Twisted Ties of Love

Chapter 4

Izabella stumbled back, taking her 20 minutes to walk a 10 minutes distance. The villa didnt have heating on, making the spacious room as cold as death

Izabela kicked off her high heels, and like a drunk person, she staggered into the bathroom She turned on the hot water in the bathtub and let at fill halfway One moment she was standing firm and the next, she was like a corpse slumped in the tub Warm water spread around her, and there was no sound at all Her long red dress spread out, looking like a glaring pool of blood, making trabella’s face even paler-

She closed her eyes and allowed her face to submerge in the water The suffocating sensation numbed her heart as the water completely covered her head, cutting off at her senses. When she couldn’t hold back any longer, she involuntarily opened her mouth, and the warm water rushed in, causing a wave of nausea to wash over her

Izabella forced open her bloodshot eyes and struggled to lift her head out of the water Her body hung over the edge of the bathtub, as if someone were tearing her insides apart. Numbly. she parted her lips and uncontrollably retched Having gone without food the entire day, all that came out was yellow bile, burning her throat and bringing tears to her eyes Eventually, Izabella rubbed her sore eyes and observed the mixture of blood and bile on the floor. A twisted smark formed on her lips, but her eyes reflected no humor–only sadness and

loneliness

She removed her red dress and tossed it onto the bloody mess on the floor–she couldn’t allow Brett to see the blood.

As it got dark outside, Izabella walked back to the bedroom with her bare feet and collapsed onto the bed. She couldn’t sleep Even when she found out she was ill, she could still dream of the future. Now, no matter how hard she tried, everything seemed pointless

It took her four years to lose everything she had. From liking someone to being so desperate that she couldn’t even see a way out

That day. It was as if she had cried out all the tears she had for her entire life. Izabella put her hand on her heart and bitterly mocked herself, “My stomach is what’s rotten, not my heart. So why does it hurt so bad?”

Her phone suddenly vibrated in her bag Izabella propped herself up and rummaged through her bag to find it. When she saw the incoming call information on the screen, she felt as if all her energy was drained

It’s not him. Izabella, what are you hoping for?

Izabella stared at the phone for a brief moment, her fingers feeling rigid as she finally answered the call

“Presley,” she croaked, her voice hoarse and strained

Presley Felton had been a childhood friend, someone who had grown up alongside her. Though not bound by blood, their bond was stronger than family Izabella had spent a significant portion of her life living with the Felton family, and to her, Presley was more like a brother than anything else

In the phone. Presley asked with concern, “Izabella, why is your voice so hoarse? Are you sick?”

“Just a little cold My voice got raspy after I took a nap…”

Before Izabella could finish her sentence, Presley interrupted, Izabella, are you going to lie to me too? Did you forget I’m a doctor? I can tell the difference between a voice that is hoarse from waking up and a voice hoarse from a cold and crying”

She choked up, feeling a sharp stone lodged in her throat, grinding against the walls until it bled. She couldn’t provide any explanation, only a bitter laugh.

Presley asked, “Can you tell me why you cried, Izabella?”

Izabella held the phone tightly, staring at the wooden floor No one likes to show others their vulnerable side, so she shook her head and said, “I can’t.”

Presley hesitated, understanding Izabella’s personality. To put it nicely, she was strong–willed, to put it bluntly, she was stubborn. If she didn’t want to talk, you wouldn’t get a word of truth

out of her

Presley could only change the subject. “What were the results of your medical examination today?”

Izabella pursed her chapped lips. “Pretty good”

Presley said “You don’t have to say it if you dont want to go to the hospital and look up your examination report myself. I’m qualified to do that as a doctor”

He was a doctor at that hospital, and finding the information would be a piece of cake for him

Damn t

“Will you tell me or do you want me to find out on my own? The choice is yours “He continued to push her

The phone fell silent, so quiet that she could hear his breathing Izabella finally gave in. “Cancer Late stage stomach cancer”

Presley was speechless

On the other end, he seemed to be holding back, as messy breaths kept coming through the call

“How is that possible you’re so young. Presley murmured to himself, his voice becoming choked up ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Despite the distance. Izabella could feel his sadness. He was heartbroken for her. Having someone care about her before her death made her feel content

“Come back to the hospital, and I do a re–examination.

Izabella refused, “No matter how many times I’m checked, the result will be the same Presley, I know my own body. Maybe this is just karma…

“What nonsense are you talking about! Izabella, listen to me. Check in and get treated. You will be fine.” Presley’s voice was laced with sorrow As a doctor specializing in this field, he knew how severe this sickness was and how much pain it caused

How could Izabella have let it get to this point?

Presley wasnt sure how to comfort Izabella. Sometimes it wasn’t about her wanting to live or die, but rather how much time she had left. She was running out of time, and the hospital only had two suggestions either stay at the hospital and prolong her life by a few years or give up treatment and let late take its course. Either way, she was dying

Tzabella, you should get a divorce from Brett. Look at the four years you have been together–he has tormented you to this point”

T

Divorce Izabela had never thought about divorce. To her, he was her everything the light she wanted to hold onto throughout her life. But how could she ever hold onto the light?

Izabella groped the phone tightly She finally replied with great difficulty. “I will think about it”

Divorcing Brett was as hard as tearing a piece of flesh from her chest

Presley insisted that she vist the hospital again the following day, but Izabella’s agreement was tepid at best. As the CEO of the Salotti Group, her responsibilities extended far beyond being Brett’s wife

Human endurance is akin to that of a camel, capable of carrying heavy burdens under immense pressure. However, the camel often succumbs to its demise due to the weight of just one

additional straw

After ending the call, Izabella nonchalantly tossed her phone onto the nightstand Her stomach throbbed with pain, and it seemed unlikely that she would find sleep easily that night. She opened the drawer and retrieved two bottles of pilis – one for pain relief and one for sleep Swallowing two of each, she collapsed onto the bed, seeking solace in slumber

Shewasnt sure if the pills were working, but her mind started to become muddled and she had frequent nightmares. A heavy pressure on her chest made it difficult for her to breathe. Shaking her head, she mumbled incoherently When she finally struggled to wake up, she suddenly realized that Brett was the one on top of her