CHAPTER FOUR
1072 Words
ISABELLE
Unable to go back to sleep, I stay awake in bed till the next morning. Watching as the first rays of light peek through the windows, I'm starting to think he has forgotten his words when the door opens and a middle-aged slightly greying woman walks in. Cradling a small bundle in her arms.
"Hello dear" she greets with an excitement I do not share "How are you feeling ?"
I give her a questioning look from my place on the bed. How am I feeling? Is this woman even serious? I don't bother to give her a reply.
If she notices the look I give her, she doesn't say anything. "Here. I've brought some clothes for you" She places a small pile of clothes on the bed along with a comb and a new toothbrush.
"where's Santiago?" I ask
"Mr. Della Rossa is not at home right now, but he's entrusted your care to me. If you need anything, you can just ask me"
"I want to go home"
She seems short of words for a second "Well... I'm afraid that is beyond my power, but If there's anything else... "
"I want to go home" I repeat quietly. She ignores me again and continues "You must be hungry. What would you like to eat? I can prepare... "
"I want to go home!" I cut her off, yelling this time. My patience finally running out. She backs away from me looking utterly frightened as she turns to the door and bolts from the room without another word.
Ignoring the clothes she brought in, I lay back down on the bed and pulled the covers over my head. I don't even bother to try the door. I already know it's locked.
After what seems like hours, the door opens again. I shut my eyes, wishing for whoever it is to just go away.
"Catherine tells me you haven't been very nice"
I sit up at the sound of the voice. It's Santiago. Standing at the foot of the bed, he places the tray of food in his hands on the dresser and turns to eye me with distaste. I hug the blanket tighter to my naked body. I haven't showered yet, the pins holding my hair are already coming loose in several places and I still have yesterday's makeup on. Judging by the stains on the pillows, the make up must be strewn over my face. I must look all over the place. Good, maybe he'll finally let me go.
Reaching down to drag the blanket away from me, he pulls me to my feet and drags me towards the bathroom. Shoving me under the shower against my protests, he turns it on. The water is ice cold, making me gasp in shock. "Are you crazy?!" I cry out.
"No, but I can't have you looking like you are"
I glare at him from under the spray of the water. I'm still in my underwear but right now, I couldn't care less.
"Even with the heating, the house can get a bit chilly. You shouldn't prance around naked" his eyes rake over my naked body lazily and he takes a step back, clearing his throat. "The wedding planner will be here later in the day to find you a dress. I'll tell her to bring more clothes"
Wedding? Dress? More clothes???! How long does he plan on keeping me here? I want to ask, but instead, I say "What wedding ?"
His lips curve slightly upwards "Our wedding"
I chuckle. He really is crazy. "What the hell are you talking about ?"
"We are getting married in two days" he explains. I stare at him, desperately looking for a sign that shows he's joking. He is not.
Alarm bells go off in my head. "What? That's not possible. I'm married to Ethan"
"Technically, you are not."
The urge to leave this place intensifies. I need to speak to my father. I need to know what is going on. I open my mouth to say something else but he holds up a hand to stop me
"And before you say anything. Your father agreed to it."
Now I know he's lying. "That's a lie, my father would never agree to it!"
"He was quite willing in fact," he says with a smug look on his face. My hand shoots up and before I can think better of it, I slap him across the face. Surprising the both of us. The sound is drowned by the noise of the still-running shower. His head stills to the side and remains like that for a moment. When he lifts it back up, his eyes have lost all their humour.
I don't know if it's courage or foolishness that makes me not shut up, but I continue talking "I don't know what game you are playing or what you are planning, but whatever it is, don't you dare involve me. My father would never agree to something so ridiculous!"
He takes a step towards me, backing me into the shower again. Now we are both under the spray. The water causes his dark hair to stick to his forehead, making him look more intimidating. "It's either you over-estimate your father's powers or you under-estimate the things I am capable of. But let me tell you something, Princess... " Reaching out to grab a fistful of my hair, he wraps it around his wrist and pulls my head back, angling my neck upward so I'm looking right into his eyes "I am in charge. I call the shots, not your daddy. And if I say we are getting married. We are. Do you understand?"
I shut my eyes and whimper in fear
"Do you understand me?!" his voice thunders
"Y...yes" my reply is shaky. All that courage I felt earlier abandoning me.
He finally releases me and only when he steps away from me do I feel myself breathe again. He's about to leave the bathroom when I find my voice "I don't love you anymore Santiago " Even as I say it, I don't believe it, but I say it anyway in a last-minute desperate attempt to save myself. "If you do this to me, I'll never forgive you"
He doesn't turn to look at me "I don't care"
I crumble to the floor in devastation. Sobbing softly as the water washes away my tears.
- Writer
