Married Strangers

Isabella

Chapter Nine

A scream tore through the house.

Isabella jerked awake, her heart pounding as the sound echoed again, closer this time.

For a brief, terrifying moment, she couldn’t tell if it was part of a dream. She reached for her phone and checked the time.

12:20 a.m.

She was about to dismiss it,

Then she smelled smoke.

Then she heard footsteps.

Not one pair, many.

They rushed through the halls, heavy and uneven, some running, others stumbling as doors flew open. Voices followed, sharp and panicked, overlapping in fragments she couldn’t understand.

Isabella sat up slowly, her feet lowering to the cold floor.

Another shout echoed, closer now. A woman’s voice, strained, calling out mom in a crying tone she couldn’t quite catch.

The smell of smoke thickened.

Isabella’s chest tightened. She stood, her movements unsteady, and took a step toward the door, then paused as hurried footsteps thundered past it.

Someone coughed.

Someone cried out.

And somewhere down the corridor, panic finally found its voice.

Finally opening the, she couldn't see anyone, only the shadow of some one who just walked passed, with only the reflection of his shadow showing.

Isabella could only clueless follow, with the smell of smoke hitting her lungs hard, she climbed down the stairs.

The moment her foot hit the second floor, Phyn held her mother who was lying on the,

The moment Isabella’s foot hit the second floor, she froze.

Phyn was kneeling beside her mother, who lay on the floor, motionless.

The smoke in the air was thick, stinging Isabella’s eyes as she stepped closer.

Maidservants and guards rushed about, water sloshing as they tried to douse the flames that still crackled in the bedroom, now covered in a cloud of white steam.

"Gideon!" Phyn cried out. Her voice broke.

Gideon, steady as ever, bent to lift Mrs. Elena’s limp body into his arms, his movements practiced. Without a word, he carried her toward the sitting room, Phyn following, her tears streaking down her face.

Isabella didn’t move.

The fire continued to hiss, the room still thick with smoke. Isabella stood by, her eyes trained on the dampened walls.

Sarah, appearing from the corner of the room, walked toward her.

“What happened?” Isabella asked, her voice calm, almost detached.

Sarah offered a reassuring smile. “The old lady’s room caught fire, ma’am. It was an accident. She must’ve fallen asleep with a candle burning. Thankfully, Mrs. Elena woke up just in time. Otherwise, we might have….”

Isabella blinked, looking back at the blackened room. Her gaze never left the water soaking the floor.

“She woke up?” Isabella repeated slowly.

“Yes. And she’s fine. Nothing to worry about.” Sarah’s voice softened.

Isabella nodded, turning toward the sitting room.

As she entered, she walked toward Phyn, who was sitting on the edge of the couch, her face still streaked with tears. Isabella sat beside her, laying a calm hand on her back.

Phyn’s sobs slowed as she leaned into Isabella.

Mrs. Elena stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

“Water,” Phyn pleaded. She held a cup to her mother’s lips.

“Elena,” Mr. Samson said, his voice firm, “stop being careless. You scared the whole family.”

He sighed. “You’ll stay with Phyn tonight. Or, I’ll have a room prepared for you tomorrow, but the fire will be addressed in the morning.”

He left without another word, Nathan trailing behind him.

Mrs. Elena opened her mouth to argue, but Gideon intervened, lifting her from the couch and carrying her toward Phyn’s room.

Phyn glanced at Isabella, her eyes exhausted but grateful.

The three of them moved in silence. Isabella followed behind them, quietly stepping into Phyn’s room as the door closed softly.

Time passed, and Isabella lingered near the door. Her mind was still.

Then, the door creaked open.

Gideon stood there, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"See?" he said, his voice low. "You’re not truly welcome in this family."

Smiling in a mocking tone, he stormed off, leaving Isabella standing in the hallway, her chest tight.

Alone again.

She turned and walked quietly back to her room, each step feeling like it took her farther from the family she could never fully belong to.

Isabella woke to sunlight filtering through her curtains.

For a moment, the events of the night felt unreal, like a half-remembered dream. She bathed, dressed in simple clothes, and tied her hair neatly before leaving her room.

The house was quiet again.

Downstairs, the family was already gathered at the breakfast table.

Isabella approached slowly and took her seat.

She had barely lifted a spoon when Mrs. Elena’s voice cut through the room.

“That girl,” she said, pointing directly at Isabella. “She was in my room last night.”

The table went silent.

Isabella froze.

“I saw her,” Mrs. Elena insisted. “Standing there. Watching me.”

Phyn frowned. “Mom…..”

Isabella set her spoon down and lifted her head calmly.

“Mom, I know you don’t like me,” she said, her voice steady. “But how would I manage to light a fire in your room? Last night I only came down to get water. I heard noises from your door, and Sarah saw me. After that, I left.”

She turned to Mr. Samson, her eyes glistening.

“Grandpa, I’m being framed.”

Mr. Samson studied her for a long moment. Then he turned to Nathan.

“Get the footage. Now.”

Nathan returned minutes later with the security footage.

Everyone gathered around the screen.

The clip showed Isabella standing by Mrs. Elena’s door with Sarah, both listening, then walking away.

Nothing more.

Mrs. Elena stared at the screen, her jaw tightening.

“I know what I saw,” she whispered.

Isabella calmly looked at the footage when a wave of memories suddenly swayed her mind, stealing the key from Sarah, opening the door, setting the room on fire, and dropping the key on the floor as she calmly walked away.

It felt like she was trapped in another world, lost in memories, until Mrs. Elena dragged her back to reality.

“You were in my room last night. Admit it!” Mrs. Elena yelled.

Her words shattered Isabella. Still confused, tears spilled from her eyes as she ran back to her room.