Twisted Ties of Love novel Chapter 532

Casey gently patted Izabella's head, tucking her in a little closer as the wind howled outside, threatening to chill them to the bone despite their layered clothing and scarves.

As he adjusted her scarf, Casey said softly, "You know, there's going to be a whole bunch of people who'll be kind to you."

A faint smile played on Izabella's lips as she reached out and grasped Casey's hand, thinking how wrong he was. Her world was shrinking, not growing—Casey was her everything. As for him, well, he was the one bound to be surrounded by tenderness. His future stretched out long and promising, and he deserved all the love that was coming his way.

Izabella's mind drifted away.

She thought, “If one day I'm gone, Casey, I hope you'll live a life full of everything I never got to do. I love the warmth of the winter sun, the twilight's hazy glow, the green fields ripe with harvest, and someone named Casey. I love searching for cicadas in the winter, listening to the whales sing by the seaside in summer, watching seagulls spread their wings, and the last rays of the sun setting over the ocean. I love the thought of someone being there to see all the beauty this world has to offer with me. But if I'm not around, well, it's up to you to take in all the wonders for me.”

"Bella, what's wrong?" Casey's intuition was sharp. Despite the fleeting moment, he caught the glint of tears in Izabella's eyes.

"I just can't believe how lucky I am," Izabella breathed in, stifling the hoarseness in her voice, "to have met you."

Casey had finally managed to clear his schedule for the day, and by five o'clock, they were off to visit Beck at the hospital.

Beck's condition hadn't changed much; there was no discernible improvement or decline.

On the way, Izabella bought a bouquet of sunflowers from a florist and placed them by the hospital window, watching the family inside chat away.

Bunny suddenly brought up the topic of weddings.

"Just yesterday, I asked Izabella what kind of wedding she'd like. She mentioned something traditional, and you know, I've been looking at the calendar. How about we aim for the end of December? That gives us just over a month. We don’t need to invite a huge crowd, just close kin and buddies," Bunny suggested, glancing toward Izabella, who stood by the window caressing the sunflowers.

"Bella, what do you think about having the wedding on Christmas Day?"

December twenty-fifth. That would mark six years since her passing.

Before Izabella could respond, Casey interjected, "That's not a lucky day. Let's push it back a bit."

Izabella finally spoke up, "Actually, we could skip the wedding altogether."

"No way," Bunny, Beck, and Casey chimed in unison, their gazes firmly fixed on her.

"Marrying off is a woman's most special day; you've got to have a ceremony even if it means breaking the bank," Bunny insisted.

Izabella and Casey didn't linger long at the hospital. Beck needed his rest, and by eight o'clock, they headed home.

Bunny walked them out, arm-in-arm with Izabella, treating her like her own daughter, and reminding Casey, "Take good care of Izabella. Don't wear her out."

"You don't have to tell me, Mom. Go back now, and take care of yourself."

"Mhm," Bunny stood at the hospital entrance, the wind biting at her despite not stepping outside. She adjusted her coat tighter around her and watched them leave.

As they drove off, Izabella could feel Bunny's eyes on her. She caught sight of the hospital entrance through the rearview mirror.

The day's earlier mishap at the amusement park, when Casey's seatbelt came loose, flashed through her mind, leaving her cold with what-ifs.

No one had been left behind this time, but the thought of any harm coming to Casey or anyone in the Dempsey family because of her was unbearable.

Mrs. Bunny and Mr. Beck had been so kind to her; how could she bear to cause them grief?

Outside the car window, Izabella murmured, "She's still there, watching. She can't bear to leave you. Once things settle down, you should spend more time with her. She's a wonderful mother."

Her choice of words was "you," not "us."

Casey noticed but didn't press the issue. Exhausted from the day, he pulled Izabella into his arms and murmured a low "Mhm."

Halfway home, the car's brakes failed. The driver managed to pull over safely, but it was the second scare of the day.