Betrothed To a Stranger

Mine

As Isla turned to leave, She said, "I'm perfectly calm, Mr. Rodriguez. Thank you for your time." Her voice was steady, but her heart was racing with anger and frustration. She had never felt so belittled and humiliated in her life.

But before she could take another step, the door slammed open forcefully, and I burst into the room, my mother grasping my ears from behind. My eyes were flashing with anger, and my face was red with rage.

"Ah, perfect timing," Mr. Rodriguez said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I was just discussing your... virtues with your sister." He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he regarded me with a cold, calculating gaze.

My eyes narrowed, and I struggled against my mother's grip. "Let me go, Mother!" I demanded, my voice rising in anger. But my mother held tight, her face set in a determined expression.

"Alice, behave yourself," she hissed, her voice low and menacing.

Mr. Rodriguez's gaze flicked to my mother, and he said, "Don't hurt her, Mrs. Gray. I want her... unblemished." His voice was laced with a sinister undertone, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

My eyes flashed with anger, and I turned on Mr. Rodriguez. "Don't speak to my mother like that!" I spat, my voice venomous.

Mr. Rodriguez raised an eyebrow, his expression unyielding. "When it comes to what belongs to me," he said, "it should be handled with perfect care. And I always get what belongs to me, no matter the cost."

As he spoke, his eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I tried to step back, but my mother's grip held me firm.

Mr. Rodriguez's gaze never wavered, and he continued, "You see, Alice, you are a valuable commodity. Your family's debt to me is substantial, and this marriage is the only way to settle it."

My face paled, “what debt?” I asked as I turned to look at my mother searching for answers but my mother looked away.

“Oh- you never told them?.” Rodriguez said looking surprised himself, taking a deep breath that indicated his frustration toward the drama. “poor thing.” he whispered.

At first, I thought it was for money and maybe my mother punishing me for… I turned to look at my sister but my sister only held a confused expression as mine, she was not the only one in dark after all.

“What debt are you talking about.” I asked again but this time the question was for Mr. Rodriguez as my gaze was on him.

“That would be story for another time, I am not about to witness another family drama.” and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I was nothing more than a pawn in a game of power and money.

My sister, who had been watching the exchange in horror, felt a surge of anger on my behalf. She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with fury, but my mother held out a warning hand, silencing her.

Mr. Rodriguez's smile grew wider, and he leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together once more. "I think we understand each other, Alice," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "You will make a perfect wife. And I will make sure you are... taken care of."

My eyes flashed with desperation as I tried to think of a way to escape the situation. I remembered the town baker, a kind and gentle man who had always been friendly to me. Maybe, just maybe, if I told Mr. Rodriguez that I was in love with someone else, he would let me go.

"I don't want to marry you," I said, trying to sound firm. "I am in love with another."

I could feel all eyes on me, I knew this would be big news to everyone. My mother was surprised but thought I was just saying things to get away, but my sister knew this was true but didn't think I would be open about it.

Mr. Rodriguez raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Oh? And who might that be?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

Mr. Rodriguez's expression didn't change, but he continued, "Oh, is it the town baker? How… quaint.”

My eyes widened in shock. "How did you know?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

I turned slowly to look at the shocked expression my mother held, but that was my least concern at the moment. I looked at Mr. Rodriguez with a mixture of disgust and curiosity. "How did you know?" I asked again.

Mr. Rodriguez chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Do you expect me to not make at least a little bit of research about the woman I was about to ...spend the rest of my life with?" he asked, his voice laced with condescension.

I felt a surge of disgust at his words. "Why would you think I would want to spend the rest of my life with you?" I spat, my voice venomous.

Mr. Rodriguez's expression didn't change, but he leaned forward, a smirk tugged on his well-defined lips. I scoffed, trying to sound brave. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to marry you. I'll marry the baker instead."

Mr. Rodriguez leaned forward, his eyes glinting with intensity. "And how do you intend to make that happen? I do not like to share."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the true extent of Mr. Rodriguez's power. I was trapped, and I didn't know how to escape.

"Please," I said, trying to sound calm. "Don't hurt him. He's a good man, and he doesn't deserve to be hurt."

Mr. Rodriguez's expression softened slightly, and he leaned back in his chair. "I won't hurt him," he said. "If you don't want me to, that is."

I felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could negotiate my way out of this situation.

"But I have a condition," I said, trying to sound firm.

Mr. Rodriguez's smile was cold and calculating. "I want you to come with me without any drama," he said. "No tears, no tantrums, no attempts to escape. Can you do that for me, Alice?"

I hesitated for a moment, weighing my options. I could try to escape, but I knew that Mr. Rodriguez's men would catch me. I could try to refuse, but I knew that he would just find another way to make me comply.

Finally, I nodded. "Yes," I said. "I'll come with you."

Mr. Rodriguez's smile grew wider, and he stood up, towering over me. "Good," he said. "I'm glad we understand each other. Shall we go?"

I felt a surge of fear as I realized that I would be leaving immediately. “But, we can't just leave immediately.”

As I spoke, Mr. Rodriguez's smile faltered for a moment, before he regained his composure. "And why not?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement. "We've already discussed the terms of our arrangement. I see no reason to delay."

"But... but she needs to pack," my sister Isla stammered, trying to stall for time. My mother surprisingly agreed to this, she didn't expect him to leave with me immediately.

Mr. Rodriguez chuckled, and shifted his gaze to Isla. "She won't be needing any of her old clothes," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. Now shifting his gaze back to me. "You'll be getting an entirely new wardrobe, one that's more... suitable for your new status."

I felt a surge of horror as I realized the true extent of Mr. Rodriguez's plans for me. I was to be transformed into a puppet, a mere plaything for his amusement.

As Mr. Rodriguez turned to leave, my eyes met Isla's, and I saw a flash of desperation in her gaze.