BOUND BY CONTRACT, CLAIMED BY DESIRE

Chapter 12: Turning point

Isabetta's POV

I wrapped my hands around the hot cup, letting the heat burn my palms. Catarina sat across from me in the corner booth of her favorite café, sipping espresso like she hadn't humiliated Valentina in front of everyone.

"You did well last night," Catarina said, as she set her cup down with precision. "Leonardo will come to his senses eventually."

I stared at my coffee, with my hands shaking, but I pulled it under the table before she noticed.

"Isabetta,” her voice was calm, as she smiled softly. "Is something wrong, dear?"

"Nothing," I said, my lips in a thin smile.

"You seem distracted,” she said, leaning forward to touch my arms.

"I'm fine,” I said.

"Are you thinking about Leonardo?" She said, as she furrowed her brows.

I was thinking about Marco's face when I walked away. The way his voice broke when he called my name.

"Yes," I lied, sipping from my coffee.

Catarina smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Good. He needs to see what he's missing. That secretary is nothing, but just a phase. He'll tire of her soon enough,” she said, as I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. "What if he doesn't?"

"He will,” she said, leaning back to her chair.

"How do you know?"

"Because I've already set things in motion,” her voice low but calm, as her smile widened.

“What do you mean?" I muttered, my chest beating rapidly.

"Don't worry about it, dear, just keep doing what you're doing. Be present, be beautiful. Remind him why you're the better choice."

I wanted to scream, to tell her I didn't love Leonardo. I never had. I loved Marco, the painter with a studio apartment and a smile that made my chest ache, but I said nothing.

"There's an engagement party next week," Catarina continued. "I need you there. Wear the red dress, the one from Paris."

"Catarina, I don't think…"

"Isabetta,” her voice dropped, but her smile remained. "This is not a request."

My gaze were fixed on her, my chest pounding rapidly.

"Of course," I said quietly. "I'll be there."

"Good girl,” she picked up her espresso and finished it. "Now, I have a meeting with the board, walk with me to my car."

My legs felt heavy as I stood up, but I grabbed my bag tightly, trying to support myself.

We walked out of the café together. The morning air was cool, and Catarina's heels clicked against the pavement.

"You understand why this matters, don't you?" she asked, her gaze fixed on somewhere else.

"Yes,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Your father's business depends on this merger. Leonardo's company is the key. If he marries that secretary, everything falls apart."

"I understand,” I said.

"Do you?" She stopped walking, as she turned to face me. "Because if you don't, if you let your emotions get in the way, people will suffer. Your father…you."

"I won't let you down,” I said, my throat tightening.

"Good,” she said, as she kissed my cheek, her cold lips against cold skin. "I knew I could count on you,” he got into her black Mercedes, as the driver pulled away.

I stood on the sidewalk, alone, my life was falling apart, and I have no say.

I drove home on autopilot. The city blurred past, and I didn't remember parking, or remember taking the elevator to my apartment.

I walked inside and locked the door behind me, the apartment was silent. White walls, white furniture, white carpet. Everything looks expensive, but it felt…empty.

I walked to my bedroom and opened the drawer of my nightstand. Inside was a photograph of me and Marco six months ago.

We were at his studio, paint splattered on our clothes. His arm around my waist and my head on his shoulder, both of us laughing.

I picked it up with shaking hands and walked to the kitchen and opened the drawer and pulled out a lighter.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at Marco's smile. His warm brown eyes, the way he looked at me like I was something precious.

I flicked the lighter as I held the corner of the photo over it.

The edge caught fire, as black spread across the paper. Marco's smile blackened, his eyes disappeared.

“I have to let this go,” I whispered, as the photo fell into the sink.

I feel to the floor, as tears streamed down my eyes. I was about getting up when my phone rang.

I looked at the screen through blurred vision, and immediately, I wiped my face and answered.

"Isabetta, darling,” her voice a soft purr. "Don't forget the engagement party next week. It's Friday at eight, I won't be around till the day before that party and remind Leonardo what he's missing."

"Of course,” I said, as I closed my eyes, shaking my head slightly.

"And Isabetta?"

"Yes?"

"Don't disappoint me,” her voice dropped, as the line went dead.

I sat on the kitchen floor, staring at the phone in my hand, then I opened Marco's contact.

"I'm sorry,” my finger hovered over send, but I deleted it.

I stood up, as I rested my back on the wall. “I love you,” I stared at the words, then I deleted it too.

I set the phone down and looked at the sink where I burned the photo.

I wanted to call him, tell him everything, beg him to run away with me, but I couldn't. Because Catarina was right.

If I didn't do this, my father's business would collapse, he'd lose everything. And it would be my fault.

“I would go to the engagement party, I would wear the red dress, I would pretend my heart wasn't breaking, and show him who's his,” I whispered.

I stood up and walked to the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. Mascara streaked down my face, my eyes were red, my hands were shaking.

I turned on the sink and washed my face, and when I looked up again, the tears were gone…but the hollow feeling in my chest remained.

My phone buzzed, a text from Catarina. "Friday. 8 PM. Don't be late."

I stared at the message, then I typed back. "I'll be there."

I went to my room, as I sat down, my lips in a deep frown. I'm trapped, and I won't allow Valentina move freely too.