Betrothed To a Stranger

Desperate Plea

Mother tried to navigate the uncomfortable situation. My disappearance had been noticed by everyone, and she didn't know what to do without annoying our guest.

"I do not like to be kept waiting, Mrs. Gray. So I will let my men take care of it," Mr. Rodriguez said, his tone authoritative and menacing.

My mother nodded, clearly intimidated. "Don't worry about it, she will not be harmed, no one touches what is mine," he added, his words sending a chill down my spine.

My sister, Isla, had been in my room and had an idea of where I would be. She knew I would always escape through the window, a habit I'd had since childhood. She had even followed me several times without my knowledge and was aware of my secret relationship with Adam.

Isla observed that the teddy bear she had gifted me was gone, and she knew I had fled to Adam's. She stood inside my room, her heart racing with every passing second.

She had heard Mr. Rodriguez talking about finding me, and she worried about what would happen to me and Adam. Ever since our mother had announced her plans to marry me off to the wealthy and influential billionaire, Isla had tried to reason with her.

When our mother came into the room to find me, Isla tried to explain that I was too young, too innocent, and too fragile for the harsh realities of marriage to a man like Mr. Rodriguez. But our mother had refused to listen, blinded by the promise of wealth and security.

With a deep breath, Isla pushed open the door and stepped into the sitting room. Mr. Rodriguez turned around, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he took in Isla's determined expression.

"Ah, Miss Isla," he said, his deep voice dripping with amusement. "You look like you have something important to say. Do you perhaps know where my wife fled to?"

Isla's eyes flashed with anger as he referred to me as "my wife," but she kept her cool, her voice steady as she approached Mr. Rodriguez.

"I never got your name, sir," she said, faking a smile.

Mr. Rodriguez looked at her with a smirk. "At least my sister-in-law is interested in my name. I must say this is a good sign." He chuckled, studying her face for a while before continuing. "Call me Mr. Rodriguez, except you want to call me 'in-law.'" He chuckled again, clearly trying to annoy her.

Isla decided not to let him get to her. "I've come to talk to you about my sister," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "She's too young, Mr. Rodriguez. She's not ready for marriage, not to a man like you. You have to understand, she's still a child. You can take me instead, I'm older and... I am more experienced than my sister. I will be better, I will be submissive, and I will make you delicious meals. Just let my sister be, she is clearly not ready for this."

Mr. Rodriguez decided to take a seat, steepling his fingers together as he regarded Isla with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"And what, exactly, makes you think I'm not suitable for your sister?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Isla's face burned with anger, but she kept her emotions in check, her voice steady as she replied, "You're a stranger to us, Mr. Rodriguez. We don't know you, and Alice is too innocent, too trusting. She deserves better than to be married off to a man she doesn't know or love."

Mr. Rodriguez's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And what makes you think you're any better suited to be my wife?" he asked, his voice laced with insult.

Isla's eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her cool, her voice steady as she replied, "I'm not asking to be your wife, I'm asking you to spare Alice, to consider her youth and innocence. Take me instead."

The room fell silent, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the mantle. Mr. Rodriguez's expression was unreadable, his eyes narrowed as he regarded Isla with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Finally, he spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. "If I wanted you, Miss Isla, I would have chosen you instead of your sister. But I didn't, did I? I chose Alice, and I won't be swayed by your desperate pleas."

Isla's face burned with anger, her eyes flashing with tears. But she kept her emotions in check, her expression neutral as she turned to leave.

Mr. Rodriguez's words had cut deep, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

As she reached the door, Mr ...As she reached the door, Mr. Rodriguez's voice stopped her.

"Miss Isla?" he called out.

She turned, her eyes meeting his across the room.

"Yes?" she replied, her voice steady.

Mr. Rodriguez's expression was unreadable, but his eyes seemed to bore into her soul.

"You're not as calm as you seem, are you?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

Isla's heart skipped a beat as she met Mr. Rodriguez's gaze. How had he seen through her mask of calm? She forced a smile, her voice steady as she replied, "I'm perfectly calm."

Mr. Rodriguez raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Isla felt a shiver run down her spine as she turned to leave. She knew she had to find a way to protect me from Mr. Rodriguez, no matter what it took.

As she stepped out of the room, she was determined to come up with a plan to save me from the clutches of the ruthless billionaire. Little did she know, time was running out, and Mr. Rodriguez's men were closing in on my location.