Chapter 17 Why Are You Here, Isa?
Isabella's hands squeezed a paper so tight that the edges crumbled, her eyes widening as she read the word written on it...
'Do as I say and I will help you and your sister escape.'
Isabella had woken up earlier than Daisy, and decided to take a quiet stroll through the halls, to at least get familiarized with the place she was living in.
She had not expected to find a paper peeking in, from under their bedroom door.
Curious, she picked it up thinking it was just a rough paper when she read the contents her eyes widened.
Her breath caught in her throat as she opened the door, scanning the hallway left and right, then left again but she didn't find a trace of anybody then she closed the door.
She held the paper in one hand, her other hand placed on her hips while she tapped her door gently on the floor.
She was debating what she should do with the paper.
Should she trust it or just ignore it.
After a whole long minute, she huffed in frustration and just squashed it under the bed.
She wasn't going to let a single paper ruin her morning. If the words on it were genuine, the person who had written it should have dropped more contents not just a simple sentence.
What was she going to do with...
'Do as I say and I will help you and your sister escape.'
The fuck!
She sighed after ducking the letter, ran a hand through her hair and headed to the bathroom, not to bathe but to cleanse her face.
After she was done, some water still trickled down her jaw as she looked into the mirror, deciding she decided to head to Nikolai's office.
She was done holding and struggling against him. The more time she proved stubborn, the more time she spends in this mansion..
So she was done resisting Nikolai.
Today, she would submit to him. She would go on her knees, if that was what it took and beg him to take her even if it was only a pretence.
At least Daisy will be protected.
She walked out, the route to his office was still in her head.
She made some left turns, climbed a flight of stairs and soon reached his office doors.
Weirdly, the mansion was still quiet.
She placed her hands on the mahogany door and knocked twice.
She waited. No response.
She bit down on her lower lips, her pulse racing as her brain second- guessing her decision.
What if this was a mistake? What if he laughed like he did before, what if he....
She shook her head sharply, her hair whipping across her shoulders.
She had already made a decision and she was going to stick with it. Backing out now, wouldn't change a thing.
She was helpless and physically weak as she's surrounded with hefty men.
She had to submit to find some leverage against him.
And that paper...
She shook her head and knocked again. This time harder and louder.
Yet again, no response.
A frustrated breath hissed through her teeth. She gripped the door knob and twisted the door open.
It wasn't locked, her face scrunched in bewilderment. She has expected the door to be locked?
She walked in, her eyes landed on Nikolai.
He was slumped back on his high- swivel chair. His body was rigid, veins bulging out of his neck. Deep guttural grunts escaped from his throat with every ragged breath he let out, low growls grumbling like an animal in pain.
Sweat glistened on his face, a bead slightly down the bridge of his nose.
Beads of sweat had formed on his nose, blood trickled from his temple.
A thin of blood traced from his temple, stark red contrasting with his olive skin.
His eyes were blood shot red, his lips pulled back in grimace, the corner torn and bleeding.
He raised his head looking to see who and entered his office without permission.
His eyes clashed with Isabella's
She was frozen a few steps inside from the door.
The air felt thick and heavy with the sharp tang of blood and sweat that wafted into her nostrils and made her stomach twist.
Her heart stuttered, breath catching in her throat.
Nikolai was hurt. Really hurt.
She could see and hear it from his actions. The blood that streaked down his face from his temple and the way his knuckled had turned white from how his hand gripped the armrest like he was holding himself together with force.
She didn't mean to move. She had come to submit herself as advised by Natalya. But her body betrayed her before she could stop it.
Her feet carried her until she was close enough to feel his body heat.
Her hands lifted to touch his face.
Why did she even walk further?
She's supposed to let him be, right?
"Nikolai..." The word slipped out from her mouth filled with concern.
Something hammered at her chest.
Worry? Fear? She didn't know and she wasn't going to dwell on it.
Her eyes locked down to see his hand holding his belly.
Blood!
Blood was spilling from his stomach.
Her stomach twisted harder.
Was he stabbed?
She looked up at him but he didn't say anything, instead he just stared at her, a low sound rumbling in his chest.
It didn't sound human. It was loud and heavy that it grabbed Isabella by her bones.
She swallowed hard, her throat dry as she looked at his stomach bleeding into his shirt again.
He was badly injured.
She had to do something. She was not a heartless person like Nikolai.
She turned, heading to go look for somebody.
But a hand caught her wrist just as she took a step and stopped her from moving further.
His grib was hot, slick with his
blood.
"Why are you here, Isa?" He asked, his tone low and rough.