Twisted Ties of Love

Izabella glanced out the window. Despite the soundproofing in the room, the outside noise was still audible. A helicopter was slowly approaching the skyscraper, preparing to land on the roof.

The intercom was left on, and the voices of Nathaniel's men could be heard through the static, "Mr. Krueger, we've got intruders."

Nathaniel was too worn out to respond. He was using all his energy to fight the pain caused by the drugs. He strained to open his eyes and look outside the window.

"They found you already. You think it's Casey or Brett who's coming for you this time?"

Nathaniel didn't get an answer. He just chuckled weakly, catching his breath, and continued, "I bet it's Brett. After all, when I took you away, Casey had just stormed out after a fight with you. He's probably still steamed. No time to come looking for you."

"Izabella, you say I'm a bad guy, using people like disposable toys. But you are the same as me, playing with Casey's feelings, using him as a stand-in for that idiot."

"No." Izabella cut him off, "I know exactly who I like. I've never used anyone as a substitute for anyone else."

"So, you're saying you're into Casey?"

Izabella didn't answer him, but her eyes said it all. They were brighter than ever.

A loud crash interrupted their exchange. The sound came from within the room, like the shattering of glass, fragments hitting the floor.

Izabella stood behind Nathaniel, a syringe in her hand aimed at his neck, warily watching the room. She wasn't sure who'd barge in. As the footsteps got closer, she saw someone emerge from the room. Her heart sank as she saw the face. It wasn't Casey.

Nathaniel chuckled, "Told you it was Brett."

Brett, in his shirt, with dishevelled hair and collar, looked more haggard than usual. His eyes showed anxiety, only easing slightly when he saw Izabella.

"Izabella, are you okay?"

"President Windham, please don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"I came to rescue you."

"I don't need your rescue." Izabella was as cold as ever, guarded up like always.

She didn't need Brett to rescue her. She could handle herself just fine.

Brett's arrival only stirred up unpleasant memories. What difference would it make if he was here?

Something came to Izabella's mind. She asked calmly and coldly, "How did you know I was here? Have you been tailing me?"

"I haven't been trailing you. I knew you were here because I've been keeping tabs on Nathaniel. That's how I knew he brought you here," Brett explained. He remembered the scene five years ago when he failed to rescue Izabella from Nathaniel, resulting in her severe injury. He vowed never to let it happen again.

Seeing Izabella safe, Brett felt a bit relieved. However, Izabella's cold gaze made him feel an indescribable pressure.

"Come with me." Brett reached out to Izabella.

But Izabella didn't take his hand. Instead, she backed away with Nathaniel, "What's the difference between going from Nathaniel to you? Haven't I told you to keep your distance, Brett?" Nathaniel joined in, "See these scars on me? That's what you will get."

If Brett still considered Izabella as the easily deceived girl from the past, he was sorely mistaken.

In these few hours, he finally understood. Izabella wasn't that pushover anymore.

"Can't I even love you, want to be good to you, Izabella?" Brett asked incredulously.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Izabella laughed, "You can choose to like someone, to be good to them. But I have the right to reject you. You can't force your feelings on me."

Brett's heart clenched, "What about Casey? Can you accept his feelings? Where is he now, after you disappeared for so long? Are you still hoping he'll find you?"

"You've no right to mention him." Izabella said calmly, "I told you I don't need anyone to find me. Speaking of Casey, did you tell him that I'm using him as a substitute?"

When Izabella fell silent, her quietness could be misleading, making her seem weak and helpless. However, when she dropped the pretence, she showed another side-cool, decisive, resolved. Brett was taken aback by Izabella's words. He moved towards her.

"If he truly loves you, trusts you, he wouldn't back out because of a word or two from an outsider like me. Bottom line, he doesn't truly love you. Izabella, I've told you, no one can love you more than I do. I knew you before Casey, I know your past better, and I know how to make it up to you."

Izabella gave a faint smile, seemingly calm, but her hand holding the syringe was trembling. If she could, she would inject the fluid in her hand into Brett's brain.

"You would know my past because you're the one who caused all my pain. How could you not know? The ones who love me either die or get chased away by you. Brett, how dare you say you love me more than anyone else in this world?"

The tension hit a peak, and then the intercom crackled again.

"Mr. Krueger, we're clashing with a group. We're short-handed. Someone's on the way up the elevator."

The walkie-talkie was sputtering, but it was clear enough. Izabella and Nathaniel both turned to look at Brett.

Seeing Brett's slight change of expression, they inferred that the group causing the ruckus wasn't his doing. Then who could it be?

Suddenly, a bright light shot through the window, directly hitting Izabella. She squinted her eyes and after the light faded, she saw a familiar figure among the group below.

It was Toby.

Toby used to be the Dempsey family's bodyguard, later introduced to her by Casey. If he's here, could Casey be here too?

Just then, the elevator door opened. Izabella turned her head in disbelief to see a tall figure walking out and towards her. She let her guard down, dropping the syringe she had aimed at Nathaniel's neck. She just stared, hearing only her own nervous breathing.

As Casey approached, Izabella widened her eyes, staring at him.

From the moment he stepped off the elevator, Casey only had eyes for Izabella, ignoring the others.

Standing next to Izabella, his voice was hoarse, "Sorry, I came a little late."

Izabella replied in a sobbing tone. She wanted to run towards Casey, but her legs were so tense that she could barely move.

Casey took a deep breath, walked over to Izabella, took her cold hand, and then looked coldly at Brett and Nathaniel, who he deemed non-threatening.

He said, "Brett, I won't let you sabotage our relationship. I like Izabella, the old her before we met, the her now, I like her, even if I'm just a stand-in. That's my answer."

Brett clenched his fist, "Even if she's been married before, been pregnant, you still like her?"

"Yes, willingly."

"Willingly", a humble word for some, representing much heartache and sacrifice.

Casey's affection was like fireflies in summer, not noticeable at first, but once accumulated, it shone like a starry sky, the most beautiful and unignorable existence in the dark night. Brett's gaze blurred as he had to admit defeat. He thought Casey would leave Izabella, he thought he would be the first to rescue Izabella. He found Izabella first, but he couldn't take her away. Crouching in front of Izabella, Casey said, "Your legs are numb, you can't walk, right? I'll carry you home."

Izabella's body relaxed, she flung herself at him, hugging him tightly, her face against his solid shoulder, "How did you get up here?"

Izabella was slender, he could easily hold her with one hand. Casey handed him the elevator card.

"I've arranged for people to take control of the situation downstairs. We can leave here safely."

Izabella whispered an acknowledgement, took the elevator card, and activated the elevator to go down.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I tried calling you but couldn't get through, so I guessed you might be in trouble. I contacted Toby, he told me that your ring had a tracking device, so I found you."

"Aren't you mad anymore?" Izabella asked.

"Why would I be mad?"

Izabella leaned against his back, whispering, "still can't forget Ryker. I admit that I first approached you because of him, I mistook you for him. Casey, I don't want to lie to you. I can't forget him, and maybe in the future, every time I see you can't help but think of Ryker."

"It's normal to not forget, everyone has someone they can't forget in their hearts. I'm willing to be your protector." Casey tightened his hold on Izabella's hand, as if he was going to protect her for a lifetime.