Chapter 23: He Must Stop Her
Isabella, upon hearing those words, felt as though her blood had instantly turned to ice. Her entire body went cold, and that suffocating feeling returned, as if someone were choking her, making her gasp for air like a fish stranded on land.
It wasn’t an accident; it was deliberate murder?!
Isabella felt like she was trapped in an invisible web, unable to break free, and was left with no choice but to surrender. The assassinations she had only seen in TV shows and movies were happening to her now?
She had never wanted to be involved in such conflicts, only desiring a simple and ordinary life. But even this simple wish seemed unattainable. Why had things turned out this way? Isabella couldn’t fathom it.
“Isabella, are you alright?” Emanuele’s voice came from the phone, filled with concern when she didn’t respond immediately after his previous statement.
She had always lived in a world with clear legal boundaries, and this was her first foray into the darkness. Was she frightened?
Damn it, when did he become so concerned about her emotions? He couldn’t help but put himself in her shoes, sensing how much pain and helplessness Isabella might be feeling at the moment.
Isabella had always tried to distance herself from their world, making it clear from the start that she wanted no part in it. However, he had also told her that once she officially entered the Lombardi family, there was no turning back. Did she finally understand now?
Thinking about it, Emanuele felt a twisted sense of satisfaction as her world view crumbled. It was amusing to see how resilient this naive girl was. No matter how significant the setback, it couldn’t defeat her.
Yes, it was Isabella’s tenacity and resilience that made Emanuele find her intriguing. He wanted to break her strength and shatter her illusions, and that would be an accomplishment in itself.
“Isabella, I hope you can survive the ‘accidents’ that will come your way. I’d hate to see you die so easily,” Emanuele casually remarked.
Emanuele hung up the phone, his eyes now filled with a chilling, bloodthirsty glint, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He hoped Isabella could endure, as he had no intention of losing such an entertaining toy.
Isabella, on the other hand, couldn’t help but curse. This guy was truly insane! She was in this situation, and he seemed to be reveling in it! Any trace of the goodwill she had begun to feel for Emanuele was now completely gone.
In reality, Isabella wasn’t as calm as Emanuele believed. After finishing the call, she stood in front of the dressing table, her hands trembling as she tried to style her hair. She failed several times before finally tying it up. When changing clothes, she deliberately chose a shirt with no visible brand, but the bowtie at the collar was a mess, a stark contrast to how she used to present herself.
As she left for work, her mood grew even heavier. In the past, she had found everything on the streets interesting. She would think about what to have for breakfast, whether to order a coffee, whether to go shopping with Evelyn after work, and what to wear the next day. But now, she couldn’t enjoy anything around her.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Whenever people approached, Isabella couldn’t help but be vigilant, wondering if any of them were here to harm her.
On the road, there were many cars, and Isabella couldn’t help but wonder if another speeding car might come crashing towards her, or if a group of people might step out and kidnap her…
Isabella was on edge the whole time until she reached the hospital, and only then did that terrifying feeling dissipate. She felt like continuing like this would eventually drive her to madness.
Luckily, within the hospital, everything was familiar. She knew the people, and her current status as a student doctor meant she rarely had to interact with unfamiliar patients. This made Isabella feel less frightened.
She had a busy day at work today. In the past, the busyness used to make her complain, but now, she didn’t complain at all. Being busy left her with little time to think about other things, which was a relief.
Taking a short break, Pippo handed Isabella a cup of coffee and praised her, “Isabella, you’re quite dedicated today. Keep it up, and you could become a great doctor.”
“Oh, don’t exaggerate,” Isabella replied modestly.
“By the way, Isabella, are you being followed by bodyguards now?” Pippo inquired curiously.
Isabella hadn’t allowed Tony and Harry to accompany her into the hospital, but they were still worried about her. So they would hover around the building, both in the hallway and outside her office. Isabella couldn’t shoo them away, so she let them be.
However, inside the hospital, she pretended not to recognize them. Surprisingly, Tony still noticed.
“Um, you could say that,” Isabella responded.
“What’s going on with you now? Do you have some kind of danger?” Pippo asked, puzzled.
“How should I put it… they’re here to ensure my safety,” Isabella said, not wanting to reveal too much. If they found out that her mother had married the former head of the mafia, they would probably be shocked.
“That’s really strange, Isabella. Have you encountered some kind of danger?” Pippo persisted.
“No, no,” Isabella waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, I just remembered, I have some medicine to deliver to the office upstairs. I’ll go do that now.” Isabella quickly turned and headed upstairs.
Pippo watched Isabella’s retreating figure, deep in thought. He hoped that Isabella had no connection whatsoever with that person.
After work, Clark came to pick up Isabella again for dinner.
“Isabella, today your brother won’t disturb us. Let’s go, what would you like to eat? I’ll take you there,” Clark said, still enthusiastic.
“I’d like to try that new Italian restaurant nearby,” Isabella replied.
“Alright.” Clark stepped on the gas pedal, and the car sped towards the direction Isabella indicated.
Meanwhile, Pippo, who had just left the hospital, saw this scene and his expression immediately darkened.
Wasn’t that man in the luxury car the Canadian mafia boss?
A man who had climbed to the top at such a young age, appearing harmless and like a playboy, but in reality, ruthless and cunning.
Did Isabella really have ties to the mafia? No, he had to stop her.