Wife in Contract

Isabella's POV The pain of betrayal cuts deepest when it comes from the ones you love, catching you off guard and leaving you in a state of disbelief. My eyes were fixed on the images playing on the screen, revealing my fiancé Nicholas lying naked on the bed with my sister Amara. Tears streamed down my face as I watched my carefully planned life crumble before my eyes. My mind went blank, unable to find the words to express the agony that I felt. Pain filled me. I couldn't understand why Nicholas cheated on me and the worst part is, he did it with my sister. He told me he loved me, was all of that a lie? When I turned my head to the crowd I desperately searched for Amara. After a while I found her standing in a corner, tears streaming down her guilt-ridden face as she locked eyes with me. Then my gaze shifted to Nicholas, the man I loved above all else. I gave him everything, but why had he chosen to throw it all away? "How could you do this to me?" I asked when I finally found my voice. "This isn't what it seems, babe. I was drunk," Nicholas pleaded and tried to hold my hand but I forcefully pulled away, refusing to be soothed by his touch. Looking at his face disgusts me and when I can no longer take it I slapped him, hard. "I gave you everything!" I shouted filled with pain and anger. "I gave you damn everything. How could you do this to me?" As I voiced out my questions, I felt my strength leaving me. I never thought that I would be put in this kind of situation. It felt as if I had lost the two most important people in my life—the people I trusted the most. "Turn that off!" After a while my father's voice echoed, silencing everyone. I saw my father walking towards me and without saying anything he forcefully pulled me off the stage, away from the prying eyes of the intrigued guests. "Let's go. Come with us, Nicholas. We have to fix this mess," he coldly uttered As I walked off the stage, I could hear the murmurs of the guests. They are probably pitying me for what happened or maybe some of them are laughing witnessing my misery. "Follow us, Amara," Dad called Amara, his voice devoid of warmth. When we settled inside the car silence enveloped us, and I felt suffocated being around them. "I'm sorry, Isabella," Amara broke the silence with her pleas but I ignored her. I want to slap her and hurt her. I want to see her in pain too but I can't because, despite the wrongs they had committed against me, I couldn't bring herself to harm them. I chose to stay silent until we reached our mansion and when the car finally stopped I immediately stepped because I didn't want to be around them but Dad didn't let me just walk away. "Stay with us Isabella, we have to fix this mess," I want to talk back and tell them to f**k off but my respect for my father didn't let me so I have no choice but to sit on the couch across from Amara and Nicholas. I remained silent having no energy to confront them. "You have to marry my daughter, Nicholas," my father declared. Nicholas nodded without hesitation and smiled at me. "Not Isabella, but Amara," His smile faded when my father burst his bubble. Disappointment filled his eyes while I was filled with pain and betrayal. I felt like no one was on my side. I felt like everyone had betrayed me even my father whom I thought would understand my pain. "Dad..." I called out, my voice trembling as I suppressed my tears. "Why? Do you still want to marry this man who cheated on you with your youngest sister?" Dad sarcastically asked, his gaze fixed on me. Yes, Nicholas cheated on me but I still love him. Seeing him marry my youngest sister will bring me pain. My feelings for him won't vanish in just a snap. "Dad, you know how much I love Nicholas," I weakly replied and I hate myself for admitting that. Despite the betrayal and pain he had caused me, I still held onto the hope of marrying him. "I didn't raise you to be this naive, Isabella," My father's rage was now directed at me. "The wedding will take place this week, and that's final," he added with finality. "Yes, Dad," Amara obediently responded before I could even protest, leaving me in shock. How could she agree so readily? "Let's talk inside my office Nicholas and both of you..." Dad paused shifting his gaze to me Amara, "settle your mess," he reminded us before making their way towards his office. When they disappeared I found the courage I look at Amara coldly. "Amara, why did you agree?" I asked and rose from my seat. I walk toward her, without breaking the eye contact. "We can't disobey Dad, Isabella. You know that," she reasoned, but she couldn't look me in the eyes while saying those words. I could no longer recognize the girl standing before me. We rarely fought; Amara always listened and respected me as her eldest sister. "Well, you already disobeyed Dad Amara. When you slept with my fiance you already disrespected me and Dad, so don't give me that bullshit! Why did you agree to the marriage?" I questioned and I thought I would receive a decent answer but instead, she let out a sarcastic laugh. "I love Nicholas," she stated firmly. My mouth hung open hearing those words come out of my sister's mouth. Why didn't I notice that? "Amara, Nicholas is my boyfriend," I said, hoping to make her understand that loving Nicholas is wrong. "I f*****g know that, Isabella. But I love him too! I've loved him for a long time," she confessed, her voice filled with pain and I felt pity for her. "So, you seduced him?" She took a step forward and this time she bravely met my gaze. "Nicholas loves me as well. Want to know why he stayed with you? Because you're Rosewood's heiress. You'll inherit our family's wealth. That's the only reason he chose to settle for someone as boring as you. Admit it, Isabella. You couldn't fulfil his needs, you're too reserved, maintaining the facade of a virtuous maiden. But I'm the opposite. I can give him what he needs, something you failed to do," she cruelly declared. Unable to contain my anger and pain any longer, I slapped her but she just smiled at me as if she was already expecting me to do that. "I'm tired of living in your shadow. I'm tired of watching you get everything you want while I settle for less. I'm tired of watching you live a perfect life while I'm trapped in a life I don't want. This is the first time I'm fighting for something I truly want and this time, I won't let myself lose to you," she confessed and before I could even say anything she walked away. I felt my knees weakened, and unable to bear the weight of my pain I sat on the couch. After a while, Nicholas and Dad came and without hesitation, I knelt on the floor and embraced Nicholas's knees refusing to let him go. "Don't marry Amara, please. I've seen everything, but I love you too much to let you go. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to fix what we have." I pleaded desperate to save our relationship. I hate myself for doing this. I hate myself for being this desperate. He should be the one begging but here I am letting myself look like a fool just to have him back. "I'm sorry," My hold loosened when I heard him apologize. I lost him. I lost the man that I loved all my life. As I watched him walk away I felt my heart being shattered into pieces and when he vanished from my sight I felt like I was robbed of everything. "Stand up and fix yourself, Isabella," Dad commanded and his cold tone added to my pain. I looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "How could you do this to me, Dad?" I asked. "What do you want me to do then? Let our reputation be tarnished. People will start gossiping about this scandal, and we have to take action," I looked at him in disbelief. "But, Dad, I was supposed to marry Nicholas," I can hear desperation in my voice but I no longer care. I don't care if I will look weak and desperate in their eyes. "I don't give a damn, Isabella!" Dad shouted losing all his patience. "But I love him!" I whispered weakly and I thought seeing me in this state would change his mind but I was wrong. "I'm sorry," he said before signalling our housemaids to take me. "Lock her in her room and make sure she doesn't leave until the wedding is over," he ordered and watched me being dragged. While being dragged away, I caught a glimpse of Amara in the hallway, wearing a smug, victorious smile. It was as if she had been waiting for this very moment. "Finally, the tables have turned, Isabella," she said before I was thrown into my room. I spent my days imprisoned within those four walls of my room. My mind is consumed with thoughts of escape but I don't know how. Our servants would only bring me meals and then leave me alone again. They are treating me like I am a prisoner. Dad confiscated my phone, so I couldn't call my friends. The only source of news I had was the television, which mercilessly broadcasted the grandeur of Nicholas and Amara's wedding to the entire world. I should do something. I should stop the wedding. Filled with determination I started banging the door. I have been doing that for a couple of minutes but no one came. I was about to give up when the door swung open revealing Martha with a glimmer of pity in her eyes. "Please, let me leave," I pleaded, my voice filled with desperation. I can see hesitation in Martha's eyes. "Isabella, your father would kill me if I did that," she replied, her voice trembling. I know she'll be put at risk if she helps me but I badly needed her help. I knelt on the floor hoping to change her mind. "Please, Martha," I begged, my voice quivering with emotion. Martha stared at me intently, a battle raging within her. After a long silence, she let out a deep breath and reluctantly handed me a set of car keys. "Take this. Be careful," she whispered. Gratefulness flooded my heart as I accepted the keys. I didn't waste any time and hurriedly fled the mansion. I raced towards the parking lot, a glimmer of hope igniting within me. As I slid behind the wheel I immediately sped away. A smile crept on my lips when I was just a few meters away from the church but before I could reach it I heard a loud thud and the car started spinning. Metal crunched, glass shattered, and I felt warm blood trickling down my forehead. My vision became blurry and after a few seconds, darkness filled my eyes. Is this my end?