LIVING WITH A BEAST [II]

"Attorney, what should I do? How can I stop this?" Isabel said while pacing around her office. She was greatly distressed by the fact that the court had granted David access to the children.

"You can't. He is still Joanna's husband." The aged man - Henry - adjusted his glasses and looked at Isabel. He was Joanna's lawyer and also a father figure to Joanna and Isabel. He has been helping Isabel since Joanna had an accident.

"So I should just sit back and do nothing and watch David become legal guardian to these children?" Isabel rolled her eyes and massaged her temples

.

"Well yes." Henry cleared his throat and looked around to make sure there were no ears on the wall. After confirming he finally spoke.

"You already hold Joanna's power of attorney so David is powerless. He can only have full control on Joanna's wealth when she passes it on to her children. When she dies. But until then, nothing."

"Does that give him a right to move in to the house? Please say no because I can never live with that man in that house." Isabel looked like she was going to cry as she searched Henry's eyes for answers.

"Isabel, I wish I could say no but yes, he can and he probably will."

"He surely will." Isabel was downhearted. She sat on the seat adjacent to Henry. Then her eyes lit up - with curiosity. Like she had just remembered something. "But if he moves in, won't he find out the truth about the children?"

"He won't. Unless he does a DNA test." Henry folded his arms on the table and leaned closer and lowered his voice. What he was about to say could rid him of his job. And his freedom too. "If he does it then you know what to do. Understand?"

"Huh?" Isabel was a little confused but then she picked on. "Yes I do. Thank you so much, Uncle Henry." Isabel calls him Uncle as a form of respect and because of her closeness to him.

"You're welcome."

"Uncle Henry, I have one fear." Isabel looked at the pictures on the wall and then at Henry. Her heart was heavy as she spoke. "What if Joanna wakes up and doesn't understand that we are doing this for her? What if she accuses us of wanting her wealth for ourselves?"

"Joanna would never. Maybe she would in the past but now, no."

"I just hope you're right Uncle." Isabel sighed. She just hoped she was doing the right thing.

***************

Isabel tried hard to suppress her tears. She put her head out from the taxi window and waved back at the crowd - consisting of Mike, Evie, Caleb, the house helps, security guards and other staffs in the house. She felt sad and guilty as the taxi drove away. She loved her home. Those people. They were her family. But she abandoned them and ran away like a coward. Because of David. She felt stuffed inside and she let it out by crying. She hit her chest lightly as she cried.

"Miss." The taxi driver called out softly trying not to make her worse. "We're here."

"Oh!" Isabel snapped out of her daze and looked around. "Okay! I'm sorry that I disturbed you by crying." She stuttered as she tried to open the door.

"No problem." The taxi driver said as he unlocked the doors. The door Isabel was struggling with opened and she alighted. The taxi driver also alighted and brought her things out from the trunk and Isabel tipped him nicely. He drove off happily afterwards.

Isabel scanned the area. Right in front of her was Ryan's house but he wasn't to be seen. She felt disappointed. She shouldn't have listened to him and go stay in a hotel instead. She wanted to stay in a hotel while she searched for a place but he said it was a waste of money since they would soon get married. Well the prospect of spending less money and seeing him everyday was tempting.

She sighed and took her phone out of her bag. She dialed Ryan's phone number but he didn't answer. She rang the gate bell but no one answered. Angrily, she used the spare key he had given her and opened the gate. She pulled her suitcase inside and was about to lock the gate when the gatekeeper ran out. He looked like he had been sleeping. Isabel shook her head in dissatisfaction. He could lose his job for that. He apologised to Isabel and after locking the gate he carried her luggage inside the house. As soon as she entered the house she sat on a sofa. Waiting for Ryan. She soon fell asleep from boredom.

***************

Evie walked out of the kitchen holding a smoothie. She had a smile on her face. Her smoothie had turned out well and she wanted to brag to Mike. She walked to the swimming pool at the back of the house where Mike was teaching Caleb to swim. She stood by the railing of the pool and called out to Mike. But then her voice was drowned out by another voice. A male's voice.

All three turned to looked at the source of the voice. The man standing in front of the kitchen's back door had similar features to Mike. But he was much older, taller and muscular. David. Evie's heart skipped a beat and she walked a few steps backwards.

David flashed a smile revealing his brown tobacco stained teeth and began walking towards the trio. Behind him there was a lady. She seemed to be just a few years older than Isabel. She was good looking but not very pretty.

"Why are you here?" Mike spoke as he helped Caleb out of the pool.

"That's not a nice way to welcome your dad, is it?" David stretched his hand towards Mike hoping to help him out of the pool but Mike pushed his hand away.

"Okay, I get it. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me now?" David said as he withdrew his hand.

"Stay away from me." Mike held Caleb's hand and was walking away when he stopped abruptly. He turned to see why. David was holding Caleb. Mike shot him a deadly glare but he ignored it and grinned instead.

"Little boy you are Evie, right?" David widened his grin as he looked at Caleb.

"No. I'm Caleb. She's Evie." Caleb said bravely and pointed to Evie. He was afraid of David but he didn't want David to know.

"I like the way you talk, son." David rubbed Caleb's head with his fingers thereby scattering his hair. Caleb frowned in annoyance at his action. He hated it when someone scattered his hair but he didn't do anything about it.

"Evie, come to Papa." David beckoned Evie and she came closer. But not too close.

"How are you dear?" David continued still grinning.

"I'm fine sir." Evie answered trying not to make eye contact with David.

"Just call me Dad."

"I think it is best that I call you sir. Since we've only met today..." Evie raised her head and arched her brow towards the woman beside him. "And I don't know you or your companion."

"Where are my manners? I'm David, Joanna's husband so in effect, your father. And this lovely lady over here is Eloisa, my cousin. She is going to take care of you guys for me." Eloisa smiled at them but her disgust for them was visible. She waved her fingers at them but she felt like hitting them instead. She hated children.

"And let me make one thing clear." David continued. "While I am hot tempered, I am not ruthless. But I won't accept disobedience or rebelliousness from you two. So what I mean to say is that I won't hurt you and your brother unless you try something stupid. Am I clear?"

"David, you're threatening these children already. Don't you forget that you do not own this place yet. Aren't you afraid that they will tell mom when she returns?" Mike said with contempt. He hated his father more than he did Isabel when he first met her.

"You call her mom and call me David. That's fine. I don't mind that. But if you get these children to disrespect me too, you won't see your mom ever again." David had his smile on his face but his voice was threatening.

"You..." Mike tightened his fists. The only thing that stopped him from punching this man was his blood that was flowing in him. The fact that he was his father.

"Wow! Got you! Did you really believe me?" David said in an amused tone and started to laugh. He waved his hand at Mike and spoke jovially. "I wouldn't do that. Not again. Let's chat later. I have to arrange my things." David finally let go of Caleb and went inside with Eloisa following closely behind.

"Calm down, Mike. He's gone now." Evie placed a hand on Mike's back and he released his palms, slightly relieved.

"Thanks." At that minute he realised he was cold. He hadn't dried himself up after emerging from the pool. He crossed his arms in front of him and looked at Caleb who was also dripping wet. He carried him on his back and took him inside the house.

Evie gulped her drink. Her mood was ruined so it tasted plain to her. She only drank it because she didn't want to waste it. She silently prayed before entering the house. She would be living with a 'beast' from now on.

***** ***** *****

Isabel yawned and stretched her limbs as she sat up on the bed. Scratching her hair, she sighed in disappointment. The music coming from 'God knows where' had cut short her sleep. She had been so tired from the previous day's activities. Then she remembered where she was - Ryan's house. But she had fallen asleep on the couch so how was she in bed? She guessed it was Ryan's handiwork. She stood up and assessed the interior decoration of the room. It was a bit too childish but she loved it because she knew he did it himself.

Her stomach rumbled and she began following the music hoping to find Ryan. She hadn't eaten since she left home. She followed the music up till a medium sized room which she guessed was the kitchen. It was closed. She knocked but there was no reply - Ryan probably couldn't hear her with all the noise. She opened the door and walked in. The smell of bacon and eggs filled the air and made her stomach rumble further. She spotted Ryan. He was handsome and tall with a muscular build and short black hair. His dark blue eyes and thick brows complemented his well chiseled face.

As soon as he saw Isabel, he pulled her into a hug and she buried her face in his chest, the scent of his cologne filling her lungs. She heard him say some words but she didn't understand anything from it. She mumbled a 'thank you for letting me stay here' into his chest and she was sure he replied her but she didn't pay much attention to it. All that mattered to her was this moment and as she snuggled closer to Ryan, she felt all her anxieties disappear. It was replaced with a sense of peace and safety.

She felt lucky to have him and hated to imagine her life without him. And as she fiddled with the engagement ring - which she wore on her left hand that was around Ryan's waist - she couldn't help but imagine herself walking down the isle with him. Becoming his wife and leaving every other thing behind to start a new life with him. To start their own family.