"Yeah, its Isla Sinclair."
"Okay, what can we do for you?"
"I want to close the case. I mean Nigel's case. Please free him. I'll come for him tomorrow. I'll like to have a word with him before you free him." Isla said.
"Okay. You'll sign some papers too, before we can let him go."
"Tomorrow, it is."
~~~~~ ISLA'S MANSION, 8PM~~~~~
"ISLA! ISLA!" Cade roared and stormed in Isla's room.
"Why are you yelling? You could have knocked before storming in on me like that..."
"Why did you close Nigel's case? Why did you ask them to let him go tomorrow? What are you seeing him for? Why do you wanna go there? Answer my questions, Isla!" He growled. Isla stared at him innocently.
"I did what I think is right."
"Isla, you...sometimes you act as if you're cursed. One day, you say yes to Nigel's arrest, now you try to bail him. Nigel has done damage to your life and esteem as a woman. You have so many scars, all because of him. He has touched all your womanly features, and wasted your importance. Why won't you let him rot in jail?" Cade was still yelling at her.
She sighed.
"His girlfriend called me."
~~~~ FLASHBACK ~~~~
"Hello? Isla speaking."
"I'm aware. My name is Zara. I'm Nigel's girlfriend." Isla's eyes widened in surprise.
"Nigel Gerard's girlfriend? How did you get my contact?"
"From an anonymous source. I - I wanted to apologize on my boyfriend's behalf.
Whatever Nigel has done to you, please forgive him. I know it must be extremely hard, but please... close the case and let him go. As much as Nigel hurt you, I know you'll be really pained if your boyfriend is jailed too. Please, try to understand. I'm only calling to apologize because of the love I have for Nigel. And I swear, if Nigel gets anywhere near you again, I'll putting it to you, kill him. I'll make sure he never touches you, again. He has changed. After this, you'll never see him again, Just please..." Zara cried.
"Um...Zara. Like you said, its really hard to forgive Nigel, but I'll let the case go, for your sake. Your boyfriend r@ped me. All the days of our marriage, he tortured me. I saw hell. I saw death in his eyes. He hated me. He never really cared if I was hurt. But, its okay. As long as he does everything you've said. Keep arm's length away from me. Keep a long distance. After this, I don't want to ever set my eyes on him again. I'll let your boyfriend go, because if I was in your shoes, I wouldn't bear to see my man in jail." Zara heaved.
"Oh God, thank you so much, Isla. Thank you. I....I knew you'd listen to me. By the way, I'm a fan of you too. I love and appreciate your work. Please don't allow a man to ever degrade your beauty." Isla smiled a little at the encouragement.
"And you too, Zara. Be really sure that Nigel actually loves you. You're not a teenager anymore. You must be old enough to know that love is different from lust."
"I know. Thank you."
~~~~~~
"Is that why you've decided to free Nigel? How could you trust these people?"
"I trust her. She asked me to kill Nigel if he comes near me again. And I'll do just that. You can't teach me what to do. I've been with Nigel for a period of time. And I know him too well." Cade admired his girlfriend's bravery.
"I'm proud....that you've become the woman I wanted." Isla stared at him.
"Huh..?"
"Don't mind my sentences too much."
~~~~~ TWO MONTHS LATER, CADE'S HOUSE, HOLLYWOOD ~~~~~
"When are you guys going to get married?" Julie asked him curiously. They were on a laptop video call.
"Isla is talking to her parents about it first. She told me she's not doing anything without them. Especially her dad." Julie smiled at his response.
"Yeah. Isla has always been that way. When are you seeing her? Hasn't it been long enough?"
"It has been two to three weeks since we last spoke. She's currently shooting the big-screen movie."
"True. But that's too long for a relationship. Does she feel comfortable about it?"
"I've been working too. We've both been busy. But I miss her. I don't know if she feels the same way." Cade said in a low voice.
"Of course. She has no choice. She spoke to me about moving to Hollywood. I refused. Is she going to vacate the house we bought her?" Julie asked rhetorically and Cade laughed.
"She's working with Rhea Sinclair. She must be having fun too."
"I guess....the woman changed overnight."
The two chatted and laughed for over three hours.
"Um....What about Lucy?"
"I dropped her at Grandma's. She has been a headache lately, and I need to have some alone time with her father."
"Ooh..." Cade's lips formed an O and he nodded with a mischievous smile.
"I think I should let you go be with Lucy's dad." Julie turned to look and saw that Lucas has been lying on the bed bored.
"Oh..kay. I really should. Bye, then." Julie hung up and walked to Lucas, sitting next to him on the bed.
"What's poppin', pretty boy?" She teased and stroked his hair. Lucas pushed her slightly and she was surprised.
"Why?"
"Don't touch me. I've been here for hours. You didn't even notice me. You were too busy with Isla's man."
"Its not - "
"I'm not interested in whatever you have to say. I've gotten Isla's contact and I'll start having long talks with her and...." Julie laughed loudly.
"Really? Isla doesn't have the time for long talks, baby. I'm the only one you've got."
"That's a lie. You're Cade's." His voice was filled with jealousy.
"Cade? No way, Lucas. Don't talk like that."
"You were so engrossed in the talking that you didn't even notice -"
"My love..."
"You didn't even notice - "
"My love..."
"You didn't even notice that - "
"My love!!!" Julie yelled.
"You didn't even notice that I was lying here, wanting you badly."'
"Then why didn't you say it?" Julie asked, as she bit her lower lip and got on his laps, wrapping her legs around his groin.
"I can't tell you that. What will Cade think of me?" Julie giggled again.
"He'll think I'm a domineering - " Julie crashed her lips on his possessively, making each other's warmth a safe place.
~~~~~ CADE'S HOUSE, 7PM ~~~~~
"Its okay, I'll do the dishes." Stacie packed the dishes to the kitchen with a smile and Cade chuckled.
"What's up with Stacie these days?"
When he entered the kitchen, he noticed Stacie smiling gracefully.
"Um...Stace, tell me about it."
"About what?" Stacie looked confused.
"Your smile. These days, you're looking different. You're sounding different. You're not the studious Stacie who doesn't talk to anyone. You've changed. You're just smiling around like you've been hit with enchantment or something..."
"Its nothing" Stacie blushed.
"I understand it all. I feel the same way too." Stacie looked surprised.
"Laughing when your mind drifts to him... Smiling when you recall those passionate moments you both had."
"What do you mean passionate moments? I don't know what you're talking about." Stacie pretended.
"That's a lie. What's his name? He must have kissed you. He must have touched you." Stacie felt shy.
"He works at the convenience store too. His name is Jayden. We've been talking for a while, and he told me he liked me. Then, we started dating."
"Interesting. Are you going to get married to him?"
"I don't know about that. But I love him. He's really cute and caring."
"I'm a proud brother." Cade said and they both laughed hysterically.
"And Isla? How is she?"
"I don't know....It has been a while."
"Try talking to her tonight. Maybe we can travel to Chicago to spend a weekend with her."
"Oh, no. I'm not going there with you." They chuckled.
~~~
"Hey!" He was excited to hear her voice again.
"I've missed you so much. I thought you wouldn't pick up again."
"Of course not. I've been so busy. The shoot hasn't been an easy one." Isla said tiredly.
"Rhea Sinclair. How is she?" He asked.
"She's good. She has been trying to get close to me. But I've been keeping a distance. Its not too easy to forget all the things she did."
"We discussed about our marriage."
"Yeah!" She recalled.
"I did. I told Dad and he said we could have it at the end of this year."
"Sounds great. When can I come over? Are you free this weekend?"
"No, Cade." He frowned.
"But I'll be at Hollywood. We're shooting a scene there, so I'll be at your house." Cade silently celebrated doing a happy dance.
"I can't wait to see you, Isla."
"Rule 1, no kissing, Rule 2, no caressing, Rule 3, no foreplay, Rule 4, no - "
"Why can't I do those things?" Cade questioned.
"Because I'm cooked. I've been working and I haven't been resting. You can't make me come to your place, and exhaust me even more. Please!" She replied. Cade shook his head.
"And secondly, I can't just give in to another man again, I've had enough wounds and rough-handling."
"I'm not just 'another man', I'm your boyfriend." Isla hissed.
"You know what.... I agree, I just want to see your beautiful face."