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1089 Words
ISADORA
She pressed her hand to his head.
He was breathing.
She exhaled, and a small smile crept onto her face.
She didn't know what would have happened if he had died. Jail would have been inevitable — she was poor and couldn't afford a lawyer.
She glanced down at him.
He was bleeding from his head, which could still lead to something worse.
Should she just leave him here?
After all, he would have done something terrible to her — forced himself on her until she collapsed, or worse.
She sent a text to Cassie about the incident.
Cassie and Jackson would be here any minute. It was just at the dark edge of the road with dim lighting.
Cassie arrived with Jackson.
"What happened? He didn't do anything to you, did he?" Cassie hugged her.
"No. I broke the bottle on his head first" Isadora said.
She checked the time.
8:30. Thirty minutes before the surgery was set to begin.
It was clear now that the surgery had been deliberately postponed — Tania had arranged it. But she hadn't argued. After all, the doctor hadn't bothered asking who had paid the bills.
"I'll be back. Something urgent came up" Isadora said, and Cassie nodded while Jackson attended to the man on the ground.
Well. Back after three months.
She needed to meet Tania — either to complete the deal or cut it off entirely.
She arrived at Tania's mansion and, just like before, Tania sat at the head of the table like a queen.
Arrogant. Proud.
"You came at the right time. I was about to send Garry to bring you" Tania said.
"I want to cancel the contract. I'll pay you back the money for the surgery" Isadora said.
"Because of Cassie's contract?" Tania chuckled. "Go ahead. Ask for a refund and your sister's surgery gets pushed to tomorrow — that is, if she doesn't die before then. Did the doctor not tell you how quickly her internal bleeding is spreading?"
Isadora gulped.
There was no way out.
It was either the marriage or her sister's death. And if Bella died, she would hate herself for the rest of her life.
It was just three months with a stranger.
Nothing could possibly go wrong.
"Have you changed your mind?" Tania asked.
"No" Isadora gritted her teeth and Tania grinned.
"Good. I hope you studied everything about me and my family, because three months with them won't be easy — especially given the current situation" Tania said.
Her family was really something else. Well — her family for the next three months.
There was a younger sister — Brielle, described as deeply irritating, and a volatile mother who blamed Tania for her father's death.
This would be her family for the next three months.
"Change into one of my nightgowns after your bath. They will be here to collect you tomorrow" Tania tossed a car key to Garry.
"If you need anything, call one of the maids. You are not to leave the premises. I'll send you the plan for tomorrow" Tania added as she walked out.
"s**t" Isadora muttered as she read through the plan. It was complicated and would require a lot of acting.
Begging the mother if she showed up?
As instructed, she changed into a pink pyjama set after her bath.
The mansion was insanely large.
Every inch screamed luxury.
It was already 9pm. The surgery must have started.
She hoped it went well and that Bella would find her goodbye note.
But it was for the best. All of it was for her.
And Cassie? She would be furious right now — why wasn't she at her sister's hospital during the surgery?
For the next three months, she would be Tania Delgado.
---
Tania — Isadora — sat on the bed, holding a napkin as she dabbed at her fake tears.
It was all part of the act.
A tall girl with long brown hair, brown eyes, and piercings on her bottom lip and brow walked in.
Brielle.
Her face was set in a sneer.
"Can you stop with the fake tears, Tania? You're literally marrying the richest man in Chicago" Brielle snapped.
Also the most dangerous.
His family ranked among the wealthiest and yet no one truly knew what they did. Most believed they traded goods across foreign countries, but nobody ever dared to question them — not even the president.
"I don't want this, Brielle" Tania cried.
"I only came to make sure you don't try to escape on your wedding day" Brielle smirked.
"Brielle, please talk to mother for me" Tania wept.
"Can you stop with those fake tears? We both know you're happy about this marriage" Brielle scoffed.
Isadora frowned for a moment before slipping back into character.
"I am not!!" Tania cried louder.
"Can someone shut her up in there?" A voice called from outside.
Mrs Delgado — Natasha. The widowed woman who believed Tania had caused her husband's death. He had died in a car accident.
The Delgados were one of Chicago's wealthier families, and to the public they had only one daughter — Brielle. After Mr Delgado's death, Natasha had made sure to erase Tania's existence from the family name entirely.
"You selfish girl, always craving attention" Brielle snapped.
"That is how you killed my husband" Natasha walked in.
"Mum... please" She knelt beside Natasha.
She wasn't sure if Tania would go this far in real life, but the plan was clear.
*Natasha and Brielle will come today and say terrible things. Just cry and act like it hurts. That is what I always do when this happens.*
Tania must have truly suffered at the hands of these two. Why did Natasha hate her so much? She hadn't caused the accident.
"Get your filthy hands off me. Murderer" Natasha shoved her away.
"If you hadn't killed your father, he would have been able to settle his debts. But since he can't — because of you — you must pay them yourself" Natasha ranted.
Marriage as payment?
Wealthy families could be deeply twisted.
Wonder how Tania was able to cope?
"Please" Isadora muttered, thoroughly exhausted by the family drama.
"They're here — black SUV outside" Brielle said, her gaze fixed on the window.
A moment later, several men in suits entered.
"Tania Delgado, please come with us" One of them said.
She didn't object. She simply followed.
The car pulled out of the compound.
Her three months were about to begin.
What was going to happen?
- Writer
