ISABELLA (THE NIGHT THAT RUINED ME)

ISABELLA P.O.V

I staggered as I felt my feet already sore as the little bag on my hands dangled. I have trekked quite a distance and it was already late. I hastened my pace as the cold breeze hit me, the winds hallowed and the tree seemed to be dancing to an unforeseen music as it flapped its wings to the rhythm of the rain and the rain poured heavily on me adding to my frustration.

My hair stuck to my face like glue and I adjusted my glasses to see clearly, my clothes clung to my body, as I shiver in the cold, I'm almost there. I encourage myself as I sight the house gate upfront.

I'm Isabella Santos, a countryside girl who was lucky enough to get the attention of the almighty Xavier Gustavo, the heir to the Gustavo group limited, most wealthy and powerful Family in California, or should I say unlucky" sighing

Xavier met me at the coffee shop where I worked and confessed his love for me. It was a dream come through, I had always had a crush on him, and finally I'm engaged to him.

I know you might be wondering, then why do I look pathetic now?

Getting into to the Gustavo family is not as lovely as I thought, his family hate me with the last drop of their blood, his mum his making life a living hell for me, and his kid sister Macy is worst than the devil, his father is not always around so there's no way to show is disdain for me but I know he hates me with the distasteful looks he gave to me, the day Xavier introduce me to them.

Finally I sigh as I got to the front of the gate, I called the attention of the gate man with the bell.

"Madam, why are you walking in the rain??"

"I just went to get something Mr George, I'm fine" I assure him, as he looks worried, he's the only person who cares about me in this house apart from Xavier.

I gave him a reassuring smile and walked straight to the mansion.

I got to the sitting room, to see Macy and Ma Hilda (Xavier mum) sitting on the velvet sofa, their attention on the show playing on the television .

"Here...stretching my hands to Macy to give her the bag I was holding.

"Trash it, I don't need it anymore"

"What!!! But you said you were having a headache and I had to trek under this dreadful rain to get you the medicine" I said, already frustrated.

"And I said I don't need them anymore!! She yells, focusing back on the show they were watching, with Ma Hilda smirking like a witch.

I took a deep breath and turned to go upstairs. I need to get rid of this dress or I will catch the fluid.

"Wait, get me a glass of water"

I turned to look around and some of the maids were lingering around doing nothing, why's Macy bent on frustrating me she could have sent any of them.

"Macy please ask any of the maids to get you water, I need to change out of this wet dress please" I pleaded with her, trying to leave.

"Don't dare walk out on me!! I ask you to get me water and you're referring me to those maids!! Are you crazy??

I glared at her, I just wanted to hit her badly, as I folded my fist firmly, pinching my palms to get a hold of myself, I'm trying to avoid trouble. I left for the kitchen to get water for her.

"What's this, I said orange juice not water!! She yells

I stared at her, my eyes bugging out in bewilderment

"But you clearly asked for Water Macy" I replied still wondering what this little devil is up to.

"You're indirectly calling me a liar, in my own father's house??" She makes a babyish face and starts fake tears.

"How dare you make my precious daughter cry!! you dirty thing?? Madam Hilda yells

"But mum, you were here, I did nothing to her....

Pahhhhhhh...that was the sound I heard my face sting, as my eye rolled uncontrollably as the impact of the slap hit me. I'm definitely going deaf was what crossed my mind as I couldn't hear anything for a few seconds, with my glass half broken.

"I'm not your mother, your wretched mother is in the countryside" her voice icy

My chest tightened at the weight of her cruel words, tears dripped off my eyes as she said all of this to me, I hated myself for being born poor and being a weakling.

I strain my eyes as I saw some of the maids whispering, some were mocking me and some had pitiful looks on.

The door opened as a long pair of legs in a straight tuxedo trouser strolled in..with the perfect face ever, sharp nose, amber eyes, with a well shaped face edge...

Xander...

The one I'm enduring all this for, my eyes lit up with glit, finally I will be free for the rest of the day.

"Good evening mum" pecking his mum

"Evening Son"...

I looked down pathetically biting my fingers, I patiently waited for him to notice me.

His dark eyeballs caught my gaze, as my stomach knotted in excitement of his presence. This is how much control his presence has all over me, the reason I'm taking all this burden in.

"Isa..why are you all wet" he asked with his gaze transfixed on me.

"I was sick, and she offered to get me medicine at the pharmacist, she's such a lovely lady....

Macy walked up to me holding my hands, I stared awkwardly at her, she really needs to win an award in acting.

"I know right, she's a sweet soul," Xavier said, smiling at me as my chin widened and lit reddish, blushing. I'm totally whipped.

"Come, you need to get change," Xavier said, grabbing my hands as my body reacted to the feelings of his hands on mine, yes I might be engaged to him but we don't spend much time together, he's always working and spend little or no time with me, I sigh in defiance.

"You should have let the maid get the drugs, now you're all wet!! you even get your glass broken,stop being clumsy Isa"

I looked at him, when will he ever understand what I'm passing through, all my emotions are upside down as tears slip off my eyes.

"There you go again, crying like a baby..Ahhh" he turned his back to me as he walked to his closet.

"When are we leaving?? I muttered out the only thing on my mind.

He stood rooted and stared at me.

"I've explained to you Isa, we will pack out after our marriage, I'm preparing our home

Two weeks and I will be out of this hell hole, it would just be me and Xavier alone, I will just have to endure till then.

I walk up to Xavier as I help him out to undo his button..hmmm I sniff him, the perfume on him smells feminine.

"Did you go somewhere before coming home??" I asked him inquisitively.

"yah, I had a meeting with a client.

"And it involves her kissing you ?? I asked as I saw the lipstick stain on his shirt.

His jaw dropped as he stared at me, I just don't want to believe the man I'm enduring everything for is cheating on me.

"Talk to me! I yelled, my emotions were disrupted as my heart beat rapidly..my lashes wet with unshed tears..

"You're just too insecure!! " he yells as he walks off to the bathroom angrily.

What's wrong with me?.. why am I questioning him??, he won't cheat on me, I just have to work on my insecurities, I thought to myself as I bit my lips slowly.

*********************************

I jolted awake as Icy water splash all over my face, causing my thin silk nightgown to be wet and cling coldly to my skin. I wiped my face in shock as I strain my tired eyes to see who poured water on me.

The blurry image of Ma Hilda greeted me with a devilish smirk on her face.

"Get up, you lazy thing!!" she bark at me

I touched the other side of the bed, and its emptiness hit me. Xavier had gone to work, the bed was cold, a sign he had left for a while, I had cried myself to sleep yesterday after our argument, I sigh in frustration.

"Are you deaf??!! Ma Hilda snapped as her voice brought me back from my thoughts, she grabbed a fistful of my long tangled hair and yank me out of the king size bed, pain lance through my scalp, I could feel my hair about to pull off, as she drag me down the floor roughly to the pool side.

She pushed me roughly to the edge of the pool.

I tremble as the cold feeling emanating from the pool hits me, my face arch with confusion as I raise my brows confusedly at the blurry image of Ma Hilda and Macy lagging behind her.

What are these people up to now?

"My jewelry fell into the pool, I want you to look for it, it's inside a tiny box" ma Hilda said as she grin like a clincher cat

My heart skips, as panicked feelings rush into me, my stomach tightening, I felt goosebumps all over me at the thought of entering the pool to look for jewelry. I'm very prone to cold and besides I'm not even with my glasses, how can I search for something blindly?

"Ma please, you know I'm prone to cold, I can't get into the pool, I will catch the fluid" I whisper to her, hoping she will show mercy.

"You don't want to dare me, if you don't get down there and find my jewelry, I will design your face with acid"

I shook in fear, I know very well she's capable of carrying out her threat.

"Can I at least get my glasses? I asked

The blurry image of Macy looms over me..

Before I could react she pushed me to the pool as the cold water me and I stumbled to hold my ground.

I stretched my hands pathetically as I bent and swept the pool from one edge to the other with my hands in desperation.

I've been on it for hours, Macy and her mom had gone back inside.

My stomach chun in hunger as a feverish heat burned inside me, my eyes I guess would be so reddish by now, I sneezed out, my body shaking violently.

Finally my hands hit a tiny box, I could finally get out of this pool, I opened the box to see the jewelry,..I widened my mouth in realization, the box was empty.

The thought of the empty box weakened me as I felt light headed, I shivered in cold as I tried to get out of the pool but was too weak to do so, my leg weakened as I fell backward about to hit my head but a hand caught me.

Stretching my eyes it was Ethan, our pool boy, he lifted me out of the pool,clutching to the floor wimping, he sat close to me, we have never spoken before, so I wondered why he helped me.

"You caught the fluid ma, go inside for some warmth"

He helped me up as he bowed and left.

My teeth clench and I limp tiredly inside.

Ma Hilda was sitting with a newspaper on her hand as Macy was nowhere around, I limp towards her.

"Ma here's the box, it's empty" I said slowly, stretching the box to her.

"Ooh Yes, I found the jewelry already, I forgot to tell you..don't worry you can trash the box".

My eyes sting at her words, why's she so wicked to me? I sigh as I leave for my room, my eyes are bringing out fluid from stressing it too much, I had to climb the stairs gradually.

I ran a warm bath as I soaked myself in the bathtub, I cried pathetically for hours, before getting out, I picked up my phone to call my mum.

"Hi mum" I whisper lowly

"Aren't you a darling, Xavier sent me some money and I went shopping" She giggled as I could hear the clicking sound of her heels through the phone.

"Mum.... I'm..

"Get me that bag please" mum's voice rants through the phone, she's not even listening to me, she has always been like that, paying less attention to me all she cares about is money and shopping.

"I will call you later Isa, I'm busy and please continue to be a good girl and tell Xavier to send me more money"

The call ends abruptly as I clutch the phone to my chest, why's my life so Miserables?

I better call my bestfriend Camille, she's the only person that brings light to my life with her positivity.

The door to the room bangs open with force as Xavier matches in with his long legs, my face drops as I see how angry he looks, his fury made the temperature of the room stuffy as I stood up panicking and adjusting my glasses.

"Are you ... .I was caught short as a heavy strike hit my face causing me to fall back at the bed.

Xavier just hit me, I gave him a surprise look, I never expected him to raise his hands on me, yes he had talked down on me but hitting me was something I never expected from him.

There's this look on his face, he looks at me with disdain....

My heart slams in my chest..

I looked behind him to see Macy standing akimbo with an evil grin on her face.

"So you are fucking the pool boy!!! Xavier yells as my mouth and face dropped

What!!?

I'm shaking now, my heart pounding so much that I can barely breathe....

The feelings of him not trusting hurts much more than the pains his family causes me.

I can't help it...I began to cry, clutching my hands around my body while still staring at the man that I gave my all to.. looking at me with a disdainful gaze.

I untie my robe and let it fall to the floor, stripping down until I'm standing naked In front of him. Xavier's eyes widened in surprise.

Not minding if Macy was still there or not I moved closer then straddled him, as I placed his hands on my waist staring directly to his eyes as tears poured out mighty from my eyes.

"I don't mind losing myself to prove a point to you, but the thought of you not trusting me hurts a lot"

he looks at me confusingly, trying to get where I'm getting out.

"You can check if I'm still a virgin, I kept myself for you, you had always wanted us to wait till our wedding night but I don't mind anymore, just so you can trust me"

"I've nothing to do with the pool boy" I said with my lips trembling as I bit unto them to hold myself from cracking down totally.

His face softened as he covered me up with my robe, he had this sorry look on, he clutched me tightly to his chest as his hands wrapped around me possessively.

"I'm sorry" I heard him muttered

I cried on his chest, I love him too much, and I won't let anyone come between us, not even his family

********************************

It's been two days since the incident, and two days of quietness and happiness in my life after a long while.

Xavier has been spending time with me alot, I think to make up for lost time, he had only gone to work today's afternoon. It's 8pm already and I'm waiting for him to get back home so we can have dinner together.

I check the time again, sighing as I keep my gaze transfixed on the door, expecting Xavier to walk in.

The door opened as I jumped up excitedly but my wide smile went back in immediately as Ma Hilda walked in I sigh in defiance, she was on a call.

"Okay bye" was what I heard last as she hung up.

"Isabella, I want you to get me something... I just made an order for some jewelry from my friend Paloma, I want you to go to her store to get them" focusing on her phone.

"Ma...It's already late" checking my wristwatch it's 9pm already

"Can I get them early tomorrow morning?".

She looked at me maliciously, as my chest beat in fear, she is maniac, I always get scared of her.

"You're getting them for me now, and ooh, you are going to trek down there, because I sent the driver on an errand.

I looked at her as if she had grown horns. How do I walk to Madam Paloma's place tonight? It's quite a distance from here.

"Okay she's on her way.. I heard Ma Hilda say as I walked out.

**********************

My legs wobble, I could feel sweat running down my chest. I've been walking down to Madam Paloma place for an hour now. I could have used a taxi but I've no money on me.

I walked for some minutes but a strange feeling crunge to me. I sucked in air, feeling goosebumps and tingles erupt all over my skin, I turned back but saw no one.

I cringe my hand tightly as my palms become sweaty, my chest pounding thunderously, I hasten my pace, I am literally walking–running, adjusting my glasses.

That same feeling as I turned back and saw a rough looking guy drawing close to me, the stench of smoke drawing near emanating from the stranger.

My hands were shaking as I grabbed my phone and called Xavier, it rang for some seconds without him picking it up. I called again but the same thing, till my call was sent to voicemail.

My pants became sweaty, the dark street still loomed around, I picked up the race but stopped abruptly, a faceless man jumped from the aly and stood in my front with a smirk on.

I turned trying to run in the other direction, but there stood this other guy with rough edges and scar on his face. I couldn't catch their faces clearly as I was freaking out.

I was shaking badly, I experienced breathing difficulty,I cried for a savior inwardly, I tried to put on a strong defense.

"Wha..wha..what do you want from me" my voice betrayed me , shaking out, as I took a retreating step.

"She's pretty, I will have fun enjoying her" the one who seemed like the leader of the gang spoke as five of them surrounded me.

" Plea..se take my... phone, just let me be" I whimpered, tears dripped off my eyes as my throat hung with a lump.

The leader walked to me, brow raised with a smug smile on his face, caressing his hand on my face with his brownish teeth wide open.

"Umphh I don't need your money pretty, I will fuck you till you can't walk anymore"

My face creig with disgust, my stomach fumble threatening to gush out, I spat on his face, my face red in anger.

He leaked off the spit on his face as he laughed out maniacally.

"Bring her boys" he said walking off.

The other guys walk to me grabbing my hands firmly.

"Let me go" I yell.. crying out loudly.

One of the guys brought out a handkerchief as he covered my nose with it, the syndative got to me as my eyes got drowsy as I struggled to keep them open but I lost it as darkness finally eloped me.