Isabella's legs were shaking as she ran toward the house.
"Your father is being taken."
That was the only thing she heard before she ended the call. She didn't wait to hear anything else. The job search she had come for no longer mattered. Nothing mattered except getting home.
She ran like something terrible was about to happen.
Her chest hurt. Her breathing became rough. Her legs felt weak, but she forced herself to keep moving.
Please… let me not be too late.
She rushed across the road without looking.
A loud horn blasted.
Tires screeched dangerously close to her.
"Are you trying to die?!" a man shouted angrily.
The car stopped just inches away from her, but she didn't even turn back. She didn't apologize. She didn't slow down.
She didn't care.
Even if the car had hit her, she would have kept running.
She just needed to get to her father.
When she finally reached her street, her heart dropped instantly.
People were gathered in front of her house.
Whispers. Stares. That kind of crowd never meant anything good.
Then she saw him. Her father was being dragged outside by two men.
Her heart stopped.
His face was bruised. One side swollen like he had been beaten. His lip was cut. His shirt was rough and half pulled out like he had tried to fight back.
"Father!"
She ran toward him immediately.
"Please! He didn't mean to! Please don't take him!"
Her fingers grabbed his shirt tightly, holding him like if she let go, she might lose him forever. The two men kept pulling him away like she wasn't even there.
"He just needs time!" she begged. "I promise we'll pay! I will pay!"
Neither of the men responded.
They continued pulling her father away like her words meant nothing.
"Please!" Isabella cried again, her voice breaking now. "Just give us a little more time! We are not running away!"
Her father could barely stand properly. His body swayed weakly between the two men holding him. Up close, she could smell it clearly now. Alcohol.
His breath still reeked of it.
Shame mixed with fear twisted inside her chest.
"Father… please say something," she whispered desperately.
But he couldn't even look at her.
Just then, a long black SUV slowly approached the street.
Its clean, polished body looked completely out of place among the small houses and gathering crowd. People instinctively moved aside to give it space.
But Isabella didn't even notice.
Her whole world was still falling apart in front of her.
Inside the car, a man sat quietly in the back seat, his expression calm and unreadable.
Alexander Richie.
His sharp eyes moved briefly toward the commotion outside.
"Slow down," he said quietly.
The driver immediately obeyed.
Alexander's gaze narrowed slightly as he studied the scene through the tinted window.
"Isn't that the girl you almost ran into earlier?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," the driver replied. "She ran across the road like she wasn't thinking."
Alexander watched for another second, observing the chaos without emotion.
"What is happening there?" he asked calmly.
"Looks like a debt issue, sir," the driver said. "Those men look like collectors."
Alexander leaned back slightly.
Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with him.
"Not my business," he said coldly. "Keep driving."
"Yes, sir."
The engine roared softly as the driver pressed the accelerator.
Outside, the struggle continued.
"Please don't do this!" Isabella cried again, trying to hold onto her father as he was forced into their vehicle.
One of the men suddenly pushed her aside impatiently.
She wasn't expecting it.
Her body lost balance and she fell hard against the rough ground.
A sharp cry escaped her lips.
That sound made Alexander's eyes lift again.
"Stop the car."
His voice was quiet.
But this time, it wasn't a suggestion. "Stop the car now."
The driver immediately stopped the car and reversed.
Alexander opened the car door.
His driver quickly stepped out after him.
"Sir, it may not be safe to step out here," he said carefully.
Alexander didn't respond. He had already started walking toward the commotion.
His movements were calm and controlled, completely different from the chaos around him. Conversations slowly died down as people noticed him approaching. There was something about his presence that naturally demanded attention.
"Who is that?"
"That car looks expensive…"
"Wait, is that..."
The two men dragging Isabella's father were about to move their vehicle when Alexander's voice stopped them.
"That's enough."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried quiet authority.
Both men turned.
One of them frowned slightly. " This doesn't concern..." Then he looked properly.
Recognition flashed across his face.
His attitude changed instantly.
"Sir"
His partner looked confused. "What?"
The first man spoke under his breath. "That's the CEO of Richie's Holding"
Silence fell immediately.
Even the small crowd became quiet.
Alexander's expression remained unchanged, his eyes moved to the girl still on the ground and then back to the men.
"How much does he owe you?" he asked simply.
The men exchanged a quick glance before answering.
"He owes our boss five million" one said carefully. "Including interest."
Alexander didn't react. "Is that everything?"
"Yes, sir."
Alexander turned slightly toward his driver.
"Pay them."
The driver nodded immediately and stepped aside to make a call.
The change was immediate. The same men who had been rough now stood properly, their tone respectful.
"Thank you, sir. We didn't realize..."
Alexander ignored the apology.
His attention had already shifted.
Isabella was still on the ground beside her father, trying to steady him. Her hands were trembling. Tears still clung to her lashes. For a moment she just stared at Alexander like she couldn't process what had just happened.
Then she found her voice.
"Thank you," she said quickly. "Thank you so much… you didn't have to do this."
Alexander didn't respond.
His eyes moved briefly over her face, thoughtful but distant, like he was evaluating something rather than accepting gratitude.
Then he looked away. Like it was nothing.
One of the neighbors spoke from the small crowd. "Clearing this debt won't solve everything," the woman said. "The shameless man owes a lot of people"
A small murmur followed.
Isabella's face immediately lost color.
Alexander heard it. He slowly looked back at her face filled with fear, exhaustion, desperation she was trying to hide.
He had seen that look before.
"Your name," he said.
She hesitated before answering. "Isabella."
He nodded once.
"Isabella." He said it like he was memorizing it.
His driver returned. "It's done, sir."
Alexander gave a small nod.
Then he reached into his inner pocket and removed a simple business card. It was plain but elegant, the kind that spoke of quiet wealth.
He held it out to her. She hesitated before taking it.
"If you want to solve the rest of your problems," he said calmly, "send an email. I've got a contract for you"
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"What kind of contract ?" she asked softly.
Alexander's gaze remained steady. "If you are willing to make an exchange."
Her heartbeat quickened slightly. "What kind of exchange?"
For the first time, he looked directly into her eyes. Cold. Certain. A man used to making decisions that changed lives.
"I don't discuss business in public," he said.
Then he stepped back. And just like that, he turned and walked back to his car.
Leaving her standing there, confused.
Shaken.