Chapter 2 002

• She grabbed a glass cup nearby and threw at him, barely missing his head. "It's over between us."
• " It was long over, you just realized late" she over-heard Sammy as she slammed the door behind her.
• She thought she had the confidence to end things but as she got into her apartment, Isabella slid down the back of the door and let out a loud cry of pain, she realized that her world was caving in. She thought getting assaulted was the worse, but seeing her boyfriend and best friend having sex hurt like hell.
• It felt as though her heart is pierced with a sharp knife. It hurt so bad that her body shook with the intensity of how hurt she is. She hadn't had the time to grieve the end to her three years relationship when her phone rang.
• "Miss. Rodriguez, this is Dr. Henry. Your mom is down with partial stroke and shock, and we are fighting to keep her stable. We urgently need you here, "
• The doctor hadn't finished talking when Ella grabbed her bag, roughly put in some of her clothe, rushed out of her apartment after cleaning the tears from her face as she stopped the nearest taxi and rushed into the hospital.
• The doctor gave her a pitiful look, and it took everything within her to hold in her tears as she listened to the doctor describing every detail of the incident.
• "Calm down, Isabella," he said softly, patting her hand. "Your mom is stable for now. But you have to hurry. She's been in this state for some weeks, and the mild treatments can no longer cut it. We have to perform the surgery as soon as possible."
• She ran a hand through her hair as she let a tear fall across her cheeks. Isabella sniffed as she looked at the doctor with teary eyes. "How... how much will that cost?"
• "As for the things we gave her today, I'll personally take care of half because I've always known your family." Dr. Henry smiled sadly. "Your father was a good man, Ella. He loved and took me like his family. And I can see the same love shining through you. I'll send the cost of everything to your email."
• Ella nodded and began to leave when she heard his final words ringing behind her. "It's going to be a lot, Ella. A lot."
• As she sat in the taxi, she rested her face on the window, watching the roads blur past. Soon, her eyes were laced with tears, threatening to fall. She couldn't show her vulnerability in such an environment. Especially as someone who is the breadwinner of the family.
• Finally walking into the house, she resolved to grab ice cream from the fridge and watch some horror movies before crying herself to sleep. That was until she switched on the light.
• She shrieked in horror. What she saw before her wasn't her brother. It was a figure with a battered face and swollen eyelids. Blood soaked his shirt, and he was sprawled on the floor.
• "Yugo! Yugo, are you okay?" She turned him to see his face clearly, her heart shredded by the bruises and cuts she saw. His black hair was also matted with thick blood. "I'm going to...to call 911, okay? What the fuck is going on?"
• Ella made to grab her phone but Yugo's frail hand was faster and she watched the object get slammed against the wall.
• "What on earth did you just do?"
• Yugo grabbed her shirt, his hold tightening as he spoke with all the energy he could muster.
• "We...we need to run. Not call the police." He stutter, fear evident in his expression and eyes as he spoke. Even as tears fell out of his totally shut eyes, Ella couldn't listen to him.
• "What do you mean? Are you crazy?"
• "I'm fine!" He snapped again. "We just have to leave."
• Yugo managed to stand up, turned around and staggered towards his room, returning with a duffel bag and some money.
• "Where did you get that?" Isabella asked her brother.
• "I believe that belongs to me." A deep voice said behind her.
• They both turned their heads towards the entrance where Ella was pretty sure she'd locked the door before coming in. "How did you get in? Who are you?"
• The speaker stepped into light and just then were they able to see his features. Average height, not too muscular but a little bit buffed with tattoos snaking around his neck to his bald head. His lips twitched just as his eyes narrowed, taking in the two people before him.
• Ella clutched her brother to her side, her heart beating so fast she thought it would implode. She gently took a step backwards, making sure her brother is right behind her.
• "I believe we haven't met, pretty damsel," the man said, smiling and exposing his yellow teeth as two other men appeared from the shadows. "It appears your brother is not the saint you think he is. He works for us, the Corps."
• Now, Ella working in the club has heard stories and seen the news about the Corps so she knows the extent to which they can be cruel. How can her eighteen years old brother work for such ruthless people?
• "That's a lie. I know my brother. He will never mix with the likes of you, " Isabella defended, only to be replied with a scoff.
• "Well, your brother did a bad deal for us. And that deal made us lose about half a million dollars and a seat at the mafia table." He whistled, and his men moved forward, yanking her brother from her despite her screams and pleas which fell on deaf ears.
• "If you want to see your brother, find that money and pay us in three weeks. Otherwise, I'll send your brother's body chopped into pieces to you." The man threatened as he signaled his men to leave.
• With that, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving her frozen and breathless. What the hell just happened? It felt as though the earth had shifted underneath her, and her entire world was crumbling down very fast.