Chapter 36 Chapter 0036

Chapter 36 Chapter 0036
•ISABELLA•

Antonio and I did not say a word to each other during the drive back.

I sat there pouting, staring out of the window, while he remained focused on his phone, tapping away as if he had not just dictated my entire life with the snap of his fingers.

I was still furious that he had shown up at Sarah’s apartment and taken me without giving me a choice.

After a while, I realized we were not heading toward his house. The route was different, unfamiliar, and my heart began to pound.

I didn’t trust him anymore. If he had the nerve to shoot Peter in front of me as if he meant nothing, then there was no telling what he was capable of doing to me.

“Antonio, where are we going?” I finally asked, turning to him with a mixture of fear and suspicion.

He looked at me and smiled faintly. “I thought you planned to ignore me the whole ride, Bella. Relax. We will be there soon.”

His calmness only made me more uneasy. I folded my arms and turned back toward the window.

A few minutes later, a beautiful building came into view in the distance, and despite everything, I found myself admiring it.

When the car stopped, Antonio stepped out first and walked around to open my door like a perfect gentleman.

“Thank you,” I said cautiously as he took my hand. “Where are we?”

“It’s a surprise,” he replied, guiding me toward the entrance.

The moment we stepped inside, I realized it was a restaurant filled with people who immediately lit up at the sight of him.

“Our groom is here!” one of the men shouted excitedly as he rushed over to hug Antonio.

The others clapped and cheered, their energy filling the room.

“Is this your wife?” the man asked once they pulled apart.

Antonio slid his arm around my shoulder. “Yes. This is my wife, Isabella.”

The man studied me for a moment. “Wow. That explains it. The resemblance is uncanny.”

Before I could ask what he meant, Antonio smoothly shifted the conversation.

“This is beautiful, Nick. How did you manage to get everyone here?”

Nick grinned proudly. “You know how far we have all come together. None of us was going to miss celebrating your secret wedding to Miss Isabella.”

“It was not secret. It was private,” Antonio corrected him.

Nick laughed. “Call it what you want. We still were not invited.”

He led us to a reserved table before excusing himself. As soon as we sat down, I leaned closer to Antonio.

“Are you going to explain why we are here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. There was nothing worth celebrating about being bought and forced into signing a marriage contract.

He leaned back comfortably in his chair. “Bella, we have consummated our marriage. We deserve to celebrate our union.”

I let out a bitter scoff. “We didn't consummate anything. You took advantage of me when I thought you were someone else.”

His jaw tightened. “So you are saying you would have slept with another man while being married to me?”

“You know very well I didn't want this marriage,” I shot back. “And I certainly do not want to sit here celebrating it.”

Nick returned at that moment with a bottle of wine and two glasses. “August is on his way. Should we start eating before we officially get to know Miss Isabella?”

“Give us a moment,” Antonio said calmly as he stood and pulled me up with him. “I need to speak with my wife.”

He led me into a nearby office and closed the door behind us. The playful atmosphere from outside disappeared instantly.

Without warning, he pressed me against the wall, his body towering over mine. My breath caught in my throat as his intense gaze locked onto mine.

“I own you, Isabella,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “Every part of you belongs to me. If I ever see you with another man again, I will make you watch while I slit his throat.”

My stomach twisted at his words. “We have a contract,” I replied, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “It doesn't say I can't see someone else while you do whatever you want.”

He leaned closer, his presence overwhelming. “Try me,” he murmured. “See what happens.”

The promise in his voice sent a chill down my spine. We stared at each other in silence, the tension between us thick and suffocating.

He slowly leaned toward me, and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, but a knock on the door interrupted us.

“Can you two save it for later? August and Caesar are here!” Nick called out from the other side.

Antonio stepped back as if nothing had happened, and we returned to the restaurant.

Nick handed us drinks while Antonio effortlessly slipped back into his charming persona, laughing and greeting his friends as though he were not the same man who had just threatened someone’s life.

I watched him carefully, confusion settling deep in my chest.

Part of me wondered if I had misjudged him, if there was another side to him that I didn't fully understand.

Yet his words in that office echoed relentlessly in my mind, reminding me of exactly who he was and what he was capable of.