The Accidental Bride

Chapter Six

Isabella quickly tucked herself in bed, pulling the duvet up to her neck as she heard the sound of running water in the bathroom. Her heart pounded softly. The idea of sharing a room with Gabriel made her uneasy. The steady splash of water reminded her that he was still inside, and she counted every passing second, wishing time would slow down.

When the sound stopped, she froze. The door creaked open, and steam poured into the room like a cloud. She could see his shadow before she saw him. Gabriel stepped out, a white towel wrapped carelessly around his waist, another hanging from his neck. His chest glistened with drops of water that rolled down lazily.

Isabella’s heart raced faster. She shut her eyes and turned to the other side, pretending to be asleep.

“No way I’m going to share the same bed with him,” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly.

In a quick, desperate thought, she reached for the edge of the bed and carefully poured a bit of water from the glass beside her to make it look as though she had wet the bed. Maybe, just maybe, that would keep him away.

Gabriel stepped closer, stopping right beside her. His presence was heavy, like he owned the air around him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, his tone deep but calm, his eyes scanning her covered form.

She didn’t answer immediately. She just kept her head buried in the duvet.

“We can’t share the same bed,” she finally muttered. “You’ll sleep on the floor, and I’ll take the bed.”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m not,” she said sharply, her voice firmer this time.

Gabriel chuckled and shook his head. Without another word, he reached down and pulled the duvet away from her body. Isabella gasped, clutching her nightgown close.

“If anyone should sleep on the floor, it should be you,” he said, his eyes holding hers. “After all, I saved you. You owe me for that ride.”

Her throat went dry. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Her lips trembled, and she could feel her pulse in her ears.

“I guess as much,” he said, laughing softly as he climbed into the bed, turning his back to her.

Isabella just stood there, speechless, anger and helplessness mixing inside her chest. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words refused to form. Instead, she stared at his back and clenched her fists.

“Get ready,” Gabriel said without turning. “We’re moving to our house first thing tomorrow morning.”

She didn’t reply. She just lay back down, facing the other direction. Her mind wandered to her family.

“I should go back and apologize to my family instead of suffering like this,” she whispered to herself. “At least I would have peace.”

The room grew quiet, except for the rhythmic sound of Sebastian’s breathing. When she turned to glance at him, she found him already fast asleep, his face calm and not bothered. That annoyed her even more.

She pulled a pillow over her face to block the sound, but it didn’t help. She tossed and turned, feeling more restless. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, she got up and quietly pulled the duvet off the bed. She laid it on the floor, grabbed her pillow, and curled up under it.

The floor was hard and cold, but it was better than lying beside him.

She had barely fallen asleep when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She groaned softly, not ready to wake up.

“It’s time, Isabella,” Gabriel’s voice came.

She opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the faint morning light sneaking through the curtains. “Can’t we rest a little more?” she muttered, still half asleep.

“No time,” he said briskly, already dressed and packing his bag. “We need to leave.”

She frowned, dragging herself up from the floor. “At least let me take a bath,” she pleaded, rubbing her eyes.

“No time for that either,” he replied, grabbing her hand before she could protest further.

“Gabriel, wait!” she snapped, trying to pull free, but he didn’t stop. His grip was firm, not painful, but strong enough to remind her who was in charge.

They walked out of the hotel room. The hallway was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. Downstairs, two receptionists stood behind the counter. They both greeted respectfully as they passed, bowing slightly, but Gabriel didn’t respond. He just kept walking as if they weren’t there.

Outside, the air was cool and fresh. The car waited, already packed. Gabriel opened the door for her, and for a moment, she just stood there, staring at him.

“Are you going to stand all day?” he asked.

Reluctantly, she got in. The car ride was long and quiet. Isabella kept her eyes on the window, watching trees and buildings blur past. Every now and then, she sneaked a glance at Sebastian. He looked calm, his face unreadable, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting casually on the window.

After what felt like hours, he finally slowed down.

“This is it,” he said quietly.

Isabella blinked and looked out. The house before her was nothing like what she imagined. It was simple but surprisingly beautiful—a Mansion painted cream with brown edges, surrounded by small flowers and a neat compound.

“This can’t be yours,” she said before she could stop herself.

Gabriel smiled faintly. “Why not?”

“You’re a driver,” she said, disbelief clear in her tone. “This house is way beyond what you can afford.”

He turned off the engine and stepped out, ignoring her comment. She remained seated, staring at the house in confusion. After a while, he opened her door.

“Get out, Isabella.”

She stepped down slowly, still studying the place. Everything about the house looked organized.

“This isn’t right,” she muttered. “We shouldn’t be living here. It’s too expensive. You can’t afford this, Gabriel.”

He turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. “What do you want me to do?”

“We should find somewhere cheaper,” she said firmly. “Something within your reach. And I can work too, to help. I can’t just sit here and watch you borrow money and waste like this on something we can’t maintain.”

Gabriel’s lips curved into a slight, almost mocking smile. “Do what you want, Isabella. Just don’t underestimate me.”