Vanquished (The Encounter #3)(42)

Another much anticipated tragedy I had to face was my serious onset of withdrawals of Hugo’s immense effect on me. It took one day. It had merely been a day, and I was losing my mind because I missed him so much. After all those weeks I had thought I had hardened myself, my heart had been crushed by a kiss, proving I was purely lying to myself, that my heart and body could only ever be alive when he touched me. The gorgeous man supplied me with the kind of drug no other human being could ever provide.

After three days, I was surprised by Julien when he presented me with a cream velvet box. I stared at it like it was an omen, flickering my eyes back and forth, beyond hesitant to open it.

“Erm, this isn’t what I think this is, or is it?” Anyone with an IQ would know what the bloody thing was, but I felt safer playing daft since I was still mourning the love of my life. Regardless, here I was, being presented with the future and everything else that entailed.

Julien gave me a small smile. “There’s no need to be coy. Consider it just any other gem you’ve had in the past. It’s just an emblem of your significant strength, indicating amidst it all, you’ll remain unyielding just like a diamond—indestructible.”

“Well, when you put it that way …” I whispered, smiling like an idiot and simply beyond flattered that he saw me as such. Taking the velvet ring box, I opened it to an emerald cut diamond, elegant and utterly beautiful. “Thank you again for everything.”

Just as he was about to respond, there was a noise coming out of the hallway, echoing through the villa. We were in the living room, about to eat dinner, when this all transpired.

We both stilled, facing where the ruckus was coming from, intently listening to it as we tried to make out what was happening.

“If I tell you to run and hide, do just that,” Julien delivered in a hushed manner, evoking panic within.

My eyes were as big as saucers as I took in his words, terrified at the thought that someone could be after me and put me through the same horror Hugo described merely days ago. It would be impossible to penetrate those men; I didn’t doubt it.

There was some scuffling and hard yelling, and we tensed with bated breath, hoping whatever it was, it would be fixed soon.

Julien was reaching for his phone, dialing the head honcho of his security, when I heard my name being screamed so loud you would think the man was being murdered. And when it happened again, all blood drained from my body.

“Does that voice sound familiar to you?” Julien eyed me with a peculiar look, midway through his conversation over his mobile.

How I wished I could have said no to his question. Alas, there was no denying it. I knew it quite well.

“I believe that sounds like the snake known as my father.” A regretful sigh came out of my lips without any wonderment as to why my father was here. Constantin had seen the news and solely focused on the fact that I had nabbed another “rich man” to replenish his emptied coffers for his unending addiction to gambling.

Julien said something over the phone. I believed it went along the lines of ushering the monster inside so we would know what his intentions were. It was already apparent to me. Nevertheless, I thought Julien was rather curious as to why my father would cause such a scene. Well, he had yet to meet the devil himself.

“I could leave if you want privacy. I know family matters can be … tricky.” He tried to play it nice, and I appreciated him for it. It was a kind offer that I would easily refuse at any given time of the day.

“Please don’t. Stay put. Don’t leave my side. I don’t want him getting close to me. He’s a special kind of animal that one. Savage would put it mildly.”

If Julien was surprised by what I had just enlightened him with, I wouldn’t know. He didn’t seem fazed at all.

Merely nodding, he threw me an encouraging smile. “As you wish, Isobel. I’m staying put, but I won’t interfere unless needed.”

Bless him. Truly. He was such a kindhearted soul. One wouldn’t have thought it at first glance, but his loyalty ran deep when it came to the people he cared about. It was a fact that Hugo had stated time and time again, telling me it was simply because he hadn’t had that much family growing up.

Julien had been an heir at a young age, and the closest thing he had to a family was Hugo and the lawyer who handled the bulk of his trust estate. I knew he considered me a part of the tiny circle of family he had, and I couldn’t be more honored about that.

“Isobel!” my father’s threatening voice kept echoing as he neared us.

Images of the last time I had encountered him didn’t sit well with me. The f*cker had threatened to kill me, so for him to have the gall to come here uninvited to secure more money from me was beyond lunacy.

The moment he entered my direct view, one could instantly tell he was beyond belligerent and clearly hadn’t had a decent shower in days. What struck me most was the wild way he looked at me, as if I were a piece of trash.

“You stupid whore, how dare you make me go through the ringer just to see you! You think you’re so out of reach now because you’ve captured another man by bending over backwards? He’ll f*ck and leave you, too, just like that man Xavier. It’s smart of him to be rid of you. You’re nothing but filth.”

His words shouldn’t affect me, but they did. Damn it. Damn him for being such a failure of a father.

“Good to see you again, Constantin.” I composed myself, trying to act as civilized as possible. “What I do with my life and whom I choose to spend it with is none of your bloody business. If you’re here to beg for money, I can assure you that I have nothing to give you, so please leave before you keep embarrassing us both further.”