The Cut That Always Bleeds | Cobra Kai

Chapter 32

Isabelle sat across from her father at brunch, silently watching him as he scrolled through his tablet, eyes glued to the fluctuating numbers of the Tokyo stock market. It had been an awkward few days since his breakup with Cheyenne, and the usual ease between them had been replaced by a quiet tension.

The chef emerged from the kitchen, proudly presenting them with a beautifully crafted tart dusted with sugar. Isabelle's stomach rumbled, the sight of the crisp, golden crust making her mouth water. "For breakfast, I have prepared something special," the chef said with enthusiasm, pulling out a portable heat gun to caramelize the sugar on top. He pressed the button, but it wouldn't ignite. The gun clicked repeatedly as he tried again and again, the sound cutting through the air like a metronome. Isabelle glanced over at her father and noticed the subtle change in him. His eye twitched, his jaw clenched tighter with every click, and the distant look in his eyes began to sharpen into something else, something darker. The repetitive noise was clearly triggering something in him, something she couldn't quite place.

"Thank you. I think I can handle it from here," Isabelle said quickly, her voice light but firm as she took the heat gun from the chef's hands, who nodded and made his way back to the kitchen. She placed the tool on the table. He had zoned out, his gaze fixed on the empty space in front of him, his breathing shallow and erratic. Concern crept into Isabelle's chest as she reached out and gently tapped his shoulder.

"Dad?" she asked softly. Without warning, his hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly. The force of it startled her, and his hold was painfully strong, his fingers digging into her skin. "Dad!" she cried, panic rising in her voice as she struggled to pull away. His face was unreadable, his eyes distant, like he wasn't even aware of what he was doing. Then, just as suddenly as it began, he snapped out of it. His grip loosened, and he blinked, his expression shifting from confusion to horror as he realized what he had done. Isabelle stumbled back, falling to the ground, her heart racing.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he gasped, his face pale as he rushed to help her up. "I didn't mean to. You... you startled me." His voice cracked, the apology laced with guilt as he steadied her on her feet. He looked down at her arm, where the faint red marks from his grip were already starting to form. "I think... I think I just need to go for a little ride to clear my head," he muttered, backing away from the table, his voice hollow and distant again, like he was slipping back into that same void.

~

Conan clicked the stopwatch, "That was three whole minutes! You're improving, that's great news."

"I'm improving too slowly. I need to be perfect," Isabelle said anxiously. Currently, Conan is helping her time to determine how long she can stay on point to test her balance. She is trying to slowly build up her balance again since the concussion affected her balance. "I need to prove to the director that I do deserve my role in this performance and I'm not just some nepo baby that doesn't put in work."

Conan raised an eyebrow at Isabelle's remark, his tone light but with an undercurrent of seriousness. "Nepo baby? Really? You're one of the hardest-working people I know. No one's gonna look at you and think you got there because of your mom."

Isabelle sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "It doesn't matter what they think if I can't perform like I used to. I feel... off-balance. What if I never get it back?"

Conan stepped closer, his usual playful demeanor fading as he spoke earnestly. "You've been through a lot, and you're still standing...literally. The fact that you're already back on point after a concussion is insane, and in a good way. You're not gonna lose this."

Isabelle glanced down at her feet, visibly frustrated. "I need to be flawless. I can't afford to make mistakes."

"Isabelle, progress is progress. Three minutes today, four tomorrow. You'll get there," Conan reassured. "Perfection doesn't happen overnight, but the drive to get there, that's all you. And I think that's what your director sees. Trust me."