Chapter 18
Kendall’s travel visa was almost expiring, and he still hadn’t gotten another chance to see Isabel again.
The day before he was due to return to Caledon, he headed to the Lodge residence, hoping that she would grant him a final meeting. A storm rolled in, and thunder boomed and wind howled in the night. Isabel stood before a window as she looked at the downpour. Tyler handed her a glass of wine. As she took a sip, a bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Her heart clenched. “Is he still outside?” “Yeah. He insists on seeing you once more, and he can’t be convinced to leave,” Tyler replied.
Isabel curled her lip, finding the situation ironic. A few months ago, on a stormy night just like this one, Kendall had locked her outside the villa. He’d left her in the rain just to force her to give up her spot for direct admission to the graduate program to Winifred. Now, things were reversed.
“You know, we only start to regret and cherish people who were once within reach after they leave. Is it actually because of love, or is it just because we can’t accept the loss?” she murmured, unsure whether she was asking herself or Tyler.
He sneered. “Whatever it is, he brought it upon himself!”
Isabel shut her eyes and gave a dismissive wave. “Chase him away. I won’t see him.”
A black Rolls–Royce pulled out of the estate and stopped before Kendall. His brand–new suit was soaked through, and he looked like a mess.
The car door opened, and he took a few steps forward, his limbs stiff from standing still for too long. He forced a smile, but it froze when he saw Tyler. “Where’s Izzy?” He refused to believe Isabel would be cruel enough to refuse to see him just once more.
“Leave. She won’t see you,” Tyler said icily.
Kendall had stood with his back straight for the past few hours, but now, he slumped and staggered backward. He asked hoarsely, “But why? Why won’t she even give me a chance?”
“You didn’t have mercy on her when you locked her outside in the rain to force her into submission, did you?” Tyler asked sarcastically.
Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Kendall swayed on his feet, but Tyler had no sympathy for him. He said, “Leave, or I’ll make sure you won’t set foot in Almonia again.”
With that, the Rolls–Royce turned and drove back inside the estate.
Kendall couldn’t take it anymore. He leaned against a tree nearby and slowly slid to the ground. His tears mixed with the raindrops falling on his face, and he could taste the saltiness of them. His heart throbbed painfully.
It was in that moment that reality finally hit him–Isabel would never forgive him.
Meanwhile, halfway across the planet, the Court family was also about to face a storm. Two plainly dressed middle–aged people entered the Court residence while Gordon, Linda, and Felix were busy dealing with the crisis the family business faced.
Winifred’s expression turned ugly when she saw the middle–aged couple. “What are you guys doing here?”
The woman, Ruth Green, grabbed her hand enthusiastically. “Why haven’t you been answering our calls lately, sweetie? And why haven’t you been giving us money?
“I saw from the news that the Court family is about to go bankrupt. Hurry up and get whatever money you can out of them before coming home with me and your dad!TM
Winifred shook her off disdainfully. “Money is tight lately. I don’t have any extra for you! The Court family will still be better off than most other people, even if they go bankrupt. Besides, they treat me so well that they won’t let me suffer, no matter what happens!
“I’m warning you. Don’t come looking for me anymore. I don’t want to see you!”
The sound of something shattering came from inside the study as soon as the words were out of Winifred’s mouth.
