Breaking His Law (English)

“I wonder, Thalia. You’re twenty-five already... don’t you have any plans yet?” I was taken aback by that question from Ezro, the son of one of my father’s business partners. “Is Tito Constantine okay with you being not married yet?” he added with a smile, referring to Dad. “Your mom was twenty-two when she got married...” I sighed and turned to face Ezro. The celebration party for a fashion event held in Paris had just ended and of course I was there as the CEO of the fastest rising modeling agency in the country, and as a model myself. Some of them had taken the liberty of going to the casino. We were about to leave the venue and I was about to refuse, but Ezro insisted on taking me along. I agreed to go with him, and all he’s doing right now is throwing me all these stupid questions! Ezro is the son of Dad's business partner in the hotel chain we own, and here he is, pushing the idea of marriage on me. Ezro grinned when I didn’t answer. Amusement flickered in his eyes. I admit he is handsome and I’m sure if he was just my boyfriend, Dad wouldn’t object. He’d like this man for me, not to mention that our families are also close. “I’m not interested in getting married, Ezro,” I replied confidently before walking past him and heading to the passenger seat of his car where he had opened the door for me. The man shrugged and closed the car’s door. He got into the driver’s seat and started offering me yet another marriage proposal. “You still can’t move on from that i***t? You’ve lost connection long ago, huh. It’s not like you two really got married before...” I fell silent and looked tiredly out the window. “You know nothing.” I was lost in the gaze of the gradually falling larger drops of rain outside. There was some familiar pain in my chest that made me sit even more quietly. We reached the casino where Ezro and I were both silent. I didn’t know what kind of place it was. I had simply come along. We were with some politicians even though they weren’t allowed to go to such places, and I know how many times my father warned me that I shouldn’t come near them. Yet, they were all welcoming to me. Even the older ones were happy with me. They congratulated me for the success of Amaris, the modeling agency I run. Everyone was having fun and making the most of the time. Games, drinks, and various conversations between famous people in the world of showbusiness and politics were there. I sat beside Ezro, watching him play poker with someone he had met there. One of the guys kept flashing me a smile while two women in that group were talking while looking at my direction. I didn’t know if I was their topic, nor did I care. I ignored them. When Ezro switched to another opponent, the guy who kept smiling with me finally had his chance to approach me on the couch. He walked to where I was sitting and sat beside me, making me move away a little. “Nathalia Amaris,” the man said and put his arm around me as if we were close friends. A smirk was plastered on his lips when he checked me from head to toe. “Saw your new endorsements, babe. You look good in those pieces of clothes...” I don’t know if he was drunk or what because he whispered his last words in my ear! My lips parted. My brows furrowed and I immediately realized what he was talking about. I just endorsed a brand for bikini! “Excuse me?” I said with a hint of hesitation and annoyance. “Why?” The man, who must be our age, grinned widely. He wasn’t even familiar with me so who does he think he is to approach me like this? Such a thick face! “Are you embarrassed? That’s okay, it’s true that you’re so sexy and perfect for—” Before he could even finish his sentence, he was already sent crashing to the floor, making the people around us gasp! I also didn’t expect it. My eyes widened and I quickly stood up. “Ezro!” “You, bastard!” Without saying another word, he kicked the man and landed another punch on his face. The onlookers gasped in shock again. Even Ezro’s poker buddies stood up at the sudden commotion. They saw how Ezro punched their friend! I rushed forward to stop Ezro. We were already causing a scene—everyone’s attention was now on us! But before I could even pull him arms so we could leave, the man fought back and threw a punch at Ezro as well. “Hey, stop it!” I tried to break them apart, but no one listened! When Ezro punched the man, he almost fell and crashed into me. The force of the impact made me fall back and hit the table! “What the hell?!” I shouted angrily at the man. “I’m gonna k*ll you!” People turned to me at my furious outburst. My heels had slid off from the impact, and pain shot up my legs. “Ouch!” I screamed when suddenly, someone pulled my hair. The next thing I know, a woman from that group rushed at me and grabbed my hair! “You’re such a flirt, Nathalia! You’re flirting with my boyfriend—that’s why he got into a fight! Because of you!” she shrieked, yanking my hair even harder. I didn’t give in and instead, I grabbed her hair and pulled just as hard. No one could stop us because the woman didn't want to stop even though my pull on her hair was getting weaker. I could barely feel my scalp. “You’re such a flirt! I bet those rumor about you were true! You shouldn’t have a career anymore because aside from being a flirt, you have a terrible attitude!” she kept shouting. I didn’t know what was burning hotter inside me—the rage in my head or the sting in my eyes as tears threatened to fall. If only there hadn’t been a sudden commotion inside the casino, the woman and I wouldn’t have been able to stop. People suddenly scattered, running in different directions. Her friends had already dragged the woman and they were hurrying to leave. I heard Ezro curse loudly before grabbing his suit and firmly holding my arm. My eyes grew wider. He suddenly pulled me away with him. “Ezro! W-What’s going on? What the hell is this?!” I shouted. “Just shut the f*ck up, Thalia! Come with me!” he shouted back as we hurried through different paths to get out of that place. He quickly pressed the elevator button and I almost froze when I heard the sound of the police car outside the establishment. “What the hell, Ezro? What’s happening?! Why are the police here?!” I demanded while we waited for the elevator to open. He didn’t answer me and slammed the door when it wouldn’t open. I still haven’t recovered from the shock I felt but my head hurts even more from what’s happening! “Sh*t. Are you really this slow, Thalia?! This is an illegal gambling. And some bastard tipped off the police again! Damn it!” I froze at his words. “What the f*ck?! I thought we were at a casino? Are you telling me that we’re in an illegal gambling?!” We ended up on the ground floor, where the parking lot was. But just as we were about to reach it, he suddenly stopped and cursed upon seeing something. I looked at what it was but couldn’t see anything. He glanced at me, as if he was hesitating whether to save me or save himself, when we heard someone’s footsteps. “Ezro, don’t lea—Ezro!” I was so shocked when he suddenly left me to save himself! Suddenly, I found myself alone in the eerily quiet and vast parking lot. Good heavens. I just got caught up in this mess—I had no idea what was going on! I turned around, intending to find another way out, but I barely took a step before something—or rather, someone—blocked my path. Oh, damn. “Raise your hands,” a cold, familiar voice commanded. I don't know but it seemed like what was happening suddenly disappeared and erased from my mind when I heard that voice. It was so familiar... that I couldn't help but open my eyes. I froze, rooted to the spot, as I finally saw who was standing before me. “I said raise your hands, Miss,” his voice grew firmer, but I couldn’t move my hands to obey. I stared at the man in front of me as he looked at me intently and coldly. His cold and dark eyes met mine. After long years... My lips parted and the corners of my eyes began to heat up. I couldn’t even take my eyes off him, shock and fear mixed in with me. “I-Isles?” If this wasn’t a dream and he was really the one in front of me, then I should be scared more than ever... “Don’t move, Nathalia,” he said firmly in a cold voice, pointing his gun at me. My eyes flickered to the weapon, and I felt ice settle in my veins. This is wrong. He has no right to point a gun to my head! “You’re a lawyer...” I trailed, making him remember he shouldn’t do this! “And you’re trying to escape right now,” he responded. He stared at me and lowered the gun. He’s wearing a black suit. I stared at him. He looks more powerful now, more dangerous, rough... and harder. Harder than he was five years ago. “Who brought you here?” he asked more seriously. I couldn’t answer because something seemed to be blocking my throat. I stepped back a little, still unable to believe that he was here in front of me. For some reason I couldn’t explain, the corners of my eyes heated more in tears. “I’m asking you, Nathalia Amaris... who brought you to this place?” His voice softened, making it even more terrifying. His sharp yet playful eyes looked straight at me. “I-I should be asking you that, Isles. W-What are you doing here?” I asked instead in a trembling voice. I swallowed. He didn’t answer and kept his gaze on me, not even flinching as I took a step closer to him. “It just happened that I’m here,” he said coldly. “Now, answer me... why are you here? Do you even know what you’ve gotten yourself into, Nathalia?” “I had nothing to do with it, Isles… I was just dragged into this.” His eyes narrowed, and his voice seemed to be wrapped in ice from the coldness of his voice as he spoke. “How am I supposed to believe you?” There. Something hit me. Right… how can he believe me? He knew me as a great liar. A woman who is good at pretending. Tears welled up in my eyes, causing me to look away. I tried to harden my expression. “If you think I’m lying... then stop me now and turn me over to the police,” I challenged coldly. “It’s so personal for you to point your gun at me, Isles.” “It is,” he replied, looking into my eyes with amusement. A small smile played on his lips. He still hadn’t changed! He still looks like an angel, innocent, so kind and trustworthy... Whenever he smiled, it was as if the world lightened. He was always like that. Soft, gentle, and caring. Like that to everyone—except me. To me, he’s a devil disguised as an angel. He’s just trying to capture everyone with his good boy looks. But why… why was he always so ruthless to me? His hand remained tucked inside his black suit. My lips trembled when I looked down to his gun. From his polished shoes, I studied him once more, tracing my eyes to the familiarity of his tall and manly physique. I swallowed hard and stepped closer to him before taking his hand holding the gun. I brought it to my chest voluntarily. My blazer had come undone from all the chaos earlier. I could feel the cold barrel of the gun against my bare skin. His jaw tightened at what I did and he stared darkly. “I’m telling the truth. But if you want to frame me and punish me…, do it,” I challenged boldly, meeting his gaze. “Or why don’t you just kill me right now and right here... Attorney Privello?” He couldn’t answer. He couldn’t put the gun down when I pointed it to myself. “Shoot at me, Isles... after all, you’ve been wanting to erase me from the world for a long time... might as well do it now while you have the chance.” I smiled bitterly, my eyes brimming with unshed tears. I pressed the gun harder against me while staring at him and his sharp eyes were the same on me. “Pull the trigger, Isles... why don’t you do it?” I challenged. “Because if I were the one holding that gun against you, I wouldn’t even hesitate!” He stared at me and his expression gradually softened. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, almost amused. “You still haven’t changed...” he said, as if amazed. “You’re still a great liar, Nathalia.” Something inside me twisted painfully at his words. It triggered something deep within me. How many years had passed? Four? Five? Five years since he left me. Five years since he made a fool out of me! “Are you sure you can pull the trigger if you were holding this gun instead of me, Nathalia?” he whispered softly. Even the way he looked at me had become gentle. “Because I don’t think you can,” he teased and moved closer while the gun was still pointed at me, only he was holding it. Five years since we ended everything between the two of us. Five years since he turned his back on me... right at our wedding. “Could you even point a gun at me like this?” Isles smirked, stepping even closer. He slightly bent down, lowering his lips to the side of my ear as he whispered. His hot breath brushed against the soft skin of my neck, sending shivers down my spine, awakening memories I had desperately tried to forget. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. I don’t think so..." he whispered softly, as the tip of the gun became colder against my chest…