Chapter 3
1364 Words
Isabella's Pov
I managed to close my eyes, but sleep still didn’t come. My thoughts were all over the place.
I kept tossing and turning, replaying everything in my head.
I don’t know how Anna noticed, but she did.
“Isa, you’re still not sleeping?” she asked softly.
I sighed. My mind kept wandering from one thing to another.
The call. The unknown number.
I figured my number must have leaked somehow. Nothing made sense anymore.
“What’s taking the sun so long to come out?” I muttered to myself.
Eventually, exhaustion won. I finally fell asleep.
I woke up to the sound of Anna in the kitchen.
Something was cooking. It smelled warm and comforting.
Anna’s apartment wasn’t big or fancy. It was just… right.
A small kitchen. Two bedrooms. Simple furniture.
The kind of place that makes you feel safe.
It even had a nice view of the city.
I didn’t have the strength to get out of bed, so I stayed there, staring at the ceiling.
The door creaked open.
“Isa?” Anna peeked. “You’re awake?”
I nodded slightly.
She walked in holding a tray. My eyes went straight to the mug in her hand. The coffee was still steaming.
“I know you’re probably not hungry,” she said gently, “but just try, okay?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I reached for her and hugged her without warning.
She froze for half a second, then wrapped her arms around me tightly.
I let myself sink into her. Her arms were small, but they felt strong. Stronger than mine. I wished I was brave like Anna. She always seemed to know what to do, what to say.
“I’m here,” she whispered. “You’re not alone.”
That almost broke me.
We stayed like that for a while. No talking. No advice. Just breathing.
When I finally pulled away, my eyes felt sore.
“I’ll be late today,” she said. “School won’t kill me.”
“You’re already late,” I muttered.
She sighed. “I’m a teacher, not a criminal.”
That made me smile. Just a little.
After she left the room, I forced myself to sit up. My hands shook slightly as I lifted the cup. The coffee smelled rich and bitter. The cup shook softly in the saucer. I noticed it, but I didn’t stop.
I ate slowly. Barely tasting anything.
When Anna left for work, the apartment felt empty again.
Too quiet.
I stared at my phone on the table. It was still off.
Peaceful.
I couldn't help but think about the number that called me..... "I have a solution to your problem." The voice rang in my head.....
Probably I should call back.
I stared at my phone for a long time before calling back.
The screen felt heavy in my hand.
What if it was a joke?
What if it was someone from the media, trying to play with me?
Or worse… someone who hated me.
I almost dropped the phone when it started ringing.
Once.
Twice.
No answer.
I was about to end the call when the line clicked.
“Hello?”
His voice was calm. Too calm.
Deep. Controlled.
“Hi…” My voice came out smaller than I expected. “You called me yesterday.”
A pause.
“Yes,” he said. “I know.”
“You said you had a solution to my problem,” I said, forcing the words out. “What did you mean?”
“You need protection from the scandal,” he said finally.
Not a question. A statement.
“I don’t even know you,” I said quickly.
“I know enough,” he cut in. His tone didn’t change, “Enough to know this won’t stop on its own.”
My mind raced.
The video.
The comments.
The way people looked at me was like I was something dirty.
“And you think you can fix it?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Just that. Yes.
I swallowed. “How?”
“We can’t discuss that on the phone,” he replied. “We need to meet.”
Something about the way he said need made my stomach twist.
“I don’t meet strangers,” I said. My voice shook this time. I hated that it did.
“You already agreed the moment you called back,” he said quietly.
That annoyed me.
“Send me the address,” I said after a moment. I didn’t know why I said it. Maybe I just wanted to see how far this would go.
“I will,” he replied.
“Who are you?” I asked quickly, before he could hang up again.
“You’ll find out soon enough, Isabella.”
The line went dead.
He said my name again. Casually this time, who on earth could this be?
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it, my heart pounding hard.
Almost immediately, a message popped up.
An address.
I held my breath while reading it.
I didn't know the place. It looked so unfamiliar yet familiar.
I waited till Anna got back.
I didn’t want to take or make any decisions on my own. I wasn’t even sure if I should go or just ignore it. But what were the odds? I prayed to God. What if this was His way of telling me He heard me?
Anna got back earlier than I expected. Honestly, I knew she would. She didn’t even want to leave me that morning.
I wanted to wait till evening before telling her. She was stressed, exhaustion written all over her face. But the words were heavy in my chest. I couldn’t hold them in.
“Anna,” I said quietly.
She looked up immediately, concern in her eyes, stress all over her face.
“What’s wrong?”
That question alone broke me.
What wasn’t wrong?
“I… I got a call,” I said. “From an unknown number.”
I told her everything. What he said. How calm his voice was. The way he hung up, like I didn’t even get a say.
Anna didn’t like this at all. I could see it on her face.
“That’s dangerous,” she said immediately. “It’s not important. Just ignore it.”
I tried to convince her.
“What if he’s right?” I asked. “What if this is my only chance to actually live a peaceful life?”
Anna sighed deeply.
“And you called him back?” she asked.
I nodded.
She looked at me, worry written all over her face.
“Isa,” she said softly. “You’re too trusting.”
But I didn’t have a choice.
“Oh… I forgot to add,” I said, almost whispering. “He asked to meet. Physically.”
Her eyes widened.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “You’re not going anywhere alone.”
“I didn’t agree,” I said quickly. “He just sent an address.”
She stretched out her hand.
“Let me see.”
I unlocked my phone and passed it to her.
She read the message once.
Then again.
Her face drained of color.
“Do you know where it is?” I asked immediately.
She nodded, but she wasn’t saying anything.
“Anna,” I called. “What is it? Where is this place?”
She hesitated, like saying it out loud would make it real.
“The West residence.”
My heart skipped.
“The… West?”
How?
I laughed, because how was that even possible?
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not,” she said. “This is Keon West’s family estate.”
My chest tightened.
Why would someone from the West family call me? Knowing how powerful and influential they are… this didn’t feel safe at all.
“If you’re going anywhere near that place,” Anna said firmly, “I’m coming with you. No arguments.”
I was scared.
Was this helping situation… or making it worse?
I just knew one thing.
This meeting would change everything.
And there was no turning back.
- Writer
