“Mom… What are you doing here?” Isabelle cried out in surprise which was rapidly replaced by a persistent feeling of apprehension. She knew her mother better, her motive was never to be trusted
Gina snorted at her daughter’s unwelcoming reaction to her presence. “So, you and that pompous fiance of yours have connived to stop me from coming over”Gina half yelled with a hint of accusation resounding in her tone.
“No Mum, we aren’t stopping you from coming to see us but you should have called first”Isabelle replied in defense as she pulled the duvet up to cover the exposed part of her body.
“Why are you and your husband saying the same thing? If you don’t want me in your life anymore, you can just tell me. No need to pretend” Gina threw a tantrum as she clenched her teeth in anger at the pretense. She was there for a purpose and she wasn’t leaving until she had gotten what she wanted.
“Don’t be like that, Mom “Isabelle reprimanded her mother. “You’re taking things too far”
“Taking things too far?… Who married you off to the Callahan family?… I did. Now, you swim in glory, forgetting the only woman that cherishes you”Gina ranted on and on without stopping, until Isabelle gave up arguing with her.
“Fine… I’m sorry Mom. It was never mine or Liam’s intentions to ignore you” she said with an apologetic tone and softened gaze to her mother.
Gina scoffed, “Hmph… Fine.. did you?”
“Mmtchew” Isabelle sneezed interrupting her mother’s words making her curse in her head. She had completely forgotten about Liam’s words. Her daughter was down with a fever and she didn’t bother to show empathy, instead, she threw baseless accusations at her. Was her touch as a mother fading away?
“Oh! Take it easy, dearie”Gina sympathized with a softness in her voice. “How did you get the fever?” She asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Isabelle shivered in fear at her mother’s question as the events of last night flooded into her memory. She abruptly averted her gaze from her mother before giving a response, “It’s no.. nothing Mom. Don’t bother about it” she stuttered with her tone laced with a hint of dismissiveness.
Gina sharply detected her daughter’s reaction and felt a suspicious feeling in her heart. She nurtured her daughter from birth, knowing fully well that Isabelle’s body system was strongly immune to minor illnesses like a fever. She was hiding something” Isabelle…” She called out in a demanding tone that caused Isabelle to turn to her.
“Are you pregnant?” She inquired feigning innocence. Isabelle’s eyes widened in shock at her mother’s suggestion. She shook her head vehemently in denial. She can’t be pregnant. She mustn’t, or her entire life would be ruined.
Gina was bewildered by her daughter’s response and arched an eyebrow,” You mean Liam hasn’t touched you, yet?”
“No.. he hasn’t”Isabelle stammered as she bowed her head to hide the tears that were threatening to fall off. Her mother’s words struck a chord in her heart. If she was pregnant while Liam hadn’t gotten intimate with her, then he’d know that she had broken their mutual agreement. She needed to see a doctor.
Meanwhile, Gina subconsciously sighed in relief. At least, her daughter wouldn’t be tied down to Liam Callahan in any way. All she had to do was delay the wedding process until she and her partner-in-crime had successfully implemented their plans.
Suddenly, a question popped up in Gina’s mind,” What about the Max guy, have you guys been talking recently since the last complicated incident?”
“No Mom, we haven’t”Isabelle denied with a straight face.” you told me to bury my feelings for him which I did”
“Oh! That’s great.” Gina remarked with a triumphant smile plastered on her face.” I don’t want you having any little bit of connection with the Callahan family” she stated with an evil smirk on her face.
Isabelle felt a strange feeling in her heart as she pondered on the reason why her mother was happy about her detachment from Max. She had sold her off to the Callahan’s but she didn’t want any close relationship with them. Her emotions were unpredictable.
“Mom… You should leave, I need to rest” Isabelle stated with a pressuring tone in her voice. She was trying her best to avoid any uncomfortable conversation with her mother who loves to poke into her business. Besides, they were in Liam’s house. They ought to choose their words carefully.
“Hmph…”Gina scoffed at her daughter’s excusing tone.”I was leaving anyway”
Meanwhile, Liam who had accidentally eavesdropped on their conversation while on his way to his study room, scurried away to avoid being caught by his soon-to-be mother-in-law. Their verbal exchange had revived the skeptical feeling towards his fiancee in his heart. He needed to find out what had happened that morning when he abandoned her at the hospital. Something was amiss, he could smell a rat but had failed to detect its location. He was going to fish out the information she was trying to hide and he knew just the right person for the job.
“Adrian….”Liam called out to the person on the other line of his phone.
“Yes sir. I’m fully at your service”Adrian replied.
“I apologize for interrupting your off day but I need you to do something for me, “Liam said with an apologetic tone in his voice. “The Xavier General Hospital where Penelope is admitted, I want you to hack the security cameras for me and also the security cameras on another street close to it”
“Why boss? What or who are you trying to trail?”Adrian asked with a puzzling tone in his voice.
“My fiancee, Adrian” Liam disclosed as his voice turned cold.”I want you to find out the places she had visited and with who”
“Alright boss, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible” Adrian responded professionally before Liam hung up the call.
“Goodbye Liam” Gina who had come out of Isabelle’s room waved her hands at him. “See you some other time”
Liam’s gaze darkened at the sound of her voice” Did she hear anything?” He asked inwardly.
“Goodbye to you, Gina” he replied with a cold smile on his face as he gazed deeply at the unpredictable woman walking out of his house until her silhouette had disappeared completely.