Twisted Ties of Love

Beck's robust figure had significantly slimmed down. The only thing that remained unchanged were the spirited glint in his eyes.

He was on a strict regimen of medication, regular health check-ups, and bland hospital meals due to his advanced age and high blood pressure which often led to sudden bouts of unconsciousness whenever he got too agitated.

"Is that you, Izabella? Come, sit down. Have some fruit here. Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?" Beck beckoned Izabella to come join him as soon as he saw her, signaling his nurse to bring a chair over.

"What did Bunny take you out to eat today?"

There were various fruits on the cupboard. Standing by the bedside, Izabella replied, "We just ate at a nearby restaurant."

Beck noticed the jade bracelet on Izabella's wrist and asked his wife, "You have given her the bracelet?"

"Hmm," Bunny nodded, "You probably didn't know, but our son is married now. Izabella is our daughter-in-law."

Upon hearing this, Beck didn't look pleased but rather worried. "I'm sorry you have to go through the hardship with us."

"It's not a problem."

"Isn't it? When I married Bunny, it was such a grand event that people still talk about it. But when you got married to Casey, all you got was a marriage certificate, a ring, and that bracelet."

Izabella looked down at her ring and bracelet, "These are the best and most precious gifts I have ever received."

Speaking of grand events, her wedding with Brett was quite a spectacle too, even covered by the media. Yet she wasn't happy at all in that marriage.

The most important thing was not the wedding, but the person you would spend the rest of your life with, just like the ring on her finger.

Brett had given her rings twice. The first was a cheap one he picked up on the street, the second was forced onto her finger during their divorce proceedings. Neither of the rings fitted her, much like their relationship.

A person who loves you and a person who doesn't can be distinguished from this alone.

Beck turned to Bunny and said, "We should still hold a wedding reception, inviting our close friends and family. The Dempsey family might not be as affluent as before, but we can still afford a wedding." Bunny nodded in agreement.

While the couple was busy planning, they forgot about Izabella by their side. Only when they started talking about wedding decorations did Bunny turn to Izabella and asked, "Izabella, do you have any ideas?" Izabella suddenly remembered Casey telling her that he wanted a traditional wedding, with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. She couldn't help but chuckle at the idea, "How about a very traditional wedding?"

Beck realized that Izabella must be bored all by herself in the hospital, and she probably had a lot of work to do as well.

"Izabella, why don't you head back home?"

"But..."

"Bunny's here to take care of me, along with the nurse. I'm fine, and I can even get out of bed and walk around now." Beck reassured her.

"I will come to visit next time with Casey." Izabella didn't insist and left. There was indeed a lot of work waiting for her at the company, and she also needed to take over Casey's work.

"Izabella." Beck suddenly called out her name, propping himself up. Bunny, who was nearest to him, immediately helped him sit up.

Beck looked at Izabella, "You can take me as your father and Bunny as your mother. Come to us whenever you need help."

Izabella was stunned, suddenly thinking of her biological father Alan.

Alan might not have been a good father to her, but he was always a good husband. After her mother died during childbirth, he always wore his wedding ring.

He never deleted his wife's phone number, even though it was disconnected. He would dial her number and talk to the air as if his wife was still alive.

Izabella had resented her father for his cold attitude towards her, for his harsh words, and for his lack of concern when she was ill. But after his death, all her resentment vanished.

Her father loved her mother so much that he kept every memento of her, and even attempted suicide to follow her steps. The reason he didn't succeed was probably because he remembered he still had two children to take care of.

Izabella remembered what her nanny had once told her.

"Your dad has been suffering all these years!"

And what her grandfather had said.

"Your father actually took great care of you when you were a baby."

"Could you hug me, dad?" The young Bella wanted to cry in her father's arms. "They said it was my fault mom died."

Her memory was filled with the image of Alan's cold back as he walked away, not looking back, standing on top of a tall building after making his last phone call, then jumping off without hesitation.

"Bella?"

Izabella shuddered, regaining her senses, she sniffled a little.

"I understand if you're not like the idea." Beck started, but was cut off.

"Dad, Mom." Izabella interrupted him, her voice hoarse. Seeing Beck's stunned expression, Izabella, fearing he hadn't heard her clearly, repeated earnestly, "Dad, Mom, I'm going home now." "Alright, safe drive. Let us know when you reach your office."

Izabella nodded and waved goodbye to them, "Bye."

As she turned to leave, she felt her eyes welling up with tears. A warm feeling filled her heart as she stepped out into the autumn chill Izabella was usually sensitive to the coldness, but now she felt nothing but warmth. The warmth in her heart seemed to spread throughout her body, even reaching her ears.

She finally had a mom and dad of her own, and she was no longer a girl who was ridiculed for having no mother and a father who didn't care. She wouldn't have to hide in the bathroom to cry whenever she felt wronged in the future.

Izabella had always thought of herself as a stoic, a woman hardened by years of emotional coldness. Her heart was long locked away behind towering walls. But now those walls were crumbling, bringing close the people who truly cared for her.

She didn't feel lonely anymore. Stepping out of the hospital room, Izabella paused instead of leaving immediately. She closed the door behind her and leaned against the wall.

Her eyes were still slightly red, a

telltale sign recent tears. Not wanting to be seen in such a state, tate she quickly lowered her gaze and waited for the tears in her eyes to fade. As she was preparing to leave, she heard Beck's coughing from inside the room.

"Ahem. get my laptop for me."

"You're still working in this condition? Here, have some water."

"How can I not work? I can't dump everything on them. You know Casey never intended to step into the Dempsey family business. He got lost as a child, spent over a decade in an orphanage. He wouldn't understand these business matters. My original plan was to hand over the reins to Izabella after

their marriage. But now, with the

Dempsey family business in

shambles, how can I do that?"

"But you're in the hospital now, you should care your health first."

"I know. I'm fine. Ahem, ahem, ahem."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Bunny interjected, "You say you're fine, but look at you, coughing your lungs out!"

"I'm still alive and my mind is clear, so I can still work. If I can help them, I will. I don't want them to struggle in the future. Casey and Izabella are now married, we need to quickly prepare for their wedding ceremony. We can't let her down."

Whatever Beck said next, Izabella couldn't hear. Her ears were buzzing, overwhelmed by the realization that they still needed her.

Beck might have claimed not to care about the family business, but who would willingly let decades of hard work go to waste?

Back at the office, Izabella tackled the stack of urgent documents on her desk. She then handed over her duties related to the Dempsey Group. By the time she was done, it was already eight at night. She and Casey had hastily tied the knot. But on their second day as a married couple, they were so busy that they didn't even have time to see each other.

Upon returning home in Spring Bay, she saw that the sunflower in Niki's pot had passed its blooming period. Its petals had wilted and fallen. Izabella trimmed the plant, then added some nutrient water to the dry soil.