Isabella's POV:

I think it was quite late to be getting up but I couldn't be sure because I hadn't gotten out of bed

I was exhausted

My eyes hurt from all the crying last night and I did not want to face my so called 'brothers' or 'father'

I was so not used to that.

I didn't even know what to think anymore so I was sort of avoiding it all by laying in bed

I knew I had to get up soon though so I decided to avoid making it harder for myself

I'd have to get up now.

I flop out of the bed

I got a quick shower so I could at least look and feel physically better than I feel mentally



Her outfit ^^^

I decided to sort of dress up because if I was gonna hate today I might aswell hate it looking pretty.

I add some makeup just my usual, concealer, blush , highlighter, mascara and lip gloss.

I brush my hair out as it was already quite straight

I decided I was ready and it was officially time to head downstairs so I take a deep breath

Opening my door and noticing this morning a Thomas was standing outside my door

Guarding my door

I gave him a weird look

"Missing me that much Thomas?" I teased him although I was really wondering why he was guarding my door specifically because guards never do that

"Definitely not. Unfortunately I am your bodyguard, they couldn't give you one before because you didn't know about them being...you know but now you know i am officially your bodyguard" he explained the whole ordeal to me and I gave him an unpleasant look

A body guard?!

Really.

I don't leave the house mate

"Great that's wonderful" I spoke beginning to head downstairs with him following me

"Didn't miss me very much , did you ma'am?" Thomas teased back in a serious and blunt tone

We reached the end of the stairs and I gave him a sassy side eye

"Of course I missed you Thomas but call me ma'am again and I will punch you in the face" I looked at him as we walked into the dining room

I didn't look around until someone cleared their throat

Vincent was the one who cleared his throat

Oh this is going to be so fun

Leonardo gave me a stern look making it clear he was telling me to sit in the chair besides him

I sighed giving Thomas a smile before walking over to sit beside Leonardo

"What's with the body guard? love Thomas and all but I don't fancy having him around all the time" I instantly spoke making them all confused on why I was so okay

I ain't sitting around depressed letting life pass me over this shit.

"You love Thomas?" Leonardo's first thing that came to mind was that

Really?!

"Not like that don't be jealous" I rolled my eyes at him , eating the food Infront of me very quickly because I was hungry as fuck.

Leonardo didn't seem to like my answer but kept his trap shut either way.

"We wanted you protected." Alexander told me staring at me like I was some amazing sighting in the wild

"Look I get that but I can't leave the house , what exactly am I being protected from?" I asked with a determined expression

Killian seemed to be getting annoyed at all my questioning.

"Because we could get attacked at any point , security has to be high." Killian told me inpatiently making me look at him with a glare

"You know what I'm not arguing with you , it's whatever now if you have anything you need to ask do it now please" I smiled at them all sarcasticly

Ace seemed like he had a question so that's why I knew it's best I ask now.

"You don't have any questions yourself?" Jakob asked seeming intrigued on why I wouldn't want to know more about all this

I found it all last night so I had nothing to ask right now honestly.

"Nope I did my research last night" I simply said giving them a look to let them know if they were gonna ask something do it now

My leg shook under the table

I was trying to hide it but really inside I hated being in this room with all my relatives I didn't know were my relatives until last night.

Leonardo's hand landed on my thigh stopping me from bouncing my leg up and down

I turned to him shocked and he gave me a reassuring look to go on.

Something in that moment felt like I needed his hand there to stop myself from being nervous so although I gave him a glare I didn't push his hand off my thigh

Why did I find it comforting?

I hated him but he did make me feel contactable

Like I knew he wouldn't let other hurt me.

I snapped out my train of thought when Ace asked his long anticipated question

"How do you feel about it? All of it?"

I didn't expect his question to be that so when I heard it I stared at him in surprise for a good minute

I didn't answer for alittle not knowing the answer to be honest

"I-i'm not sure if I'm being honest I didn't expect it and I hate who the people I am related to are- but I don't know I think it could be worse and atleast you don't hate me like I thought my family would have" I was fully honest even though my heart pounded in my chest as each word left my mouth.

I was trying to word it in a nicer way because I didn't want them to start hating me.

Ace didn't seem to..hate the answer

None of them did

Infact I think they all thought it was a better answer than they would have imagined

"I can live with that" Trevor mumbled , which almost made me laugh because I didn't expect that to be what he said

"Have you had a boyfriend before?" Alexander asked out the blue , catching me completely off guard

I had an answer though

"No not one I have ever chosen" I answered making them all look at me with confusion

Even victor looked curious.

"Not one you've ever chosen?" Leonardo asked making me turn to him as his hand on my thigh got slightly tighter

"You don't have to answer Izzy" summer told me reminding me I didn't have to force myself to answer because I had a choice

I wanted to answer though

"There was a boy before you , my parents forced me to be with him too , we were meant to get married but something's happened and it ended, that's all I'm saying no more asking about that." I replied with a stern tone because I couldn't ever face telling anyone that

One person knows and that's summer.

Leonardo didn't take his eyes off me as I waited for the next question

They all seemed curious about that now but they did as I requested and didn't ask anything more on it.

"Did you ever wonder who your family was?" Killian asked next and I thought for a moment before answering

"Of course I did but as I got older it became an unrealistic dream to find them" I shrugged because it was true after awhile you just give up

He nodded, understanding what I meant.

"Did you want siblings?" Ace asked staring at me across from the table like this was important to him

"Yeah I always used to want siblings especially when I was younger playing with the maids got sad after awhile" I smiled to myself finding myself funny thinking of how I used to force the maids to play with me

Especially when I got to the age 9+ because that's when Stacey joined and she was my favourite person to play games with.

"What about other relatives what did you think about having uncles , aunty's , cousins and that out there?" Vincent finally spoke up asking something

I had a sad and funny story for this.

"This is sad but i sometimes used to walk past people and genuinely think to myself they could be my mum, my dad or my cousin, anyone." I replied and I saw the very small almost unnoticeable smile that almost left Vincents mouth

He seemed pleased with my answer

I was finished with my food and we all sat in silence for a little bit

Summer randomly looking like her world lit up around her

"IZZY I FORGOT TO TELL YOU! I got a bodyguard too , guess who?!" She randomly yelled getting excited from across the table

I loved how excited she got when telling me something

"I don't know, don't make me guess tell me." I answered her as we both ignored the fact , all the men were around us listening

"Thomas's hoe!" She screamed, laughing at herself

I smiled with a chuckle

Oh my god

"We can set them up!" I yelled excitedly back at her and she nodded excited for this aswell

Suddenly our very exciting conversation was interrupted

"We should get going home." Trevor informed us all grabbing his coat and things

His brother , Vincent doing the same.

They both said bye to the rest of them and got to me.

"Bye cousin, it was nice to meet you properly" Trevor smiled at me politely saying goodbye

"Byee same for you I guess" I laughed with a small polite smile to match his energy

His brother stood Infront of me now instead.

"Bye Isabella, treat her good Leonardo." Vincent spoke in an extremely deep and cold voice after a minute of just staring at me

"Of course" Leonardo replied as we lead them to the door

Way to make me uncomfortable gang.

"Goodbye" I smiled at Vincent as his brother and him walked through the front door and looked back at us all one last time

They all waved them off while I just stood there before finally they were gone

Now it is time to face this truth with my actual brothers and father for the day.

Yay!

--------

Chapter 18 finished thank god lol

Hope you all loved it even though it isn't the most interesting of chapters 🫶🏼