Chapter 99 Smart Of You
ANNA'S POV
I felt my breath stop. In all the time I had known Daniel, I had never seen him look so serious. Whatever he was bringing forth was important. And I couldn't get past the feeling that it was going to break or make me.
I looked back at Isabel, who was looking at Melissa like she could kill her there and then on the spot. Ryan walked over to me, wrapping his arms around me, like he was trying to protect me from whatever was coming. I couldn't help but lean into his touch.
If anyone told me that I was going to have my sister introduce my ex-boyfriend that made me lose my baby as her boyfriend, I would have gone naked and screamed that it was a lie.
But it was happening right before my eyes. Was that how much Isabel hated me? Or was she just pretending to be ignorant? It was also possible that she didn't even know much about what she was doing. She didn't know how much she was breaking me with every single stupid move that she had just taken.
“Please don't waste our time,” Isabel told Daniel. “We don't have all day. Especially if it has something to do with athletics.” I couldn't tell if she was trying to be funny even when the tension that hung in the air was thicker than life itself.
My mom looked like she was breaking, but I couldn't even bring myself to comfort her.
Daniel didn't even glance at Isabel as he walked past her. He was either angry at her for what she did, or there was something else that we didn't know just yet. There was a projector at the top of the little stage that Isabel had arranged.
“Smart of you to actually put up what might be the cause of the end of you.” He said, and I didn't miss the way Isabel frowned.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” She asked, glancing at James like she was more than sure that he had something to do with whatever was causing the end of her.”
“Please, Daniel,” my mom said, with her voice quivering. It was clear that she didn't even have the energy for anything else that was going to break her. She already had enough that evening. “Please, this is a public event. We can't have any more disgraces. Please.”
Daniel didn't even glance at her twice. He got up to the stage, opening the projector as he connected it to his phone.
Every eye was on the white screen where whatever he wanted us to watch was playing. It was clearly a view of the house. Specifically one of the halls, where our rooms were.
Isabel immediately took a step back. “No,” she whispered. I turned to look at her, immediately confused.
There was something about that clip that she didn't want anybody else to see. She immediately hurried to the stage to wrestle with Daniel.
“Please, fucking turn it off!” She screamed.
Daniel was sneering. He looked slightly dark. “Why?” He asked her in an extremely calm voice. Why shouldn't the world see you for exactly who you are?”
I glanced back at the projector film, and I saw Isabel pass as she looked around, like she didn't want to be caught. The hall, where whispers were going round, was suddenly silent. We all wanted to see what was happening. What was going to come next.
She suddenly passed again, with the family heirloom in her hands. She carried it so delicately that it was clear she was scared that she would break it.
My knees buckled immediately. Thankfully, Ryan was there to hold me in place.
“Are you okay?” He asked, and I fought to get air in my lungs. As soon as I felt like I could breathe, I lunged for Isabel, where she was standing on the stage.
Even if she was guilty, Daniel hid her behind himself.
“How dare you!?” I screamed as the tears started to flow. My mind was already wandering. What would have happened if my parents believed her? What if Daniel didn't speak up for me the other day? They would have chased me out of the house like I was nothing.
Where would I have gone? There was no way Mrs. Hayes would have taken me back. Even James and Melissa would have laughed like I was nothing.
The room seemed to spin as all those thoughts ran through my mind.
Daniel finally let Isabel go, but I didn't even have the energy to beat her anymore. She collapsed on the floor, knees first.
My mom took a deep breath, and I found myself holding my breath too. Her chin was held up as she walked towards Isabel.
Isabel suddenly raised her head, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Why did you do it?” My mom asked calmly. Isabel opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. “I'm asking you a question, Isabel.”
“You were paying more attention to her. You gave her the company just because she was your biological daughter. There was nothing fair about it. And I thought that the moment you chase her out of the house, I'll take over the company again. I just wanted…”
My mom raised her hand, as a slap landed on Isabel's cheek. I flinched on her behalf. Isabel clutched to that side of her cheek as she tried to recover.
“But mom…” she started, and another slap landed on her cheek. It was almost like my mom didn't even give a fuck that people were staring.
I made a move to stop my mom from slapping her, but Daniel held me back.
“Let her get what the fuck she deserves for pulling a cheap stunt like this.”
In a way, he wasn't wrong. I was forced to stand in place when my dad walked towards Isabel. I held my breath, thinking that he was going to slap her, but he did no such thing.
Instead, he turned around to look at the crowd. “I apologize for everything that has happened so far this evening, because of the wrong decisions that have been made by my daughter, she will no longer be a part of the family.