Doubts - Regretful ex-Fiancé

Chapter 5 | ✓

I was lying in bed after taking the medicine the doctor gave me for pain and healing. My recovery was tough, but I was alive, and I should be thankful for that. Ten days had gone by since the shooting, and oddly, I felt better about myself now. I had a new goal. It might seem strange, but without the pressure to prove myself to the Colemans, I felt more at ease. If I'm the only one who knows I didn't cheat, that's enough for me. I won't let this bother me anymore.

This intense experience brought me new friends. Mason was like a big brother or, if you want to be dramatic, a guardian angel. I think he feels guilty for not being able to protect both Mia and me. So, for now, he's making sure I recover well, even though the situation wasn't really his fault.

He helped me come back to my apartment the day I was discharged, paid the hospital bills, and even contracted a lady to take care of me while I was incapable of doing much by myself. I tried to fight him over this, but when I almost passed out going to the bathroom alone, I decided to oblige.

The kind nurse was strong and sturdy, yet very gentle and organized. She took care of the house, made meals, and helped me with my bandages. Now, at 4 p.m., I was trying to find a good spot to take a nap, but it was impossible. My arm was itching and really bothering me.

Mia called me not long ago, and we chatted for over an hour. It was great. I think she's really nice and funny, but I don't want to get my hopes up about having a real girlfriend. She wanted to come see me, but Mason said it wasn't safe yet. We badmouthed him after that, but not too much-just for about forty minutes.

I recently found out the truth about my sister's actions. She was accused of drugging women in bars to help others abduct them.

My sister was involved in helping sick men kidnap women across the state. She had gone too far for any chance of redemption. She was truly a criminal. I always knew she behaved badly, even violently. I was once one of her victims. But this? This is horrifying. This is beyond anything I could have ever thought. I can't help her now. It's too overwhelming.

When I heard this news, I shut my eyes, trying not to dwell on the victims who were taken and are now lost somewhere. All those girls who were kidnapped and had no way to escape or fight back... My God...! They deserve to be honored with the condemnation of the monsters who did this to them, including my sister.

I often wondered over the years what I could have done differently to help her. Maybe I should have been more forceful and pulled her away from the life she chose. But I could never change her mind. In fact, she was the one who kept asking me to join her, claiming we would be rich and that men loved twins, willing to pay well for us. My sister suggesting such a twisted job showed how lost she really was.

This was a major reason I completely avoided discussing her with Jonathan. It felt too shameful. He would look down on me. In fact, he took the first chance he got to do just that. But it doesn't matter anymore. They are both out of my life now.

I feel restless, so I decide to get out of bed and check my fridge. Just as I'm about to open it, my phone rings. Without looking at the screen, I answer with a simple "Hello."

"Isabella," I hear Jonathan's voice on the line. What?

"Yes?" I reply, my tone flat, as if questioning why he's calling.

"I need to see you right away. Where are you? My security team told me some troubling news about you coming to the restaurant. No one informed me about this. I just found out today. Are you okay? Has someone hurt you?" He sounds a bit out of breath like he's been running. I'm about to respond when he presses on. "Isabella, where are you? Please give me your address."