Chapter 29: We Need To Talk

" I don't know. We were just walking down the street when suddenly your Dad got shot. There is nothing to worry. He got shot in the arm. The bullet has been removed and he is okay", she assured me.

How can I not worry? Today it is him? What will happen the next day?

" I will come by the house and pick you up. Be ready", she said and ended the call.

Why did he do this? How could he shoot his own dad?

I don't understand anything. Why is this happening? What do I do?

I quickly got ready and hurried downstairs as I heard the honk of a car. She had arrived. Without wasting any time, I ran toward the car and got in.

I looked at her face. She looked tired and miserable. I cannot imagine the situation she was in. Seeing Dad get shot with her own eyes.

I didn't know how to console her. I was a mess myself.

Mom quickly drove to the hospital and we rushed into the room he was in. When I opened the door, I saw my Dad lying on the bed with an IV fluid attached to his hand. His right arm had been bandaged and  He was sleeping. I slowly walked towards his side and sat beside him and gently placed my hand on his arm. I couldn't stop the guilt from growing inside. It's all my fault. I should have known not to mess with them. I should have just let it be. Now look what I have done.

How can he do this to his father? Doesn't he care at all? What would have happened if he had been shot in the chest? I can't imagine it.

I felt my Mom's presence beside me as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

" It's okay. He is okay. I was shocked for a moment when this happened.  The bullet has been removed and the wound has been cleaned. I didn't want to worry you that's why I didn't tell you sooner", she said in a soft voice.

Oh, Mom! If you knew what had happened. You both have raised an ungrateful son and a bad daughter. I don't know what to do. I can't even tell them the truth nor can I get help from anywhere. All this new information is eating me alive and I am not able to do anything about it. There was a time when there was nothing to worry about. My whole world has turned upside down and the people who I trusted are behind it.

" Bella, I have to go and get some coffee. Do you want one?".

I nodded.

" If there is anything call me".

" Okay Mom".

She left the room. I couldn't bear to look at him. I know he will be okay but I can't stop blaming myself. What if they had shot him somewhere else? I don't know what would i have done.

I gently squeezed his hand.

" Please forgive me, Dad. I made a bad choice and now, you have to suffer it. I am so sorry", I whispered and I couldn't stop myself from letting the tears flow down as I felt guilt inside crushing me, blaming me for everything bad.

I will make things right. I have to.

-

Dad was recovering quite well. The doctor said that there was nothing to worry about. Dad just needs to test for a few days and he is good to go back to work. Hearing the doctor's words made me relieved but I couldn't stop blaming myself. If I had not done that, he would have been perfectly fine.

Why did I have to report them? Look what it got me into. I made the wrong choice to trust the legal system and now I regret it.

He made me blame myself. He started all this. He created all this mess. After what he did to my dad, I hate him so much that I really want to harm him. But there was nothing I could do.

" Bella, look who is here", I heard my Mom's voice. I opened my eyes and slowly got up from my bed. I made my way downstairs to see who had come. Ella was sitting on the couch talking with my Mom. When she saw me, she stood up and made her way towards me.

" Hey, I just thought to check on you", she said as she hugged me.

How can she act like this after what she did? Does she have no shame? How can she just come here and act kike everything is normal.

I didn't hug her back.

" Please act normal or your Mom will ask more questions", she whispered.

I didn't want to but it was true. She would think we were fighting and would want to know why so I forced a smile on my face and reluctantly hugged her back.

" We will talk upstairs,", I whispered

"okay", she whispered back..

I pulled back and looked at Mom who was still sitting on the couch staring at us.

" Mom, we have so much to talk about. We are going upstairs", I said as I grabbed Ella's hand and pulled her upstairs. Once I entered my room, I let go of her hand and locked the door behind me. Ella was sitting on my bed and smiled at me.

" What do you want?", I gritted.

" Bella, it's been so many days since we met. Please can't we just talk like we used to", she said softly.

I scoffed.

" Do you expect me to forget all that happened and behave nicely with you".

" I don't but believe me when I tell you, I did this to help you. I know your Dad got shot and I know you know something about it that you didn't tell anyone".

What the... How does she know that

" What are you talking about".

" Isabella, I know you and I know many other things you don't so tell me. Tell me what happened".

I didn't know how she knew that but I wanted to tell her everything that had happened after that. I wanted to tell somebody but, I was afraid of creating more problems for me. I looked away from her and stared out of the window.

" Your silence says it all. Something happened right? It is somehow related to your Dad getting shot isn't it?".

My heart clenched at that thought. I caused the problem and hearing those words from her made me feel even more guilty.

" It does not matter. You cannot expect me to trust you after telling me you have been part of something big all these years and I was never aware of this and on top of that, suddenly you along with Katherine a stranger,  decide to tell me about this because somehow it is related to Alex".

I heard her sigh. She stood up from the bed and stood in front of me, looking me in the eye.

" I know you think I betrayed your trust but believe me when I say this. I just wanted to help you and the only way I thought I could was like this. Maybe the way it was presented in front of you is bad but my intentions were not to hurt you. I just hope you will forgive me, one day", she said softly. I could see her eyes were welling up and I felt bad for her. I felt the need to say something but I didn't. She then walked towards the door and opened it. I turned to look at her. She just gave me a small smile and left.

I just stood there, trying to comprehend the things she said. I was facing a big dilemma, I wanted to trust her but I didn't want to either.

Can I trust her? Should I trust her?

Her words were ringing in my head. She did it to help me. I couldn't help but wonder if she was telling the truth. She didn't harm me instead She just offered to help me. Even though Katherine scared the hell out of me, she also didn't do anything to hurt me. They both offered to help me in their own way. Maybe I should hear her out. She knows some stuff that I don't.

Should I tell her about the cop? What if she has something useful to say about that? She claims to know many things that I don't. What if they turn out to be useful?

I started pacing around the room. Katherine said she could help me do something against them. But why would she help me? I wanted to know more and the only person who could help me was Ella

What do I do? Ella has been my best friend all these years. I want to believe that whatever she did, she did it to help me. I know I have been making terrible choices that got me into this trouble. What, if this one turns out to be the right choice? I am willing to take the chance. I took my phone and called her.
.

," Hello Isabella?", I heard her ask.

" Ella, we need to talk. Come back now", I said and ended the call before she could respond.  I placed my phone inside my pocket and hurried downstairs. I don't think we should talk here. Maybe we should go somewhere else so that no one hears us. I quickly opened the front door.

" Aaahh", I shrieked as I saw a figure, standing in front of me, which took me by surprise. It was none other than Alex. I didn't think I would see him any time soon. I didn't think he would show up any time soon and I didn't want him to either.

He also looked surprised to see me there. He cleared his throat and stood straight as if trying to intimidate me.

This is awkward

Should I say something? Why was he here now? Did he come back home? I didn't want to believe he did this to my Dad but the truth is he is not the one I thought he was. If he was here then it was either to check on my dad out of concern or he had something else in his mind.

" What the hell are you doing here?', I hissed and narrowed my eyes at him.

For a moment, he just kept staring at me. Then he cleared his throat again.

"Move", he demanded looking at me coldly.

" Hey what is...- oh Alex, it's so nice of you to show us your face now", , I heard my Mom's sarcastic voice.

I looked back to see Mom glaring at Alex. Her anger was justified. A few days had passed since Dad got shot and he shows up now. if he wasn't behind this and genuinely cared for him then he would have shown up earlier.

" Mom, I am sorry I didn't come early. I had some work to do". I heard him apologizing.

How can he act like this in front of me? How can be so normal when I am going crazy not knowing what to do

" Yeah, work that is more important than Dad. Anyway, Isabella why are you blocking his way? Move so that he can come inside", Mom said

I looked back at him. He looked calm and amused. How can I let him inside? He did this to my Dad? Will he hurt him again?

" Isabella Move", mom ordered

I hesitated. I didn't want him to see my Dad. I didn't want him near my parents after knowing the fact that he may be behind this.

"Isabella, what is wrong with you", I heard her yell at me. I reluctantly moved aside so he could go inside. He walked past me without even glancing at me. I looked at him as he went and hugged Mom whispering something in her ear. She patted his back and mumbled something back. Why can't they talk loudly so I could also hear what they said to each other? Then they both went towards the kitchen and I stood there watching them go. How can Mom forgive him so quickly, not even scolding him a bit more?

I just stood there for a couple of minutes, not knowing what to do. Should I stay here and keep an eye on him or should I leave the house and go see Ella? Even if I stay, does it really matter? I couldn't even stop him from entering the house. I don't think he would do anything here so maybe I should just go out. I didn't even bother to tell anyone  I was going out as I opened the door and walked outside.