Days after Isabella's grandmother, Isabella cried when someone told her that Nicolai had indeed left her alone. The boy had flee somewhere in secret. He didn't even say goodbye to her. There were no farewell letters or anything.

He just left.

Nicolai left her to wonder alone. She thought that he was not going down without a fight. But he left without even saying anything.

Not only that but her family was ignoring her. Well, they were ignoring also ignoring each other. The only people she sees and greets in the house was Dmitri and Rafael.

"I won't forgive him..." Isabella said to Rafael as the man placed breakfast on her plate.

Now that Isabella thought about it, Rafael felt more like a caretaker than a bodyguard. He doesn't have the same aura as Dmitri does.

Rafael looks at her. "Aww, Bella." He cooed sadly. He hates seeing Isabella this dejected. Nicolai was her only friend and he's the only one who could somehow sympathize with her. But he's gone now and she's all alone again. "You know that it isn't his fault."

Isabella knows that.

Of course she knows that. She knows that Nicolai didn't really have a choice in this issue of theirs. However, Isabella's hope was just too high that she began to imagine Nicolai barging in and demanding her grandmother the right to be together with her.

Isabella sighed disappointedly. "I know that." She said begrudgingly.

Her family has also magically disappeared. It's like everyone she ever loved has disappeared like a fart in the wind.

It's all her grandmother's fault. With just her presence, she turned the whole house upside down!

"I should have said something when she was here." Isabella muttered spitefully, not realizing that her voice was loud enough for Rafael to hear.

"Off with your heads!" Someone said, acting condescendingly. Isabella Rafael turned their heads to look for the owner of that voice and saw Dmitri entering the dining room with a grin. He seemed to be the only one unaffected by the sudden change, which wasn't surprising because the only thing he cares about is his job. Which was Isabella's safety. For him, the rest can go fuck off.

It wasn't his problem in the first place, why would it become his problem now?

As long as Isabella's safe or as long as she doesn't kill herself then it's fine who disappears and who dies.  His only priority was Isabella's life.

Everyone knows that.

"That's what your dear grandma would say." Dmitri said happily, marching towards them with no shame whatsoever. "She won't hesitate to do it."

Isabella knows that the crazy woman won't hesitate. She didn't even hesitate when she stopped Nicolai from seeing her. Why would that woman hesitate in killing her granddaughter?

Rafael glared at Dmitri, placing his hand on his hip. "You're not helping." He scolded him. "This is a serious problem and you're not taking it seriously."

Dmitri shrugged, deciding to sit beside Isabella. "I am taking it seriously."

Rafael sighed resignedly, shaking his head. Why was he expecting so much from Dmitri? He doesn't care if it's a serious problem or not. The only serious problem for him would be Isabella's well-being.

"Her friend is gone, her family's not talking to her and here you are smiling like nothing happened." Rafael muttered, huffing problematically. "This is seriously messed up."

"And what are we supposed to do, hm? Wait for miracle?" Dmitri took a piece of bacon from the little girl's plate and shoved it in his mouth. "This is out of our hands, sir. We can't do anything at this point. We might as well call ourselves dead because the head of this family's seriously looking at us now and that always doesn't go well."

Isabella looks at the doctor in concern. "Have you experienced the head of the family 'looking' at..." She trailed off, not sure how to ask the question.

Dmitri licked his fingers and nodded. "Well, the boss got siblings. He's got four siblings, three boys and one girl and the boss was the youngest outta all of 'em."

Isabella noticed how tense he was getting just talking about them.

"I didn't know he had siblings." Rafael commented, surprised.

Isabella didn't know too. She had always thought that her father was an only child because he doesn't talk much about his side of the family, but it's surprising that he's got siblings and that he's the youngest of them all.

Dmitri hummed affirmatively with an uncomfortable look and smile painted on his face. It's as if he's doesn't want to talk about it. "Well, three of 'em's still alive and that includes our boss."

That made the little girl shuddered. What was that supposed to mean? That her grandmother killed her own children? For what reason? Because they didn't follow her demands? Then, what will happen if they didn't follow her?

Dmitri nudged the little girl and pointed at her breakfast. "Just because they're not here to join you for breakfast, doesn't mean you get to skip it, Miss Gem." He said with a comforting smile.

Rafael nodded. "I let you pass when you didn't eat your dinner yesterday but that doesn't mean I'll let you pass on breakfast today."

Isabella didn't really feel like eating. This was such a grave situation. It feels like her family and friend's been exiled. Or killed and turned into ghosts because their presence is nowhere to be seen!

Still, Isabella could see how worried Rafael is for her well-being. Isabella wanted to tell him off though. She wanted to ask him how someone can eat in a situation like this, how someone can possibly digest breakfast when her only friend's possibly in trouble.

Bella also said that she'd give Isabella a new friend. New friend! Isabella scoffed at the idea. How could that be called a friend when it wasn't chosen by Isabella herself?

"D'you think Nicolai hates me?" Isabella asks, a hint of insecurity was growing inside her chest as she thinks of the countless of reason as to why the boy hates her now. She looks at her breakfast gloomily.

She really didn't want to eat.

Isabella remembers her grandmother's words so clearly that it's ringing in her ears. She should have done something. She should have said something. Isabella didn't need protecting and yet she stayed quiet because she's too afraid to talk back to her grandmother.

Damn it!

Isabella's eyes teared up.

It wasn't fair. This wasn't fair. Everything's turning upside down and she lost everything with just a demand from someone they barely knew.

Isabella breathed in and took a mouthful of her breakfast despite the tears threatening to fall. If she cried right now then that means her grandmother, Bella, wins.

Isabella took another mouthful and chewed it carefully. She won't cry. She won't let Bella win this.

Suddenly, she saw a red checkered napkin in front of her and the little girl looked up and saw Rafael handing her the napkin.

Isabella didn't grab it but Dmitri did.

"Jeez, Miss Gem's too kind for her own good. Still worrying 'bout people even though all she needs to worry is herself." Dmitri said, gently wiping the tears that she didn't even know that fell.

Isabella sniffled. She hasn't seen her family for a week and she hasn't seen her friend too. The days had become dull and repetitive that it was taking a toll on the little girl. The house that she once called home had grown cold that it could barely be called home anymore.

"Dang it." Isabella whimpered pathetically as more tears fell from her eyes. It wasn't fair. Everything was unfair. "This isn't fair. I don't wanna be alone."

"You won't be alone forever." Rafael comforted. "They'll come around. You'll see." It was an empty promise. They all know that.

Suddenly, someone came running towards them with a panicked expression on their face.

It was one of Dante's men.

"Bill." Rafael greeted hesitantly, watching as the buffy man panted while a panicked look was still plastered on his face. Dmitri grinned and casually stood up to hide Isabella behind him.

Isabella pouted. Of course, Dmitri won't let her see one of her father's men. He's too protective for his own good. "Billy, to what do we owe the pleasure, hmm?"

"I-It's the madam! She brought a boy with her." Bill informed them. "I thought I'd need to inform our lady before the madam comes in."

Dmitri couldn't hide a scowl while Rafael shook his head in disappointment.

Isabella clutched Dmitri's shirt in fear. What does Bella want? Did she already bring her new friend?

Isabella sighed tiredly. "Thank you..." Isabella said to the man whose name was Bill. She didn't interact that much with her father's men because nobody allows her to do so but she knows that they're good men.

Well, they are good men in front of her.

Isabella also knows that they're murderers.

Isabella peeped and smiled shyly at Bill. Bill, however, smiled brightly, as if he was praised by the boss himself.

He puffed out his chest proudly and clumsily saluted at her. "Anythin' fo' the lil' lady of this house, ya know? Was just doin' m'job."

Dmitri hid Isabella again when he saw her peeping. Isabella scoffed at him while the man gave her a smile.

"Thanks, Bill." Rafael said but he sounds tired.

"Yeah, Raf. Like I said, was just doin' the job. S'was nothin'." Bill said casually before calling out for Isabella. "S'was good ta see ya, m'lady! I don't see ya as often as the boss's boys! S'like a once in a blue moon kinda thing, y'know? Oh well, you have a good morning, m'lady!" He exclaimed jovially, as if he just met some celebrity, before sauntering out of the room with a proud grin on his face.

"Miss Gem is too kind." Dmitri said, finally looking at her completely. "You didn't have to speak to him"

"I wanted to." Isabella replied with a pout. "He was being kind."

Dmitri didn't say anything but he was obviously displeased. He used the napkin wipe her mouth. "Well, since the madam's here, the least you could do is be presentable, okay?"

Isabella nodded.

Why's that old hag here again?

***

I updated twice!! That's an effing miracle.

I do hope you guys enjoyed the drama cuz there'll be more drama and secrets!! IMMA SLOWLY OPEN ALL THE CANS SECRETS THAT WAS SLOWLY ROTTING IN MAH HEAD AND U BETTER PREPARE CUZ IT'S ROTTING CANS OF SECRETS AND THAT'S DEADLY

(I'm too energetic today. I'm sorry
(*꒪ヮ꒪) *me looking so not sorry*)

S' actually gonna be pretty dark cans of secrets