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796 Words
ISADORA
"THEODORE VERENZI."
That name spelled doom to whoever crossed paths with him.
The most feared man in Chicago.
Her husband?
She had to be dreaming.
No way.
Isadora took a deep breath. She couldn't get married to that man.
"Are you having second thoughts, or are you ready to save your dying sister?" Tania's voice cut through her thoughts.
She raised her head to meet Tania's cold eyes.
"I have heard of him" Isadora answered.
"Good. Now you know the husband" Tania smirked.
"Garry!" Tania called and the security man came. She whispered something into his ear then he left.
Isadora clenched her hands, her fingers trembling slightly.
Her heartbeat went wild at just the thought of marrying an unknown man.
The most feared man.
Most people referred to him as the devil.
Why was this happening to her?
Garry returned with a tablet and handed it to Tania.
"Take this. Read everything about me. You have 24 hours to finish it and return to this mansion, where they will come to collect you as me" She stretched her hand forward with the tablet.
Isadora slowly took it.
"And this is the contract. Sign it now"
Isadora read through the document and picked up the pen on the table.
Did she really want this?
But that was never the question.
With trembling fingers, she signed the contract.
She spent the entire night reading about Tania, and now she was heading to the ward.
"Hello, Miss Castellano" The doctor said as she arrived.
"When will the surgery take place?" Isadora asked.
"By 9pm today. All our surgeons are occupied right now and won't be able to proceed until this evening" The doctor said.
"Thank you" She glanced at her sister.
Still sleeping.
What would she say when Bella asked how she got the money?
Would she lie or come clean?
Cassie entered the ward just then.
"Good news, girl!!" She screamed excitedly.
"What happened?" Isadora asked.
"I got the biggest makeup deal of my life" Cassie grinned.
"It's a wedding and guess the pay?" She added. "Twenty-five million. We are rich!! We can finally pay for Bella's surgery — just after the wedding"
Cassie hugged her tightly.
"When is the wedding?" Isadora asked.
Maybe if she could use the money to pay for the surgery, she could reclaim her freedom and avoid marrying the devil entirely.
Her eyes widened.
"Tomorrow" Cassie answered.
"Whoever pays that much for just makeup must be someone important" Isadora muttered.
"Well, this calls for a celebration — 7pm at the bar. But first I need to tell Jackson" Cassie said.
"Okay, I'll meet you there" Isadora smiled.
Jackson was Cassie's boyfriend. They had been dating since they graduated from high school.
Isadora sighed as she remembered she still needed to finish reading Tania's entire biography.
Did she even need it anymore? After all, Cassie could pay for the surgery tomorrow.
"Damn it" She muttered.
By the time Isadora finished going through Tania's personal file, it was already 5pm, leaving her just enough time to get ready for the celebration.
Cassie and Jackson were already there when she arrived, both drinking.
"You're here!" Cassie jumped up and hugged Isadora.
"Jackson told me you already paid for Bella's surgery. Where did you get the money?" Cassie scrutinised her.
Jackson was one of the doctors at the hospital, but per-time.
"I found a loan app with a great first-time offer" Isadora replied.
She couldn't tell her best friend that she would be gone for three months to marry a stranger, with every possibility of things going wrong. Cassie would never allow it.
"A first-time loan that high?" Cassie raised a brow.
Isadora hoped Cassie would forgive her after the three months were up.
After all, she had left goodbye letters — one on Cassie's bed and one in Bella's ward.
"Yes" Isadora took a sip of her drink.
"That's great. Now let's hit the dance floor" Cassie dragged Jackson with her.
And they began to dance.
Isadora watched them admiringly from her seat.
"Finally found you, sweetheart" A hoarse voice said behind her.
She turned to see the man — the one from last night.
"How may I help you?" She asked flatly.
"How about the dance floor? Wouldn't mind a repeat of last night" The man smiled, flashing perfect white teeth.
"I don't want to dance with you" Isadora said, and that shattered his smile instantly.
"Come with me" He grabbed her arm, forcefully yanking her from the chair.
"Let go of me" She struggled.
"No lady has ever turned me down" He said, pulling her along.
"You're insane" She grabbed a bottle from the table.
It collided hard with his head and he dropped.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Was he dead?
- Writer
