The Billionaire Who Ruined Me

Same Game

Isla James' POV

I didn't bother getting dressed or even trying to look presentable. I was still in my robe, hair slightly messy, face bare, when my phone lit up on the table. A message from him. Of course. My eyes lingered on the screen before I finally picked it up.

Get ready. We're going shopping. Then you're visiting my family.

I stared at the words, blinking once... then again.

"...Wait... what?"

My brows furrowed deeply as I read it again, slower this time, like maybe I misunderstood. Shopping? Family? Visiting his family? My jaw dropped slightly.

"...This man is insane." That had to be it. There was no other explanation. But then... something even more insane happened. I moved.

Fast.

Before I could overthink it, before I could question myself, I was already in the bathroom, water running, hands moving quickly as I rushed through everything hair, skin, face, anything. Why was I rushing? Why did I suddenly care?

"...This is ridiculous," I muttered under my breath, scrubbing faster than necessary. But when I looked up, my reflection stared back at me and for some reason... I didn't want to look anything less than put together. Not today. Not in front of him.

"...For who?"

I whispered quietly. Silence answered. I ignored it. By the time I finished, I was dressed, my hair neat, my face simple but intentional. Controlled. Polished. Ready. I didn't fully understand why but I knew one thing clearly. I wasn't letting him see me anything less than my best.

Then the gate buzzed.

I stepped outside slowly, and there he was standing by his car like he owned the world. Calm. Composed. Untouchable. I crossed my arms instantly.

"Good morning... honey." My tone dripped with sarcasm, sharp and deliberate. His expression didn't change but I saw it. A flicker. A tiny shift. And somehow... that made me smile, just a little, because I knew he hated it. And I loved that he hated it. I tilted my head slightly.

"I hope you didn't expect me to say that with love." "...I didn't," he replied flatly.

"Good," I smirked.

"Because I'll be saying worse things today.

" He opened the car door without another word. "...Get in." I stepped closer, raising a brow.

"Or what?"

He didn't answer. He just looked at me cold, steady, dangerous. Then suddenly, before I could react, he moved.

One second I was standing, the next

"Adrian...!" I was lifted off the ground like I weighed nothing. "Don't start," he said calmly as he placed me into the car. I glared at him, my pride bruised, my control slipping just slightly. "...I hate you," I muttered.

"Noted." I turned my head away, annoyed but the worst part? I was smiling. And that annoyed me even more.

The shopping district Casa di Lusso was exactly what I expected and somehow still overwhelming. Gold accents, glass walls, flawless lighting, everything designed to scream wealth, power, influence.

I walked beside Adrian like I belonged there... because now, technically, I did. That thought felt strange. Dangerous. We stepped inside, and immediately

"Mr. Vale!" a*****e attendant rushed toward us, her expression bright, excited... until her eyes landed on me. She paused slightly.

"Oh my..." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Are you... his girlfriend?" I blinked, then glanced at Adrian, then back at her.

Neither of us answered. Instead, his hand slid casually around my waist. My body reacted before my mind did I leaned into him.

"...Yes," he said simply. I nodded. "Very much." Her jaw dropped slightly before she broke into a delighted smile.

"Oh my of course! Welcome!" She practically floated away. The moment she was gone, I let out a quiet laugh.

"You didn't deny it," I whispered. "Neither did you." "Of course not," I grinned. "This is fun." He looked at me. "...You're enjoying this." "Oh, absolutely." And I meant it.

I picked up a dress, then another, turning slightly as I held them up.

"Does this say 'powerful wife of a billionaire' or 'dangerously untouchable'?" He looked at me for a moment longer than necessary.

"...Neither."

I gasped dramatically.

"Excuse you?!" A faint smirk touched his lips. "...Try it on." Minutes later, I stepped out in the dress. It fit perfectly elegant, bold, powerful. I turned slowly, letting the fabric settle, letting the moment breathe.

"...Well?"

His eyes lingered. Longer this time. Not cold. Not calculating. Just... watching.

Then "...Perfect."

My heart skipped. Wait... what? Did he just? I looked at him closely. And there it was. A small smile. Real. Uncontrolled. Just for a second. But I saw it. And something in my chest shifted. Something unfamiliar.

Something I didn't like... but didn't hate either. "...You smiled," I said quietly. His expression reset instantly.

"...I didn't." "Liar."

"Change the dress."

"...Already did," I replied, but my mind was still stuck on that moment. That one second where he wasn't the man trying to ruin me.

Vale House was something else entirely. When the car stopped, my stomach tightened slightly. This wasn't just a house. This was power made visible. The kind you could feel pressing into your skin.

Adrian walked beside me like it was nothing, like this was just another day. Like this wasn't about to change everything. Then the doors opened. Arnold Vale smirked immediately.

"Well, well... look who finally decided to bring home a guest." Paul leaned back casually.

"...This should be interesting." Piper stood slowly, her gaze landing on me and something shifted. Her expression softened.

"...Adrian..." Then she smiled.

"I like her." I blinked, caught off guard. "...Excuse me?" She stepped closer, studying me openly. "You must be the famous Isla."

I frowned slightly.

"...Famous?" Arnold chuckled. "Oh, she's heard of you." "Of course," Paul added casually. Adrian exhaled. "...Enough." Then he stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder.

"This is Isla James."

Silence fell across the room. Then shock. Sebastian Vale stood slowly. "...What did you say?" Adrian didn't hesitate.

"She's my fiancée." The air froze. Completely. Piper blinked. "...Wait... what?" Arnold's smirk disappeared. Paul actually sat up. "...Well, that escalated quickly." Sebastian's eyes darkened.

"...Explain."

Adrian didn't flinch.

"I've set a date." Another pause. He continued, calm as ever. "We're getting married." The silence that followed was heavy, unreal, suffocating.

"...When?" Sebastian asked slowly. Adrian met his gaze. "Soon."

I stood there, quiet, composed, unmoving but inside? Chaos. Then slowly, without looking at him, I reached out and pinched Adrian's arm. Hard.

He didn't react. Of course he didn't. But I saw it his jaw tightened just slightly. And that... made me smile.

Because now

We were both trapped.

In the same game.

And neither of us knew who would win.