WITH TRUST AND REGRET

In a mammoth hall were a group of people seated with serious expressions. The hall was extremely mesmirizing and the people were three in total. One of them was a middle aged man around his late fifties. The remaining two were women. One of them was in her early forties but she looked like she was in her late twenties. It seemed she had maintained her beauty quiet well. The other lady was in her early twenties. Her extraordinary beauty was not to be underestimated. Even though she had a furious face her looks could still not be overlooked.

Out of anger, the young lady stood up and yelled at the middle aged man;

Lady; Dad there is no way I am getting married to Carlisle DelaVega.

The other lady was stunned by the young lady's action and quickly stood up to reprimanded her.

Woman; Isabel, remember who you are talking to. He's your father for God sake.

But Isabel gave the woman a cold shoulder and continued to stare at her father in anger. The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned chilly. Isabel was about to talk but her father harshly interrupted.

"You would marry him whether you like it or not" He said sternly. A tear threatened to fall from Isabel's eyes as she heard her father's words but she didn't dare to cry and forced the tear back. Her face softened as she said in despair.

"Why dad, why do I have to marry him?" The moment she talking, her father shot her a dangerous glare. His eyes were bloodshot and it made Isabel tremble subconsciously and intuitively take a step back. Her father has never given her such a look before and it made her tensed. There after, her father's mockery tone was heard loudly in the room.

"Why....Why? You still have the cheek to ask me why. Ha..ha..haa. After all the stupid things you did.... You are the reason why we are in this mess. We didn't disown you but we rather have you the opportunity to marry Carlisle DelaVega as a way of mending your mistakes. Is that too much to ask? Shouldn't you be happy? This can be said as a blessing in disguise." There was a hidden pain in her father's eyes that could not be clearly seen.

Isabel felt her heart sank after hearing her father's words. Indeed she had really done some stupid things in the past and that has caused her family a great deal. To others getting this opportunity as a way of mending your mistakes was a blessing but for her it was nothing lesser than hell. Unable to keep quiet, she said with great difficulty

"So?.... Let me make things clear to you dad, if not Adrain, I am not getting married to anyone else" At the mention of Adrain's name her father flew into a rage and banged his fist on the table. Then he yelled furiously

"That bastard again. Are you blind? What has he given to you that you are so head over heels in love with. Can't you open your eyes and see that you are been used... You know what, you are getting married to Carlisle DelaVega and that is final. We are not talking about this again."

The tears that treathened to fall from her eyes previously now cascaded non stop from her eyes. She said sorrowfully;

"Dad you... you know very well that I love Adrain. He is the only one..."

To her uttermost surprise, her father abruptly slapped her across her face mercilessly before she could finish her simple statement. The after-sound of the slapped resounded in the room. The other lady who was sitting on the couch instinctively stood up and said

"Brother.." Isabel held her cheeks after her father retreated his hands. It was red and swollen. Isabel was shocked since she didn't expect her father to slap her. In fact her father has never slapped her before. The pain quickly spread through her body and her head begun to spin, but before she could clearly think, she heard her father's menacing voice.

"You mention that bastard name again and you will regret it."

This time Isabel was enraged and she surprisingly yelled furiously back at her father in a angry tone

"When did you begin to care about me? When have you ever been a father and me? Who are you to make decisions for me? This is my life and I make my own decisions. I am not marring Carlisle DelaVega and that is final. You are just my father in name so stop acting like you care.". This time, she didn't wait for her father to talk and just stormed away to her room. The other lady tried calling Isabell but to no avail. She said to her brother sorrowfully

"Edward, you shouldn't have gone that far" But her brother ignored her words and said

"You go and knock some sense into that rock-like head of hers."

The woman just nodded and turned. She was about to go when she heard her brother's deep voice. She intuitively stopped in her tracks

"Lilian...." She heard. She turned to him and Edward continued with a sad voice

" I'm I a bad father?" Lilian sighed helplessly and went to her brother. She hugged him from behind and said sotto voce

" I know you love her. Just do what you think is best for her...but...be easy on her. She is still naive."

With that she smiled and pulled herself from the embrace and went.

Mr. Edward Snow sighed and helplessly slumped into the soft cotton couch. He knew he was been too harsh but it is just that his daughter was too adamant. She never listens and wants things done her way. She thinks she was doing the right thing but she was actually on the wrong path. But...he also knew it wasn't entirely her fault, he was also to be blamed.