Chapter 1 i

I detested every moment of Working under my mother and having to Meet people who had nothing in their head but how to party and lavish money.

Another exhausting day of work, I was working home, dragging my worn out body since my car broke down on the way here, it was raining heavily so I had to wait in the car till ir stopped.

Unfortunately no cabs or buses to take home and I had already turned down the men who wanted to give me a ride.

I approached the silver gate of our mansion, pushed the heavy door with the last strength I had in my body, and I walked past the wide expanse of concrete and grass.

Once at the door, I pushed it open and walked in as silent as I could, avoiding anything that would make anyone question me, especially mother who was very good at asking me point less questions.

Unfortunately for me, since i had offended the universe by not taking my hangover pills this morning, I came across mom and dad who sat in the living room, conversing with each other.

"Vera, let her be, stop the blind dates and everything, she still has ten more years of youth, Leave her to enjoy it. Besides you are not the one doing to loving but her," Dad stated, trying to conBarry mom as always why she should stop pushing men my way.

"Oh please Martin, she will grow to love her husband, I already found the perfect.."

"Mother, I hate to interrupt you, but you're beginning to annoy me. What don't you understand by. I. Will. Not marry any man you bring to me," I cut her off, now making my presence known in the room.

I was sick and tired of my own mother making my decisions for me, I am not a kid and many would understand how it feels to be pushed into a loveless marriage.

"I bet your parents didn't do the same to you, Did they push dad to you for Marriage?" I watched her eyes gleam, guilt clouding her decision, but as stubborn as she was.

She rose from her seat and stepped close to me, a dark aura forming around her. "Don't test me Isabella , you will not disrespect me again," she warned and marched up the stairs, her heels clicking as she did so.

I sighed, my shoulders dropping sadly, I glanced at dad and he gestured to me to come sit. I did ad he said, placing myself across from him. I dropped my bag on the teal coloured couch.

"Isabella my dear, please forgive you mother, ehe is yet to know what the consequences of her actions would be," He said, his voice soft and filled with love.

To be honest, he was the only living person in this world that actually understood me better than I did myself. He wasn't the one who birthed me, but he was a better mother and father, than mother was but I can't really complain can I?

If I had a choice I would tell the universe to make him a single dad and then I'd have to pick a wife myself for him, because I am tired. I desperately need help.

"Dinner is in the kitchen, Freshen up and eat, I'll be going to bed now," He announced, Patting my head gently before going up the stairs to join Hot Doritos.

I rose from where I sat, picked up my bag and left the living room through a door beside the kitchen, I took the stairs up to my bedroom located at the roof. It was like it was barely part of the mansion.

I had dad put my room a floor away from their so i could have my peace and quiet. I used the space there as a working area.

I've always loved Taking photos and painting, so I planted various flowers, created a small brid house for birds and a little home for my cat and Dog. I had thousands of pictures of them.

It was like my own small nature photoshoot center. The ten potted plants, with lavender, roses, daisies, white lilies and mets not firget poisen ivy.

Yes, it is dangerous but why not take the risks, besides i have a high tolerant level against poisons.

I dropped my bag on my king sized violet bed, licked my shoes carelessly under the bed and began stripping as I made my way to the bathroom. I set the water, I wanted a warm so that's what I did, threw in a baby scented bath bomb inti the bathtub and placed my small bath table on it.

I had to call a few clients and my friend so i could work, eat and take a bath.

I placed my laptop, my notepad and candle because i was definitely going to turn iff the light.

I rushed out of the room to go get a glass of iced tea, cookies and rice that the cook prepared for dinner. I returned and placed everything on the bath table.

I dipped myself into the warm liquid, the soothing liquid welcoming my body into its embrace, I sipped a little of the tea and put a call across to my long term client.

Incharge of my nails and hair, while I helped her manage her business, helped her with her insurances and other branches.

"Good evening,Madison" I greeted softly, leaning back into the tub, the water was already covering my body except my head that stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Miss Shaw, It's nice seeing you again, How is everything?"

"Well I've been good, How is your new branch going?"

"Great, I'll have to go now, We could meet tomorrow over Dinner" She said, putting on a hair net, and in her hands was a spatula. I chuckled softly and smiled

"Sure no problem, Goodnight" She gave a small smile and disconnected, I tilted my head against the bathtub, heaving a heavy sigh.

After having a long bath, Preparing a work schedule and drying up. I changed into a black night dress, tied my hair to a bun and retired to bed.

I had to make up different scenerios in my head, one of them had a faceless billionaire that I hadn't imagined but I knew I wanted to. The problem was I couldn't see his face and that was heartbreaking.

He seemed nice but had a cold aura, he was probably introverted and that would be a bonus for me. Anyways I would do anything to find a man who would love for who I am, not what I am.

As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but think about my life. I felt like I was living in a prison, trapped by my mother's expectations and pressure from the company, I wanted freedom, for the ability to make my own choices and live my own life and not let anyone do everything for me.

I thought about my father, and how he had always been there for me. He was the one person who truly understood me, who knew what I wanted and needed. But even he couldn't protect me from my mother's behavior.

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to shut out the thoughts that came to me. But they only seemed to get worse, like a television refusing to turn off. . Just as I was starting to drift off to sleep, I heard a knock at the door. I groaned and rolled over, not wanting to get up. But the knocking came more, growing louder..

I finally threw off the covers and got out of bed, stomping over to the door. I flung it open, ready to give whoever was on the other side a piece of my mind.

But to my surprise, it was dad. He looked at me with a concerned expression, and I could tell he had been working and drinking. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was doing here at this time of night.

"Isabella , I need to talk to you," he said, his voice low and barely enough to be a whisper but I could hear him fine "I know your mother has been treating you bad lately, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at him. He was the only person who truly cared about me, the only one who understood me. I felt a surge of love and gratitude towards him, and I knew that I would do anything to protect him.

"Thanks, Dad," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "That means a lot to me."

He smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "I know it's not easy, Isabella . But I promise you, it will get better. You just have to hold on, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of hope wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, things would get better. Maybe I would find a way out of this prison and into a life of my own making.

He turned and walked back downstairs, leaving me alone once again. But this time, I didn't feel so alone. I felt like I had a lifeline, a way out of the darkness that had been suffocating me.

I got back into bed and closed my eyes, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. I knew that tomorrow would be a new day, a chance to start again. And I was ready, ready to take on whatever came my way.

___

I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and like a new human. Dad's words of encouragement made me see the light in tiday. So I was ready to do just that.

I climbed out of bed, rushed to the bathroom humming random tunes in my head, and I had a quick bath. Threw on a black noodle hand dress that stopped on my mid thigh, wore a pink crochet top and black stilettos to match, grabbed my pink almost nude coloured handbag after I had made my hair into Wave.

Wore my grandma's Pearl necklace and earrings given to me for my Eighteenth birthday, before she died.

Once I was done, I dashed out of my room and down the stairs, hoping not to see mom but there she was once again, by the door, holding a cup of coffee and her phone in her hand.

"Good morning, mother," I greeted, disdain laced in my voice. I wanted to walk past her but I had a feeling she would pull me back and hit me.

"Isabella Shaw, why are you so stubborn?"

Okay, I didn't know where that was coming from, but I suddenly felt enraged, why would she just see me this early and decide to ruin my day.

Is it a crime to be her daughter?

"What do you mean?" I asked between gritted teeth, clenching my fists around my handbag.

"I mean why can't you just be like girls your age, they get married to wealthy CEOs and they end up falling heads over heels for them afterwards, most even before the marriage. Why do you want to bring shame into our family?"

"Excuse me? Shame? Look Mom I don't care if I bring shame or not, I will not get married to a man I've never met or feel nothing for, so please stop pushing men to me, because I will reject them every time"

"Isabella ! The next time I bring a man to you and you dare reject him, you cease to work for my company" she threatened with a strict tone and I only laughed.

"Oh please, I'd rather reject being your daughter than Marrying who you set up for me. Mark my words mom, the next time you set up a man with me ,I will humiliate and reject him"