Isabelle kept her gaze on the floor as Xander hug his grandparents, Gary nudge her, she scowl "Move forward"
"Shush it Gary, Why don't you move forward?"
" I'm meant to stick to you though you're married" Gary fake an hurt expression.
"I like a guy, you'll be happy to meet him" Isabelle whisper " He's hot"
"I'm not a gay, you pig"
"You are"
" I'm not"
" You... "
" Isabelle"Isabelle lift her head, she beam two pairs of bright olive eyes scrutinizing her "She's thin" Xander and Gary chuckle.
" Xander is a bad example"Gary gloat.
"Welcome home dear"Xander grandfather hug her,she froze,she lift her gaze and her eyes lock with his grandmother, Isabelle quickly retract from him.
"Thanks" The middle aged man with stern face from birth , Amber hair and a dominant Aura grin.
"It's awkward" Gary mutter.
"Very,why don't we all go eat something?" Xander broke the silence,taking his grandmother hand. " You okay?"He whisper
"She's different,not the one i was used to" Xander chuckle " How do people change so much?from a baby to an adult, she'll never forgive me"
" Oh grandma you didn't do anything, Isabelle might have changed in looks... she's gorgeous"Grandma mack pinch him,he rub the spot grinning "But she's Still the same person"
" If I hadn't said all those things she wouldn't have left, it's my fault son"Xander halted.
"Isabelle left for a whole different reason,my girl is strong you know"Xander smile "Just talk to her, it's okay to make a mistake as long as you admit you did"
" Your advice sucks"They both sit across the others around the dinning table.
"I grew up with mom so advice is out of the system" Xander cast his eyes on Isabelle " I can make something happen you know"
" What ?!"
"Isabelle" Xander fake a cough "Isa..."
"Mr mack are you..." Isabelle stood up.
"Oh don't tell me the illness is back" Gary stop Isabelle from moving.
"What illness?"
"Once he coughs we give him..um grandma knows what it is why don't you two.."Isabelle dash to the kitchen,grandma mack grin following Isabelle "Is this the least you could do?"
" I did something, I didn't play the buffoon"Xander enunciate,Gary ignore the comment and continue eating.
Isabelle stop in her search when she heard footsteps "There are no drugs here" She formulate facing Xander grandmother " I'm sorry for..."
"You shouldn't be,welcome to the family" Isabelle fake a grin.
" Thanks, I'll take my leave" Grandma mack held her back, Isabelle gulp.
"I'm sorry,Douglas is good at apologizing but I'm just like your husband"Isabelle laugh genuinely.
" You're not bad,no one is bad at something it's imperfect"Grandma mack nod " I forgot about it all,well I knew I made a mistake too"
" You didn't,you loved him and I rejected it all because I thought it wasn't right, I'm sorry,you left..you two became strangers because of that single word, I'm sorry"Isabelle place her hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't leave because you said I'm incapable, I'm jobless and we were teenagers,I mean c'mon we were teenagers, I left because that was the right thing to do , I didn't wanna hurt anyone... not you, not grandpa, you should stop thinking about that, we're way passed that"Isabelle though nervous hug her "I'm your daughter in law now"
" You are and you're welcome,your reception is tonight"
"..."Isabelle stare dumbstruck "Can I ask...."
"You can't refuse" Grandma mack chuckle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xander showed the paintings to William Buanyi on the bed,Gary pick the one with the red flower. "This looks like Isabelle heart"Gary speak up.
"No"William argued "She's a saint why use the color red"
" Dad,this color is the color of love and Isabelle as so much in her that she could give some other person"Xander frown.
" What do you mean?"
"Oh boss,I meant Isabelle told me she like a young man and guessing at the endearment she seems to call you... it's true"Gary smile.
"Gary,she loves Xander okay?stop bickering you two"William put the paintings on the table.
"She's more comfortable with me than her husband I observed"Xander grit his teeth " I suggest you confess your hatred to each other,Xander do you realize you just ruined a girl's life"
"We are not friends Gary"
"I'm not your friend either but I'm Isabelle friend,and honestly I'm happy you're not one because I do wonder if I would be this wicked like you"Gary snap.
" I don't love Isabelle"
"Then go to the one you fucked,not her,you are angry because you thought she slept with that man aren't you?but you did continuously"
" Gary shut up and leave,go make me some coffee" William yell,the two men look away.
"Just one word for you, she deserves a lot more than you, you're just a rotten soul,too rotten"Gary scream, Xander lost control and punch him on the nose "Oh it hurts,you slept with all of them and you carry the burden of righteousness"Xander push him to the ground.
"Yours only wanted my money"Xander growl.
Isabelle retract her step,she open the room slightly "I slept with her so what? she's cheap Gary don't blame me"
" Or you are,you play with women like they're some toys you own,Debra mack will be so ashamed of you"
" Don't you dare talk about my mom" Xander barked, angrily punching Gary, Isabelle ran in she stop in tracks seeing the blood gary.
"Mr Mack let him go" Isabelle pull Gary closer to her " Stop it" She yell when the two continue fighting.
William cough,holding his chest,he gasp repeatedly his eyes on a small remote hidden behind a painting of a man with eye patch,he made a move to touch it but press a button.
Isabelle gasp are hands around her neck,the two men stop in awareness, Isabelle slump to the ground.
"Isabelle" Xander crouch to pick her up "Gary,your dad,go the..." Gary ran to his father "Asthma attack?"
"Heart attack"Gary lift his father up "Get Isabelle to the room, I'll take care of dad"
Xander nod looking at Isabelle,his hand tremble as he lift her up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xander touch Isabelle hand,he rub it up and down,his grandparents walk into the room,Xander kiss her hand softly "I'm sorry " He whisper.
"He'd just a little chance Xander,he was so close,we could've lost two people today because of your foolishness"Grandpa mack yell.
"I didn't mean to do all this,I just wanted to shut him up"
"Xander do you know what the problem is? You're grieving but your own way to sort things out is through violence,Debra died,yes it was a murder but that doesn't mean you hurt everyone who loves you"Xander swallow the bile in his throat.
"We loved her we all did and still do,but we do not hate because we love her,Debra had told you to protect the Collins and you ruined one life,I hope you're happy now"Grandpa Mack angrily left the room.
"Douglas" Grandma mack called after him,she sigh touching Xander shoulder. "I'll cancel the party"
"It'll happen" Xander walk away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking a step out of the office Sasha eyes dim,she groan taking another step but she fell to the ground,she took out her phone to call Micah,he answered in one ring.
"Are you far from the boutique?" She ask her head heavy all of a sudden.
"I'm with your dad,Sasha are you okay?"
" I'm not Micah,I can't move" She grunt.
" What??Sasha where are you?in the office?"
" Yes,just that I'm..." the phone fell from her hand and darkness engulf her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is everything okay?" Rick drop the results on his desk,Micah stood up abruptly.
"Nothing is okay sir" Rick lift a questioning gaze " I don't know what happened but her voice was faint,I have to get going"
" I'll come with you"
"No sir, I'll take care of things" Micah stride out of the office, Rick phone rang making him jolt,he answer already guessing who it was.
"Tell me the code and she lives"
" The fact is clear,you can't kill her, I won't send you the code"
" Do you even know what's going on inside your parents house?,i heard Isabelle fainted who knows maybe I did it"
"Don't threaten me"
"I'll do what I want because I can't hurt Sasha doesn't mean I won't send someone to do it,the code in 3hrs"The masked man hung up,Rick throw the phone across the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm sorry" Xander apologized to Gary, sitting on the armchair opposite him.
"I told you all to create an effigy of me, I'm a genius"
" Doctor's aren't always a genius,Gary I'm sorry,Your dad almost died because of my new crazy habit"
" Temperamental from birth"Xander huff "Do you love her?"Xander rub the back of his neck "Then let her go"
"I can't"
" Or you won't?"
"Gary her life is in danger,she doesn't know that but they are all after her,I can't risk that"
" But you don't love her,another man can take up the nice job vacancy"Xander clench his jaw " Another set of your illness?"
"I won't let her go even if she wants that"Gary raise his brow,smirked and bob his head.
"She's a shadow Xander and shadow leaves" Gary take a sip of his wine, Xander heart skipped a beat 'leave' he hated the word and despised that she could make him hate the word,but Gary was right she could,she remained hidden for years and sometimes he was happy to think Sasha helped her.
But when the curtains falls from his face he knows she didn't, Isabelle was all alone well hidden and out of sight, something was going on, something giving her the strength and ability to do the things she does.
"I thought she fainted because of Letter P,I would say that was fast"Gary kick him.
" I don't want a baby,go get a wife" Gary chortle "I'm serious"
Isabelle open her eyes and scream seeing white drugs inside a palm, Isabelle open her eyes fully and froze.
"You scared of drugs?From now on you're my responsibility"Xander give it to her.
" Mr Mack how's Gary?"Xander strain his eyes.
" Call me Xander, we're with family here and I want everything to be perfect between us....I want them to think it is"
"Mr Mack I'm not an actress" Xander give her a sidelong look " I'll call you by your name in front of the guest but not your family,after the death certificate you're letting me go"
"You must be kidding me, I won't let you out of my sight"
" I'll sign the divorce papers Mr Mack it always work"Isabelle sit up.
" You're upset"
"Do I've the right to?You beat up gary after sleeping with his girlfriend what kind of human are you?"Isabelle let out her anger. " What did he ever do to you?don't tell me I caused that too"tears fall from her eyes " Am done Mr Mack, I'm done trying to appease you because I feel guilty, we're done "
" Isabelle..."
"Don't you dare call my name,no matter what Mr Mack, I'll divorce you once the death certificate is on your table because I'm not your property"