Chapter 3: The Devil You don't Know
1034 Words
Just eat and rest," Sarah whispered, glancing nervously at the door. "Tomorrow I'll show you the way out… but you have to be very careful. Sarah glanced nervously toward the door.
"I have to go before Luca gets suspicious."
"Who is Luca?"
The question hit Sarah like a slap. For a moment, she looked genuinely frightened.
"He is Rafael's adopted son."
Silence filled the room. "And his only family."
Sarah swallowed hard.
"If Rafael is the devil, Luca is worse."
A chill crawled down Isabella's spine.
Without another word, Sarah hurried out of the room. living Isabella alone with her racing thoughts.
A fragile spark of hope ignited in Isabella's chest. She clutched her hands tightly under her chin as warm tears of joy slipped down her cheeks.
"Ethan… Oh Ethan, I will finally be seeing you again." Memories of her boyfriend flooded her mind — his warm smile, the way he promised they would build a life together, the future they had planned before her father destroyed everything. She pressed her face into the pillow, biting down hard to stop herself from sobbing out loud.
She barely slept that night. Her mind was consumed with escape plans, replaying every detail again and again.
The next morning, Sarah returned and silently handed her a small, rusty key.
"It leads to an old underground door," Sarah whispered. "We hide there whenever the villa is attacked by rivals."
Isabella stared at the key in disbelief, then pulled Sarah into a tight, grateful hug.
"How did you get this?" she asked.
Sarah gave a sad, tired smile. "I… seduced one of the guards and stole it while he was asleep." She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. "Never mind that. Just go."
"Thank you, Sarah. I won't forget this. I promise I'll come back for you."
As Isabella turned to leave, Sarah grabbed her hand one last time. "Wait until Rafael and his men drive away. It's too heavily guarded right now."
Isabella nodded, her heart pounding with a dangerous mix of fear and excitement.
Hours later Isabella's eyes snapped open as the heavy door sprang open with a loud bang. She scrambled to her feet immediately, her back turned to the entrance. She began to panick. She didn't want to see him. She couldn't bear to look at the man who had bought her like property.
The door clicked shut behind him, sealing them inside the luxurious prison. The room suddenly felt smaller.
Rafael walked in calmly and sat on the edge of the massive bed, as if this was a normal conversation between husband and wife. His voice was low and controlled.
"I am going out for some time. Your wedding dress and everything else you need will be brought to you."
Isabella's hands clenched into fists at her sides. Rage and fear boiled together inside her chest.
"I do not want to marry you!" she yelled, her voice echoing off the walls. "I will never marry you!"
Rafael remained silent for a moment. When he finally spoke, his tone was dangerously calm.
"You disrespect me too much, Isabella."
He stood up slowly. Even though she wasn't facing him, she could feel the weight of his presence.
"Be careful. I can not hold Luca back any longer. If he decides to harm you… I may not be able to stop him."
The name "Luca" sent a chill down Isabella's spine.
She finally turned around, her face pale with shock. Everyone — the maids, Sarah, even the way Luca carried himself — spoke of him with pure terror. And now Rafael, the man everyone feared, was warning her about his own adopted son? Who the hell is Luca? she thought, her stomach twisting. What kind of monster makes even Rafael nervous?
Rafael studied her for a long moment, his eyes cold and calculating. There was no anger in his voice, only a quiet promise that made her blood run cold.
"Think about your behavior very carefully before the wedding tonight."
Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked out. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound ringing in her ears like a death sentence.
Isabella stood frozen in the middle of the room, her legs shaking. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold back the fresh wave of tears.
When Rafael's cars finally disappeared down the long driveway, Sarah rushed back in.
"They're gone. Quick — change!"
The two girls switched clothes in a hurry and hugged each other tightly.
"Be safe," Sarah whispered.
Isabella slipped out, carrying a tray of empty plates, her head lowered. She hurried down the hallway, constantly glancing behind her. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Suddenly, a door opened. Luca stepped out.
Their eyes met for a split second. Isabella's blood ran cold.
She turned around and walked as fast as she could toward the kitchen she had just passed. Behind her, she heard Luca's heavy footsteps quicken. He suspected her.
Inside the kitchen, all the maids froze and pressed themselves against the wall, faces tense with fear. Isabella bent her head low, letting her hair cover her face. Her entire body shook violently. Every slow step Luca took made her want to scream.
She could feel his cold gaze scanning the room. After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned and left.
Isabella didn't waste a second. Her legs trembled as she ran toward the underground entrance. Her hands shook so badly that the key wouldn't fit in the lock.
"Come on, Bella… come on!" she growled desperately, tears of frustration burning her eyes. Finally, the lock clicked.
She slipped through, closed the door behind her, and ran down the dark stairs. Cold air hit her face as she reached the gate at the end.
With trembling fingers, she tried the key again. Just then, a cold voice echoed through the darkness.
"Big mistake." Isabella froze.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
In his hand was a dagger. The blade caught the faint light, gleaming as he slowly advanced toward her.
Instinctively, Isabella stumbled backward.
Fear gripped her throat. Whoever this was, had only come to end her.
- Writer
