Chapter 2: Where's My Dad?
1564 Words
ISABELLA
He held his burning cheek, before casting a deadly glare at me. Moving closer to yell, Mia stopped him, locking eyes with mine.
“Bella!” She snapped, “Why would you do such a thing?”
She turned towards him and cupped his face and my blood boiled vigorously as I watched them, “If you should hit anyone, Bell, it should be me—”
WHACK!
The sound of my palm smacking against her face echoed across the room, and my hands stung from hitting them.
At least if there was one thing I was glad to hear today, it was the sound of my fingers being imprinted on their faces.
“Bella! You've crossed the line,” He yelled, pointing a finger at me.
“No Henry,” I shouted, “If anyone has crossed the line today, it's you.”
“I mean, how could you?” I sniffed, brushing my tears away.
“You brought in not just one, but two… Did you even care to know how I'd feel after everything? Why didn't you just leave me for her, if she was who you wanted?”
His mouth parted, and his hands tried to reach out but he withdrew them after he looked at Mia.
He gave me a short subtle stare while avoiding eye contact and then he moved closer to her, defeatedly.
I waited and watched him eagerly, hoping for an answer, but no, he remained silent. It was then I realised he had made his choice.
“Fine, you can go ahead and do whatever you want with her but…” my lips trembled, “It's over between us, Henry.”
Without a second thought, I took off the engagement ring and threw it at him, walking out the door before slamming it hard behind me.
Placing my back against the wall, I slowly slid down to the floor. My hands were covered against my mouth as I let out a silent outburst.
Tears cascaded down my eyes and liquids drooled down my nose. My body trembled with hiccuping breaths.
Clenching onto the remnants of my already shattered heart, I let my tears pour freely as the thought of their betrayal enveloped me.
Muffled voices from his room made their way to me, but I couldn't care to find out what they were saying. I mean, it never mattered now; there was no going back.
Growing up with marriage fantasies, I always wanted a loving husband willing to wait while we build our dreams and future together. But right now, those dreams have been shattered.
After a moment of downpour, I took hold of myself, shaking the weight I felt on my heart. With trembling legs and a broken heart, I walked out of his mansion.
A part of me wanted to stay back and wait to see if he'd come to me, then we pretended like it never happened, but who was I kidding? There was no looking back.
Snapping out of my reverie, I thought of the only place I could go now, a place where I was loved and cherished– that was wherever my father, Antonio, was.
Taking a cab to my dad's company, I stared out the window, drowning my sorrow in the city’s fascinating sights.
The wind blew off the tears hanging on my lashes and I just blinked them off.
As we got closer, I noticed loud sirens blazing through the city followed by some police vans dashing past us.
My brows furrowed when I noticed they were all coming from his company's direction, and to top it all off, there was heavy traffic in that area.
I tried calling him but then I realised that my phone wasn't in my purse. It must have fallen off when I threw it on the couch.
Turning to the driver, I pleaded, “Hey Mister, can you go a little faster.”
He leans his head back, staring through the rear mirror, “Okay ma'am, I know a faster route.”
“Hang on.”
He took the next turn and stepped on the gas, jolting me back into my seat. A few minutes passed, and we arrived at the crowded entrance of the building.
My heart raced with anticipation as I pushed through the crowd and went under the police line.
I entered inside the building, sheets of paper scattered all over the floor. Looking around, I saw his assistant, Mr Philip, talking with some men in a black suit.
“What's going on?” I asked, my hands firm at my sides, “Where's my dad?”
“Miss Sawyer! Thank goodness you're here.” He exclaimed, gesturing me away from the men in black, “Please come over here.”
Wild thoughts flooded my mind and I asked, “Why are they here? And my dad, why isn't he the one talking to them?
“Did they take him?”
“Tell me, what really happened?”
“First, you need to calm down, Miss Sawyer. Your dad is safe but… He's in a lot of trouble, He said.
My lips parted but I withheld my questions, waiting till he finished.
“Look over there,” He flickered his eyes to the men in black, “They know where your father is, and they're going to take you to him.”
“What?” My brows furrowed.
“I can't disclose any information at the moment, just trust me and go with them.”
“Should I just follow them?” I asked, unsatisfied with his answers.
“Yes!” He tossed me in his direction.
I followed them quietly, and shortly they gestured me into a black luxurious van. Driving in the direction the cops went, we arrived at the Emerald Estate, the largest in the city.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, my palm sweaty.
However, they remained silent. After what seemed like a never-ending trip, we came to a halt in front of a large mansion.
“Come with me!” He said, and I walked quietly behind him.
We walked into the mansion, going past various rooms before he finally stopped. He signalled a guard, and the door opened.
Sitting at the other end of the room was a mysterious man. He faced the floor-to-ceiling window, so I couldn't get a good profile of him.
He gave a hand signal and the men in black left us alone.
As soon as the door closed, the tension in the room became palpable and the air around me thickened.
I closed the distance between us with sweaty palms and said, “Excuse me, Mister.”
I swallowed hard, “Do you know where my Dad, Antonio Sawyer is?”
With just a snap of his finger, a large door beside us opened, and my dad fell to his knees, his hands tied behind him, and his mouth with a cloth.
My whole body shuddered at the sight of him, and I rushed towards him, holding him tight, “Who did this to you?” I asked, pulling the cloth away from his mouth.
“I'm so sorry, darling. I didn't mean to bring this upon you,” He said, tears cascading down his eyes.
“It's okay Dad, you've done nothing wrong to me,” My voice was shaky, “We'll handle it once we get out of here, I promise.”
“No darling, this is far deeper than you think," He said, barely above a whisper, “And in case I don't make it out alive…”
“Shhh… don't say that Dad, we will,” I pressed my fingers against his lips.
“just know that it wasn't …”
At that instant, he was dragged back into the door as he tried to speak, “It wasn't me, Bell.” He yelled, pulling out of their grip.
“It was He…,” the cloth was forced back into his mouth and all I could hear were muffled voices.
Pushing forward to stop them, the men held my arms. I was strong, but they were stronger and bulkier. Holding me in place, I watched as my dad was dragged back into the room.
As soon as the door was locked, they left me hanging and I fell to my knees, wailing. All I could think of was the last thing he said.
Was he trying to say it was ‘Henry’ who did this? Or he was referring to ‘him,’ the mysterious man here with me; the thoughts only made my heart ache.
I turned towards the man at the end of the room and yelled, “What did you do to him?”
At that instant, his chair spun around, and my eyes widened and I took a step back in shock.
He placed his chin on his fist and growled, “Your father has committed a crime that even the Lord can't forgive.”
“Oh God, What has he gotten himself into?” I muttered, utterly confused.
His face was impassive, “If you ever want to see him again, you'll have to do as I say,” His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.
“T-tell me, what can I do to save him?”
He leaned closer, “Marry me!”
- Writer
