Chapter 20: The Contract

The images from earlier flashed before Isabella’s eyes, and breathing normally became out of the question as she remembered that woman with her arms wrapped around Edmund. That memory acted like a dagger stabbing her heart multiple times.

Moreover, after being stabbed, the foolish organ was trampled on and left to bleed. That was how dampen her spirit was, that was how much pain the scene that unfolded before her eyes inflicted on her.

“I don’t know why she’s here again, but she destroyed him. She ruined him. It took him years to recover, and he turned into a cold, bitter, emotionless person, a stone. My uncle would have been proud.” Moira started to speak again with undeniable resentment in her voice.

‘I might have opened a wound, she will not finish until she gets everything out of her system.’

As for Isabella, that was undeniably a troubling indication of how deep his love for that woman was, an affection that was probably still present in his heart, a feeling so intense would have prevailed against time. There was no point in denying reality.

“He loves her. Maybe she had her reasons to leave, maybe they can clear out their misunderstandings.” She forced the words down the throat, conveying her utmost concerns.

Saying it out loud, it hurt more than she expected.

“No!” Moira shouted out, surprising her with her tense mood. “He would be an idiot to love her or to forgive her. He is my cousin and I love him, but he would be really stupid to get back to her.”

‘I must accept the truth, I have witnessed with my own eyes the way he stared at her, the way he lost his composure the moment she appeared before him.’

In the morning, her heart was pounding erratically to the thought, or better said, to the hope that she and Edmund could work things out, but that was no longer an option. She was not even prepared to share the same space with him again, she was afraid of the message his eyes would relay, how they would blow her to pieces with a simple glance.

“Aren’t we all suckers for love?” She found herself whispering.

Moira’s gaze touched her and she could feel his cousin checking her reactions, trying to penetrate into her soul to get the confirmation she sought.

She took Isabella’s hand into hers. “Listen to me, Isabella! He cares for you, I saw how he looks at you, I am certain that beneath all his insensitive surface, he has feelings for you, you have awakened something in him. Yet I am also positive that he will deny those feelings for as long as he can because he is scared to love again, to be vulnerable again. Please don’t give up on him!”

Closing her eyes, she sighed. “I don’t know how much of my story you are familiar with, but I had a boyfriend before. The bastard tried to push me into prostitution, he cheated on me, he disrespected me. So I made a promise to myself. To never again be a weak, pathetic woman, one that would allow a man to trample all over her, and I intend to keep that promise.” Her tone was laced with sorrow, she was reliving those spiteful emotions again.

“I understand you, I do!” Moira let out a small yawn. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I need to go home, take a bath and rest for a bit, I have been here all night.”

‘Oh, how inconsiderate have I been. The poor girl stood by Noah and Luisa’s side all night long, the same night I’ve spent engaged in the heavenly marriage consummation. In fact, it will forever remain imprinted in my body, heart and soul as the most magical night of my entire life.’

She found it depressing to admit that there was no other night in her life worthy to compare with that one. He was her first and he probably ruined her for other men.

Edmund drove her to the climax multiple times, he always took care that she reached it first and he looked quite content each time he provided her the supreme pleasure.

He was rough, yet gentle at the same time. Making love to him was delicious and unconventional, so amazing that they continued until they passed out from exhaustion.

‘Snap out of it, Isabella!’

She returned to the conversation. “Thank you so much for keeping an eye on my sister, though your cousin is here too.”

“I tried to divide my time and attention between the two of them.” She explained and Isabella was very grateful, Moira really seemed like a nice person.

“I dare to ask, how is Noah? How is he doing?”

“He woke up a few times during the night. His condition is the same, but at least it did not get worse. They will both recover completely, but as the doctor stated before, it will take time.” She sighed. “I really need to go, otherwise you’ll have to pick me up from the floor.”

“Thank you!” Isabella softly touched her shoulder. “For everything.”

“Don’t mention it, we are family.” She uttered before departing.

It was nice to hear the word ‘family’, but she knew that was about to change. She would get in touch with a lawyer the first chance she gets. And she would check into a hotel, she found it excruciatingly difficult to spend another minute in his house or even in his presence.

* * *

About three hours have passed since Moira left and Isabella returned to her sister’s room. Luisa was asleep all the time, the doctors warned her about it, as they sedated her.

They also assured her that her sister’s condition improved and that it was a good sign she talked to her, a proof that her brain did not suffer damages.

‘I thank God for hearing my prayers! I could not have lived with myself if something happened to her while we were distanced.’

She took the opportunity to make an online reservation to a hotel, certainly not a five-star accommodation, she could never afford one and she did not really need it. The hotel she chose was close to the hospital so she could easily visit without needing transportation.

She also checked for nearby places to shop for clothes and was delighted when she found a mall two miles away. She would take a walk to it outside hospital visiting hours.

‘You are a big girl, you will be fine, you did well!’ She inwardly congratulated herself.

Given the situation, she was proud to have managed things pretty well, the sooner she got away from everything related to Edmund, the better.

Without warning, her breath hitched and her heart skipped a few beats as the door opened, and it was him the one entering the room.

She searched his face for traces of remorse and she could spot a tint of regret in his eyes.

‘I’m inclined to assume that he feels guilty for our night together.’

The mere presumption tore her apart, making her sick to the stomach. She was heart and soul devastated, but she was keen in fighting her battles inside, she would show no weakness.

“Let’s go and have something to eat, Isabella!” He pleaded or demanded, she could not tell for sure from his tone.

“I’m not hungry.” She casually declared.

“Surely you must be, we had a light breakfast this morning. You still have to recover your forces.” He added, crossing his hands over his chest.

“You mean from last night?” Her voice came out alien to her ears.

“I mean from suffering so much, worrying about your sister’s accident, flying over here, crying over and over again.” He explained.

‘So I am the only one obsessing over last night.’

“Thank you for your concern, but I will take care of myself. You don’t need to burden yourself with me anymore.” She attempted to shut him down.

“I’ve brought you here, Isabella. And you are my wife.” He insisted.

“That will be resolved very soon.”

“I don’t want to discuss this subject here, your sister can find out and we agreed to keep this information from her until she gets better. We will talk tonight, at home.”

‘Or never. I prefer to never open this subject again and I will also do the impossible for my sister to never find out.’ She thought.

“I’ve made a hotel reservation, I’m not planning to return to your home. But thank you for taking such good care of me, I appreciate it.” She declared in a forced triumphant tone that fooled no one.

Then she watched how his face changed color, the ice-cold skin piercing shade she saw in his eyes scared her.

He took a deep breath looking like he needed to ponder over whatever he intended to get out of his mouth. “I told you to read the papers before signing them, but you didn’t. Well, I am obliged to inform you that you cannot spend your nights away from me, if I travel, you travel, if I stay home, you stay home, it’s all in the contract. Do otherwise, and you will suffer the consequences, ones very severe, which I suppose you are not familiar with, no?”

Her heart pounded against her chest. ‘What? How can a contract include such abominable terms?’