WITH TRUST AND REGRET

Isabel froze and realized she was caught. She panickly pleaded

" Cedrick please, you guys should trust me. I know what I am doing "

But Cedrick surprisingly sneered

" And I can guess you were planning on leaving with him right? You choose him over your family. Are you for real Isa" Then he paused and sighed before continuing

" Don't say I didn't warn you Isa."

Tears cascaded uncontrollablly from Isabel's eyes. She felt a lump in her throat and couldn't speak. Just then, she heard Adrain's melodious voice from behind

" What is going on here love, are you not coming in?"

She turned her head and saw Adrian's stunned face. It seemed he just realized that Cedrick was also present. Cedrick stared at him with pure and unhidden disgust all over his face. Just as Cedrick was about to talk, they heard a strong and masculine old voice calling Isabel's name. Isabel shivered after hearing her name and turned again. She was so scared knowing who the voice belonged to. Right after turning, her eyes met those of her father. She intuitively turned to look at Cedrick with a disappointed look and said in tears

" Cedrick, you called him " She felt really betrayed now. Cedrick on the other hand said nothing but just hunged his head low. It was as if he was a little ashamed and couldn't look at Isabel in the eye.

Mr. Snow kept on approaching them with the scariest face Isabel has ever seen. This time, Isabel knew she was doomed. Behind her father were six strong well-built burly men in military attaire. Isabel almost fainted upon seeing the military men. She was bemuddled as to how her father was able to bring this military men meant something bad. Out of instincts, she went and stood in front of Adrain shielding. This action of her seemed to further infuriat her father. He yelled

" Isabel "

Isabel closed her eyes not wanting to listen to her father. Soon, her father stood closer and ordered

" Isabel move out away "

But Isabel didn't move and still stood there adamantly

" Isabel, I'm already furious so you better not fume the fire "

He roared but still got the same result. This time, he was really pissed off.

" For the last time Isabel, move away. I'm not going to repeat myself "

Surprisingly, Isabel said courageously

" I'm going nowhere dad, I'm staying here and I will be with Adrian."

Mr. Snow stopped talking and signalled his men. They quickly understood and walked towards Isabel with the intension of pulling her out of the way. Adrain felt touched by Isabel's braveness and whispered softly to her

" Move to a safe place sweetheart "

To Isabel, that was the sweetest voice she had ever heard in her life. A voice that could slowly make you sleep. She tried protesting but Adrain said more assuringlly

" Just trust me would you "

Isabel suddenly became obedient and slowly but steadily moved away but to her horror, before Adrain could utter a single word, three military men mercilessly attacked him. They begun beating him blue black without restrain. Isabel shrieked and was about to pull them away but two of the remaining military men held her tightly, stopping her from moving. She bawled like a child and said in hiccups

" Please.... please, stop. It is okay."

But they totally ignored her treating her like the thin air. They were completely focused on beating Adrain. Blood begun oozing from his face and several parts of his body. Isabel felt helpless. She realized the military men would only listen to her father. She struggled for sometime before she was able to slip through thier hands and without hesitation she run to her father and begged with teary eyes

" Dad please make them stop. He will die. Please dad, I'm really sorry but don't do this."

But her father ignored her and continued to watch the scene that was unfolding in front of him. Isabel knew that her pleas will be of no use so she finally decided to tell him what he wanted to hear.

" I WILL MARRY CARLISLE DELAVEGA. So please don't do this. That's what you wanted right. Dad I will gladly marry him, just let him go "

She thought her father would finally yield but to her uttermost surprise, her father said indifferently

" Not yet. You pushed me Isabel. Now watch him pay for your stupidity. "

" Oh dad please....ahh"

Isabel fell on her knees and winced in pain. Cedrick saw this and immediately rushes to her and helped her up. She looked really helpless and miserable now. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She felt she couldn't cry anymore but surprisingly more tears gushed down from her eyes. Cedrick looked at her in pity. His heart ached for his sister. He looked at his uncle with pleading eyes. Just when he was about to beg his uncle to stop, he heard his uncle's authoritative voice.

" Stop "

The men stopped at instant and Adrian fell to the cemented floor looking extremely weak. His clothes were now tattered and his body was covered in blood. It was a terrific scene for Isabel. She wept like there was no tommorow. She felt like her heart was been forcibly ripped apart. She tried to free herself from Cedrick's embrace and go to Adrian, but Cedrick felt her actions and tightened his grip on her. Then she saw her father knelling on one knee. Her father then held her chin tightly and forced her to look at Adrian's body. She also heard her father's menacing voice ringing in her ears

" Can you see him now. I only stopped because you agreed to marry Carlisle DelaVega. Remember this Isabel, this is just the beginning. Once you try anything more daring, you would see his lifeless body instead. From henceforth I bann you from meeting him again. Disobey me and you would see my wrath. "

Isabel kept on crying and strugling in Cedrick's arms. She had never seen this ruthless side of her father before and she was truly terrified of it. She saw her father muttering some words to the military men and they nodded but she couldn't hear what he said. All she saw was her father's military men pulling her to the car strongly. She was in extreme despair seeing Adrian on the floor as if he was already dead. They locked the car to prevent her from getting out. Upon knowing what they had done, she banged on the strong window and kept on yelling

" I hate you. I hate you very much. You are inhuman....not worthy enough to be ever called a father. You are really descipable.... I hate you, you monster "