***POV NOAH***
I slammed the bathroom door in anger, but it was better to isolate myself here than to be near Isabela and say something stupid that would hurt her.
Unfortunately, I'm like that. When I get angry, I can't control myself. Knowing myself as I do, I know that I would end up saying something that would hurt her.
And before I make her suffer, I'd rather die.
I heard the bedroom door close, a sign that she had left to talk to that bastard.
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
“FUCK!” I cursed.
I hate knowing that right now, my Isabella is downstairs in the company of that man. I hate that she's trying to deprive me of getting involved.
I pace back and forth in the bathroom, trying to calm myself down so I don't do anything crazy.
I open the drawer of the bathroom cabinet and take out a new towel. I dry off and leave the bathroom, wrapping the towel around my waist. I look for my clothes in the bedroom and find them on the armchair. I put on the underpants and jeans I wore last night. I run my hands through my hair, messing it up.
I take a deep breath and look at the bedroom door.
Will Isabela be able to deal with that man on her own? Yesterday wasn't easy... I saw the purple and red marks on her arm.
You know what? What the hell! I'll at least spy on the situation, I can't stay here without knowing what's going on with her.
I left the room and walked down the corridor until I reached the top of the stairs. There, I could already hear the altered voices.
"Let go of me," I heard Isabela's voice. I became alert and went down the first step of the staircase.
"What if I don't want to?" The bastard asked, laughing.
I'm sorry, Isabela, but I don't have the patience to watch a man mistreat a woman in front of me and do nothing.
Before I knew it, I had run down the stairs quickly. They hadn't seen me yet. But I could see the bastard with his back to me, grabbing my Isabella's arm.
My blood boiled!
“She told you to let go!” I decided to speak, drawing both of their attention.
Daniel released my woman and slowly turned to face me.
“Who are you? What are you doing in my house?” Daniel asked.
“You don't want to know me if you keep bothering Isabela,” I crossed my arms over my bare chest. My eyes were fixed on the man. He wasn't even man enough to hold my gaze.
Daniel looked away from me toward Isabela, alternating his gaze for a few moments without saying anything.
He started laughing, which made me even more irritated.
“Is it serious, Isabela?” He turned to the woman I was avoiding looking at, so I wouldn't meet her furious gaze directed at me. “Is this the guy you're seeing? Is he the one screwing you?” He raised his voice, and I took another step toward them.
I'm going to lose my clean record today.
“Daniel,” her voice was low, almost inaudible, making me look up to meet her tear-filled eyes. She swallowed with difficulty. “Leave.” She pleaded.
“You want me to leave so you can be with this scumbag? How old is he? Damn, you could be his mother! Look at yourself, Isabela. I don't know you anymore!”
“If you yell at her one more time, I swear I'll...”
I couldn't finish speaking because he interrupted me.
“What are you going to do?” He opened his arms. m”You're acting like a slut,” he grabbed Isabela's arm again.
My self-control went to hell, and with three precise steps, I approached them. I pushed the man and landed a punch on his face. The punch was strong, and I'm almost certain I broke his nose; blood was flowing profusely.
“Noah!” Isabela shouted in alarm, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me back.
“Get up, Daniel.” I heard Isabela's friend speaking to the bastard. I don't even know when he showed up.
Daniel wiped the back of his hand across his face and stared at the blood.
“You'll regret that punch,” he threatened, getting up with Alex's help.
“I'm not afraid,” I tried to approach again, but Isabela dug her nails into my arm. “And I want to warn you to leave Isabela alone.”
“Only after I die…” he looked me in the eyes for the first time.
“Then I'll make sure to resolve that.”
“Noah,” Isabela called my attention, but I kept staring at the man in front of me.
“Are you threatening me?” Daniel asked.
“Interpret it however you want.”
“Leave, Daniel,” Alex pleaded.
“Shut up, I never liked you,” he said, pushing Isa's friend away. “Know this, Isabela, from now on, I'm going to make your useless life a living hell. My daughter will know about your little fling…” he spoke with disdain. “To have found another one so quickly makes me think you cheated on me with him, right?”
“I never cheated on you,” she defended himself with a faltering voice.
I didn't recognize her in the presence of this man. She didn't seem like the strong and courageous woman I knew. She seemed cornered, without attitude, scared, submissive…
“Shut up.”
I lost control of my actions and gave him a strong push, followed by five more, until he left the house. I closed the door behind me, looking at the man lying on the floor. I bent down next to him, slapped him twice across the face and held his hair, making him look me in the eye.
"Stay away from Isabela," I told him. "If I find out you're bothering her, I'll break up with you. And you should know that I'm not afraid to break up with you," I threatened.
I stood up, looked at the man on the floor, turned my back and walked into the house.
I took a deep breath and looked at Isabela. She was sitting on the sofa, crying, and Alex was next to her, trying to console her.
I approached them and motioned for Alex to leave us alone. He let me.
I waited for him to pass through the corridors and knelt down in front of him, holding his hands. She looked up and found me.
"You shouldn't have come down." His voice was low and hoarse.
"I heard you asking him to let you go; he was hurting you."
"I know how to defend myself."
"I saw how you reacted in front of that man, Isabela. You didn't look like the one I know; you didn't look like the woman I fell in love with. You were cowering, afraid; you seemed submissive to him and his desires. He cursed you, shouted at you and you put your head down. Why on earth?"
I was furious about it.
"You don't understand..." she said, lowering her head once again.
"Make me understand," I asked, holding her face so she could look me in the eye.