Isabella's pulse raced in her chest as she continued to gaze into Alex's eyes. The terrified child moved slowly by him and dashed down the stairs in pursuit of her mother. She rushed past a group of maids who glanced at her perplexedly as she approached Angelo's office door. She arrived moments later and knocked right away.

Angelo opened the door quickly and with a smile. "What's wrong?" He inquired, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. She wanted to weep out of fury and dread.

"I want to go home." She remarked as she backed away slightly, concerned. He chuckled as he opened his office door further. He moved back to his desk, and she took a timid step inside, then another.

"I don't bite." He informed her when he sensed her hesitancy. "Why must you want to leave so soon?"

Isabella nervously stood in the corner of the room. "I just don't feel comfortable here." To be honest, she was OK until she met Alex; something about him made her want to flee, and she could tell he was up to no good.

He chuckled, "You just got here." She wanted to shout at him, but dread overcame her voice. Angelo seemed nice, yet something about him didn't seem to fit it. He took a deep drag on a cigar he had grabbed from his desk.

"I-I know, but my friends and boyfriend will be really anxious. I literally have no reception in this area, and I really need to go home," she said.

He opened his lips to speak right as the door opened. Her eyes shifted to Alex, who exhibited no compassion. He looked across to his father with a harsh and icy glare.

"Alex, have you met Maria's daughter, Isabella?" he said. Alex smirked as he grabbed Isabella's hand and raised it to his lips. She could swear his tongue brushed across her flesh as he pecked it. She removed her hand from his clutches, which he scowled at.

"How rude, neonata?" he mocked.

"She just told me she needed to get home. Angelo whispered the strange words to his kid as he switched to his computer. Alex glanced at her as if he was arguing in his head.

She stood there awkwardly once again, trying to flee from his intense gaze. "She stayed. This is my sister, after all, right?"

That piqued Angelo's interest, causing him to glance up at his son as if he had just solved the most difficult problem in the world. Isabella hurriedly wiped the tear that had spilled from her eye. "Where's my mother?"

"Maria!" Angelo exclaimed.

Maria entered the room in seconds, her brows furrowed. She turned around and froze as her gaze met Alex's. The woman hurriedly looked down at the floor before approaching her spouse.

"Isabella asked for you," Angelo said softly against her ear. Her focus immediately shifted to her kid. When she noticed Isabella's sadness, she instantly walked over to her.

"Is everything okay?" Maria forced a grin on her face. Isabella's gaze shifted to Alex, who continued to stare at her intensely.

"I want to go home," she said. She observed how her mother paused for a moment before looking across at Alex, then Angelo. He nodded and offered her a wink.

"You don't really have a home anymore, Isabella," her mother explained. Isabella felt like crying at that point. She had entirely forgotten about her father's house, which she had lost. Her heart ached, and the continual state of terror did little to help.

Isabella rushed out of the office and walked towards the front door. A guard stood in front of it, and it appeared that she would not be able to pass through. She stormed up the stairs and back into her room, slamming the door.

She hurled herself against the door, and slid down it, palming her head. Tears began to fall from her eyes, and her sobbing resonated throughout the room. She hoped her father was here to console her like he usually did. She hoped her mother was not such a foolish piece of nothing.

A faint knock at the door could be heard. Isabella immediately dried her tears with her shirt before opening the door. Her mother was there, a sorrowful expression on her face. When Isabella spotted her, she started to lock the door, but her mother had already entered the room.

"Look at Isabella. I understand you're terrified and bewildered, but this was the only way I could persuade him to let you remain." Her mother yelled something out before running her fingers through her hair. She looked down and locked the doorknob.

"What is all of this? Why can't I leave? Who are they? "Why have you brought me here?" Isabella inquired, shedding tears once again. She despised her delicate heart, which constantly felt the need to make her cry over the simplest things.

"It will all make sense shortly. Just remember that Alex is a terrifying man. You are his step-sister; perhaps that would help him not be so nasty." Maria gazed around the room, uncomfortably.

"Be too cruel?" "What are you talking about?"

"Bella, please be polite to your stepbrother. Do what he says. I'm sure you despise me because I despise myself. This will all be for the best, okay?" Maria inquired before proceeding to the door, leaving Isabella perplexed.

"This isn't normal," Isabella mumbled to herself, but her mother overheard.

She offered her another mournful grin before opening the door. "Come on, I'll give you a tour of the place."

Isabella followed her mother out of the room. "This is Alex's floor," her mother said as they went out of the room, before adding, "No one is allowed on this floor, except Alex himself."

"If no one is allowed on this floor, why am I living there? And why are you allowed to be on it?" Isabella inquired as she peered down the hall.

"To give you a tour of it, and you are living there because you are his sister. Plus, this is merely a three-story house; where else would you live? Maria inquired, and Isabella narrowed her eyes at her mother's receding figure.

"I don't know, maybe on one of the two other floors." She mumbled rudely and discreetly. Her mother smiled and kept walking without hearing anything.

"This is Alex's room." Never go inside; it's one of his major pet peeves. Her mother pointed to the door just beside Isabella's. She fought the impulse to roll her eyes at this reality. They continued walking, and her mother showed her the kitchen, lounge area, hot tub, and balcony on the same floor.

"This place is cool," Isabella commented as she gazed about. Her gaze fell on her mother's enormous smile as she bowed her head. Memories of days when she'd smile while perspiration trickled down her skin and her hair was unruly flashed in her mind. Isabella hastily glanced aside.

"I understand. I have to leave now, but if you ever need me, just call out my name and I will be there." Maria informed her before walking down the steps. Valerio, the same guy, stepped upstairs right as her mother descended.

"Hey, I'm sorry for abandoning you like I did earlier. I did not want to scare you. He sent her one of his stunning smiles. She bit her bottom lip as she gave him a phony one and placed her hand on the doorknob of her bedroom, preparing to depart.

"Isabella, isn't it?"

She began chewing on her lip. "Yeah."

"That is a lovely name. I will see you around, and I just wanted to apologize. It might feel tight around here, but things will improve." He informed.

"Thanks." She flashed him a genuine grin this time. His youthful grin looked gorgeous on him, and it complemented his golden hair and sparkling eyes.

"Not a problem. I best go before the boss finds me up here." He chuckled before turning around. He approached the staircase and gave a tiny wave as he proceeded down it.

When she entered her room, her gaze instantly went to her phone, which had no service. She needed to call her boyfriend so he wasn't concerned, even though he should be. Following her father's death, she made it her purpose to complete her education and become all her father desired, making him proud.

Andre, her boyfriend, was present during it all. He made sure she was okay, and he even canceled his plans to attend college early to be there for her.

She missed his warmth and caring. She wasn't sure when she'd see him again, or whether her stepfather or stepbrother would let her. Her mother spoke as if her stepbrother was in charge.

Isabella returned to her closet out of curiosity. She looked over all of the outfits and noted that they were all pretty exposing. Most shirts featured lengthy V-necks, most bottoms would do nothing to hide her butt cheeks, and the dresses seemed to be quite tight and showed off a lot of legs.

She let out a grunt as she proceeded to browse through the closet. Her undergarments were entirely of lace and push-up bras.

Isabella walked away irritated. Her legs led her over to the window, where she gazed out at the forest, the dark trees emitting a peaceful atmosphere. Her gaze shifted to a man crouching behind one of the trees.

He was covered in blood and appeared to have been battered. He had brown hair that was progressively becoming scarlet due to the amount of blood on it. His body was covered with bruises and gashes, and his face looked like black eyes with excruciating scratches.

When his eyes met hers, she crouched down as horror gripped her bones. A loud gunshot could be heard, which piqued her interest. She slowly peeked out the window again, only to see blood around the man, who appeared motionless and drained.

Her heart stopped pounding for a second, and all she could hear was the thumping in her chest. The only thing keeping her alive was her gradual fainting, which was maintained constant by terror.

Those same tormented blue eyes flared within hers, as a sneer spread over his face. He held a revolver in his palm and flicked his tongue across his mouth almost in slow motion.

She instantly glanced aside, breaking out of the hypnosis he had put her in. Her hand rose to her chest as she took in large amounts of breath. She just realized he shot that poor battered guy, and she witnessed it.

She quickly grabbed her phone and dashed to unlock the door. She dashed down the steps, and just as she was about to reach the front door, she was seized by her slim waist. A warm breath could be felt at the back of her neck, and the sensation of a rifle being put on her side was noticeable.

"And where do you think you are going, neonata?"

- ❧ -