At the peak of life, where everything was starting to look up, usually one would be in their happiest moments. You would look ahead, into the future, with hope and excitement.

Whatever was ahead, you feel as if you could conquer it all.

"I... I have what?" But for Isabella who was only twenty-nine and was in the prime of her life, there was nothing she can look forward to. The piece of paper in her hands hammered in the last judgements.

"Late Stage Stomach cancer. I'm so sorry, Miss Chalice." The doctor recommended that she should clean up whatever she needs to and make arrangements- it was already too late, this was the blunt and harsh truth.

"... How long?" How long does she still have? Of course even without saying it, the doctor knew what she wanted to ask. It is painful for patients to face the truth of their future passing and some of them would become unstable- crying and begging him to redo the tests before ultimately coming to the same conclusion . It was already incredible how this patient was able to remain calm.

"Five months, including this month." Isabella tightened her hold on the paper.

Is this how it all ends? All of her hardwork, the nights she spent sleepless and the days where she starved herself just to reach where she is right now- All of it was for nothing?

She hadn't gotten any recognition yet from any of the people she wished to be recognized by... Why must fate be so cruel?

"I see, doctor. Then, is there anything else I need to watch out?"

"The pains will be more severe. So I will prescribe you some medicines for the pains and the nausea you are feeling. Also, don't eat heavy food or drinks. But. .. We can still fight if you really want to." But the woman infront of him just smiled.

"No. I am already in pain, I do not want to be in more pain and possibly look miserable when I die. You know what that the chemotheraphy does to the body, Doctor." The Doctor has seen all types of patients, he understood well.

"Should I help you with the Hospice proceedures or do you want to spend your last days with your family?"

"Please help me find a secluded and private hospice with a good view, Doctor. I want to be as comfortable as I could in the last days- I have a lot of savings anyway and a short time to live." it was sad, but humans comes and goes like this.

The elevator opened and Isabella walked in straight and calm. With a tall gait and a straight posture, she looked dignified and smart, as well as sophisticated. Her hair did not have any strand out of place, neatly placed into a bun. Her egg-shaped face looked pale but nonetheless held a calm and collected expression - almost serious and stern.

 Her office worker clothes consisted of a black pencil skirt, a white long-sleeve under a black business coat buttoned up neatly and accompanied with a small corporate sign brooch.

Isabella was the secretary to their family's corporation, QIN CORPORATION. The Corporation was from her grandparents. That's why it still has their surname, which had accompanied the company for many eras. The family started as merchants and now they were one of the biggest Business tycons in S city.

The current C. E. O is Isabella's only brother, William Igor Chalice. He was older than her for five years and they never got along.

Well, none of the family members seem to like Isabella. Well, it was not the case when they were children. The Chalice Father and Mothervloved all of their children- but you know parents, they have a certain favorite. That was her little sister Renna.

Renna is a miracle baby, born to the Chalice couple in their twilight years- at fifty. Renna was fifteen years younger than William and ten years younger than Isabella, so she was spoiled rotten by everyone. However, since she was spoilt rotten, she can do whatever she wanted.

Age five, she said she did not like Isabella because she pinches and spanks her - which never happened. Their parents warned her not to be mean to the child, even if she told them she did not do anything. It happened so many times, she was punished again and again even if she did not do anything.

That child was the devil itself. A devil her parents and brother indulged and created.

She could not blame her, so when she entered college - she moved out. She really did not want to work for their company, but her parents seem to have barricaded all opportunities , so she can only slave away in their company.

Sometimes it felt like they had something against her.

Walking out of the hospital, she felt the stinging heat of the sun against her skin. Looking up with her hand shielding her eyes, she saw the eves of the trees fall down and swept away by the humid wind.

Just like the leaves, her life blooms, withers, falls down and eventually swept away by the wind of fate.

She was not able to enjoy many things, she was not able to eat what she wanted, she was not able to go on vacations and take long breaks.

If she did, her brother was surely to call her back because of company affairs- even in the middle of the night. Her parents would surely scold her- saying that she embarrass the family.

"They're selfish." Even her birthdays, they seem to have forgotten. All they talk about was Renna all day long.

Why can't she also be loved like Renna?

Well, it's pathetic to think about it right?

The sound of the office air conditioning was almost non-existent if you do not bother to listen closely. The soft and crisp clicking of keyboards and the sounds of fax and printing machines, filled the whole place. No one talked loudly, heck - there was not even a time to talk casually. Occasionally someone calls for another colleague, but other than that the conversations that happens on the landline or the online hotline with customers, investors and other relevant people, barely anyone makes small talks.

Isabella arrived in the top floor, her heels clicking against the well-polished white tiled floor as she walked towards her secretary's booth near the door.

She had taken a leave for half a day, so she needs to go back to her work. Placing her handbag on the huge cabinet under her desk, she arranged herself, adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and knocked on the double doors before entering.

"Sir, I have returned." The man on the desk did not even look up, his eyes trained on the papers on the table with great focus and seriousness.

If it was Renna who came, the man would put all of his work down to entertain her.

"Good. Go and print out the agreement papers as well as the contract for Miles Unlimited. I want that signed by tommorow in pronto, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Arrange a team to deal with Miles Unlimited- You have to prioritize their stars and starlets- you know, one of them is the sworn sister of Tundra's C. E. O. We cannot offend him."

"I will assure everything is in place."

"Also, before I forget. Don't forget the venue for Renna's fifteenth Birthday. You can't mess it up again. I gave you a chance to make your mistakes right from last year's celebration which you ruined due to your narrow-mindedness." Isabella did not refute, and choked up on her words of rebuttal as well as anger.

It wasn't her fault Renna wanted to make last minute changes and also wanted to change the menus. She couldn't just undo all the preparations they made for at least MONTHS in just snap of a finger, and it pissed he off how Renna treated the servers and her who had to deal with her crap.

They blame her for making the party all about her anger when all she did was complain that she is not able to make the adjustments Renna wanted, which is by the way very ridiculous.

They won't listen anyway.

" Did you hear me clearly? "

" Yes ofcourse, Mr. Chalice. " She bowed her head and asked him if there was anything else he would like to add up.

"No. You are dismissed." Isabella walked out without another word, but she deliberately slammed the door on her way out, making William look up with a frown.

What the hell was that?

Isabella carried on with her duties, checking the agreements and contracts for errors, before printing it out and packing it up into a waterproof case. Then, she arranged a team of experts to handle the guests from Miles Unlimited. From the team dealing with photography, sound,venes, and even living arrangements.

Now all she needs to do is go to Miles Unlimited as the company's representative and have their C. E. O sign the contract.

She called her assistant, and instructed him to wait upon WIlliam again. Through the corridors she carried the case silently, entering the elevator like any other day.

"Ugh!" It was when the pains hit her right in the gut and down into her internal organs once again. Isabella's legs quivered, threatening to lose their strength as she clutched her stomach.

The searing pain felt like knives stabbing and slashing her abdomen open again and again, and a hand was thrust inside - twisting her guts one by one without mercy before trying to pull it out. She gasped, the case in her hand fell down as she desperately grasped the handle bar attached to the side of the elevator in an attempt to stay upright. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead, as well as her back and glanced at the numbers above the elevator.The counter showed fourth floor- goddamn it.

"Stop... Please stop..." She gritted her teeth, pushing her free hand over her stomach to numb the pain.

Even her brain seem to have become mush from all the pain.

"Come on, not now..." She doesn't want people to see.

The elevator opened, and Isabella walked out with her usual straight gait and almost strict face- nothing seems amiss as she even greeted a few employees who greeted her as they entered the elvator. If you don't look closely, you won't see anything a miss at all.

But a few hair was out of place, she was pale, and her lips was bruised from harsh biting.

Isabella was also trembling. Once she entered her car in the deserted and silent underground parking lot, she writhed in pain inside the vehicle - desperately grasping a few pills she had on the car's box. The pill bottle fell down the floor of the bullet seat, and she had to painfully lean down and take it amidst all the struggle.

Popping a few pills, she swallowed it without water. The burning feeling of the pill travelling down her throat threathened to make her cough- but she covered her mouth and used every ounce of saliva to lube her dry throat up. She layed on the car seat, heaving out of breath. Everything seems hazy, as if the world suddenly spun around her. Her ears were ringing painfully and her eyes were hazy.

Sweat covered her weak body, and Isabella once again felt the helplessness she buried in her heart.

It feels cold, painful, lonely, and miserable.

"..I want to die..." She stared above the car ceiling, eyes devoid of any emotion.

Hi, my name is Valletta. I make novels as a hobby and also to eat.

Lol, please enjoy the novel. It's my first try on tragedy.

Support by leaving comments and likes. I greatly appreciate it.

This story was inspired by the hospital that I visited last. The patients in there are all experiencing great pains, but they still fought for dear life. Some of them decided to enjoy their remaining days positively- and that in itself is real beauty and strength.

I want my Main Character to face her death bravely, but also build her a beautiful death. It is tragic, but I hope you stay to read. It's not much, but this story was made with love and a lot of effort.

Author,

此恶劣Valletta🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️

However, work is work. Isabella made a quick drop at a mini mart for water, wipes, and some make up as well as deodorizer.

From the weak and messed up Isabella, she was back to the top secretary, sophisticated Isabella.

"I am Isabella Chalice, secretary and representative for Qin Corporation. Sorry for the delay, there was heavy traffic." The two shook hands.

"Oh no, it's alright Miss Chalice. Sit down, sit down!" The smiling man gestured- this was the best friend of Tundra's C. E. O., Louis Agnesi, C. E. O. of MILES UNLIMITED a star label which is currently the most popular label domestically and internationally.

They are now in partnership with QIN CORPORATION for an advertisement as well as a few endorsements. William seems interested in investing in the star circle nowadays- It is indeed a good venture afterall.

The two parties discussed things over tea- the meeting is currently held in a popular Tea House with ancient roots.

It was a unique place to discuss cooperation, and was nonetheless peaceful. Truly, people like Louis and the C. E. O of Tundra, has very unique tastes. Usually, things like these happen in company owned places or Five Star Michelin Restaurants. In other, extremely high profile transactions, they would meet the other party in their homes or on yatches.

"Okay, then it is settled. A one year contract with QIN CORPORATION." Louis smiled, and shook hands with Isabella.

He suddenly look at her hands, not letting go.

".. Is there a problem, Mr. Agnesi?"

"Oh no, I'm sorry about that. It's just, Miss Chalice has ice-cold hands. Are you in good health?" He releases her hand as Isabella assured him that she was in good health.

Isabella was confident about her ability to hide emotions, so there was no need to worry.

" I am fine, thank you for asking. Well then, happy cooperation. "

" Yes, we look forward to it. Mr. Chalice is one of our biggest sponsors now, we want to show him what we can offer."

"I'm sure my brother sees it and will see it. He believes in you and your company." The man offered her more tea and then sent her off politely. Isabella bade her farewells and left the tea house at exactly five fourty- she arrived at the tea house at three fourty- which was slightly late.

It was just in time to clock out.

She used to overtime, but with her days numbered- she doesn't want to work beyond her working hours.

It would not hurt the company if she followed her schedules, which was what was promised to her when she was hired. It was also only because this is also her family's company that she was willing to put a lot of effort into assisting William in what he wanted to do.

Isabella arrived at the company, greeted a few people, and then bade William farewell.

"Going home?"

"Yes, it's my clocking out hours now. Well then, I will be going now Mr. Chalice." Before the man could say anything , she left the office as fast as she can and clocked out.

She wouldn't let him abuse her with workloads anymore- not when she has not much time to live. Back in the office, William sat there, dumbfounded.

What just happened? Did she just leave in a hurry?

Isabella arrived home and the first thing she did was plan out the last days of her life. She has at most, four months to live- it's five, but she decided to minus this month. She have a few important things she wanted to do.

One, she wants to quit her job. In order to spend time with herself, she will quit her job and go on a vacation.

Second, sell off all her stocks, properties, and pool all the money with her inheritance on an account her family could not freeze and use that to do what she want to do- as well as pay for the hospice in advance and donate the rest.

Third, if nothing goes wrong, she wants to have a talk with her family one last time. Then she will leave.

Fourth, she might not be able to marry, but she wants to find someone who is safe to sleep with - Oh, her virgin life- it should not be wasted right? What is there to hesitate? She was a goner, after all.

"I'm not that sick to not sleep with someone right?" she blushed, laughing at how ridiculous she sounded.

Fifth, she wants to pamper herself, and die beautifully.

Sixth, she wants to go on an adventure- hiking or something?

Seventh, clean up everything and go to the Hospice to await the last moments of her life.

Eight, plan how she must be buried. It must be grand- with black cupcakes topped with deep blue icings and pearl bead candies served in her funeral and after burial. The sweeter, the better. There must be a bunch of magnolias, as well as baby's breath and peonies. The casket she wants to lay in must be black, with gold coloured rims and red insides- like dracula's coffin.

There must be dancing, no one is allowed to cry. She wants musicians to play happy songs while people dance- Songs like sway, tango, and such. If there are guests, they must wear their best floral dresses and dancing shoes and the men should wear something fun too! Like the clothes people used to wear in the eighties or the nineties- black dress shoes that can be used to dance around, picnic patterned tops or straight up white long sleeves tucked into brown pants with suspenders.

Aha, an eighties themed dance- but at a burial.

There must only be happiness. Isabella would hire professional social dancers- so that even if no one comes to her funeral, there would still be a party.

There would be fruit punches, expensive wines, food that everyone could eat- Ah, she will opt for a banquet and it would be marvelous!

Then, she would wear a pretty blue dress, with lace trimmings and silver linings. There should be flowers embroidered on the skirt, as well as pearls spread delicately along the fabric. With customized glass slippers, as well as fully manicured and pedicured nails. She might be dry because she's dead- but why can't she be beautiful?

She has to be the most beautiful corpse.

Closing the notebook , she kept it within her drawer and went to wash up and for the first time in so many years- Isabella was able to sleep without worries.

Well, if not for the sudden pains at night that awakens her. However, contrary from the past where she was clueless about her condition and stressed at worj, she was so spirited than she could ever be the very next day.

"Good morning Secretary Isabella!" Usually the secretary would nod at them with sophistry, or utter a few words. But today for some reason, she was smiling- SMILING. They had never seen her smile before- not when she first arrived, not when she was working- never.

It was a bizzare sight to see, however the smile... Fitted her lovely face more than the sophisticated and strict look. It was a smile that seems free and unrestrained- yet also did not feel so unnatural. It was enough for people to feel like they also want to smile back at her.

"Good morning Mr. Chalice, here is the agreement and contract from last day. Also, this is your schedule for today. We have a meeting with the board at eight a.m. After that, you have a luncheon with Setta's C. E. O, regarding the proposal in the western of S city- the property dispute over White Moutain's ownership that she wants cooperation with. That would be from ten a. m to eleven at most since at eleven thirty we have an online conference with the overseas branch. At three p. M you have papers to sign and that's it. " Isabella's countenance was light and full of life- contrary to her demeanor in the past. William could see that she was happy about something, but there was something about that smile that felt... Not quite right.

" You seem happy about something, Secretary Chalice." It was not everyday William is willing to talk to her about something non-work related. Isabella, who was looking at the list to adjust the next day's schedule lookd at him with a smile on her face.

" Oh, I just feel like a changing things from now on." She checked out everything and excused herself after asking if he wanted coffee or not.

"Americano, no sugar."

"Coming right up, Mr. Chalice." She left, her humming could be heard from the gaps of the closed door accompanied by the familiar sound of her heels clicking as she disappeared.

"... A change of things?" William frowned, and called someone over the phone.

" Find out what Isabella is up to nowadays." There should be some reason why she's like this. Change? What in the world is she up to? The Isabella he knew, never liked changes.

'Change is bothersome and unreasonable. Even if humans change, their lives and past stays the same. Same goes for societal status.' Did she not say that a few years ago, with that hypocritic look on her face?

Isabella sat on the side of the conference room and took some notes- ahah, she never knew there would be a time where she would have to leave this job. She always thought her life would always be like this- Unchanging, always led by others- there was no need to move, everyone would just point fingers at her and tell her that she would not amount to anything if she follow what she wants.

To her, this was her life- her whole existence. The fingers typing across the keyboard halted and Isabella looked at the back of her older brother, thinking- Would he replace her with someone better and younger and he liked better? Maybe if she disappeared he would take it as her running away from everything.

He would curse her along with the other family members, call her unfillial and ungrateful for running away. Maybe her mom would try to call her to come back so she could make her kneel in the ancestral halls again- just like everytime she points her fingers at her with blame.

It's her fault for being Isabella, it's her fault for existing, no one believes a liar, no one likes a traitor, she was ungrateful for being born and fed. Her only use was to assist her older brother and take care of the younger sister. To please her parents all her life.

Would they cry if she was gone? As if feeling an intense gaze behind him, WIlliam slightly turned his head- but found that Isabella was busy typing away the minutes of the meeting, not looking at him at all.

He turned back to the presentation, thinking it was just a weird feeling. Isabella let out a small breath of relief- thank goodness for muscle memory- if she was not used to looking at people and then looking away when they turn in order not to anger them, then she would have been busted.

How weird would William think of her, looking at him intensely from behind?

She accompanied him to the Luncheon, and stayed in another cubicle to give the two people privacy. The waiter asked what she would like- She knew her condition well, but it was too late to take care of what was already dying right?

"I want your fillet mignon, a bottle of Lafite wine, macaroni soup, beef wellington and for dessert, let's go with mango tart. Oh, by the way, can you tell the kitchen to make me some cucumber salad?" The waiter took her order and left the cubicle. Isabella pulled out her Laptop and finished selling all her stock shares that was not connected to the company stocks- she closed her trading account and transfered all the funds into a separate account registered on a private bank. Then, she slowly sorted out the stocks she owned in QIN CORPORATION. She has about thirteen percent the shares- it was not a lot but also not little-the lowest number of owned shares is ten percent , that was some of the shares investors owned- well, atleast a few handful owned fifteen and eighteen while her parents owned twenty five percent, ofcourse her brother owned fourty percent and Renna owned twenty.

Renna is basically a billionaire girl. Her? Not so much. Her parents said it was because she once disobeyed them, that her shares was onlythirteen percent.

Hah, she was not the favorite - that's the fucking reason. How can someone who worked hard for her dreams and wanted to find herself a place to start, did what was right, commit disobedience towards parents? If they did not pull strings to blacklist her from companies, then she would've built her own name by now.

Also, that thing from years ago was not her fault. She just did the right thing.

Well, there is nothing more to regret. This twenty five years old woman is already at the end of her life afterall.

The Doctor messaged her and said that he had found a good Hospice owned by a dear friend. He said that if she wants, he can accompany her to meet his friend and get acquainted. Ofcourse, Isabella said yes. They'd be going this saturday, she's excited.

Well, she has to be excited- if she thinks too much about it- what can she do, huh? It's not as if she can turn things around like some type of magic.

When the food came, Isabella closed her laptop and kept it away, and tipped the waiters handsomely- a gesture of thanks. The waiters thanked her and left her alone.

It was silent, like all the other times. Her, alone, eating, with only the sound of cutlery hitting each other lightly accompanying her. She carefully savoured the Beef Wellington she never dared to eat before- fearing about the risk of getting fat and loosing the perfect image she had cultivated as an elite secretary.

The burst of flavour made her hum, the soft meat seem to melt into her mouth and contrary to expectations- it was not chewy like other meat dishes at all. The aroma, coupled by the taste, really made her unable to hold back tears. Each time she devoured something from the plate and washed it out with wine, the tears in her eyes fell heavier.

"How... How ecstatic... I... I like it..." How many things did she deprive herself? How many things did they deprive her of? She was a rich family's daughter but never once did she feel like she was. It was all do this, do that- don't eat this and don't eat that. She wiped her tears with her sleeves, her body quivering with emotion.

"Oh, I feel robbed." Isabella vowed- she would not die before the time limit- even if she has to drag her painful body, she has to experience life! What chains of fillial peity? Hasn't she been fillial enough? What follow the rule? of whom? People who did nothing but point and demean her? hurt and exploit her?

Isabella decided, this month- she must resign. The surge of want filled her heart- she wanted to swallow the world with her, savour it until her last breath- but things doesn't go like that, she can do things- but they were limited.

"As long as I am able to do what was in the bucket list, I can pass away happily." She have decided-after Renna's birthday, she will be free.

"Why is your eyes swollen?"

"I got dust on them earlier. Nothing much Mr. Chalice."

"Is this your secretary? She's pretty but pale- are you working her to the bones?" Ah , this must be the C. E. O of Setta, Anetta Northsberry. She's thirty-two this year, a very influential woman in the field of real estates and restaurant chains. She single-handedly held Setta together when her family met an untimely end due to an accident.

"Hello, Miss Northsberry, I am Isabella."

"Isabella, that's a nice name. I heard you're very efficient in what you do and very impeccable! Hey, if you're tired of working for this guy, you can come to me." WIlliam raised a brow at her- seems like they get along well.

"Well, I will keep the offer in mind, Miss Northsberry. Mr. Chalice." Isabella tapped her wristwatch. William calmly bade Anetta goodbye, helping her get into her black jaguar.

"Well, thank you for your time, Mr. Chalice."

"En. Likewise." The jaguar drove away, and Isabella noticed the look William was giving the leaving vehicle and had a little thought- Maybe, he likes her?

"Let us go."

"Yes Sir."

At five, Isabella clocked out again and merrily hummed her way out of the office. The medicine the doctor gave her, really works wonders. She maybe a bit nauseaous, but nonetheless she was happy.

There was no pain all day at all! If only she could take one at every sign of pain- then she would love to. But the Doctor told her not to abuse it, or her lifespan would shorten.

She was driving home, when traffic made her look to the side, where a pub was situated.

She never been in one of those places at all, since she doesn't like mingling within troublesome crowds. But now... She really wants to try. So she made a u-turn and went around the block, parking in the nearby parking space. She was about to get off, but then glanced at herself in the mirror- Ah, she still looked like a secretary.

Isabella pulled off the business coat she was wearing and threw it to the backseat. The hair that had only been in a bun outside the house, was pulled down. It cascaded like curles of the finest black lamb fur- or nimbus clouds above the cloudy skies. She pulled off her glasses to put on make up- the unused deep red lipstick fnally found it's use and the owner smeared it over, tracing the outline of the plump and kissable lips.

Add a layer of mascara, unbutton the collar of the long sleeved white shirt, and then put on the glasses again.

Who would wanna go out there half-blind?

The pub doors opened, and Isabella walked into the place filled with the laughters of drunkards and conversations of people. There were different types of booze being served to and fro and the smell of meat seem to suffocate the senses- that was some good roasted meat. She sat on a barstool and the bartender asked her what she wanted.

"Bourbon, on the rocks." Isabella had no idea what that was, she just heard it from some dramas the company employees liked to watch at lunchtime. She mainly consumes wine.

The Bartender hummed, and told her to wait for a moment. She watched him serve a few more drinks to the people who came before her- seems like this gruff looking man was a seasoned bartender.

"Your Burbon on the rocks." She instinctively caught the glass he slid towards her on the counter. Looking at the deep orangey-black substance, Isabella gathered all her courage and prayed to several goods- May this drink not kill her.

She downed it in one go, earning a whistle from the Bartender. He slid another glass towards her, and she downed it again, another, then another, then another.

"You're quite new here, and seems like this was your first pub."  Isabella was feeling a bit tipsy- but she has a lot of alcohol tolerance, she was not intoxicated yet.

All those parties and dinner meetings were not for naught, it seems

"Yes, is it too obvious?"

"You are doing well- but maybe you should've ordered other drinks for your first rodeo here. Burbon on the rocks, you are too hard on yourself."

"Then, recommend me something."

"Are you a beer person, wine person, champagne or do you have preferences?"

"Something strong, but I can still go home."  The gruff man let out a 'ha!' of amusement through the loud, languid jazz music.

"Then, I have the thing just for you." Isabella watched him mix liquids and mixed them together with a bit of flair tending- hands moving around with expertise honned for years, before serving it to her with a bit of suave.

He's a bit cheeky. Man, mature men really have a different charm. Coupled with his tall, straight gait and well toned body under that black and white uniform, he packs quite a punch when it cokes to sex appeal.

Ahem.

"Thank you."

"Well, you look like you want to do risque things- so I'm just helping you. But don't drive home- call a substitute or a relative."  Isabella chuckled-

"No, I would rather crash in the hotel for a night than mistakenly calling my relatives." They would really blow their tops off- she's so over their drama.

"A lot of them say that." The man went off to serve other people, and Isabella enjoyed her extremely strong drink, eyeing his behind with narrowed eyes.

That behind looks round and firm and there was absolutely nothing to worry, lah.

Well, look whose drunk? Isabella felt weak all over. She's been hit on by dudes a lot of times, too. None of them was to her liking, so she ignored them and continued drinking- but she drunk way too much it seems.

Everything is blurry and unclear.

"Missy, I can give you a ride. You look like you're too drunk to drive."

"I've... I've a car..." She drowsily pushed the man away. However, this one was persistent- he grabbed her by the arm and her waist- smiling like a hooligan.

"I can take care of you, so you can rely on me." Maybe it was not such a smart thing to drink alone. She was pushing the man, when a woman intervened.

"She said she aint' going with you, so don't force her." There seems to be some type of argument, but Isabella couldn't care much about it. She was drowsy, she wanted to empty out her meal somewhere.

Ah, she wants to sleep... But she can't sleep here...

" Miss, Miss we need to go. " A hand shook her gently. Isabella groaned, raising her head to look at the person and smiled-

"Leshhh drink, yeah? Drink until our lashh breffffff!" The person propped her up, and seem to have paid for her drinks, before leading her out of the pub and into the dark and empty street, under the nightskies. The woman was taller than Isabella, about a few inch and looked like she trained her body a lot. She easily carried her bridal style, towards the car awaiting them. The black sedan's door opened and William glanced at the drunk person with a frown. Isabella opened her eyes, and drowsily glanced around.

"Oh it's William! Hey¬! How is it going?!" She laughed, cooing at him drunkly. The woman did not dare to move- but she was really startled- Miss Isabella did not have a habit like this. Going to the such a messy place like the pub to get drunk out of her rockers- to wearing her clothes loosely and wearing red lipstick.

" Put her inside." The woman nods, and attempted to put her inside, but she started resisting- Kicking and punching- those kicks and punches weren't very light, mind you.

"Miss- Please cooperate."

"Ugh- put me downnnn nowwww!" She made an about to vomit face, which made the woman hastily put her down. Isabella, for the first time in her life kneeled at the side of the road to empty out her meal, looking so pathetic. William's face controted in anger- he couldn't help but start scolding her.

" This is what you get from drinking! What the hell were you thinking anyway?!"

"Shut-" But her puking stopped her from retorting. The woman helped by massaging her back, trying to sooth it out.

"What idiocy made you come here to get drunk huh?! In such a dangerous and filthy place? Arista, help her vomit- I'm calling Butler Ling." William scrunched his face in disgust, pulling out a phone from his pocket.

"Don't call fucking anybody! I don't need no shit- ya here me?!" Arista held her breath- that disgusting puke breath just hit her nostrils... Luckily, she was has a level of tolerance - if it was the boss, he would have flung her away, sibling or not.

"You dare to curse at me right now?" The drunk woman wobbled up to her feet, and as if finding a new source of power, she walked up to him swiftly and angrily began to point at him.

"The fuck do you mean?! I can't curse you, you old fuck?!" Arista and the driver looked at Isabella in shock- she... She called the Boss an old... Old Fuck... WIlliam gave her a look that seem to want to hit her but was holding back-

"Isabella Chalice, you have the guts to curse at me while drunk? Why don't you curse me when you're not muddled with intoxication?" The woman bent her body back with a sarcastic laugh.

"Why the HELL would I do that? So you could punish me? I have ENOUGH sir."

"Oh you'll regret this tomorrow, let's see your bravery then." WIlliam's face looked like he was going to kill Isabela and obviously the latter noticed this and began pointing at him.

"Is that a threat?! I know you're monstrous man but you actually threaten a drunk person! My brother is always so mean!" She bent down to puke again and WIlliam moved away just in time. Arista asked if he was okay while the man's eyelid twitch in anger.

He was about to scold her again when all of a sudden red covered the pavement.

It was so sudden, gushing from her mouth like pressured water from a damn that broke open. The person held her own mouth, and looked at her hands.

"Oh, it's blood." She laughed. Arista lets out a petrified noise and stepped up to check on the woman. But William was faster. He propped her up, and more blood flowed out of her mouth while she laughed, her eyes going back and forth inside her eyes sockets.

"Isabella! Isabella! Arista, call an ambulance!"

"Yes!" She dialed the emergency hotline with shaking hands- That was blood, a lot of blood. There were not a lot of bystanders, but some of them have started to gather around to look and whispher in shock. William held the body, telling Isabella not to fall asleep.

Minutes later, rescue came and asked about the specifics- before loading her up into the ambulance. William accompanied them in, as the family member present. Arista and the driver followed the ambulance closely.

"The patient is delirious..."

"There are no broken bones..."

"... An organ or a vein must have erupted..."

Isabella's eyes were hazy, but she had a smile on her pale face. It was... A harrowing sight to watch. WIlliam grasped her weak, pale, and extremely cold hands- fear gripping his heart.

What happened? There was so much blood... So much blood...

" Brother... Brother..."

"Here, right here. We're near the hospital, so don't sleep."

"I... Can't go there... I don't want to..."

"Don't be stubborn, just stay awake." Her eyes seem to wander into oblivion again, but she was responsive which was a good thing. The rescue team kept checking her temprature and made sure that she does not choke with her own blood.

William sat in the hallway covered in blood, his whole countenance shaken up. The doctors took care of Isabella earlier, and he was staring at the sleeping person on the bed beyond the glass wall of the intesive care unit. She was pale, and was barely breathing. William leaned against the wall, closing his eyes in pain. There was a paper in his hands, which he gripped tighter by the second.

"Boss... We brought you some clothes." Arista silently watched him, glancing at her other companion- who was one of the other subordinates William placed as surveillance outside, separate from his family's own force.

"... Did they ask anything?"

"No, they just told me to tell you not to work too hard. But boss, are you really... Going to keep the Master and Madam in the dark?"

"... She had a reason, I want to hear the reason. As long as it doesn't bode well to me, I will tell them." So you would really keep it a secret... They glanced at the sleeping woman.

" Late stage stomach cancer. Of all things, it was cancer. " William covered his face with his free hand- it had just been just a few hours, but he seem to have aged five years. Well, even if he complained and berated his sister, it was still his sister. He may dislike her at times, But Arista knew he did not hate Isabella that much. He just... Listen to his parents and Miss Renna quite a lot.

Afterall, the grieviences of Miss Renna must always be resolved, that's how things goes and the disobedience towards the family is seen as sinful.

But she always want to ask, how was Miss Isabella? She...always looks so...lonely and resigned to her fate. Arista,who was assigned to observe her from the moment she steps out of her house to when she comes home, had never seen her smile once.

She finally did, but it was a celebration to her remaining days. It was...actually painful to watch. William changed his clothes in a bathroom and refreshed using wipes- They would be transferring Isabella in a private room at dawn, so he can thoroughly freshen up later.

"I'll go buy some coffee with Seth, Boss. We will be back." Arista left after serving him dinner. William did not have the appetite to eat, but he also could not afford to be weak.

There was no one else who knew and can help Isabella, there was only him, his subordinates and few hospital staff.

"Why drink in your state? Are you trying to die?" Maybe, maybe it was too painful to even live. How can she continue working with all the pain she was experiencing over the years and only got checked recently? Was he working her to the bone way too much? Is it his fault?

No, it was all their fault.

"Hurry and wake up, I still have a bone to pick on you." He carrassed her hand which was cold, reminding him of the cold, dead, body of the buck he once hunted in one of the islands owned by their family.

It's lifeless eyes, overlapped with Isabella's own.