Twisted Ties of Love

Casey stepped outside to check out the helicopter parked up, saying with a sense of awe, "If I'd known, I would have rocked up in a helicopter too. How cool would that be?" His remark made Izabella chuckle, "I don't like helicopters, I prefer you carrying me."

Izabella was pressed against his back, her breath and warmth seeping into him. Her words and exhales tickling his ear, causing Casey to duck his head and his earlobes to flush red. "I'll carry you home, anytime you want me to."

Izabella playfully pinched his ear, noticing how hot it was. She'd always wanted to do that, and now she finally could.

"Why is your ear so hot?"

"Really?"

"Yes, it's so hot it's warming my hand." Izabella buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling his scent.

His unique minty smell.

Only then did she fully relax, her tense nerves and body unwinding.

She still felt jittery. After all, this place stirred up too many painful memories, including those of Ryker.

The gunshot that tore through Ryker's chest seemed to echo from just yesterday, leaving her emotions in turmoil.

Ever since she arrived, her nerves had been on edge. Even after successfully drugging and binding Nathaniel, she still had to tread carefully.

Nathaniel was the type who wouldn't quit until he achieved his goal. If cornered, he might take her down with him. She didn't dare take that risk.

When Brett showed up, she feared he would force her to leave with him. Drugging Nathaniel was pure luck and his carelessness. But using the same trick on Brett was unlikely. Brett claimed he would make up for her loss, that he wouldn't hurt her, but who could be sure?

She had been fooled once and wouldn't let herself fall into the same trap.

Especially since Brett had held her lifeless body and promised to let her go if she woke up. But when she did return, he didn't keep his word.

Brett's promises were unreliable.

She had made it clear that she would never trust him again.

She had used death to see the real him. What she feared wasn't death or pain, nor wounds reopening. She feared repeating her mistakes, easily trusting someone, making the same mistake. "Casey, I want to go see the beach."

"Sure, I'll take you there."

Nathaniel's men had already been dealt with by Casey's crew. As for the rest, Casey left it to Toby. He carried Izabella to the car, gently setting her in the passenger seat and buckling her in. When Izabella heard the sound of the waves, she tapped on the window, "Pull over here. I want to go over there alone."

"Don't you want me to come with you?"

Izabella gently shook her head, "I'll be back soon."

"Alright, I'll wait here for you." Casey watched as Izabella got out of the car and walked away. He expected her to disappear from sight like usual, but to his surprise, she turned around after a few steps. Their eyes met in the open air. Izabella stood in the autumn dusk, the cool breeze gently playing with her hair. Her gaze was still distant, but it softened the moment she locked eyes with Casey. The person who once seemed out of reach now seemed within grasp.

Izabella gave a small smile and headed towards the coast. The wind was strong by the sea, a constant whooshing in her ears. Izabella, in heels, stumbled on the rocks. She pulled out a picture of Ryker from her jacket.

Looking out at the vast sea, she didn't want to cry, but the harsh sea breeze stung her eyes, causing a tear to fall onto the photo.

The sea wind felt like it was penetrating her, making her already cool body chill.

Nathaniel had said Ryker's body was dumped in this sea, his remains scattered.

Izabella took a deep, shaky breath, her throat tightening. She balled her hand into a fist near her mouth and yelled, "Ryker- She called out to him, then tried to smile at the sea.

"

"Ryker, I'm doing well now. I listened to you, I don't like Brett anymore. You were right, Brett isn't worth liking. I've found someone who truly deserves my love. He's great and he's a lot like you, just as gentle. When I take my meds, he knows I hate the taste and always has candies ready."

Izabella smiled, her face growing colder as her cheeks got wet with tears.

Izabella sniffled, her voice choked with emotion, "He's not like Brett. He respects me, believes in me, and always shows up when I'm most vulnerable. He carried me here today. His shoulders are as sturdy as yours, they make me feel safe."

She sounded like a child excitedly bragging about a teacher's praise.

Izabella's teary eyes were brighter than ever.

"I like him because he's him, not because he looks like you."

Tears blurred her vision, the sea wind making her eyes sting. She had to squint and take it slow. Once she calmed down, her mind had the chance to recall the past.

-"Cry Baby, don't cry. I can't carry you home this time."

-"Here's a donut for you."

-"Do you have any cookies? I'll give you all of mine."

-"Can I call you Bella?"

-"Bella, this time you have to find your way home on your own."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Ryker," Izabella croaked, her voice choked with emotion, "I'm not allergic to strawberry donuts anymore. I can eat a lot of them. I've also found someone who can take me home. I'm happy, really happy. You should be happy too."

The biting sea wind suddenly gentled, lightly drying the tears on Izabella's face. Izabella rubbed her eyes, put the photo back in her jacket, and slowly turned to leave.

Casey was leaning against the car, his gaze fixed on Izabella. The moment she returned, his eyes found her.

Izabella watched him from afar, his eyes twinkling like starlight. He smiled, appearing very gentle.

He was tall and well-built.

Just as Izabella stopped, Casey approached her. Without asking any questions, he delicately wiped away the tear stains on her face with a tissue.

"Don't you want to know what I was doing?"

Casey shook his head. "If you want to tell me, I'll listen. If you don't want to, I won't ask."

Izabella lifted her head, one hand clutching the hand Casey held the tissue in.

"Ryker died here, and his body was dumped at sea."

Casey noticeably stiffened.

Izabella's voice still raspy from crying, she spoke in a low tone, "I just went to see 'him', had a long talk. I told him that I met someone I really like, someone who can take me home."

Casey's heartbeat quickened, as if a

herd of elephants were stampeding in his chest. He could hardly control himself, his blood pumping furiously. His eyes blazed with intensity as he stared at Izabella, his body growing weak from excessive excitement.

His ears twitched, his face flushed. "The person you like is, is...." He dared not continue, fearing he would misinterpret Izabella's words.

"Silly." Izabella's eyes still glistened

with tears, she broke into a laugh unable to resist pinching Casey's ear, "The one I like is Casey, only you it's not about anyone else, it's only because you're you, got it?"

Casey's mind was a whirl, but he couldn't help but smile, a satisfied expression spreading across his face, "What kind of like do you mean?"

"Probably," Izabella said seriously, "the kind where I want to marry you."

Excited, Casey couldn't help but pull Izabella into a tight embrace, his jaw pressed against her ear.

"Izabella."

"Mhm."

"Izabella."

"I'm here."

"Bella."

"I'm here."

Each time he called her name, she replied.

"I love you."

Listening to Casey's rapid heartbeat, Izabella replied, "Me too."

Only when both parties give their all does love have meaning. He had waited for Izabella for so long, and finally, he received her clear response.

Casey looked intently at Izabella, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other slipping under her legs, lifting her up in a bridal carry.

"Let's go home."

"Let's go home together."

Once in the car, Casey couldn't hide his excitement. As soon as he started driving, he floored the gas pedal, frequently stalling the car - he had never been this embarrassed before.

"I feel like I'm dreaming."

Seeing him act so happy and excited, Izabella rolled down the window letting in the cool breeze, asking, "Feel the wind, do you still think you're dreaming?"

Casey floored the gas, the car

instantly speeding forward. The

wind outside rushed in violently, the

chill seeping through their skins, I'm not sleepwalking, Izabella likes me, and wants to marry me!" He laughed outloud, gripping the steering wheel and facing the wind.

Nervous Izabella advised, "Slow down, be careful."

Immediately, Casey slowed down, turning to look at Izabella with a smile that stretched across his face.

As if remembering something, he suddenly beamed, his ears twitching, "I knew you'd like me."

Intrigued, Izabella asked, "Why do you say that?" She found that Casey was really easy to please. They had just had a misunderstanding a day ago, but he had quickly forgotten about it. Casey thought to himself that Izabella's attitude towards him was always different, and her care for him was genuine. He didn't need to doubt his uniqueness, he was one of a kind, he was himself. He was grateful that there was a person named "Ryker" in Izabella's life. Because of him, he had the chance to get close to Izabella.

He didn't know about Izabella's past, only that she was Brett's ex-wife. She had died in a fire at the age of 27.

If Izabella remembered Ryker so vividly, then Ryker must have been very important to her.

He was grateful to everyone who had been good to Izabella, because of them, Izabella was who she was today.

"Bella, let's go back to the coast when we get a chance. I want to talk with this Ryker guy too, to thank him for letting you meet me, and for being so good to you when he was by your side."

"Aren't you jealous of Ryker?"

Casey shook his head.

Izabella found that Casey liked her even more than she thought. So this is what it feels like to be loved.

Brett watched as Casey took Izabella away. He took two steps forward, but forced himself to stop, not following them.

A hint of sadness showed on Brett's face.

This time, he couldn't find any love for him in Izabella's eyes. Even the past resentment was gone. Izabella had completely let go, but what about him?

Izabella had truly let him go.

He bent down to pick up the syringe Izabella had dropped on the ground. Nathaniel was tied to a chair, his back to Brett, unaware of what he was doing.

"Watching Izabella leave with someone else, have you ever thought that it would have been better if she hadn't come back? At least in your memory, she would still be yours alone."