Ethan Mark: Billionaire in Disguise

3. The Suitor

 

The night came too early, and Isabella was fully dressed for dinner at the beach house. One thing paramount to the Rosewood family was that they never dressed shabbily. Isabella's mom hated it with so much passion, like an inferno consuming everything in its path.

Victoria Sinclair was Isabella's mother, who was in her early 50s. She was the epitome of sophistication and refined elegance. Her perfectly coiffed blond hair and flawlessly applied makeup always added to her polished appearance. And she was indeed the one whom Isabella took after in terms of beauty.

Isabella arrived at the beach house, knowing full well that it had been a while since she had been there due to how her parents had disciplined her for disobeying them. She took in a deep sigh, as if she had gulped down a large portion of a sophisticated drink. It was time to see her mother after such a long time, and she could not explain why she was nervous at this moment.

The beach house was indeed a house by the large, waving waters of Havenbrook. Because the Rosewoods were so incredibly rich, they decided to live in a place where ordinary people in Havenbrook could not buy a piece of land because of the hype of the area, and also that every piece of land around the waters had already been bought by influential people and surrendered to nature. Nevertheless, if a stranger should step on the expanse of land or retrieve a handful of sand on their property, such a person should better be ready to spend his or her life in jail.

Isabella stood still at the door as she continued to stare at the doorknob. Eventually, as she made up her mind, accompanied by another deep sigh, she stretched out her hand and turned the doorknob to open the door.

Because the doorknob had a fingerprint sensor that recognized Isabella, it made a soft electronic chime, and when Isabella pushed it open, it slid open.

As if Alexander and Victoria knew that their daughter was already at the door, they were already waiting at the door with broad smiles that welcomed their daughter into their arms.

"Oh, you beautiful angel, the poor bastard has really made you suffer; I am glad you have made the right choice." Victoria said, noticing her daughter’s underweight, yet her smile unwavering.

"Come, I made sure the chefs prepared your favorite. It's caviar, lobster, foie gras, truffles, and a big steak."

Though Isabella's favorite was indeed what her mother mentioned, and it had been a while since she ate such wonderful fine dining cuisine, a part of her still loved Ethan. However, since he was incapable of paying their daughter's surgery bills, she had to do what she had to do to save her daughter's life.

"Sit!" Victoria drew the dining chair back in excitement, it was the place she wanted her daughter to sit.

"Hi Isabella, it's been such a long time," greeted Davis who was already seated in the dinning waiting purposely for Isabella’s arrival.

Davis was one of Isabella's suitors and, verily, the one her parents wanted Isabella to get married to before she defied them by getting married to Ethan. Just like Isabella was to her parents, Davis John was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher John, who were also among the richest in Havenbrook.

To Isabella's parents, if Davis should marry their daughter, their minds would be at rest because they were sure Davis was going to take good care of her, just like they always took care of her.

But to Isabella, Davis was just a puppet in the hands of his parents. If they told him to spit, he would not blink an eye before doing it. If they told him to laugh at some dumb joke, his cheeks would already widen. She did not want a man-boy like that, which was why she declined his every advance in the past. But now, things were different.

"Hello, Davis," Isabella greeted him back as she took her seat beside him just like her mother wanted.

As Isabella's parents saw the happiness boldly written on Davis' face, to which Isabella smiled along, they knew there was only a little they had to do before they both kicked off their true love story.

"So, Isabel, I was thinking, since we would have such a lovely evening, would you like to continue the night with a drink? After dinner, just the two of us?"

Isabella smiled. "That sounds nice; where do you have in mind?" she asked, turning to Davis, who immediately set his eyes on her beauty.

For almost a minute, there was stillness as he was completely taken away by Isabella's beautiful face.

"Um, um," Isabella cleared her throat, and Davis was, in that moment, called back to consciousness.

"Um, sorry," he expressed his white set of teeth into a small, cute smile. "There is this cozy cocktail bar downtown that I've been meaning to check out. It has a great atmosphere and a wide selection of drinks. What do you think?"

Without a pause, Isabella answered, "That sounds perfect; I'd love to join you."

***

Ethan was already escorted out of the bank by the bank's security. He had caused too much nuisance upon hearing that his loan request would not be approved by the bank.

He looked so broken at this moment; his red eyes were evidence of his distress, as his mind could not get away from the thought that his daughter was really going to die.

Right on the road, in front of the bank, he screamed like a little child and fell to the ground, expressing his worries. If there was any help from anywhere, he promised never to let his daughter go to school by herself again. He was going to be a better father and take her to school each morning and pick her up from school at closing time.

Suddenly, his phone rang. It was a private number calling him. Ethan kept staring at his phone for a few seconds, trying to figure out who was calling him with a private number. As he picked up the phone, he was determined that whoever it was, he would express his worries to them, and they would help him pay the hospital bills.

"Hello," Ethan said with a teary voice.