09
“Do you really think I don’t know what’s in your heart?” I asked coldly, my voice cutting through the tension. The chandeliers above cast fractured light onto the polished floor, illuminating the stark contrast between us.
Isaac opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t give him the chance.
“You’re nothing but a penniless loser now, aren’t you?” I leaned forward slightly, letting my words land with full force. “Instead of being grateful, you’d just end up resenting me later.”
His jaw tightened, but he quickly masked his shock with a guilty expression. “Lola,” he stammered, his tone softer, desperate, “I was wrong. I should’ve been grateful to you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I was immature, blind and I neglected your feelings.”
I sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle on my shoulders. His words, though carefully crafted, felt hollow, like the echoes of a long–dead relationship.
“Just leave,” I said firmly, my voice steady. “I don’t want to see you again.
Isaac froze, his pleading expression slowly shifting into one of disbelief. He seemed unable to comprehend that I was truly done with him
“Lola” he whispered hoarsely, “are you really going to abandon me? Are you really going to throw away our years together?”
ten
I hesitated for only a moment, my mind drifting back to those early years when Isaac had been a humble, kindhearted man. Back then, he would peel my fruit for me, never forgot a single anniversary and even kept track of how many days we had been together. But those moments of warmth had long since faded, eroded by time and betrayal.
Π
“I’ve never left you,” I said quietly, meeting his gaze: “You were the one who abandoned me first. Now, get out. My father, who had been standing silently in the corner with an unyielding glare, stepped forward. His presence loomed over Isaac like a thundercloud.
“Does Lola need to repeat herself? my father barked. “Get out before I make you.”
I
Isaac’s expression darkened, his desperation morphing into anger. “What more do you want?” he snapped, his voice rising “1 already apologized to you!”
I barely flinched at his outburst, motioning for the butler to intervene. Isaac struggled as the butler grabbed his arm, but he had no choice but to move. As he was dragged toward the door, he shouted over his shoulder, “Lola, you’ll regret this!”
“You took everything from me! You ruined my life! I won’t let you have it easy either!”
My father watched him leave with a disgusted scowl, muttering under his breath, “Scumbag. He never truly wanted to repent. If it weren’t for his own self–interest, he’d never have apologized in the first place.”
I said nothing, though inwardly, I agreed. I had long since resolved that there was no room for mercy when dealing with someone like Isaac.
That night, Isaac drowned his sorrows at a bar, only to be involved in a fight that ended with him being taken away by the police. Meanwhile, Jessica, still confined to her hospital bed, found herself spiraling into despair. The financial support I had previously extended to her was now gone and the mounting bills left her helpless.
Her parents, furious at the burden she had become, stormed into the hospital demanding money. Their harsh words pushed her to the edge of madness. Desperate, she tried reaching out to Isaac, but he, too, was caught up in his own misfortune
Three days later, Isaac was released from jail. Outside, Jessica waited for him, clutching her hospital discharge papers with trembling hands. But when their eyes met, there was no trace of the love she hoped for onl
unralantina hatrad
153 PM C
When My Husband and Stud F. Tamped the mo
“Don’t touch me!” Isaac spat, recoiling from her as if she were a disease. “Stay the hell away from me! You’re the
reason my life is ruined!”
Jessica blinked in disbelief, her voice breaking as she whispered, “Isaac, what are you saying? I thought we-”
“You thought what?!” he roared, his face twisted with fury. “You ruined everything! It’s all your fault! You were the one who seduced me! I regret ever listening to you!”
Jessica’s face crumpled, her tears streaming silently as Isaac’s words tore through her.
“You were the one who suggested scheming against Lola,” he continued, his voice dripping with venom. “And now you’ve destroyed me too! I should never have gotten involved with you! Get lost!”
Jessica stood frozen, unable to process the sudden reversal. But deep down, she knew her fate
e was s
sealed.
That night, her parents dragged her back to their village, forcing her into an arranged marriage with a neighbor in exchange for a meager dowry. From that moment on, she disappeared from our lives entirely.
As for Isaac, he never mentioned her name again.
The next morning, I arrived at the airport early, my luggage in tow. The terminal was bustling with activity, but my mind remained calm. My father had promised to see me off, but as my flight’s departure time neared, he still hadn’t shown up.
As I clutched my boarding pass, my mind preoccupied with the gnawing sense that something wasn’t right. Just as my flight was announced, my phone buzzed sharply in my pocket. I picked up without hesitation.
“Ms. Nichols, your father has been kidnapped. We’ve traced the location,” the voice on the other end reported, My heart stopped.
The abandoned warehouse was eerily silent, its peeling walls bathed in the flickering glow of a single hanging lightbulb. The air reeked of rust and damp concrete. I pushed open the creaking door and the sight before me made my blood run cold.
My father was tied to a chair, his once–pristine suit now rumpled and stained with blood. His head hung limply to the side, his face pale and bruised. Standing beside him, leaning heavily on à crutch, was Isaac. His face was a disturbing mix of desperation and fury.
“Don’t come any closer!” Isaac barked, his voice raw and shaking as he pressed a gleaming knife against my father’s throat. The blade caught the dim light, sending shivers down my spine.
I froze, my hands instinctively raised in surrender. “Isaac, calm down,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the fear gripping my chest. “You don’t need to do this. Just put the knife down and we can talk.”
Isaac’s eyes darted wildly, his grip on the knife tightening. His disheveled appearance and the sweat streaming down his face betrayed his instability Talk?” he spat bitterly. “You think I’m doing this because I want to talk? He staggered slightly, his crutch wobbling beneath him. “Lola, I apologized! I begged! But you–you just ke pushing me away! I’ve lost everything because of you! My job, my future, my dignity–you’re too cruel!” His voic cracked and for a moment, I saw the shadow of the man I had once loved, crumbling under the weight of his own misdeeds.
“Isaac, I know you’re upset,” I said, keeping my tone soothing, though my heart pounded against my ribs. “But this isn’t the way. Let my dad go and we can work through this together. We’re still family, right?”
“Family?” Isaac laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and chilling. “You threw me away like garbage! If we’re not family anymore, then what’s the point? Let’s all just die together!”
My father groaned weakly, his head twitching slightly. I had to act fast. “Isaac, listen to me,” I said, taking a cautious step forward. “I’m sorry, okay? I was wrong. I didn’t consider your feelings. I didn’t realize how much I hurt