76. Regret!
Author's POV
Isabella was sitting alone, looking at Jackson who was talking to Rose. She wasn't jealous, she was just feeling sad.
Damian sat beside her with two glasses of juice in his hands.
"Hmm!"
He handed her one.
She took it and forced a smile at him.
"Jealous?"
He teased her.
"I also feel that whenever he talks to Rose knowing that he once had feelings for her."
Isabella swirled the juice with straw, staring at it blankly.
"Jealousy has died years ago, now I just feel sad that I can never get his love... His heart will always be with Rose... Whenever he looks at me with those deep eyes, it feels like he is seeing Rose in me."
She sighed.
"I know I have fucked many times, I have done uncountable mistakes and some of them are unforgiven but I tried to change myself. At some point I was victim too. And I swear, I hid about Steven because I thought it was my another mistake which no one will accept... I thought I would snatch Jackson's freedom by revealing it. He was drunk that night and I didn't want him to regret that one night which he has given me unknowingly... I wanted to cherish that moment. It was mine!"
"Have you ever tried to tell him that you see Rose in his eyes and not yourself. Maybe you are wrong, maybe he wants you and not Rose anymore... Assumptions can be damaging... You don't talk to him thinking he is still not over Rose and he doesn't talk to you thinking you misunderstand him every time..."
He patted her head.
"Isabella, Steven is twenty four now... You kept him without father for eighteen years. Jackson deserve to be upset. But it's a high time that you forget about it and accept eachother with open arms. Steven deserves it! You still have a time, think about it."
Arabella was sitting silently at the garden table, watching decorators who were doing their work. She could feel two pairs of eyes watching her but she ignored them.
"We are fucked!"
Arthur looked at Oliver.
"I have fucked more than you."
Oliver rubbed his forehead.
"Bro, I was really out of my mind... I don't know what happened to me when she said that she doesn't love me... When I came back to my senses, everything was fucked... But to be honest, I just wanted her to confess because I knew that she had feelings too."
"We were selfish, Oliver... She is right, we didn't try to understand her. We have to wrap up the mess we have created."
Arthur shook his head disappointed.
"Agree! But somehow I am relieved and happy that she loved us... It wasn't fake..."
He grinned.
Arthur scowled at him.
"Don't show this grin in front of her, she will break your teeth."
Oliver stopped grinning.
"Now what? I have to do something... I have hurt her really bad... I am going to talk her."
He got up and started walking towards her.
Arabella looked up at him with her pointed look, he turned back and sat beside Arthur again.
"Bro, she is scaring me."
He complained.
Arthur scowled at him.
"Why do you think I am not getting up from my place?"
Arabella saw them discussing something and frowned, she has never seen them talking to eachother even for a business deal.
Julie sat beside Arabella and quietly handed her the tab.
"Everything about him."
Arabella looked at the screen which had Egon's information.
"Why in the middle of the forest?"
Arabella looked at the picture of his castle which was in the middle of the forest, it was a huge and black in aesthetic.
"He is mysterious... Our drones stopped working when they went to close his castle but I have recorded some screaming sounds. I swear, something creepy is going on in there."
Julie explained.
"He is creepy... I have met him."
Arabella confirmed but he doesn't let anyone scream.
"Says that it relieves pain and he doesn't want to give that pleasure to his preys. I wonder who has got the privilege to scream in his presence?"
"Dude, it's giving me chills."
Julie gulped.
"We have to find his weakness, Julie... Something which will keep his hands tied and he won't help Rancho or mess with Knights."
Arabella tried to find something in images captured by Julie.
"There must be something or someone!"
"I'll dig in more but I am really terrified, Arabella... This man is a real psycho... I have seen piles of skeletons in his backyard... It's giving me chills."
Julie sounded worried.
"I doubt a man like him will have any weakness. Can't you kill him? I am sure you can if you plan."
Arabella stared at Egon's picture.
"I can't! Let's not debate about it..."
Julie frowned when Arabella handed her tab back and walked away.
"What happened to her?"
"Hey, Arabella!"
Steven approached her and she looked at him.
"If you don't mind then can you be my dance partner tonight?... You are walking so I guess injuries are not serious but only if you say yes."
Arabella thought for a second and looked at Knight brothers who were talking to eachother.
"I don't mind..."
Steven grinned.
"Great!"
It was a small party in the mansion's garden, only close people were invited. Everyone was wearing nice clothes.
Arabella came out in blue gown which she had in her costume bag. It was matching the colour of the night and was hugging her curves perfectly.
Brothers were just lost in her beauty.
Julie was wearing long green gown and was talking to one of the male guard.
"Dance?"
He asked with a smile.
Julie was about to give her hand to him but Noah snatched it back.
"I think you should try somewhere else."
He glared at the man and he walked away. Noah turned Julie around madly.
"Are you fucking out of your mind? Don't you have a common sense to whom you should entertain?"
Julie scowled.
"What's your problem, uncle?... Can't you mind your own business?"
Noah looked around and dragged away from the crowd.
"What the hell are you doing?"
She groaned when he caged her against the tree.
"How many times have I told you to stay away away from these men? They are criminals!"
He scolded her.
"Says who?"
She mocked.
"Stop acting like my daddy!"
Noah smirked.
"Trust me I am not acting, baby."
Julie gulped nervously as he was too close to her face.
"I need to go!"
She tried to push him away but he was like a rock.
"Don't go near any man!"
He warned.
She pushed him away.
"Or what?"
Noah grabbed her arm and pulled her back when she tried to walk away. Julie gasped when he slammed her against the tree and captured her lips in deep kiss.
Meanwhile Knight brothers were literally in flames when they saw Arabella dancing with Steven. They both are good dancers and were in sink.
"They look so good together."
Isabella smiled and it fuelled their jealousy.
"This boy___"
Oliver gritted when Steven placed his hand on her waist.
Arthur ended the song and their dance. Arabella got off the stage and frowned when Oliver joined Arthur on the stage.
She had a feeling that they are upto something but when they opened their mouths, she was stunned.