Chapter 6: The Call for Help

Isabella's POV

"Your grandma gave me the courage," I replied, my voice trembling. "She invited me to stay."

Ethan's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You're just like your mother, Isabella. Always trying to worm your way into our family by sweet-talking my grandma. Pathetic."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "If you stop tormenting me, I'll leave the Black family. I won't bother you anymore. Just let me go."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with contempt. "What makes you think you have any leverage? What right do you have to negotiate with me?"

I felt a lump form in my throat. "I don't," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.

The car sped along the deserted highway, the sun setting behind us, painting the sky in shades of orange and red. The silence between us was deafening, each passing minute amplifying the dread gnawing at my insides.

The car finally stopped at the edge of a desolate cemetery, surrounded by tall, ominous trees and overgrown weeds. My heart sank as I realized where we were. Ethan's expression was unreadable as he turned to me.

"Get out," he commanded, his voice cold and emotionless.

I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. "Please, don't leave me here."

Without a word, Ethan's bodyguard got out of the car, opened my door, and roughly pulled me out. I struggled, my pleas falling on deaf ears. The car door slammed shut, and the vehicle sped away, leaving me alone in the eerie silence of the cemetery.

I pounded the ground, tears streaming down my face. "Please, don't do this! I have a grandma to take care of. I can't die here!"

But there was no response, only the rustling of leaves and the distant hooting of an owl. I was alone.

Night fell quickly, shrouding the cemetery in darkness. The moonlight cast a cold glow on the tombstones, each marker appearing starkly white. I huddled behind a large rock, shivering. In the stillness of the night, every sound seemed amplified, with occasional snapping branches breaking the silence.

I tried to calm myself, breathing shakily. The cold seeped into my bones, but I forced myself to stay awake, knowing sleep would make me vulnerable. I thought of my grandma, of how much she needed me. That thought gave me strength to endure this terrifying night.

Finally, dawn broke, and I felt a surge of hope. I had survived the night. Now, I needed to find a way out.

My legs ached from the cold and prolonged sitting. I gritted my teeth, each step a painful reminder of what I had just endured. The cemetery seemed endless, but driven by the will to survive, I pressed on.

After what felt like hours, I finally reached the edge of the cemetery. The sight of a road in the distance brought me relief. I quickened my pace, ignoring the pain in my feet.

I stumbled onto the road, waving frantically as a car approached. The driver, a middle-aged man, pulled over and looked at me in shock, taking in my disheveled appearance.

"Please help me," I gasped. "I need to call the police."

He handed me his phone, and with trembling fingers, I dialed 911. The operator's calm voice contrasted sharply with my panic.

"I need help," I said, my voice shaking. "I was abandoned in a cemetery. Please send someone."

When the police drove me back to the Black family mansion to confront Ethan, I was filled with anxiety. I knew facing Ethan wouldn't be easy, but I couldn't let him get away with what he'd done.

Olivia was the first to greet us, her expression a mix of surprise and disdain. "Isabella, back from the dead," she sneered. "And with police, no less."

I ignored her and looked toward Ethan, who stood at the top of the stairs with his hands casually in his pockets, He stared at me with cold eyes.

"Ethan," one of the officers said, stepping forward. "Isabella has accused you of abandoning her in a cemetery with intent to harm. We need you to come with us for questioning."

Ethan's gaze remained fixed on me, unmoved, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Isabella's such a joker," he said mockingly. "We went for a drive, and she wandered off. We searched for her but couldn't find her, so we reported her missing."

One of his bodyguards stepped forward, handing the officer a piece of paper. "Here's the report we filed," he said. "We did everything we could to find her."

As I watched the officers review the documents, my lips went dry. "This isn't..." I started to say, but the words died in my throat. I never imagined this man could be so dangerously cunning.

"Clearly this is all a misunderstanding," Ethan said calmly, his voice carrying just the right amount of concern. "But I must say, Isabella, running off like that was incredibly reckless. You could have been seriously hurt."

Olivia shot me a venomous look, her face contorted with rage. "You little bitch," she spat, her voice laced with malice. "How dare you cause trouble for our family?"

Ethan's cold gaze sent chills down my spine, but I forced myself to appear composed despite the fear washing over me like a tidal wave.

Ethan's calm demeanor remained unshaken. "I underestimated your resilience," he said evenly, without a trace of anger. "But it doesn't matter. You won't be a problem anymore."