Chapter 203 Book 5: Pursuing Her To London

Chapter 203 Book 5: Pursuing Her To London
“Thanks a lot, uncle William, but I haven’t come to live here forever. I just wanted to see my family, that’s all. Now that I’ve met you, I’ll return to my country,” she told him with a smile. She didn’t want to give him the false notion that she was here for the money.
“How old are you?” asked her uncle, giving her a thoughtful glance as he opened a drawer and flicked through its contents,
“Eighteen,” she informed him.
“Have you enrolled in a college?” he asked with concern.
“Yes, I was majoring in English Creative Writing,” she informed him.
“How will you bear the expenses of your education?” he asked with concern. Isabella looked down at her hands. She had not thought about that yet.
“I’ll take up a job somewhere,” she shrugged, but her uncle shook his head.
“You don’t need to. Your grandfather had divided his wealth among his two sons. I have taken mine, but since Norman is no more, his share should go to you,” said her uncle. Isabella’s eyes widened with disbelief. She did not know how much he was offering her and felt too scared to ask lest he thought of her as a gold digger.
“Oh,” she said, waiting for her uncle to speak.
“I have two daughters and two sons. Right now, they are spending their Christmas holidays with their mom at their grandparents’ house,” he informed with a smile. “They’ll come back soon and you’ll love it here with them,” he told her.
“No, uncle. I don’t want to impose,” she said hesitantly.
“This house is yours as well. You wouldn’t be imposing at all,” he insisted. Isabella didn’t want to depend on anyone. She wanted to live alone in LA, where she wouldn’t be answerable to anyone. This mansion looked like a prison and she had no wish to live with her unknown cousins and aunt.
“Please, uncle, I don’t want to stay here,” she told him.
“In that case, give me your bank details and I’ll transfer the money into your account,” he insisted, but Isabella shook her head.
“I don’t have any bank account.”
“In that case, I’ll create an account for you and transfer your money into it. Okay?” She nodded. “But it’ll take a day’s time.”
“Okay.”
“You can stay here till then,” said her uncle.
In New York, on the other hand, everyone was geared up and ready to attend Hudson and Anna Sophia’s wedding. They went to the chapel where the wedding ceremony would take place. Weston, although very disturbed, performed his responsibilities to the best of his abilities. He didn’t allow his mental state to affect the tasks at hand. After the wedding, Hudson and Anna Sophia went to her house where the reception was to be hosted. Thankfully, the Hartford family hadn’t attended the wedding ceremony or the reception. Gordon and his parents were very concerned, but they couldn’t help them in any way. The whole family was leaving permanently for Massachusetts since Gordon had found a good internship and wanted to settle down there.
Weston didn’t interact with Gordon or anyone else much. He was too worried about Isabella and couldn’t wait for the reception party to end so that he would be free to go to London to look for Isabella. He breathed a sigh of relief after he could deliver his best man's speech without wavering or breaking down. His dad smiled at him appreciatively and his mom leaned towards him.
“I’m proud of the way you stood by your brother, Wes,” she said. She looked at him with concern. He seemed to have matured and grown overnight. Life had taught him the biggest lesson of his life: never take anything or anyone for granted.
Weston finished his food and quietly watched everyone dancing together and celebrating. He wished he could also do the same with Isabella. After confessing his feelings for her, he had been looking forward to spending more time with her. He was going to announce their relationship after breaking off with Fiona.
“Are you okay?” asked his mom, coming to sit with him, and Weston nodded.
“I’ll be going to London tonight, mom,” said Weston but His mom shook her head.
“No, Wes. I can’t let you go alone knowing how hot-headed you are.”
“I promise I’ll not lose my temper. I have to go. Can’t you see it? I can’t lose Isabella again,” he pleaded earnestly, while his mom gave his dad a pleading look.
“In that case, I’ll come with you, Wes,” said his dad, standing behind him. How long he’d been standing there listening to their discussion, Weston did not know.
“Dad, I swear I can do this alone. It might take longer and you’d be in a hurry to return to mom,” reasoned Weston.
“Your mom will stay here with Hudson and Sophia. They’ve canceled their honeymoon. I won’t be in any sort of hurry to return,” said his dad.
“Yes, I’ll be fine here. If you don’t allow your dad to accompany you, then I’m sorry. I can’t let you go, Weston,” said his mom, and Weston groaned but agreed.
“Fine then. Can I get the tickets?” he asked impatiently and his parents nodded.
The reception party was finally over, and they all returned to their apartment. Weston and his dad packed up to leave. His mom would shift to Hudson’s apartment till they returned.
It was midnight by the time they boarded their flight to London. After an exhausting day, his dad slept throughout the seven-hour-long flight, but Weston couldn’t get a wink of sleep. He knew Isabella had very little money with her and wondered how she was even surviving.
It was noon by the time they reached London, which was 5 hours ahead of New York. They booked into a decent hotel and freshened up. “Should we go to the police?” Weston asked his dad, but he shook his head.
“No, that wouldn’t help, as we don’t have any proof why she fled from us. The police would only suspect our motives,” said his dad. “Let’s hire a PI.”
So Weston searched on his mobile and finally found a good PI nearby. The ratings and reviews were good, so his dad too agreed to consult Mason Fordham, the PI. His office was within walking distance of their hotel and they could easily locate it. Mason Fordham seemed to be a very professional, down-to-earth man who was dedicated to his job. He extended his full cooperation and promised to help them. After furnishing him with the details, they returned to the hotel and waited for his call. Weston couldn’t concentrate on anything much. If he were alone, he would have gone searching for her himself, but his dad made him return with him to the hotel and just wait for an update from the PI. He impatiently paced in the living room, feeling too frustrated to do anything else.
“Weston, have you ordered lunch?” asked his dad with concern.
“I’m not hungry dad, I’ll order something for you,” said Weston half-heartedly.
“This will take a long time, son. How many days will you go hungry?” asked his dad. Weston was quiet, all the fight already leaving his body.
“You really love Isabella a lot, don’t you?” he asked his son, feeling guilty for separating them. The sudden question shocked Weston. He had never expected his dad to understand his feelings for Isabella.
“Yes, dad. I’ll die without her,” he said in a small voice. His dad looked deep in thought.
“What about Isabella?” he asked, although he knew the answer by now.
“She loves me back. We can’t live without one another,” he mumbled softly, his throat choking with emotions. He hadn’t expected his dad to ask him that, ever.
“I can see that. I really think all this wouldn’t have happened if I had decided before,” said his dad.
“About what, dad?” asked Weston, looking confused.
“The decision of giving you two the permission to marry. I’m freeing you, son. When we find Isabella, you both have my blessings to get married and start a life together.” Weston’s eyes filled with tears that he couldn’t control anymore. They cascaded down his cheeks.
“Thanks, dad but it’s too late. She’s gone. What if we don’t find her?” he asked as he sobbed brokenly like a child. His dad was grave, as he had no words to console his son. This was the first time he had seen him so broken-hearted.
“We will find her. Maybe not today, but eventually we will find her. Have faith in God and pray every day, son. There’s a lot of power in prayers. God listens to those who are true and pure. I’m sure he will listen to you,” said his dad. Weston nodded.
“Yes, dad, I will,” he promised.
“Never give up hope,” he told his son. They ordered lunch and after eating, called up his mom and updated her. Later, they were just watching the TV, waiting for some update from the PI, when he paid them a visit.
“Any updates, Mr. Fordham?” asked his dad after the pleasantries were over.
“Not much, but the hotel receptionist of Premier Inn, near Heathrow Airport, has recognized the photograph of this girl,” he informed them. They were too excited by the news. So there was hope that they could track her soon.