Chapter 6

• ISABELLA'S POV
• “Tycoon’s Bastard Daughter Seduces Fiancé Away from Legitimate Heir! Just Like Her Whorish Mother.”
• My eyes widened at the message, my breath hitched, my heart pounding and I tried to steady myself as the phrase “Whorish Mother” danced around my head. An icy weight settled on my chest.
• I never, I don't even know her or recognize her. But one thing Tina always made sure you reminded me of my mother was that she was a whore.
• It had been so long since I heard that word since anyone had associated me with that word. As a child, I would always get looks of disgust from adults, even my teachers, just because they had claimed my mum whored her way to have me.
• It had tormented me all my life, even in high school; I can still remember the hushed whispers when I walked down the hallways, the pointed fingers, and the Teacher's stares that were thinly laced with disgust. Friends, I didn't have any just labels that stuck through the years.
• I could feel Shaun's concern as he tried to steady me with his hands. I flinched so fast like I was scalded with hot iron. His eyes softened briefly like he was trying to reach out, but then again, they became cold and distant.
• Maybe I had imagined the look. He couldn't care less about me, I was a stain to his perfectly built World, a stain to everyone's world and the type of woman he loathed.
• We shared an uncomfortable silence before I sprinted towards the room that was now strangely mine. I dragged myself to the bed, collapsing into it and allowing my thoughts and exhaustion to swallow me whole.
• Tears spilt over me before I could stop them, hot and suddenly burning my cold cheeks. I let out a soft, helpless wail; the tears came fast and unstoppable. I sobbed with each aching in my insides.
• Before long, I was asleep but this peace didn't last long. A call from my father jolted me awake. His voice thundered but firm layered with the familiar authority I have always known.
• “Just because you are now engaged doesn't mean you can escape responsibility to your family. Work is waiting, and I expect you to be there.” He instructed.
• “Yes, Father,” I faintly replied before hanging up the call. I didn't want to hear what else he had to say. I wasn't having that. I cannot even have a moment of peace because of the damned family. I bet he would not call Tina or Camilla to show up to work like he just did to me on any day.
• I quickly took a bath, slipped into some clothes and headed out. I noticed Shaun was nowhere in sight. He had probably gone to work.
• The thought of Shaun made my insides tussle; if there was another word for hate, maybe it could describe what I have for him. He was the proud sole heir to the Whitmores empire, and he couldn't care less not to flaunt it in anybody's face who dared to challenge him.
• The blogs and celebrity media gossip called him the most eligible devil bachelor; he never spared anyone any look, even women. Everyone he looked at seemed to be beneath him. Although there are rumours he had a secret relationship with a popular billionaire actress in the United States when he was in school. But that was all anyone knew.
• I exhaled, wondering how I ended up with such bad luck getting married to him.
• Soon enough, I arrived at my father's company and made my way to his office. I could hear the faint whispers as I walked on.
• They were talking about me, and I knew they were; I sauntered confidently towards the elevator when a remark caught my ear.
• “How can she work so confidently after taking what belonged to her sister, she has no shame such a whore”
• My jaw tightened as I clenched my fist around my bag, nails digging into my palm and my breath itched. I turned on my heels and walked towards the group of three girls slowly and deliberately, the clicking of my heels echoing through the hallway.
• Each step I took felt heavier than the last, calculated and sharp.
• “Can you repeat what you just said?” my voice low and sharp?
• Their eyes widened; they trembled under my gaze, their eyes darting like caught prey. I smiled wildly. I was enjoying their reaction.
• They couldn't have thought I would confront them. Old Isabella would have run away with her head bowed instead in shame, but not today, that Isabella is gone.
• “I hope you are not looking to lose your job” I added, letting the thread of threat hang in the air.
• They shrank beneath my gaze, avoiding eye contact with me.
• “We-we didn't say anything.” One of them finally replied.
• “That better be it,” I smirked, giving them a once-over before turning And walking away.
• I giggled at myself, it felt good to be able to defend myself without the fear of the implications.
• …….
• The day passed uneventfully, except for the father throwing his usual complaints and murmuring about me to me. I didn't offer an answer, let alone an apology, and that seemed to trigger him through more. I didn't care or give a damn anymore.
• Despite Shaun's instinct that my stuff would be picked up later, I followed my father's car home to pick up things that no one would have been able to find. I needed to collect my personal things and, more importantly, a car. Even if I was illegitimate I had needs.
• By the time I was home, it was quiet just the way I wanted it to be. I didn't want any attention or collision with Tina and Camilla. I headed straight to my room, It was tucked away in the corner of the mansion anyway.
• I opened my wardrobe and reached out for my private parcel I knew no one could access. There behind the false panel was my antique paintbrush, my paint supplies And antique jewellery that was allegedly passed down to me from my mother.
• The rest of my belongings seemed to have been cleared out earlier today.
• I was just about to leave when I bumped into Camilla outside. Her eyes narrowed as she gave me a once-over slowly. Her gaze sliced through me slowly. Cold and calculating with lips turning into a smirk as if savouring my inexistent pain.
• “I hope you are happy now, sister,” she said scornfully, her tone higher when pronouncing the word sister.
• I shrugged, walking further, I didn't sign up to deal with her silly ass today and I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction old-me would have.
• “I am talking to you. Where are you going?” she pulled me back forcefully. Damn, I didn't know she had become feisty.
• I kept my cool.
• “Don't worry Shaun will see through you soon and he will dump you when he figures out the type of person you are.”
• I rolled my eyes, “There's nothing he is going to see through me, so give Up and stop parading yourself as a pathetic loser,” I rushed out. My response was sharp. My heart thumped faster; I was shocked at my own reply; I had never retorted before. I always took them in and turned them away.
• Her face twisted with rage, her nostrils flaring and eyes blazing like a wildfire. “You think you’ve won. But this? All of this? You’ll regret it.”
• We went back and forth, the air between us thick and gray, until she raised her hand to hit me.
• I gasped. Turning my face away, expecting a slap to land on my face, but nothing came. I slowly raised up my head to find Shaun, who appeared from nowhere, grabbing her wrist.