the ordeal.
It must have been Lennie Howard who orchestrated it!
Lennie was the sole heiress in Howard Estate and had always viewed Isabel with envy and hostility.
Isabel had once been lauded by George Howard, the master of the estate, as possessing a "voice of an angel", which led to Lennie poisoning her tea. Fortunately, Isabel had been too ill that day to partake in her meal, which spared her from becoming permanently mute.
In the subsequent days, to survive, Isabel had diminished her presence. She lived cautiously and kept to the shadows.
Her brow furrowed deeply with concern.
Never before had she felt such a compelling urge to escape Howard Estate.
The desire to flee surged like a tidal wave, crashing violently against her resolve.
But it wasn't just the estate she needed to escape. The Howards ruled over Collins State. Leaving the estate would hardly change her circumstances.
Maybe... she needed to leave Collins State entirely.
But that didn't seem sufficient either. Her rationality and survival instinct were screaming at her that Collins State, even the entire Opes Federation, seemed to have stepped into a new, modern era on the surface, it still followed the traditions from ancient times. The royal family undoubtedly remained in control of the entire nation.
To put it simply, society functioned the same way as it used to be—by strictly following the old rules.
At only eighteen, Isabel was engulfed in confusion.
She had no recollection of her origins nor any idea where to seek them.
It seemed that the Opes Federation, as vast as it was, had no place for her.
Overwhelmed by sorrow, she soon forced herself to rally her spirits.
Regardless of where the path led, she knew she must take the first step.
Isabel swiftly opened her laptop. Her fingers tapped across the keyboard as she accessed the Alice Academy website.
Fortuitously, today marked the deadline for dormitory applications. Missing it would have cost her a chance to secure housing for the semester.
She soon submitted her completed application form. Isabel knew that all that remained was for the school to approve her request.
The academy was renowned for its superior living and dining facilities, attracting a high volume of applicants each semester.
Given the competitive nature of the process and the limited spots available, Isabel's position as the top student last semester significantly bolstered her chances of acceptance.
Nevertheless, to hedge her bets, Isabel began scouring the internet for rental properties near the school.
Whenever she returned to the Howard Estate, she felt as if she was Cinderella being stripped of her glamorous gown—school was the dazzling stage where she could shine under the beaming limelight, while the Howard Estate was the ramshackle attic she had no choice but to return to at the end of the day.
If she could stay out in the wider world, Isabel would never want to return to this damned estate.
At that moment, her phone suddenly rang.
It was from her classmate, Jones.
Jones: Isabel, there's a drag show at Unicorn Bar tonight. Emily bailed on me, so can you come with me?
Isabel was initially inclined to refuse, but a thought struck her. Jones had mentioned an available room for rent.
Isabel: Sure. See you tonight!
She then turned to her nearly empty closet and selected a pair of jeans that still looked presentable and a white T-shirt that bore the soft fuzz of wear. Outfitted and ready, she grabbed her phone and stepped out.
Dodging every guard with practiced ease, she snuck out from the back gate without anyone noticing.
Isabel had never ventured into a bar before.
The Unicorn Bar was a cacophony of pulsating pop music and a parade of fashionably dressed patrons.
Women adorned in dramatic makeup mingled effortlessly. Their miniskirts and hot tank tops barely contained their sensual figures.
Isabel's simple attire starkly contrasted with the glamorous setting, but her striking beauty made her the most conspicuous figure in the room, drawing curious glances.
People wondered about this exceptionally attractive woman dressed so plainly. Where had she appeared from?
Although Isabel resided in a palatial estate, her monthly allowance was often whittled down by Morley for myriad reasons, which left her with what barely passed as decent clothing.
However, Isabel was not there to revel in the nightlife but to discuss a potential housing opportunity with Jones.
"Isabel!" Jones' voice cut through the din as she tapped Isabel's shoulder from behind.
Upon seeing Isabel's attire, Jones dramatically shook her head and promptly whisked her away to the restroom. There, she skillfully redid Isabel's makeup and adjusted her T-shirt to expose a hint of her slender waist.
"This is more like it for a night out at the bar!" Jones exclaimed, pleased with her handiwork.
Dragging Isabel back toward the commotion, Jones bubbled with excitement. "Come on, there's a drag show tonight featuring the hottest act from Contash State. The tickets are like gold dust!"
"I need to talk to you about something."
Isabel quickly typed out on her phone and thrust the screen toward Jones.
At that moment, a wave of cheers and screams surged from the main area as the show commenced, drowning out their conversation. Jones pressed Isabel's phone back into her pocket.
"Whatever it is, it can wait until after the show."
As the spectacle of the drag show unfolded, Jones mentioned she was going to fetch drinks from the bar and instructed Isabel to wait in a reserved booth.
As Isabel turned to find the booth, her eyes accidentally met those of two individuals.
Hell no!
Isabel screamed inside. It was the same pair from the rose garden who had tried to assault her! And they were barely 30 feet away!
- Writer
