WITH TRUST AND REGRET

The Next Day

Isabel woke up in a very familiar environment. She knew that was her room, but the question was how did she end up here. She went and showered and came back to her bed. She vaguely remembered what happened the night before. Under normal circumstances, she was supposed to be in the bar but since she was now here, it only meant Maria had brought her home. Just as she was so engrossed in her thoughts, she heard a soft knock on her door. She said " Come in ". The door opened and she saw her aunt entering the room. She knew what her aunt would talk about and pretended to busy herself by drying her hair. Lilian on the other hand saw through her actions and said

"Good morning" Isabel replied

"Good morning Aunty" Lilian continued

"How are you doing today?"

" I'm good. Thanks for your concern and I apologise if I troubles you guys yesterday." She said. Lilian was on the verge of reprimanding her about her been drunk but she stopped and sighed. She went and sat beside Isabel and took the hair dryer from her hand and said "let me do it". Isabel nodded. She begun drying her hair for her. There was complete silence in the room and only the sound of the hair dryer could be heard. After drying her hair, she pulled her to the bed and made her sat down. Her face turned serious all of a sudden as she said

" We have to talk Isa."

Isabel stared at her with no reaction or an affirmation. Lilian took in a deep breath and continued

" Isa,. you will have to marry Carlisle DelaVega"

She expected Isabel to throw a tantrum or something but Isabel said sadly

" Hmmm.. Aunt he managed to decide you right". Lilian answered

" Isa, that guy is not good for you. Why else would he make you steal from your father for his own benefits."

This time Isabel almost yelled

"He did not aunt. I decided to do it, to help him become rich so dad would accept him."

Lilian looked at her sadly. She then calmed down the anger that was surging in her heart and said

" Isabel you are a child, listen to me, it would be best for you and everyone if you leave him. I have been a victim of such situations before and trust me you wouldn't want to have that experience...... Can't you see that this guy is sowing discord between you and your father" Isabel suddenly laughed sarcastically

" Ha ha ha haa aunt, our relationship was already sour from the beginning." Lilian sighed and said

" Isabel, a word to a wise is enough."

She stood up and walked away. Isabel watched Lilian's back quietly as she went.She was in a deep thought but after sometime she made up her mind.

Isabel's Father, Mr. Edward Snow was once a soldier. He entered the military when he was around 19years and stayed in the military for a very long time. He had a big dream and passion and that was to serve his country. Despite all the persuasion his family gave him, he still insisted and entered the military. He had met Isabel's mother in the military and fell in love with her at first sight. Isabel's mother was a military doctor. They both had the same dream and passion which drew them closer and closer as time went by. After some few years of courtship and life-threatening events, they decided to settle down. Sooner than later, they married, but were still in the military. After a year of their marriage, Mrs. Christabel Snow discovered that she was pregnant. She was happy and worried simultaneously since they weren't prepared to have a child even though they were married. They had also been using protections for this same reason. She couldn't afford to abort the child, indeed she wanted to have her husband's children. But they were both in the military and being pregnant meant either one of them or both of them would have to abort thier dreams. She discussed it with her husband and told him about her discision to retire from the military. Mr. Edward knew that they both loved thier dreams and couldn't help feeling sad. He also made up his mind to retire alongside with his wife and live a normal life with thier child she was carrying. But his wife immediately stopped him and told him to continue his dream, thier dream for all of them. He still remember his wife's words

"No Edward, don't say that. You have to continue this dream without me. I know how much you love this dream and I am not against it. In fact I have the same passion. You would have to do this, I just hope you would keep your promise and bring me a whole you with no scratch"

He was initially against it but after sometime, he accepted it. Soon Mrs. Christabel Snow left the military. She gave birth to a baby girl (Isabel) some months later with her husband not by his side because he was on a crucial mission. As time passes, Mr. Edward Snow got to higher and higher position with his missions growing tougher and tougher. As Isabel grew, she hardly knew her father and rarely sawhim in the house. Frankly speaking, she knew nothing about him. All she knew was his face and his mother's stories about him. She was rather more closer to her mother. After all, the longest time she had seen her father in the house was 3 days as long as she remembers. 4 years later, her mother concieved and gave birth to a baby girl which they named 'Lucia'. Lucia's birth was like a blessing in disguise because Mr. Edward rarely had missions and his longest stay was now a week. But soon everything went back to be like before.