The rest of the drive was in complete silence.None of them spoke. Isla stared out the window, her fingers still wrapped around the ice cream spoon. Enzo didn't look at her, he didn't speak but his jaw stayed tight throughout the ride. Lorenzo occasionally stole short glances at them.
The gates of the estate slid open and the car rolled in.
Isla moved before the car even came to a complete stop. She stepped out quickly, causing her to stumble in her rush.
"Isla....." Enzo yelled, his side of the door flew open but she was already runnung inside.
"Isla," he called again, this time his voice was firmer. She didn't stop or turn.
Enzo slammed the door behind him as he strode after her but Lorenzo blocked his path.
Enzo inhaled sharply, narrowing his eyes at his brother.
"Move."
Lorenzo didn't. "No"
"I'm going after her."
"No you're not," Lorenzo chuckled.
"Stay out of it," Enzo said in a warning tone.
"I'm not staying out of it because you clearly need someone to remind you of what you're dealing with."
Enzo's expression hardened immediately. "I know what I'm dealing with."
"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, it seems like you forgot."
Enzo's jaw tightened.
"She's not like the woman you are used to. She doesn't think like them. Her brain functions just like Lia's would and I'm not sure you'd yell at Lia."
Enzo didn't say anything but something in his expression shifted because Lorenzo's words hit harder than anything else.
"Fuck....I didn't mean to...."
"That's the problem. " Lorenzo cut in. "Because she doesn't know that."
Enzo exhaled slowly, dragging his fingers through his hair.
"So what do I do?" Enzo asked quietly.
"Talk to her like she's Lia."
Enzo swallowed hard, his gaze shifting towards the house. The thought of Isla sitting all alone in the room crying didn't sit well with him.
"I have to get home but make sure you fix things. Don't make it worse."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isla shut the door behind her quickly, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath from running up the stairs. The spoon was still in her hand but she didn't seem to notice. Her eyes moved around the room slowly. Everything felt too big, quiet and expensive.
"I want Lena. I want to go home," she whispered to herself as she climbed the bed and pulled her knees to her chest.
A soft knock came from the door casuing her to look up.
Slowly, the door handle turned but the door didn't open. It was like she was being given the time to stop whoever it was from entering. But she didn't.
The door opened just a little before Enzo stepped in. His eyes immediately landed on the bed and seeing Isla curled in on herself made something uncomfortable twist in his chest.
For a moment he just stood there, not sure of what to do.
"Talk to her like she's Lia."
Lorenzo's words echoed in his ears.
"Hey," Enzo said softly, taking a step forward. Isla didn't look at him so he moved closer. stopping a few meters away from the bed.
" I'm sorry." He said gently. The words sounded ridiculous coming from him.
"You shouted," she murmured, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her clothes.
"I only did that because I was worried. Too much ice cream will make you sick."
Isla finally looked up, her cheeks stained with tears.
"So you're not going to shout again?"
Enzo's expression because the question hit hard.
"I won't shout," he said firmly.
"Pinky promise?"
Enzo blinked, caught off guard.
"What?" Enzo asked, his voice soft, almost confused.
Isla shifted close to him, her expression serious.
"Pinky promise."
It sounded childish but she didn't look like she was joking. She looked like this was the only way she could trust his words.
Then he hooked his pinky around hers. "Pinky promise."
He watched her lips curve into a smile and something instantly settled inside Enzo.
"So can I have another ice cream?"
Enzo couldn't believe what he just heard.
"You still want an ice cream?" he asked, raising a brow.
Then he let out a soft scoff and shook his head.
"You're impossible."
Isla giggled at his words and that sound somehow was so soothing to Enzo's ears.
"Come on," Enzo said, stepping aside for her to get down.
"Where?"
"You want ice cream, don't you?"
"Yes!" her face lit up instantly. She scrambled off the bed and jumped into Enzo's arms excitedly.
"Careful," he muttered, steadying her so she wouldn't fall, ignoring the strange feeling in his chest.
"Let's go," Isla said with a smile after steadying herself.
She hooked her arm in his as they walked out of the room and they headed toward the stairs. The mansion was quiet, the kind of quiet that Enzo wanted but beside him, Isla was humming to an unknown tune.
Not like it was a problem to him. He could listen to that all day.
Halfway down the stairs, the sound of heels echoed through the hall. Both of them raised their head just in time to see a woman walk in with practiced ease. Her posture was confident and familiar, as if she belonged there.
She looked at Enzo first before her eyes slowly drifted to Isla and then to their entwined hands.
Something unreadable flickered in her eyes but she quickly masked it with a smile.
"Enzo....I came to check up on you."
"We're fine," Enzo said flatly, his free hand sliding into his pockets.
Cassie nodded slowly,her attention slowly drifting to Isla.
"Hi.." she said, her tone dripping with fake softness Enzo recognized immediately.
Isla blinked, lifting her head to look at Enzo for a split second before:
"Hi!"
Unlike Cassie's, Isla smile was genuine and it caused Enzo to clench his jaw.
"I'm Cassie. I'm his doctor and friend."
There was a subtle emphasis on the his which didn't go unnoticed by Enzo.
Isla tilted her head, a slight frown on her face as if she was processing that.
"You fix him?" she asked innocently.
That caught Cassie off guard but she quickly regained her composure.
"Something like that," she chuckled.
"We're going out," Enzo cut in before any of them could talk again.
Cassie looked back at him. "Out?"
"Yeah. To get ice cream." Isla spoke before Enzo could.
Ice cream?
Cassie stared at Enzo, confusion written all over her face.
"You are taking her out.....for ice cream?" she asked, like she wasn't sure she heard it right.
"Yes." Isla answered instead.
"This is new," Cassie said looking as Enzo because it was. And they knew it.
A brief silence followed.
Cassie looked at Isla again. The way she stood close to him, the way her hand was hooked with his as her fingers played with his sleeve as if they belonged there.
The thing was Enzo let her. He was pulling away and something in Cassie's expression changed.
"You should be careful....." she said to Isla with a venomous smile. " He's not exactly easy to deal with."
Isal looked at Enzo with a slight frown, but his gaze was fixed on Cassie.
"He shouted," she said honestly.
Ezo closed his eyes briefly in annoyance.
"He did?" Cassie brow a brow.
"But he won't do that again," Isla smiled, pulling Enzo closer to her though he didn't move a muscle. " He did a pinky promise."
That caught Cassie completely off guard.
"A what?"
Isla held up her finger. " A pinky promise," she said proudly.
There was a short silence again, then Cassie let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly.
She looked at Enzo with a look that said, " let's see hoe that goes."
"Well," she said smoothly. "Enjoy your ice cream."
Enzo didn't say anything, he just started descending down the stairs and Isla follwed immediately.
But just as they passed Cassie, Isla turned to look at her.
"You can come with us if you like ice cream too," she offeref innocently.
Cassie blinked. For a moment she stared at Enzo. Then....
"I'll come with you."
"No you won't," the old Enzo was back.
"Why?" Isla frowned.
"Yes. Why?" Cassie threw Enzo a challenging look.
"Because I said so."
Isla stepped away from Enzo immediately and frowned.
"But I want her to come with us," she pouted.
Enzo let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was trying so hard not to lose his patience.
"Do what you want."
"Yay!" Isla beamed. " We're all going."
She jumped, hooking her arm with Cassie's instead of Enzo's.
Enzo's eyes widened slightly as a wave of jealousy hit him. He immediately pulled Isla to himself.
"What?" Isla asked, confused.
Enzo didn't answer, he just grabbed her by the wrist, strong enough to assert dominance but not leave a bruise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The drive was tense.
Isla sat in front, talking about the various flavours she was going to get whiles Cassie sat at the back, quiet, just watching. Watching how Isla leaned slightly toward Enzo and how he never told her to move.
"I want to get strawberry," Isla said firmly.
" And chocolate," Enzo added dryly.
Cassie's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Yes. And chocolate with sprinkles. I want lots of sprinkles on all of them."