Twisted Ties of Love

To Casey, what was Izabella? She was his only sun in the sky, the rare rainbow after a storm, the vast ocean a whale needs, and the flame a moth recklessly dives into.

His obsession with Izabella was just as intense; he wanted to possess her, wanted her by his side, always.

Yet, if Izabella chose to leave, his heart, filled with self-doubt, couldn't even muster the courage to reach out and ask her to stay.

If there were only one rose left in the world, with but a month to bloom, Brett would preserve it at its peak beauty, while Casey would witness its life cycle, standing by as it blossomed and wilted away. That was the difference between their notions of love.

Casey's sudden mood swings were due to his insecurity, his lack of a sense of safety. His mind, already fragile from past trauma, seemed at times to revert to Ryker's state.

Izabella didn't want to see him become a fool again, but she was at a loss about what to do. Should she resort to hypnosis to make Casey forget her once more?

Whatever Bunny went on to say, Izabella couldn't take it in. She sat on the couch, her hands unconsciously growing cold.

As the weather turned chillier and darkness fell before six, Izabella stood up. "Mom, I should get going."

"Why? Stay for dinner. I'll invite Casey over too."

"No, he's waiting for me at home."

As Izabella stood to leave, her phone rang. "Are you at your parents'?" Casey's voice came through the speaker.

"Yes, I'm about to head back." Izabella's body warmed up at the sound of his voice, her heavy heart suddenly easing. She tilted her head, her ear close to the phone as if to catch every nuance of his voice. "It's raining outside. I'll come to pick you up."

Izabella glanced outside; it wasn't raining on her end. "It's dry here. Maybe I should just take a cab."Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"I'm already on the road. Oh, and do you want some hot chocolate? I'll grab one for you on the way." "Sure, that'd be nice."

After hanging up, Izabella saw Bunny eyeing her curiously.

"Was that Casey?"

"Yeah, he's coming to pick me up."

"Well, that's perfect. Stay for dinner; I'll get the maid to start cooking."

"Let's see when he gets here."

Izabella thought it would take a while for Casey to arrive, but in just seven or eight minutes, the sound of a car pulling up reached them.

Casey entered, the picture of bedragglement. He hadn't bothered with an umbrella, and his coat was soaked through. His hair was a mess, and he handed Izabella a steaming cup of hot chocolate. "For you."

She took it, feeling the warmth seep from her palms to her heart. Outside, the rain had drenched him, yet the cup was spotless.

Not only had Casey brought hot chocolate, but he had also brought a scarf, knowing full well Izabella never carried one despite her aversion to the cold.

Holding the hot chocolate in one hand, Izabella threw herself into his embrace. The collision grounded their anxieties.

Casey looked down at her, his eyes soft, a faint smile playing in his deep brown irises, as if to melt the winter's frost.

He hugged her tightly, his hands running through her soft hair. "Let's go home."

"Wouldn't you like to stay for dinner?" Bunny called out after them.

"It's too late for that now. It's winter, too cold."

"We have a room for you to sleep in."

"I'm not comfortable in unfamiliar beds."

In truth, it was Izabella who was particular about where she slept, and Bunny knew it. She waved them off. "Alright, take Bella home. Don't catcha cold." Then to Izabella, "Come visit when you can, stay a few days."

"Mhm," Izabella responded.

Casey wrapped the scarf snugly around Izabella, making sure no gaps would let the cold in, before leading her out. Bunny watched them leave. Under the dim lights, their close silhouettes made her eyes moisten with tears.

It hadn't been easy. She knew the struggles they'd been through to find this peace.

Back inside, Beck in his wheelchair called to her. "Don't stand at the door; aren't you cold? Come inside."

Bunny walked over and leaned against his knees, her eyes still red.

Beck knew she was upset again, perhaps because of his legs, which might never regain their former agility.

"If I hadn't pushed for Brett to take control of the Windham family's assets, maybe you wouldn't have ended up in the hospital, maybe I wouldn't be in this wheelchair."

"I wasn't just helping him. Nathaniel

hurt Casey and lied to us; of course, I

wouldn't let that go. It was Brett's

skill that secured all of the Windham Group's wealth in J City."

The Windham family knew how to teach success but failed to teach compassion and love.

Seeing his partner in tears, Beck fumbled to comfort her, saying, "Don't cry. There's an upside to this wheelchair; I no longer have to kneel on the washboard as punishment." Outside, as Izabella buckled her seatbelt in the passenger seat.

Casey started the car and asked, "What brought you here so suddenly today?"

He was unaware of his own "illness,"

only that he'd been plagued by nightmares and a lack of appetite What he didn't know was the extent of his psychological turmoil, his nocturnal wanderings, and his memory lapses upon waking.

Izabella had not planned on telling Casey about his condition. Instead, she said, "I came to discuss wedding dates. My parents picked a few; which do you think we should choose?"