WITH TRUST AND REGRET

Lilian stood in front of a wooden door and sighed. She knocked but no one answered, all she could hear was sobs from inside. She opened the door and saw Isabel hugging her knees tightly on the bed with her head buried in her knees. Lilian walked to her, sat closer to her on the bed and hugged her. Isabel also hugged her tightly and bawled in her arms like a child. After sometime, when she was sure Isabel had calmed down, she pulled her from the hug and tried consoling her.

"Isa darling, try and understand your father." She said trying to reason with her. But Isabel stared at her quietly and said in a wronged tone

"Aunt, has he ever tried to understand me. Ever since he came, he had only used forcefull ways. Now he wants me to understand him" Her aunt looked at her pitifully and said

"I understand your pains dear" But Isabel shook her head stubbornly and said

"No you don't. None of you do. I made a mistake. Yes I know, and I will make things right but he don't have to do this" She said with fogged eyes. Lilian sighed and said

" I understand you darling. I have been in your shoes before." Isabel stared at her in bewilderment as the tears kept on cascading from her eyes. Lilian continued as if narrating a story

"I had also loved a certain man before. I was so blindly in love with him that I continuously kept on fighting with almost every one including your father. They all warned me to stay away from him because he didn't love me. I didn't listen. That arrange a marriage for me and I was strongly against it." She smiled sadly as she recalled her painful past and continued

" Your father treathened to kill Kim if I don't leave him but I was still stubborn. Then he.... locked me in my room for a whole week, I was grounded and even couldn't get out but I was still bent on marrying him. Until....I discovered he was cheating on me. I felt so hurt and extremely sad. I regretted my actions dearly. I regretted not listening to my family."

Lilian continuously chocked on her words but she firmly continued.

" But I had another chance, to correct everything. Although I didn't like your uncle at first, I now deeply love him and we even have Cedrick."

Then she suddenly stared at her intently and continued

" All I'm trying to say is, are you sure Adrain loves you just like how you love him. Is he not using you for his personal gains."

Without hesitation, Isabel shook her head profusely and said confidently

" No aunt I know he loves me even more."

Her aunt sighed again. She really didn't know how many times she had sighed because of this father-daugther's sour relationship.

" I don't want you to experience my tragedy. It is very painful you know. Just..... don't love him too much, as the saying goes too much of everything is bad." Isabel nodded and said

" I know aunt"

" And remember.... your father loves you both." Her aunt said. Isabel stiffened at her aunt's words. She never thought of this before. Lilian noticed her stiffness and tactfully lightened the mood by saying

" I will talk to him on your behalf. I hope that is all, I don't want to be coming to and fro because of you both" She said seriously. Isabel chuckled lightly and hugged her and said with appreciation

" Thank you very much Aunty. I love you."

Lilian hugged her back and strokes her hair sweetly but said nothing.

Isabel was extremely curious as to know what her father would say. She felt unease and hoped her aunt would be able to successfully convince her father. Although she knew it was bad to eavesdrop, she couldn't help it. The was slightly opened so if was very easy to hear everything. Her father's furious voice quickly came ringing in her ears.

" Lilian, there is no way I am going to allow that. I suppose she has been able to trick you a d you fell for it right. Ha.."

Her heart sunk after hearing her father's words but she soon heard her aunt's pleading voice

"But brother you should try and understand her. She lov...." But before she could finish the statement, Mr. Snow snorted

"Lilian, I suggest you don't finish that statement. It happened once, and there is no way I am going to allow it to happen again. I couldn't control you and you got ditched by some random pig. But I would make sure that doesn't repeat itself. You talk of love, what does she know about love. You once said exactly her words but what happened thereafter? Huh..tell me. You of all people should understand this Lilian. Watching you go through that pain was a great ordeal for me and I can't let it be repeated."

Lilian eyes were instantly teary as she stared at her brother, not able to utter a single word. This time, Mr Snow tone softened and he said

" If....if that guy was wealthy,.....I would have at least considered but....look....just look at how wretched they're. He has this dirty background and that makes me more suspicious....I..I.. had initially thought of giving them a chance earlier, but they screwed up everything. He went so far as to make my own daughter steal from me which is truly unforgiving. It clearly shows that he is after our money but that girl is so blind and stupid as to completely trust him."