Chapter 12

As William walks to his mother and brother, all the feelings and memories he has suppressed for the last few years rise to the surface. He has to blink the tears of hatred and pain away. He did not think that he would have to deal with this again.

He made a deal with his parents. They would focus all their attention on him, and in return, Isaac gets to live the life he wants without his parents trying to ruin it or change it. They get to take everything out on him, but not a hair on Isaac’s head will be touched.

Isaac must have done something to anger their mother, but she has no right to violate their deal. She knows there will be grave consciences. His father is not going to let this go when he finds out. 

William sees his mother lifting her hand again and Isaac braces himself. William hurries and steps in between his mother and Isaac, catching her hand. His mother's face becomes pale when she sees William.

"William, what are you doing here? I thought-"

"Have you been hitting him behind my back all these years?" he asks, anger spewing from his eyes. He gives a step closer to his mother, his grip tightening on her hand. She shakes her head frantically.

"No, no. I- he forced me to," she says as she points to Isaac. William turns lets go of his mother’s hand and turns to Isaac. He puts a hand on Isaac’s shoulder. Isaac looks at William and William notices the tears in Isaac’s eyes, mixed with confusion and fear.

William's heart aches at the sight, wiping a tear from Isaac's cheek. He turns Isaac's face to the side, inspecting the mark left on his cheek. Isaac flinches when he touches his cheek.

"Are you okay?" he whispers, pulling Isaac into a hug. Isaac nods in the embrace and William can feel the anger boiling near the surface. He has to get Isaac away from here.

"Why don't you go back to the others? Or do you want to go wait in the car?" William asks when he lets go of Isaac. Isaac looks at William while he wipes his face with the back of his hands. He clears his throat.

"I'll go back to the others. B is waiting for me," he says, turning to go back to the restaurant. William catches his arm and pulls him in for another hug. "Thank you," he says to William in the hug. William pats his back before letting him go. 

He watches Isaac walk back to the restaurant. He is livid. He turns to his mother, taking slow breaths to calm himself. His mother's eyes are filled with regret. She should have known better.

"Why are you here?" she asks again. William shakes his head and puts his shaking hands in his pockets, trying to contain all the hate and emotions.

"Have you been hitting Isaac behind my back? We had a deal," William says with frustration. He thought he protected Isaac from this, from his parents.

"No, William. I swear, this was the first time," she says with a quivering voice. William scoffs while he crosses his arms. The anger burns his throat and he looks back to the car where Lianna is. She is still in the car on her phone.

"Why should I believe you? Is this just the first time I caught you? And father, has he been abusing Isaac?" Rose shakes her head, clutching William's arm.

"Isaac proposed to Bianca. On the same spot where you proposed to Evelyn. I arranged the hike so you and Evelyn can reunite and realize that you made a mistake. Isaac did not ask permission to marry Bianca. He- "

"He doesn't have to ask for permission. That is the whole reason for the fucking deal. You control my life and mine only. You leave him alone. He can do what he wants. He can also marry who he wants. It has nothing to do with you.” William pulls his hand through his hair and lets out a frustrated sigh.

“You broke the arrangement which means I can leak the evidence," he threatens. His mother's grip on his arm becomes tighter, her eyes are pleading with him. Her lower lip trembles. 

"Please, no. It was me, not your father. If he finds out . . . William, he will kill me," she says, tears rolling down her cheeks. William plucks his arm from her hand. 

"Why should I care?" He turns his back to his mother, ignoring her pleads and sobs as he starts to the car.. His mother catches his shirt, tugging him back. He spins around which causes her to lose her grip on the shirt. She stares at William with red and swollen eyes.

"Please," she begs him. William shakes his head and she goes to grab him again, but he steps out of her reach.

"That was the last time, you hear me? I don't give a shit what Father does to you. Leave Isaac alone. Hit me if you want, but leave him alone. If you touch him again, I will fucking kill you myself," he spits out, heading back to his car. His mother stares at him as he walks away, fear paralyzing her. What is he going to do?

William gets into the car and slams the door shut. Lianna is startled by his action and lets her phone drop. She jerks her head to look at him. She inspects him, seeing his glossy eyes. Did he cry?

She opens her mouth to ask him, but he starts the car. She sees his clenched jaw and white knuckles on the steering wheel. What the hell happened?

“You okay?” she asks, keeping her eyes on the road. William grunts out a yes before he lets out a shaky sigh.

He has to get away from here. 

“We’re going home,” he says while keeping his eyes on the road. “When we get to the house, gather all your stuff. We are leaving.” He glances at Lianna and sees the frown. He does not have the strength for questions.

“Aren’t we going to say goodbye? I want to say goodbye to Bianca,” Lianna says, tapping her fingers against her legs. William shakes his head.

“We will see them again. Right now, I need to go home.” Lianna looks at William. She has so many questions, but she knows now is not the right time. She will ask him when they get back to the apartment.