Broken and Redeemed

Chapter 1- My life

Isabella Pov:

Have you had that feeling that something bad is going to happen? Any time I have had this feeling, something always happens, and it's always as bad as I feel it will be. I have always thought I had a 6th sense of these things. These feelings usually involve my family. The ones who love to play pretend. You see, I'm adopted, and I remember when I first stayed with the White family I was scared. My new family wasn't like my real one. My old life was full of fantasy and fun. My new dad is a highly respected and feared business typhoon in the southeast, Richard White, and appearance means everything to him and his wife. They have a daughter named Sarah and shes a b***h. Once, Sarah started bullying me or making out like I was doing the wrong, my "parents" started punishing me. School is no better when it comes to her antics, but at least I have friends there. At home, it's just me.

My parents are great in the eyes of the public but behind closed doors they barely tolerate me. The only reason they kept me was because my adopted mother, Kimberly, found me and the press loved the story. My dad's business started to skyrocket. You know how the public can be: "OMG! The Whites' are so humble. So willing to open their home and hearts to a child in need." A bunch of hypocrites is what they really are. When they first found me at the age of 5, they were great. They loved me, cared for me, and were always swooning on me. My adopted sister and I used to be close. Everything changed in 8th grade. Sarah, my sister, came home from school one day mad. I kept asking her what was wrong, but she wouldn't tell me. After a few weeks, she started picking on me and lying to our parents about things I didn't do. I don't know how she did it, but she always made her lies look believable. By 9th grade year had started, my parents always criticized or punished me any time Sarah told some stretched story about how I wronged her or embarrassed our family name somehow. Sarah is their real daughter, and she doesn't need to lie or scheme to get her way. They know her so well, or so they say. They don't know her like I or friends do.

Sarah never answered why she didn't, but I'm sure it was something with me skipping grades to be in the same class as her. It must suck to know your younger adopted sister is the top student in your class, and you're not even in the top 20. It's whatever, I told myself back then that I would graduate, and leave this family and this state. I love the adventures in nature that Georgia offers but the people, the memories, the pain and heartache aren't what I want to be surrounded by. So, when I graduate I will take all of my money and leave for California. I will attend University of California Berkeley. I'm going for business administration and computer science. I found out when I was 15 that I was excellent with computers. I am only going to college to get the degrees I need to get a job. I never want to rely on this so-called family I have. Besides, it won't be long before the feds are knocking at his company doors. Just 3 days til graduation.

Knocking has me shaking my thoughts away as Kimberly, my adopted mother, calls out for me to come downstairs. I look at the clock and realize it's only been 20 minutes since I got home from school. I wonder what she wants. Grabbing my phone and stuffing it in my back pocket, I walk out and head downstairs to see what she wants. As I descend the stairs, that bad feeling I have felt all day hits me hard. As I round the corner to the family room, I see my parents, Sarah, and two men I have never met before. "What's going on here?" I ask as I step into the room. My father stands up and introduces me to the two men that were here. Both men are huge, and they smell like a forest if that is even a thing. The younger, slightly bigger one looks at me like I'm his last meal. I don't like the way I'm feeling about this situation. It's like that feeling when I woke up this morning. It's like I know for sure that bad feeling is about what is about to be said.

"Isabella, Tyler here has been a great business partner, and he has an internship at his job for his opening up with his secretary. She's getting married, and he wants to have a good replacement for her. Plus his son, Joseph, will be taking over the company soon. Yes, he knows you're still in high school and have not been to college, but your father and I have told him how very smart you are, and you are a fast learner at anything you do." Mom starts off. "He was thinking maybe you could do it, and we could pay for you to go to college here in the city as soon as you as can after you graduate Thursday. This is a great way for our businesses to cooperate in the future," my father says. As I'm still processing what is going on, Tyler stands up: "Isabella, I understand this is all fast, but know that I see potential in you. My dear, you see, my son will be taking over from me and, from what I have learned is that, having a secretary as a C.E.O, you need to trust them. They need to be able to read you and know what you need before you do. They are your backbone. They need to know everything that will make your day easier. Your parents have praised your sponge-like mind. I really hope you will agree. It would be great to see what a young mind like yours can bring to the table. Who knows you may even be better at the C.E.O position when you have been on the job long enough." It sounded like he was going for a light laugh, but it was forced. I stood there speechless because I didn't want to reveal anything I had planned. "Mr. Tyler, I appreciate the offer, but that is not exactly where I see myself in the future. I enjoy chemistry and biology. I was thinking of going into the medical field to help find cures for diseases and/or prolong the lives of those who have been told their lives will be cut short." I say trying to be polite but firm in what I want, even if it is a lie.

I can tell by dad's face that this was not the answer he wanted. I can already tell he was banking on me working for this company just so he could get a bigger payout. Yes, I was going to major in business and technical engineering. They don't need to know that though. I meant when I leave I would never look back. This family turned into a soap opera. You know the ones where a girl likes to cause problems for the one who she deems not good enough to fit in the elite. It's utterly stupid, but it's been life since I was 13. "Well, that is unfortunate. I understand. If you change your mind, let your dad know. We had better get going. I have a meeting in 45 mins. Have a good day, Mr. White." Tyler says as he starts to head towards the door. "Thank you, Tyler. Have a great day. See you Friday morning for our business meeting," my father says as he shakes Tyler's hand and walks him to the door.

Mom starts yelling at me. Apparently, my answer could cause trouble with landing business deals with Tyler's company in the future. Like how is turning down an internship a big problem for them, landing business deals with Tyler's company? I don't know. Dad walks back into the living room, shaking his head, and I just know a punishment is in my near future. "Isabella, why are you so difficult? This is a good opportunity for you. Tyler was going to partner with me on a new estate downtown. His son has also grown an intrest in you. You might not remember who he is because he graduated your second year of high school. They were hoping you would take this job offer and his son could get to know you better, and I will get the business deal i want and need to finally move up in the elite circle." My mouth flew open. He was technically selling me to another man for that mans son. How could he do this? If Tyler is so powerful, why not let his real daughter be with Tyler's son? "Why would you do that? You are basically selling me to him for a business calibration. That is illegal! If he is such a big hotshot you want to work with, why not ask if he wants Sarah?" I retort. This is absolutely insane. SMACK!! s**t I knew I would get punished, but damn, that smack to the face has me tasting my own blood and falling on my ass.

As I rise from the floor, my "father" is going on about how Tyler's son only wanted me. Besides, he's a man with a reputation and doesn't want his daughter to be hurt. Then I hear Sarah. "Isabella everyone knows that the women Tyler wants always end up leaving marks. Most women say it's because of how rough he is during sex." How could they do this to me? I'm 17 foremost. Sarah is 18. She turns 19 in 2weeks. They don't want her doing it, but they don't mind me being a MINOR doing it. No, instead they served me up on a silver platter. "I AM NOT DOING IT!!" I shouted out at the top of my lungs. CRACK! Next thing I know, my head has hit the wall with a big thump. I left my head to rub the spot and, like always, there's blood. "I will make you agree. Let's go to the basement NOW!" My father says while practically dragging me. I know what's about to happen, and it's going to take everything in me to react. I know I will heal. I've always healed quickly. He grabs his whip and starts to just swing away. He keeps saying hell stop when I agree. That isn't going to happen. Eventually, he loses his stamina and stops his beating. I can barely see him through my tear-soaked eyes. I vaguely saw him grab something sharp. Then I feel it. The sharp point of a knife. This is going to hurt. For some reason, his silver knife seemed to hurt the worst. He starts his first cut and I can barely hold in my cry. A whimper is all he will get. After 4 cuts, he stops and I feel relief. It's short-lived though, when I feel the knife get stabbed right into my thigh. It's not deep, but the silver hurts. That's funny. I said silver and not the blade. It's like I know the knife itself wouldn't hurt if it was anything other than silver. When he pulls the knife back out, he says, "I expect you to sign that internship contract the morning after graduation. You will get 4 slashes every day til then, just to remind you that you will be accepting this offer." He leaves me lying there, probably going to get the maid. I lay there thinking how I will be on plane right after I graduate. I will come up with a way no matter what. The pain takes over and the last thing I hear is "silly humans think they can hurt us. We are here to help Isabella"