Filed to story: Dumped by Scumbag Adored by Billionaire
Isabella’s mind began to function a mile per minute as she assessed her brain. When had Niles put a tracker in her? When was the last time she had a dental appointment? How hasn’t she noticed? She couldn’t remember having dental surgery? It seems her father was always one step ahead of her.
“Of course, I’m pulling your leg,” Niles smiled at her and for once, Isabella pulled a relived breath, her heart pounding against her chest. That wasn’t funny one bit.
But was that really a joke? She couldn’t help but wonder. Niles was a nut job, it wouldn’t startle her if he really went through it. Seems she had no choice but to check it when she returns. It always pays to be careful.
“I don’t need to track you down to know that the only place you would hide is Maria’s place where Eden would never think of. Moreover, I own the building. What makes you think I wouldn’t notice someone moved in no matter how much you bribed my security,” He said to her.
“I wasn’t bribing him, I simply…. ” She scratched the back of her head, “You know, helped out in looking after Maria’s place. You’re not the only one who has a special tether to the building,” Isabella couldn’t even believe her own lie.
“Anyway,” Niles waved it aside, “Pack your bag, we’re leaving,” he dropped the not so welcomed news.
“What?!” Isabella paled. No, this was what she dreaded. He can’t just take her away from the others, they were in this together.
“I meant all of you,” Niles added as if he read her inner turmoil.
Everyone’s jaw dropped, they weren’t expecting this. In the worst scenario, they imagined all of their parent’s coming to take them one after the other.
“Unless of course, you want Eden to do the job, and trust me, he’s not as enthusiastic as I am right now,” Niles checked his wristwatch, “You have less than thirty minutes before he blocks all possible routes in and out of here,”
Isabella was furious, “You told him about our location?! I can’t believe you”.
“I didn’t need to do anything after your friends literally gave out your location,” Niles handed his phone to her.
“Anabelle!” It played the footage of Julie going after Anabelle the time she took off during the competitive eating. Apparently, someone had caught it on camera.
“Right now, I bet Eden has seen the video and it’s trying to map out your location. It won’t be long before he figures Maria’s place had been the missing puzzle all this while. So it’s up to you,” Niles referred to all of them because whether they agreed or not, he’s leaving with Isabella, ” You can choose to come with me and spend the night over at my place. Come morning, we settle whatever it is going on with you guys or you can choose to stay, try to run, or something,”
His gaze darkened, “But trust me, Eden has eyes all over the city and who knows, I might lend him my strength as well. You guys can only run far enough before you’re captured like rats in a cage trap,” He gave them the option to choose.
“So in one word,” Julie started, “We can choose to go with you the greater evil who is kind of tamed right now or my future father-in-law who’s on a mission to break up us…” he looked around, “I’ll go with option one,”
Julie walked over to Niles, “Nice to meet you, Sir Niles, I’m Julie. I believe this is our first official meeting,”
But Niles gave him the look, “You’re the kid who got my daughter into an unofficial engagement and this mess. What makes you think I wouldn’t bury you in a shallow grave right now?”
Julie awkwardly withdrew his hand. The man was scary but he bet he had more to him than he showed. Although Julie couldn’t be too sure. With a crazy daughter Isabella, he wouldn’t be surprised if Niles, her father, turned out worse.
“Sir, although we had a rocky start,” Julie draped his arms casually around Isabella’s shoulder, pressing her closer to him, “I believe Isabella and I have resolved our differences and we are the best of buddies right now,” Julie lied through his teeth. He and Isabella were like Fire and Ice.
But then, Julie never expected that he made a wrong move because Niles’ gaze narrowed at his hand on his daughter’s shoulder and roared,
“Get your paws off her right now!”
Before Julie could even obey his order, Niles had already grabbed his shirt, tugging him forward, and growled at his face, “I don’t know what your deal is by getting my daughter engaged to you and dating Anabelle at the same time but if you hurt either of them, I’ll make sure…” his gaze traveled south, “That little thing never sees the limelight,”
Although it was just a gaze – a scorching one at it – Julie had felt as if Niles had reached out and squeezed his balls tight to prove his threat. That single glance had been quite lethal. Perhaps, he had been too hasty in making decisions because right now it seemed as if Eden was a better in-law.
“Am I clearly understood?” Niles asked him, sternly.
Julie didn’t find the voice to speak, he simply moped at Niles while nodding his head obediently. You should know he had never cowered under someone’s gaze, not even his grandfather. Niles was a devil. His easy-going nature from earlier was simply a front to make people lower their guards only to be taken by surprise. The apple never falls far from the tree, Isabella was indeed his product.
Meanwhile, Isabella covered her face in shame while Pedro stifled his laughter by the side. Her father had not given up scaring little kids. What a big bully.
“Now get your ass up there and get your things before I change my mind,” Niles commanded and Julie went in without second thoughts followed by Anabelle who glared at her uncle for scaring her boyfriend. She huffed and strutted after him. The next was Pedro who simply lowered his head in greeting and left, leaving only Isabella.
For a moment, Father and daughter stared at each other, eyeball to eyeball, tension thickening between them as if World War Three was about to begin. However, both of them suddenly burst into laughter.
The third point of view:
“That was so funny, you should have seen his face,” Isabella laughed hard, clutching her stomach. It was beginning to hurt from the excessive laughter but damn, that felt so good.
Niles’s heart swelled with joy when he saw Isabella laugh sincerely. She almost seemed like that sweet innocent girl he knew when she was younger. But unfortunately, life took away that innocence and made her this way.
His daughter encountered things kids her age would never dream of experiencing and it was partly his fault. But he’s making it up to her in every way possible. Why? Because he’s her father and his responsibility towards her.
“Thank you,” Isabella forced the words out of her mouth. She knew her father had intentionally done that for her. At least for once, he did something right. Well, he’s been doing a lot of things right recently, beginning by marrying Reina. She’d see how long this lasts.
“Aww,” Niles smiled, “I’m so touched. You’re beginning to go soft,”
“Whatever,” Isabella rolled her eyes and went in, climbing the stairs that led to Maria’s apartment with her father closely behind her.
Niles felt nostalgic the instant he came into the house, memories flooding his head. This was the point where his life changed and where they?- he and Maria- conceived the twins. So yeah, you get why this place is so special to him.
When Maria died, a part of him died with her. He had been so afraid that one day he might never remember what she looked like which was why he had all of her properties moved back here and to their previous position.
Thus, each time Niles was plunged with the guilt of her death, he would come here.?And like magic, he would find peace, and could almost swear he sensed her presence. Like a shadow, he had always felt her linger around him. Gosh, he sounded like a lunatic. Perhaps, he would have really lost his sanity if he hadn’t moved away from the city.
The kids were packing up the few stuff they came in with when he arrived. Call it instinct or something, but he was drawn to the room where he and Maria made love. The bed was still the way it was and a smile tugged his mouth to the side as he recalled he and Maria having bed-breaking sex….. Wait a minute.
Niles’ gaze narrowed at the bed as he discovered that the bed had lost another foot. Although the bed was old and squeaky, it wouldn’t break that easily unless…..
Niles’ accusing gaze rested on his daughter who was moving an item of clothing from the old wardrobe.
Sensing that someone was boring a hole into her head, Isabella turned around and her eyes connected with her father’s intense ones. Call it sixth sense or something, but her gaze drifted to the bed, and from the way, her father followed her gaze told her all she needed to know. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment.
Oh boy, his theory was right. Niles found out from her blushing. His daughter rarely blushed but when she does, whatever caused it must be intense.
“Isabella,” He growled, a low rumbling in his chest.
Isabella threw her hands up, “Don’t give me that look, that’s like the pot calling the kettle black, and get out of here, you pervert!” She walked over to him and pushed her father out of the room.