Between Desire and Love

Chapter 25: Uncover the Truth

The somber atmosphere of the memorial engulfed the room as friends and family gathered to pay their respects to Lucas. Isabella stood amidst the sea of mourners, her eyes swollen with tears, her heart heavy with grief. Flowers adorned the room, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the palpable sorrow that hung in the air.

As people approached her, offering their condolences and sharing fond memories of Lucas, Isabella could only nod, her throat tight with emotion. She felt as though a piece of her had been torn away, leaving her hollow and lost.

Lucas's friends took turns sharing stories of their adventures together, their voices trembling with emotion. Dr. Janet, Lucas's mother, was inconsolable, her sobs echoing through the room as she clung to a tissue, her grief palpable to all who witnessed it. Isabella's heart went out to her, knowing that Janet had lost not only a son but a piece of herself.

Then, amidst the sea of sorrow, a hush fell over the room as a nurse entered. Everyone rose to their feet, their gazes fixed on the frail figure that sat slumped in the chair.

Robert, Lucas's father, was wheeled into the room, his eyes vacant and distant, his mind lost in a haze of grief and confusion. He mumbled incoherently, his words lost in the void of his sorrow.

Isabella's heart broke at the sight of him, her own tears flowing freely as she approached him. She took his trembling hand in hers, offering him what little comfort she could muster.

"Robert," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the hushed murmurs of the crowd. "It's okay. We're here for you."

Robert blinked, his gaze unfocused as he looked up at her, his eyes brimming with tears. For a moment, it was as though he recognized her, his hand tightening around hers in silent gratitude.

Together as they watched his photo hanging on the wall, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, they knew that though he may be gone, his memory would live on forever in their hearts.

The room fell silent as Isabella stepped forward to give her speech, her voice trembling with emotion as she struggled to find the words to express her grief. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her heart heavy with sorrow as she looked out at the faces of those gathered to mourn Lucas's passing.

"He was... he was my everything," Isabella began, her voice barely above a whisper. "My best friend, my confidant... my love."

She paused, taking a shaky breath before continuing, her words choked with emotion. "That night... the night of the engagement announcement... he was so happy. He celebrated, he drank... too much." Her voice cracked, tears streaming down her face as she recalled the events of that fateful evening.

"It was an accident," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hushed murmurs of the crowd. "He didn't mean to... he didn't deserve..."

Isabella struggled to compose herself, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her as she spoke of the pain and loss that had consumed her since that tragic night. She spoke of Robert, her voice breaking as she described his fragile state, his mind shattered by grief and guilt.

"But I promise," she declared looking at Robert, her voice ringing out with determination. "I promise to take care of him. To be there for him, as he's always been there for me."

As she finished her speech, Isabella quoted her mother's favorite saying, her voice trembling with emotion. "Love is stronger than death, even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories."

But as Isabella spoke, Robert's demeanor changed, his eyes widening in shock as her words sank in.

"No," he whispered, his voice barely audible as panic set in. "No, no, no..."

Before anyone could react, Robert began to thrash and scream, his words slurred and incoherent as he ranted about killing her. The nurse rushed forward, her hands gentle yet firm as she guided him away, his cries echoing in the empty hallways.

Isabella stood at the doorway, her gaze fixed on Robert, a devilish smile playing on her lips. In that moment, a flood of memories rushed through her mind, memories of the day she had left the house in search of answers.

In the days following her departure from the house, Isabella had been consumed by a relentless quest for answers. She had sought out her mother's lawyer, hoping to uncover the truth behind her mother's untimely death. She remembered the urgency in her footsteps as she had made her way to her lawyer's office, desperate for any shred of information that could shed light on her mother's untimely death. And there, in the dimly lit room, her lawyer had handed her a worn leather diary, her mother's final testament to the secrets she had kept hidden.

Isabella had opened the diary with trembling hands, her heart pounding with anticipation as she read her mother's words. And what she found within its pages had shattered her world into a million pieces.

Her mother's words spoke of love—deep, abiding love—for Robert. They spoke of a marriage filled with happiness and joy, of a bond forged through the trials of life. Isabella's mother had adored Robert, had cherished him with all her heart.

But alongside the tales of love and happiness, there was a darkness lurking beneath the surface. A darkness that Isabella couldn't comprehend. Her mother's entries grew increasingly troubled, filled with cryptic messages and veiled references to a secret she couldn't bring herself to reveal.

Her mother's last entry spoke of a deep, unshakeable sadness, a feeling of being trapped in a life that no longer held any meaning. There was one number named Diana which was bothering to Isabella. She never heard of this name before. Isabella's brow furrowed as she recalled the confusion and frustration she had felt as she pored over the pages of the diary. Why would her mother, who seemed so content and fulfilled in her marriage, choose to end her life?

The answers eluded her, slipping through her fingers like grains of sand. Isabella's heart raced with anticipation as she dialed the unfamiliar number scribbled hastily on the last page of her mother's diary. With each ring, her nerves jangled, her mind awash with questions and uncertainty.

Finally, a voice answered on the other end of the line, a hesitant and wary tone echoing through the receiver. "Hello?"

"Hi, um... is this Diana?" Isabella asked, her voice trembling with nervous energy.

"Yeah, who's asking?" came the cautious reply, the voice sounding young, maybe around seventeen or eighteen years old.

Isabella took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "My name is Isabella," she began, her words careful and measured. "I... I'm looking for answers about my mother, Margaret Blackwood. I found your number in her diary, and... and I just need to know if you knew her."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, the air heavy with uncertainty. Isabella held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for a response.

Finally, the girl spoke, her voice tinged with hesitation. "Yeah, I knew her," she admitted reluctantly. "But I don't know if I can... I don't know if I should..."

Isabella's heart sank at the girl's reluctance, but she pressed on, her desperation driving her forward. "Please," she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. "I just need to understand. My mother... she's gone, and I don't have anyone else to turn to."

There was a long pause, and Isabella feared that the girl had hung up on her. But then, finally, the girl spoke again, her voice softening slightly. "Okay," she said quietly. "Okay, let's meet. I'll tell you everything you want to know."