Twisted Ties of Love

What would it feel like to wake up and find the person you like in your arms?

Casey was struck dumb, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest.

As he opened his eyes, he realized his arm was still around Izabella. Their bodies were pressed close together, radiating warmth and breath.

His hand was stiff with shock, and he wasn't quite sure how to react. But inside, he felt warm and fuzzy, as if he'd downed a whole can of sweet syrup. It was so sweet he wished time could freeze right there. Izabella's eyelashes fluttered. She stirred, rubbed her eyes and woke up.

Seeing this, Casey quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. After a while, he heard Izabella's voice.

"If you're awake, get up already."

Casey opened his eyes and quickly said, "Bella, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Did I do anything to you last night?"

"You got drunk after one drink. What could you possibly do?" Izabella rose and threw back the covers. Her clothes were in the same state as the night before, albeit a bit disheveled.

Casey bolted up from the bed and stood behind her. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to."

"Do you even know your alcohol tolerance?" Izabella asked curiously.

Casey nodded, "I know I can't hold my liquor. My manager warned me not to drink."

"Don't you remember anything from last night?"

Casey asked cautiously, "What did I do?"

"Nothing much. Just think about it." Izabella turned and went to the bathroom. Soon, the sound of water could be heard.

Casey scratched his head anxiously, picked up his phone, and opened WhatsApp. The last message was from his manager reminding him not to drink, and he replied that he was home. When had he sent that message?

His manager kept reminding Casey not to drink because he knew Casey couldn't hold his liquor.

Casey would lose control when he was drunk and didn't like to be touched.

If someone touched him, he would get really angry, like a startled dog.

The first time he got drunk, his manager tried to help him home and Casey pushed him into a pole, almost knocking his teeth out.

His manager wanted to accompany him last night, but Casey refused. The manager could only remind him not to drink through calls and messages.

Sitting on the bed, Casey frowned. He hadn't done anything too outrageous to Izabella, had he?

When Izabella came out after freshening up, he was still dazed and listlessly went to wash up and prepare breakfast.

During breakfast, Izabella opened the sugar jar, took a sugar cube, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth.

When Casey saw this, he stammered, "That sugar."

"You gave it to me last night, insisted I should have it," Izabella said.

Casey asked again, "Is it good?"

Izabella hummed in response and a smile suddenly curved her lips, "Not bad, you tried it last night and said it was sweet."

The sugar was indeed sweet, but Casey didn't remember tasting it last night.

When he saw the teasing look in Izabella's eyes, he became anxious. He felt like something significant had happened last night.

After breakfast, while he was in the bathroom, he sneakily opened the surveillance system on his phone.

From when they arrived at the entrance of Spring Bay, he saw Izabella leading him into the house.

Just as he was about to fast forward, his finger froze on the button.

As the taxi drove away, another car pulled up from a distance and stopped outside the gate.

He couldn't see clearly who was in the car, so Casey zoomed in the video to the clearest, only to see the license plate, which he recognized.

It was Brett's car.

Casey's eyes narrowed and his usually gentle face hardened.

He never thought Brett would stoop so low as to stalk them here. And by the looks of it, this was definitely not the first time.

It was a good thing he was with Izabella last night, otherwise, who knew what this lunatic Brett would have done?

Casey was furious but had nowhere to vent. He made up his mind and switched off his phone. He came out of the bathroom and suddenly said to Izabella, "Bella, come home with me for Christmas this year." Izabella was taken aback. She'd almost forgotten about Christmas as she hadn't celebrated it in a long time.

On Casey's reminder, she checked the calendar. There were only 19 days left till Christmas.

The movie had already wrapped up. The only thing left was post-production and then publicity. She didn't have much to do these days.

"Can I really go?" Izabella asked.

"My mom keeps asking when I'm bringing you home."

"Where are we going?"

The Dempsey family had properties in many places, R City, J City and other places.

"We're going to Wye. You don't like the cold, and it's warm there. We can also go to the beach."

"Okay, but before we go to Wye, you have to go somewhere with me."

Izabella started to plan. They would have to be back in Wye by December 23rd at the latest. She still had plenty of time to arrange things. Izabella went to R City to check on her house renovations. The house was already renovated and they were now arranging the furniture. Once everything was in place, she could move in in a month or two.

Izabella hadn't forgotten about her sunflower pot. The sunflower had already bloomed in the greenhouse.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

She gently touched the petals, as tender as if she were touching Niki.

After watering the plants, she left and went back to the office to deal with some documents, arrange work, review some recent investments, and put in some more funds.

Money makes money. From the initial 80 million it had increased to 90 million, and this was just the beginning.

The movie production was going smoothly. Jerome sent her updates whenever he got a chance. Everything had to be reviewed by her.

At this rate, production would be finished in March, leaving plenty of time for publicity.

Ever since she was kidnapped by Nathaniel, Toby had been following her around, teaching her self-defense techniques when he had time. Knowing Casey was coming to pick her up, Toby left early.

Lately, Izabella has been staying over at Casey's place, packing clothes and toiletries, and making plans.

One day, she took Casey to the cemetery. As usual, she bought two bouquets of flowers.

Even though they were just going to a cemetery, Casey seemed a little nervous. He bought incense and two bouquets of lilies outside the cemetery.

Each time they visited the cemetery, it was always foggy. Izabella gently wiped the tombstone. "Mom, I brought the guy I like to see you. His name is Casey.

He is really good to me, really good. He knows all my likes, he cares for me, takes care of me, and makes me happy. I'm not the same girl who would hide in the bathroom and cry when treated unfairly." Suddenly, a "bang" from behind interrupted Izabella's thoughts. She turned around to see Casey on his knees.

Casey said, "You can rest assured. I won't let Izabella suffer any unfair treatment. I will take good care of her, love her." After saying that, Casey kowtowed three times. His attitude was very sincere. S

Izabella wanted to laugh, but for some reason, she let out a heavy sigh instead, and she knelt down as well.

After a while, she stood up and said, "Let's go, let's go home."

Casey just nodded, got up, and held Izabella's hand.

After taking three steps, Izabella looked back. It seemed like someone was calling her. She looked back and saw a gentle smile on her mother's tombstone.

She smiled slightly, held Casey's hand tightly, and left the cemetery.

Not long after, another car drove in. Lucas looked at the burned-out incense and the two bouquets of lilies on the tombstone and was taken aback.

Who had been here?

Usually, only he and Presley would visit, but Presley hadn't returned yet. So who put these flowers and candles here? Or did someone make a mistake?

A thought flashed through Lucas's mind, but he couldn't grasp it, so he went to a nearby flower shop to ask.

The shopkeeper told him that he remembered a couple buying two bouquets.

"Thank you, sir," Lucas didn't get any clues, so he returned to the shop closest to the cemetery.

He asked again, "Have you seen a man and a woman buying incense here?"

This time he found the right person. The shopkeeper said he remembered the woman had been here more than once.

"More than once?"

"Yes." The shopkeeper was about to continue when he suddenly became wary and asked, "Why are you asking?"

"I just saw two bouquets of flowers in front of my parents' tombstone and wanted to know who had been here."

The shopkeeper said, "Oh, I see. The lady didn't look old, probably in her early twenties. She came once in June." "Do you know her name?"

The shopkeeper shook his head, "I

can't remember, but she's very pretty, like a pop star. The last time

she was here, it was raining. Not long after she left, a luxury car pusted up. I thought it was to pick her up, but a man got out of the car and knelt in front of her. She just walked away without looking back. I guess they must have had a

disagreement."

"What about this time? I heard from the florist that she brought a man with her."

"This man is definitely not the one from last time. I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could tell their vibes were different."

Lucas didn't get any information

from either shop and was about to

leave when the shopkeeper suddenly grabbed his head, as if he suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly stopped him, "Wait, I thinkt remember the young girl's name. The man who was kneeling on the ground suddenly called out a 'Mirabella'. Yes, that's the

pronunciation, I kind of remember."

The shopkeeper nodded, "My hearing isn't very good. I might have misheard."

"I see, thank you, sir."

"You're welcome."

Lucas went to the cemetery. The tombstone had been cleaned. He squatted down, touching the lilies, thinking about the word "Mirabella" again and again. The more he repeated it, the more familiar it felt.

Wait, Mirabella, could it be Izabella?

Could it really be Izabella?

Lucas suddenly lost his balance and sat down on the ground.

Izabella, his sister, she was supposed to be dead, wasn't she? It's been four years since she passed away this Christmas.