WITH TRUST AND REGRET

Lilian who was engrossed in her thought felt as if the thunder has strike on her. She said in disbelief

"She stole from you?".

She knew that Isabel had done an inexplicable deed that has caused the family to be in this huge mess. She has just returned from overseas and knew roughly about the family's crises. Hearing that Isabel had stolen from her father, she was stunned. Isabel basically had whatever she needed so the thought of she stealing was abnormal. Mr. Edward Snow saw her bewildered face and said in a mockery tone

"Oh..... you don't know...ha ha haa. She really stole from me."

Still unable to believe it, she tried to prob further. " What did she steal from you"

" The project" Mr Edward said with a little bit of bitterness. But Lilian was still puzzled. She continued to ask

" Project? Which project" Mr Snow said

" The project, the project that Cedrick painstakingly made. The project that could earn us millions. The project that could further push our family.... She just stole it in a blink of an eye, completely jeopardizing everything."

Lilian was still astonished. She said subconsciously, trying hard to digest the information.

" Why would she....."

She initially wanted to ask why Isabel would steal the family's project. She had no knowledge about those things in the first place. But before she could finish, her brother interrupted with another mocking tone.

" No...no...no... wait for the best part. After she stole it, guess what? She handed it over to that ' bastard' as a gift. She gave our future to her lover as a gift. Could you believe it. And now if you have been closely observiy, the Carter's have suddenly begun rising. They were just a third tier family with no impressive background but because of that stupid girl we have, they're prospering.

She chose that guy over her own family."

Uncontrollable tears kept on cascading from Isabel's eyes as she heard her father's words. She wanted to leave but she also wanted to listen to their entire conversation. As she was torn between what to do, she heard a soft whisper ' Isabel'.

She intuitively turned and was stunned to see a very young elegant lady in a school uniform staring as her in surprise. They both stared at each other when the other lady broke the silence

" What are doing "

That was when Isabel reacted and quickly pulled the other lady away and placed her finger on her lips as if to tell her to keep quiet.

" Shhhhhhhhh " she said. But the other lady refused and snapped back at her

" What the hell do you think you are doing. You were eavesdropping right ".

Isabel stared at her through her teary eyes and said nonchalantly

" I don't give a damn if you tell them Lucia. You know what, I'm out of here."

And with that, she walked away. Lilian suddenly got out from the room right after Isabel went. Her eyes met those of Lucia's and Lucia sadly shook her head. She instantly understood it and sighed helplessly. Then she said

" Tell her to come to my room when she returns "

Lucia nodded and Lilian went

...................

Meanwhile, Isabel went to "Nightfalls club" and sat at her favorite conner. Music was been played and several people were happily dancing at the center. Isabel on the other hand had several strong wines on her table and was greadily gulping them all in a shot. She then sent a message to someone and automatically shut down her phone. She continued drinking all the wines that she had ordered and was gradually becoming intoxicated. Just when she was so impressed in her sorrows, a young lady approached and sat opposite her. She had an anxious face and her voice was filled with total concern. She quickly entered a conversation with her.

" Isa, what is wrong with you, why the hell are you this drunk."

Instead of answering the question, Isabel looked at her in her drunken state and asked deliberately ignoring the question.

" Maria, thank you for coming. I hope I wasn't bothering you"

Maria stared intently at her for sometime and asked

"Are you okay Isa. Tell me what happened"

Isabel smiled sadly and almost choked in her tears. Then she replied

" I guess I'm okay. " Maria sighed heavily and said

" Is it about Adrain and your family again? "

Isabel, aren't you so blinded in this love of yours."

Isabel immediately snapped harshly

" Maria I didn't call you here to judge me, my plate is already full. "

Then she drunk a cup full of wine. Maria observed and just shook her head slightly

"I'm not judging you Isa, is just that....."

She tried explaining but Isabel interrupted all of a sudden before she could finish her sentence

" Every single person is judging me. None of you want to understand me. None of you!...

.. Even,.. even he,..he just came into my life.recently...and...and he is trying to take control of me. Who the hell does he think he is. ( Referring to her father) .... Was I wrong Maria. Did I make a bad choice...all..all I wanted was to have a better life, is that too much to ask?