“Do you want to tell Liam the truth or negotiate with Max?” Rachael’s question kept ringing in Isabelle’s ears. Her heartbeat raced uncontrollably. She had chosen one out of the options but the words were stuck in her throat. It was a difficult choice and the chances of it working in her favor were badly low.
Rachael could tell from her expression that she was having difficulty with speaking out so she sighed helplessly and decided to make it easier for her, “If you haven’t decided yet, I could still give time after all, it’s your choice”
Rachael’s words were supposed to ease her worry but aggravated it instead. Any further delay and Liam would find out himself. The cunning Max would make sure of that to have her to himself. Isabelle felt irritated at the fact that she was intimate with the son of a bitch but she couldn’t reverse the hands of time.
She took a deep breath and finally spoke,” I’ll tell Liam the truth”
Rachael was flabbergasted, thinking she had heard wrong, she almost choked on the drink she had ordered. “Wait! Did I hear you right?…. If I’m not mistaken, you just said you wanted to tell the prideful Liam Callahan the truth?…. Have you gone insane?”
Isabelle was unaffected by Rachael’s scolding, she wasn’t going back on her decision. “Yes, Rachael. I’m telling my fiance the truth” Her eyes welled up in tears. “Even if he doesn’t want me back, I hope he forgives me so I can live the rest of my life with a clear conscience”
Rachael’s gaze softened at Isabelle’s words. She knew she was in a tight position but still wanted her to be sure of her choice.” why aren’t you considering the second option?… You could talk to Max, and keep the secret hidden forever. Even though it wouldn’t be that easy”
“Hide it forever?” Isabelle almost yelled out in pain. She was getting furious at Rachael’s ignorance. “I know Max well enough. He’ll ask for something impossible in return. Since he could take advantage of my love for him, what makes you think he won’t do the same thing again?….” The tears were finally pouring out. “Besides, his hatred for his cousin won’t let the matter slide, it would come up sooner or later”
“I’m so sorry, Isabelle. I didn’t mean it that way” Rachael apologized sincerely, knowing she had spoken irrationally. She should have viewed things from Isabelle’s perspective. “It’s alright. I’ll support you in whatever decision you make but if you’re not ready, don’t force yourself, okay?”
“I won’t force myself” Isabelle sniffed in tears. “I’ll tell me, but first I need to reduce the strain between us. We haven’t been on good terms ever since the scandal incident. I need to bond with him, that way the result won’t be that painful”
“No problem. Take your time” Rachael nodded in agreement. But then, she remembered something. “Hope your future mother-in-law and the maid won’t be a problem?”
“I can’t bother myself about them right now,” Isabelle said dismissively. “I’ll just ignore them. But if I find something disturbing, I won’t let it slide”
“Great!” Rachael complemented as she stared at Isabelle with a softened gaze. Somehow, she felt there was a kind of closeness between them. The kind of closeness that only trusted friends would have. “I know what could make you feel better. Let’s go to the spa. Bills on me”
“What!” Isabelle’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?… Or haven’t you been to the spa before?” Rachael asked with a skeptical gaze. ” Just consider it as a gift from me to you for agreeing to partner with me, even though we haven’t made any progress yet”
“Thank you, Rachael” Isabelle’s heart was filled with gratitude. She felt she could express herself freely with Rachael. She hadn’t had friends in a while and she felt her heart was at peace with her. “I have been to the spa before… Liam made sure of it, I mean he values perfection”
The sarcastic tone in Isabelle’s voice made Rachael burst out in laughter. “I can imagine how serious his expression was… Let’s get going, we’ll take your car”
“Yeah, you’re welcome to use my ride” Isabelle nodded in agreement as they both walked out of the restaurant side by side till they got to the car.
The blissful feeling of a newfound friendship was present in the car as they drove to the closest spa.
****
“Hmmm…. It feels good” Rachael whispered to Isabelle who was lying beside her as the massage therapist was busy with her job. “I did make the right choice, didn’t I?”
“You’re right” Isabelle replied with a bright smile on her face. It was the first time she enjoyed this treatment. “I’m happy we came… Oh! That reminds me. I haven’t seen William for a long time. How is he?”
A reddish-pink color appeared on Rachael’s cheeks when she heard Isabelle’s question. “He’s good. We haven’t chatted in a while”
“Hmm…. Are you sure?… I can tell you lying” Isabelle teased her endlessly, noticing the blush on her face. “I can tell you guys have a very good relationship… Tell me about it”
Rachael turned her face to the other side, trying to avoid Isabelle’s question. “There’s nothing to talk about. We are just old friends getting to know each other again”
“Oh! Old friends, you say?…. Your words are not convincing enough” Isabelle probed further. When she didn’t get a response, she changed her tactics. “Maybe I should call him myself to confirm.. yes, he gave a business card the night he dropped me home. I…”
“Don’t you dare?” Rachael screamed out with a funny expression on her face that made Isabelle laugh so hard, till her stomach churned. “Come on. I was just pulling your legs, you don’t have to be so serious. But your actions have confirmed the truth… I won’t bother asking him, just keep me updated”
“We are not dating” Rachael desperately tried to convince her. “We are just friends”
“Alright, alright. I give up” Isabelle chuckled as their talk simmered down into silence, savoring the special treatment they were given.
The hurt in Isabelle’s heart had drastically reduced and was replaced with a new feeling, a good one. She felt a good premonition about the future and was looking forward to it, ready to face the moment obstacles that might prevent it.