28

” Mummy, Mummy ”
Amelia and Aiden rushed over to me.
“Where were you?”
“You didn’t wake me up With a kiss this morning. ”
Aiden and Amelia wrapped their hands around my waist as we walked in.
“I’m sorry Mama” I knelt in front of them with a kiss on their cheeks.
Jessica and James came up to us. The looks on their faces showed how gladden their hearts were, seeing us.
Jessica ran up to Justin with a hug.
“I’m sorry ”
“I’m sorry Justin ”
He patted her head and kissed her forehead. Jessica and Justin only had each other. The only children their parents had.
“It’s fine.”
“I’m glad you are okay. ” He told her.
“Isa….”
James longed to hug me. He was impatient standing and waiting for the right time to let out all his emotions on my shoulders. His eyes were stressed and weary one could easily tell that he had no sleep over the night.
When I was done with the kids, I stood up and Almost immediately, he cradled his head on my shoulders. I Froze, leaving my hands dangling on the side uselessly. I had never been hugged by him this way. Of course, we have had so many hugs in the past but this spoke of helplessness and happiness at the same time.
A hug that he made sure was able to communicate his unspoken words. A hug so passionate and delicate at the Same.
Thank you….
“Isabelle…Thank you .” He whispered into my ears.
My eyes and Justin’s met. I saw discomfort in his eyes. After that night, he was bound to feel that way. He owned me again and possessiveness was one of his features. I like it.
“Mummy …. Do you know James brought us breakfast in bed?”
“He made pancakes again but this time better. ” Aiden told him. His voice broke the silence in the room. James let go of me with a smile.
**
The night at the island was my best memory with Justin so far. My hair and clothes were still rough, but I looked okay. We found our way home and here we were back home with Aiden, Amelia, James, and of course, Jessica.
It felt like everything was over. Dylan was out of the way and we survived the Bomb last. What was next?
Dean. I knew nothing was okay. I knew Dean was still in the picture and my life and the children were still I’m danger. I knew all of that yet I tried to play cool.
I could Have gone to Dean with the report of Dylan and Jessica’s fake death but if I did, I would be dead before I even gave my report. Dean was the last person I could lie to. I knew him too well to know that he always had eyes on everyone and every job even if he wasn’t there to supervise himself.
Dang it, what was I thinking? Everything is ruined. I was so sure that Dean knew about the involvement of Justin and James. Their life alongside Aiden and Amelia was in danger too.
What am I going to do now? Sooner or later, a move would be made against me.
Jessica left Justin and came over to me.
Thank you, Isabelle.
” Thank you for having my back. ”
“I’m sure I put you through all of this mess ”
“Thank you, Justin. ” Thr the two men shook hands
“Thank you for keeping my Isabelle safe .”
“I will always keep her safe,” Justin replied to him.
We all went into the house. With Amelia and Aiden each by Mine and Justin’s side.
“Where is Dylan?” Jessica asked me.
“Are you kidding me?”
“You still want to know about that man? Justin asked her with a rather Unbelievable tone.
“Kids go to your room. Okay? ” I told them and they left.
“But I …. He was my boyfriend, I have the right to ask .”
“Your boyfriend?”
” Don’t you dare?”
“I didn’t say anything to you but that gives you no right to utter another word concerning that despicable man.”
“Justin, I love him. ”
“Love? Do you even know what love is? ”
“I do and I know when you love someone, you do anything to stay with them.”
” You do not abandon them like you did to Isabelle.”
“How dare you, Jessica? ” Justin raised his voice and his hands against her. He was about to give her a tight across the face when I held his hand.
I didn’t want to interfere In their conversation but I couldn’t help it.
Jessica was naive and her nativity was about to cost her. It was about allowing her to face her brother’s wrath.
“Don’t hit her .”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Can you see it? ”
“Your beloved Dylan almost killed us.”
“He wanted you dead.”
“No…..”
“Dylan wouldn’t do that. ”
“He is corrupt, he is Ruthless but he loves me .”
“I know it .”
“Why is it so hard for you to understand it? ”
“What do you even know about him?”
“You could have been killed today. Killed .”
“No….” She yelled out.
“Justin is right. ” I told her with a cold voice. I watched the strong defense on Jessica’s face slowly turn into a shocking realization.
Wh.. what?
“Dylan did want to kill you. ”
“Taking on the yacht for the night wasn’t a coincidence or a fun trip .”
“He wanted to kill you .”
“No…no…”
“It’s the truth, Jessica.”
“There was a bomb on the yacht and if I didn’t interrupt, then heaven knows what would have happened to you .”
James’s eyes widened with surprise when he heard about the Bomb.
“Dylan never loved you. He never did .”
“I’m sorry Jessica. ”
“No.”
“You all are liars. ”
“You fucking liked him, Isabelle. ”
“You killed him.”
She moved towards me with tears in her eyes. Her voice broke and her hands trembled.
The realization broke her. The truth was too hard for her to handle.
Jessica was going through the same trauma over again. First, it was Daniel, and now Dylan. Two men she loved wholeheartedly.
“You killed him.”
Jessica got a grip on her shaky hands and used them on my face. She slapped me.
Instantly, Justin slapped her too.
“Don’t you ever raise your hand to Isabelle ”
She ran out of the house crying.
“Are you okay?”
James and Justin both came up to me With the same question.
“Please go after her. ”
What do you mean? She slapped……
“She is not in the right frame of mind.”
“I understand her ”
“I’m fine. Please go after her, ” I told Justin. He reluctantly obeyed and went after his sister.
I did understand her. I understood the pain that came with the painful realization of losing a loved one. I understood Pain, more than she did. It was only normal for her to react that way.
James and I were left all alone in the room. The whole atmosphere was awkward. I knew Justin and I were back together but James didn’t know that. I was hiding an important issue away from him and the guilt was killing. It had only been 7 hours since Justin and I got back together yet it felt like forever. Forever with hidden truth. I knew I needed to tell him. I didn’t want to hurt James but I needed to tell him the truth.
He loved Me, I knew. He cared for me, there was no doubt In me about that fact but I needed to. It was Either now or forever with the guilt.
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that alone. ”
“I’m just really glad you are okay.”
“Isabelle, I’m sorry you went through all of this alone. ”
I … I lo…..
“I need to tell you something important. ” I interrupted. I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell him the truth. I didn’t know but all knew was the truth needed to be told.
“You need to refreshen up and get some rest first. ”
“We can always talk later. ”
“C’mon. Let’s go .” He held my hands behind him and was about to lead me to my room but I stood my ground. I stood firmly.
“We need to talk now ”
“What is it?”
“What’s more important than you ?”
“I know nothing is but okay….. Let’s talk .”
“Justin and I… hmm”
“Justin and I, we have decided to get back together.”
“The truth is I never stopped loving Justin and even today, I can’t. ”
“I know you have done so much for me already and I can’t thank you enough. ”
“James listen, I appreciate everything you did for me and the kids but I can’t simply erase my past with Justin. ”
“Justin was my first and I still love him.”
“I should have told you earlier .”
“I’m sorry I led you on. ”
“I’m sorry. ”
My own words came out so easily without a pause or stutter of regret. I didn’t think I was going to forgive myself for that. As I spoke, James’ excitement gradually went extinct.
When I was done talking, my heart raced in the eagerness of his response. He was quiet for a while and it was killing me. I struggled to swallow down the excess saliva my salivary was producing after I spoke, my mouth and chest suddenly became heavy. I could hear my heartbeat racing unrthymatically.
“I’m sorry James… I didn’t mean for all of this to happen. ”
“Does he really love you?”
“Is he ready to be committed again ?”
I nodded my head slowly.
“Is this what you want?”
“Tell me .”
“Isabelle, I love you.”
” So much ”
“But I can’t keep you if you do not feel the same way for me. ”
“I know you love Justin. ”
“I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“I can’t bear to see you hurting.” While he spoke, James tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ears.
He was trying to keep his cool even when I knew my words broke him.
“I can’t bare to see Amelia and Aiden hurting too. ”
“I love you and I’d always do.”
“IF you want Justin and he loves you, then okay ..”
“James…. I’m sorry. ”
A tear dropped from the side of my face. I felt like a betrayal. Was I really one?