The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 4

Blackmail

I never realized the enormity of the mess I was tangled in.

The Missing Ruiz Heiress was the front of ever headline the next day. Anyna seemed to have disappeared without any trace. The Runaway Fiancee of the Internationally Famed Ramirez Heir.

The paparazzi seemed to have gotten a hold of the story that my mom was accusing me with. Why Anyna chose Prestigio Hotel and her leaving through the underground staff entrance with a stolen vehicle. It was scary how easily the media could twist a story.

Because somehow, I was the mastermind. Me. They unearthed my very close friendship with Anyna Clarissa Ruiz. And the fact that my school grades were nothing if not stellar and that Anyna's were but average.They'd concocted this story where Anyna could not have possibly thought of her escape on her own. How I wish she couldn't have thought of it.

In embarrassment, my parents had locked me up inside my room. They took my phone, my cards, froze my accounts and wasn't allowed out at all. The media camped outside our mansion and whenever a vehicle would come in or go out, the would try to block it, knocking on the windows. It was a nightmare.

But nothing had compared to the rage that I saw in my parents' eyes.

And last night, my father had to stop my mom from slapping me mid-swing. But not because he didn't want me hurt.

"Our family has had enough scandal for one night. Let's get home before the media gets wind of this scandal." The cold way he dismissed me spoke volumes.

And here inside the four walls of my room, I hadn't been allowed out and it was evening again... I still could not believe last night was real.

Where was Anyna? Was she safe? If I had my phone I would call her, but I doubt she still had her phone with her. After everything, the forefront of my thoughts centered on my crazy best friend's well-being. What if someone recognized her and kidnapped her?

Even after what happened, I couldn't find it in myself to get angry with Anyna. She may have left... but I doubt she ever thought of putting me in this spot. And her distress had been evident in the last week.

When the door opened, I immediately got up from my spot on my bed.

It was my mother.

"Mommy—"

The glare she gave me was cutting. "Fix yourself, your grandmother just arrived and she's brought visitors. You will not shame us with the inability to dress yourself properly, Isla."

I froze. My grandmother came home? From her vacation in Hawaii?

"What are you standing there for?!"

I scrammed, going to my closet to look for a suitable dinner dress and was quick tofind one. It was a soft pink, buttoned up to the throat and long-sleeved with pleated skirts past my knees. I took out a white Nine West ballet flats because I wasn't confident to wear heels at the state I was in. I let down my long black hair and as protocol, wore make up. A bit of blush and lipstick.

My mom waited for me and eyes downcast, I approached my mom. She looked at me with distaste before walking out. I meekly followed behind her as she went down the stairs. I was quick to see the people.

There beneath the grand staircase was my grandmother, bedecked in an expensive red dress and two long strands of oriental pearl necklaces around her neck. At the sight of me, she smiled widely.

"Isla, dear!" the jubilant tone confused me. She was acting like I wasn't facing the biggest scandal of the year. Didn't she get wind of what happened last night? But that would be impossible.