Isabella~
"Bella, please listen to me: don't let your emotions overpower you." Xavier trailed behind me, trying to convince me to reconsider my decision.
"Do you think I am overemotional?" I spun around to face him, my voice shaking. I didn't expect him to accuse me of being overly emotional just because I wanted to reopen Laila's case and bring justice for her.
"Bella, you are upset now. Please calm down first, and then we will discuss it," he pleaded, his tone soft yet firm. But I could sense the underlying frustration in his words.
"I didn't want to hear anything from him right now." My frustration boiled over as I shut the door to my room, keeping him out. Tears stung my eyes as I leaned against the door, but I refused to cry. How could he do this to me? I never expected him to hide such a big truth from me. His silence felt like a betrayal.
He hadn't told me anything about Dixie and Lincon's divorce, even though I had asked him repeatedly about his strange behavior. And now, Jordan Lucas had unleashed his latest plan, creating chaos in our lives once again. I knew this was another one of his twisted games, an attempt to stop us from reopening Laila's case. But this time, I refused to let him win.
I paced the room, my heart pounding. I grabbed my laptop and started reviewing Laila's case history, diving into every detail. The memories of her tragic death replayed in my mind, each one fueling my determination. I glanced at the engagement ring on my finger and hesitated.
How many times would my fight for justice threaten the fragile unity of this family? Every step I took to bring the Thompson family back together seemed to push us further apart. I knew Dad's reaction would be devastating once he found out about Dixie and Lincon—and even worse when he discovered we were reopening Laila's case.
I clenched my fists, steeling my resolve. No matter the consequences, I couldn't back down. I quickly showered and changed into my lawyer's attire. If I was going to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, I needed to stay focused.
"Bella, where are you going so early in the morning?" Victor's startled expression greeted me as I walked into the dining room, dressed in formal attire. "At least take a break from work since you got engaged to Xavier last night."
Dad gave me a perplexed look as he sipped his coffee, his expression shifting from concern to curiosity. Before I could respond, my gaze flicked to Xavier, who sat silently in his tracksuit, avoiding my eyes. He had made his stance clear—he wasn't coming with me.
I sighed heavily, disappointment settling in my chest. Taking a deep breath, I finally decided to address the elephant in the room. "I have something to tell you, Dad," I began, my voice trembling slightly.
Dad's face turned serious. "Bella, is everything okay?"
"Yes, Dad, everything is fine; actually, Bella wanted to ask you about our wedding date." Xavier cut in abruptly before I could continue. My eyes snapped to his face in shock. Why was he trying to divert the conversation? His deep blue eyes met mine, silently pleading with me not to say anything.
"Do you want to ask this question, Bella?" Dad's sharp gaze shifted to me.
I shook my head. "No, Dad. I have another important message to share with you."
"Bella, have you met Dad's best friend, Bosco? Last night, he was an amazing man, you know." Xavier interrupted again, his nervous chatter making my blood boil.
"Stop it, Xavier!" I snapped, my voice rising. "We can't fool him for long. He's not a gullible five-year-old."
Dad's brows furrowed as he watched our exchange. "Can you please stop fighting and tell me what's the matter?" he said, his authoritative tone silencing us.
I took a deep breath, knowing there was no turning back now. "Dad, Lincon, and Dixie are preparing for their divorce." The words hung heavy in the air, and I braced myself for his reaction.
"What?" Dad's brow furrowed deeper, disbelief etched across his face. "How could they have made such a significant choice without telling any of us?"
Victor looked equally shocked, his fork frozen mid-air. "This doesn't make sense. There has to be a reason behind this," he said.
"Dad, I already decided to reopen Laila's case," I added, unable to hold back any longer. "We've located Jonathan, and he's currently in US police custody. This is the perfect opportunity to start the investigation."
Dad's eyes widened. "What?"
"Yes, Dad. I traveled to Italy to find Jonathan," I explained, my voice steady despite my racing heart.
"I'm disappointed in you, Bella," Dad said after a long pause. His words cut deep, but I refused to falter. "You lied to me. But we'll discuss this later. First, we need to focus on Lincon and Dixie."
Xavier shook his head. "Bella, Laila's case isn't the priority right now. Lincon and Dixie need us more." His tone was calm, but his words only fueled my frustration.
"How can you say that, Xavier?" I snapped. "You promised to help me with this case. Why are you backing out now?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Bella, I don't want to defy Dad. Can't you see how much stress he's already under?"
His words stung. "So you're just going to let Jordan Lucas win again?"
"I'm trying to protect our family, Bella," he said quietly.
His lack of support felt like a betrayal. I turned to Dad. "I'm sorry if this hurts you, Dad, but I made a promise to Uncle Jorawar, and I intend to keep it."
Dad's expression hardened. "Will you proceed with Laila's case against my wishes, Bella?"
The weight of his words pressed down on me. "Dad, I love you, but I can't abandon this case. I owe it to Laila." My voice wavered, but I stood firm.
"Okay, I respect your choice," Dad said finally, his tone heavy with disappointment. "But don't expect my support."
His words stung, but I nodded, knowing I couldn't back down now. Before leaving the house, I turned to Xavier one last time. "Will you come with me?"
He hesitated, then shook his head. "I can't, Bella. I'm sorry."
I searched his face for a hint of regret or understanding, but all I saw was fear—fear of Jordan Lucas, fear of the consequences.
My chest tightened as I realized I was on my own. Xavier had been my rock, my partner in this fight. But now, without his support, I felt unmoored. Still, I couldn't let that stop me. I had made a promise, and I would see it through, no matter the cost.