Chapter 3

• Isabelle’s Point of View:
• “Is that—” I scoffed before I could complete my sentence. “Is that Matt?”
• She looked down. Matt came out and looked out of the door—and his face paled. “I-Isabel—”
• “I am sorry. Shouldn’t have disturbed you while you were cheating on me.” I started to go back, but he followed me.
• “Wait, Isa! I can—”
• I turned around and slapped him hard. “Just go away. Fuck you and her!”
• He didn’t say anything, and some tears threatened to roll down my eyes. I turned around and reached for a cab. I told the driver to take me to the airport. Tears covered my face within a few succeeding seconds.
• Why?
• It had been just one month since I started dating him. We met in a cafe while I was out with Chloe and at first sight; I had thought to give him a real chance.
• I thought it would help me forget Achilles. This was one and the only way I hadn’t tried yet, which could possibly help.
• And now this?
• I wasn’t too broken up about Matt. I couldn’t get myself to be serious about him but Chloe? Why would she do something that gross?
• I looked out of the window and wiped my tears. I guess Jesus wanted me to completely move on from this place.
• But isn’t that too much to lose at once?
• My family, my best friend, and my boyfriend?
• I was too numb to feel anything at the moment. It would probably hurt like hell at night. I tried to focus on the side view as I anticipated the airport.
• _________________
• “Yes. I am Isabelle, stepdaughter of Mr. Roman.” I said to the person in charge of private jet planes.
• “I am sorry, ma’am, but we would need to confirm this from Mr. Roman. Could you give him a call because we can’t disturb him for no reason?”
• I sighed. “Fine!”
• I took out my cell and called him. I tried twice—but he didn’t pick up. Maybe he had already forgotten about me since he firmly believed I wouldn’t return.
• My mother didn’t have any private planes in her name, so it was worthless getting her permission. She usually didn’t have anything to say for me, anyway.
• The options left—which were actually singular—stared back at my face and I couldn’t even close my eyes to not face them. I had to if I wanted to leave and I can’t lie to myself. I had to leave, otherwise I would probably go crazy.
• I flashed an awkward smile to the person waiting for me to make my third call as I stared at my phone screen.
• “He is not picking up. Will his son work?” I asked quietly.
• “Mr. Achilles Roman?” He confirmed.
• The name itself gave me butterflies. I nodded, and he smiled widely. “Of course, that’d work just fine. Most of Mr. Roman’s flights and assets have been transferred to his name already.”
• I nodded again and decided to call him.
• ‘Just ask. If he agrees, good. If he doesn’t, end the call.
• Yes.’
• I confirmed it to myself and dialled the number. He picked it up after a ring.
• “Miss me already?” His voice was full of humour.
• I scoffed. “I-I need your help with something.”
• “Is that so?”
• “I need to board a plane, but I forgot to book tickets. I need to leave now, so I need a private plane. Can you do that for me?”
• “That’s so expensive. How will someone like you pay me back?”
• I gritted my teeth. His voice was sexy, but his words were so cruel. What kind of step-brother was he?
• “What do you need?” I asked in an irritated tone.
• “I don’t need much,” His voice suddenly deepened, making my breath heavy, “But whenever I would, you would owe me one.”
• I knew that couldn’t be good, but I needed to go out.
• “Deal.”
• “Fine.”
• The call ended, and the person’s phone beeped. He had apparently received a confirmation. He handed me the permission card with a smile and I smiled back, taking it and heading inside.
• After submitting the card, I sat down inside a very lavish private plane. I had never travelled in one, but it was actually better than my imagination.
• The person confirmed all the information with me twice and I told him that we could leave as soon as possible.
• Consequently, we left within fifteen minutes.
• _______________
• “Mam. Do you need any drinks?” The sweet attendant asked me for the second time and I shook my head with a small smile. “No. You should rest because I don’t take any food while onboard.”
• She smiled. “Thank you for your generous offer, but I can’t rest. This is my job.”
• “But I am the only one here and I don’t want anything.” I contradicted logically.
• She forced a sad smile. “If I do that, I would lose my job.”
• “No one would know. I won’t tell anyone.” I said, as though secretly helping her.
• A small laugh escaped her mouth. She shut up immediately when I raised my eyebrow. “I am sorry. I thought you were joking or testing me.”
• “Why did you think so?” I was genuinely confused.
• She was so weird.
• She looked towards the back of the plane, and I followed her eyes to find a camera. My eyes widened, and I looked back at her.
• “There is a fucking camera on this plane?” I asked, without expressing my shock with my hands.
• She smiled apologetically. “I had no idea you were unaware, Ms. Isabella.”
• I sighed. “Well, I can’t help you then. I am really sorry.”
• She didn’t say anything, but just left. I wanted to help her, but that would include talking to him again, which I couldn’t afford at any cost. Selfish—but I was done with this world.
• …
• “We’re here, Ms. Isabella.” The attendant walked up to me again just before we were going to reach the Lewis Landing Airport, New York.
• “Thank you.” I flashed a smile, which she dutifully returned. I got off the plane as soon as it landed because I had no idea if I was being watched by that creepy camera.
• Who would care enough to watch me through that, anyway?
• I rolled into the town with a big smile. I had a big life ahead of me—and I didn’t want it to be ruined by my miserable past.
• I had to prove myself. So, as soon as I reached a hotel and booked a room, I extensively researched the universities. There were several of them, some of the most famous here in NY and some out in CA, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and so on.
• I wanted to get the best and the nearest. So, I applied for over 5 of them, and thus, a few exams were lined up. Each of them had an entrance exam as the second evaluation, the first one being my report card until now.
• Finally, there would be something that I could use as a distraction, and maybe—maybe—I will get over him with some time alone.
• And everyone else, for that matter.
• _____________________
• “Thank you,” I said to the Uber driver and got off. As I walked toward the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I took a deep breath.
• I was way ahead of my time—but that was just my habit. I didn’t even know if they allowed the candidates this early.
• Before I could enter the vicinity, a hand pulled me and I shrieked—and the person covered my face with his hand.
• My eyes widened, but I calmed down when I saw the person, only to freak out again.
• “Achilles!?” I exclaimed.
• He pushed me against the wall—in the middle of the fucking street. However, that was not my concern.
• He looked at me with a powerful gaze. Something I was too weak to face. I looked away, and he made me look at him.
• “Why… Why are you here?” I asked a sensible question, and he smirked.
• “We’ve got a lot to talk about.” He came even near my face and I closed my eyes. “Stepsister.”