Isabella's POV
Jennifer returned the smile and started telling me about all the good stuff happening in Mexico. She could not stop talking about all the wonderful things she assumed we would do together and how she was happy to meet me.
We arrived at a store called Carla Fernández and entered the classic-looking store. You could tell by the ladies in the store that this place screamed rich.
I've always been a girlie girl who, even though was shy, loved looking good. However, this time, I could care less. Getting a wedding dress for a wedding I'm not happy about could not make me happy.
"Miss Jennifer, Hola," a 5ft tall lady approached us immediately as we entered the store with the most dashing smile ever. You could tell that it was not a fake smile.
What is it with Mexicans and looking beautiful? I thought.
"Buenas tardes, Diana," Jennifer answered as they hugged, "Have you gotten our session ready?" she asked.
"Of course, you know you're my best client. If you ask me to jump, I'll ask you how high?" Diana responded as they both laughed. I immediately got the memo, they already planned our dress-fitting session. How fast could they be?
"Isabella, you're going to love this," Jennifer said as she held my hands, " this is one of the most amazing and classic fashion houses in town, come on, let's go get you fitted," she said as she led me to a room filled with white gowns. I must say, this store is beautiful.
"You can look around and pick a dress you love, Miss," Diana said as she noticed I stood in awe with my mouth agape, admiring how beautiful the room was.
I smiled weirdly, almost embarrassed as Jennifer laughed. You could see in her eyes that she hoped I would enjoy the dress fitting session. She pitied me.
The fact that she pitied me gave me an inch of hope. I could easily talk her into revealing an exit from the mansion. I smirked in my head as we started walking around and looking for a beautiful style for me.
Operation discover exit activated.
"So, Jennifer, I heard there was one time one of the Don's captives escaped from the mansion, how did he do it?" I asked, assuming there was a dungeon or something like that in the mansion where Rodrigo tortured his debtors.
She was a wedding maid of honor but she was surely close to the family. So I assumed she had an idea about all that happened in the household
"Who told you that," Jennifer's smiling face slightly dissipated as she looked at me inquisitively.
It hit me that my guess must be right seeing how serious she became
"Well, I overheard it from one of the house helps," I said, trying to play it cool
She laughed hard and then answered, "You must have heard wrong dearest. Don Rodrigo never takes business to his mansion. Besides, once you're his captive, you either devise a way to get out of his clutch, or you die."
**********
I couldn't even hide my shock. Rodrigo was indeed the devil. Why would Dad make a deal with such a person?
I guess the Operation Discover exit is terminated.
"Here, try this on," Jennifer said as she handed me a gown and slightly pushed me into the dressing room while I hesitated.
I entered the room and dressed up. It was a white gown with no hands that revealed my figure and flowed to the ground. It was really beautiful.
I should be happy on such occasions. I should be filled with glee. I only felt sadness.
I only envisioned this day with Maxwell, my first love. I had played several scenarios and reactions he would make when he sees me coming out in my wedding dress. I had thought about how he would compliment me and be dazzled by the how I looked.
Tomorrow I'll be married off to a man I know nothing about. A man I feel total fear and hatred for, the most notorious drug lord in Mexico.
I looked at myself in the mirror. I took a long look at myself in the mirror and then it hit me. I've got a plan, my perfect exit plan.
Filled with happiness over the plan I had come up with, I decided to act like everything was fine and ensure that no one suspected a thing. I could not have Jennifer suspecting a thing. So, I must act like I'm beginning to accept my situation and be truly into this charade of a wedding.
I lifted the extra layers of the wedding dress and went outside.
"Oh! La Mujer, you look exquisite," Daina said, clapping her hands together. I smiled because her reaction was just nice.
I looked at Jennifer who seemed to be in a daze. This gown must be really beautiful. It shunned the chatterbox, Jennifer up.
"Well, what do you think?" I asked Jennifer
"Oh… Waw, just waw! You look wonderful Bella. Like the best bride ever! I'm certain Don Rodrigo will be pleased when he sees how you look," she said with excitement.
"We have to look for a glass shoe. Something that glows her up and fits such a befitting dress," Jennifer added snapping her fingers as she signaled she wanted it done asap
"Of course Miss Jennifer," Diana responded and ordered her girls to get it ready.
"Oh Bel, Don's mother is certainly going to love the gown I picked for you," Jennifer said, looking at me admiringly.
A few minutes later, one of Diana's girls brought in a glass-looking set of heels. I must say, it is indeed beautiful. I put them on and glanced at the mirror and gave a small smile. I looked good.
I noticed how everywhere fell silent and everyone gradually began to leave the room, it was like they were ordered to do so. I turned around wondering what was happening and suddenly, the Don came in.
"You look beautiful," he said in a dull but sweet voice.
"You don't deserve me!" I snapped at him.
"What?" Rodrigo said with a shock on his face, ready to skin me alive.
Isabella POVWhat was he expecting? Did he expect me to be happy over a measly compliment that I'm certain is not sincere? I know I said I will pretend to be happy about my recent predicament to not let anyone suspect a thing before I execute my plan but I could not hold my mouth in front of this monster. Seeing him made me infuriated and slightly scared."You heard me right. Don't come here pretending to like how I look. We are both aware that this is an arranged marriage so do not pretend to care," I said as I started approaching the dressing room to undress."You stop right there!" He said making me halt in my track as he moved and stood in front of me. His words and actions have a way to command respect."You will not walk out on me until I'm done with you," he said, " I own you and as long as you are mine, you do as I command. If I say you're beautiful, it means you are beautiful and you appreciate my compliment," he added"You can not…" I said but was shut up as he used his hug
Isabella POVIt was my wedding day, however, I was dressed as if it was my funeral. My eyes were puffy and red since I was crying all night. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was getting married to Don Rodrigo, a man I know nothing about and don't have feelings for. If it wasn’t for my Father and mother, I wouldn't be here, no, I would not have had anything to do with Rodrigo. Sitting on the vanity mirror while staring at my reflection through the mirror, one could say that I was digging my own grave. When I drew out the compartment, I took out a folded picture of Maxwell I always carry along wherever I went to so that he will be close to my heart, staring at it for a moment, running my index on his face imagining him walking into the room to look at me one more time before heading to the altar. We have talked so much about our dream wedding. Maxwell has always loved a simple wedding at the beach but that wasn’t my dream wedding, I have always wanted something classy with my be
Rodrigo's POVWhen I saw Marcello walking behind Isabella, a smile formed on my lips as I stared at her just thinking about what she said to me in the dressing room. With the manner Marcello walked very close to her, I had a feeling she attempted to run away and he caught her. He had a gun held very close to her but no one knew about that. With a smile plastered on her face, anyone would assume that she was happily walking down the aisle to meet her Prince Charming.This wedding was every socialite's dream but Isabella was not one of those women, she wanted nothing more than to escape from this world that I was dragging her into. But I will never let her go, she was my woman and I want to spend the rest of this year with her by my side. The first time I discovered that Issac had a daughter, I never wanted to meet her till I saw her portrait in his living room, Right there I decided that she was going to be the collateral if Isaac found it impossible to meet up with the deal that he si
Isabella's POVMy heartbeat pulsates as anxiety dwelled in my heart, Never did I assume that he would do such a thing. But who was I kidding? This was not Maxwell who was standing here or one of those noblemen, I was standing with the deadliest Mafia leader who was capable of anything. "What did you just say?""I have no interest in sleeping in the same room with you Don" As the latter left my mouth, his eyes darkened as he pointed his gun at me once again which made my heart jump. "What are you doing? That's a gun Rodrigo"He smirked lowering his gun down. "It's good you know when to correct yourself, Isabella, Now we are married and you will have to obey every one of my orders"The tears that I was fighting so hard not to fall on my cheeks poured down as I couldn't take it anymore. That was the ugly reality that has engulfed my soul and there was nothing I could do to fight this nightmare. More than anything, I tried to fight this nightmare, to get away from Rodrigo and run into Ma
Isabella's POV"What do you think you are doing?" The man asked staring at me. The look in his eyes was so frightening that I wished I hadn't walked towards that telephone."I…I…" I was lost for words to say. Then again, this was my honeymoon, at least that what's they said which means that I had a right to be there, he was the one who did not have any right to be here especially since I know nothing about him. As if sensing that a lot of things were running through my mind, he pokes his index finger on my forehead pulling me back to reality."Who are you trying to call?""How good is your eyes?" I asked almost immediately which made him scoff glaring at me. Staring at him, I sensed that he was nothing like the other men who worked for Rodrigo, at least he was nothing like Marcello. The man was annoying as ever and I was glad he was not on this trip with us. He had something to take care of so he had to stay back, without having to ask Rodrigo knew it had to do with something illegal
Rodrigo's POVWhen I returned to the room, I wasn't surprised that Isabella was not in the room where I left her. Glancing around the corner and checking the bathroom she was gone. My Adrenaline rushed up as I realized that Juan Carlos lied to me as well. Just as I suspected he was talking with Isabella and probably covering for her, I felt like a fool but wasn't fazed by Carlos's thoughtless act, he was a brazen fellow with a weak heart which is why he gets disappointed and dumped by women a lot.Talking about my mobile phone, I was about to call Juan Carlos when Isabella entered the bedroom."And where have you been?""I went to the bathroom," She said without blinking an eye. This woman was getting on my nerves, if she wasn't pretty I would have cut her open the day that she defiled me. "What bathroom?" I stared at the bathroom in our bedroom dropping my gaze on the wooden door before gawking at her as I took a step closer to her."The other one""What happened to this one?""It w
Issabella's POVRodrigo sat on his favorite seat watching me as I held onto the poll, tears clouded my eyes. I have never been humiliated in my entire life, It wasn't about the fact that he dragged me to his club after I slapped him but he was forcing me to dance for him wearing nothing but those ridiculous clothes those women wore that reveal almost everything. "Rodrigo please" I pleaded with him for the tenth time but his mind was made up as he stared at the clothes he threw at me to change into. "I'm going to rip that cloth off your body if you don't get in the next minute and dance for me""I'm not good at this" I lied, I love dancing a lot, I would dance a lot in my bedroom but I have never danced for any man except Maxwell. I felt disgusted and dirty as the tears that I was fighting so hard not to fall fell on my cheeks but for Rodrigo, that wasn't enough to change his mind, his heart was made of stone. Does he even have one? I doubted it a lot for he knew about my mother's co
Rodrigo's POVHer eyes widened as she stared at the gun but I wasn't about to lower my hand. I wasn't asking her to dance because I wanted to watch her get naked. Though I loved the sight, she had a beautiful body with perfect curves but I was furious that she was comfortable with Juan Carlos and not me. She has danced for other men and yet when I want to watch her dance, she cries like a baby. Just imagining Isabella dancing for other men made my blood boil for some reason I couldn't fathom. She was bringing a different side of me that I thought I had gotten rid of a long time ago."Dance!" I ordered again and she nodded her head holding onto the poll as she rose to her feet. Turning around I was about to walk back to my seat when I heard a thud on the ground. Turning back around, My eyes widened seeing Isabella lying unconscious on the ground."Isabella!" I called out to her. Her body was burning up, her skin pale. Was she sick? A lot of things ran through my mind as I took off my J