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Isabella Morris, a struggling waitress, is forced into an arranged marriage with Easton, a wealthy and popular businessman who needs a wife to improve his public image since he's popular. He came up with a lucrative proposal that changed Isabella's family, including her father, who had been bedridden for months because of inadequate medical care. Their arranged marriage is meant to be temporary, but as they continue in the marriage, real feelings begin to set in. Meanwhile, Easton Gabriel's secretary, Alessia, swore to frustrate and destroy Isabella and her home. Will Alessia succeed in destroying Isabella's home because of her love for Easton?
Chapter 1 The Proposal
THIRD PERSON POV.
It was a cool evening in the city of Venice, Italy. Isabella just closed from work and was heading home when a man in a tailored suit stopped her right in front of her tiny apartment.
"Excuse me, young lady. Can I have a few minutes with you?" Easton requested with his calm voice.
Isabella immediately turned to know who was asking for a few minutes from her.
"Alright, sir. What do you have to say? Please say it fast; I'm in haste, as you can see," Isabella responded respectfully.
Easton took a deep breath.
"Please, if you wouldn't mind, can we use my car or this restaurant?" he suggested, pointing his finger at the restaurant close to our apartment.
Isabella hesitated then nodded in agreement.
We walked down to the restaurant and sat down. There was a brief silence between us.
Easton finally broke the silence.
"Please, I want you to hear me out. I want to marry you"
"You want me to do what?" Isabella Morris blinked rapidly, unsure if she heard the young man in front of her well.
"Marry me," Easton Gabriel repeated, his voice cold, devoid of emotions.
Isabella stared.
"This is a joke, right? Some kind of sick prank?"
"No prank. My assistant is the one who should have done this. He should have sent you the proposal." He adjusted his cufflinks like he was talking business- not marriage.
"See, it's not your regular kind of marriage. This is just temporary. You sign. We marry. You get the money. Your father gets the surgery.
She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "There are many women out there, why me?"
Easton's jaw twitched slightly.
"Because I want peace and you're a nobody. No attention. You'll stay out of my way and I'll stay out of your way"
'And you call it what" Isabella asked
"It's a marriage business. In fact, it's business. One year. You'll live in my house, play the role, and walk away with enough money to put your family together."
She looked away, her heart pounding.
This man, so arrogant and full of himself, was offering her everything she'd wanted and needed. But at what cost?
"And what if I say no?"
"Then your family will be the way it is. Your father's treatment won't happen and you and your siblings will keep feeding from hand to mouth".
Immediately, Isabella slapped him. Hard. His cheek turned red, but he didn't move.
"This is bad. Can't you help without attaching something to it? You think money gives you the right to manipulate people?" she hissed.
"Nothing goes for nothing. Desperation makes people consider options they normally wouldn't," Easton replied coolly.
"You know what? I'll give you time to think it over. But don't take too long - else I go for someone else. I can't wait.
With that, he turned and walked down the stairs, leaving Isabella trembling.
Two days later, Isabella stood in front of a courtroom in a simple white dress. There was no guest, no music. Nothing at all, just a ring and a signature and a paper smile.
"You may kiss your bride" the judge announced.
Easton leaned in and reluctantly kissed Isabella.
And then the marriage began.
"Listen, you'll not enter my room, my study room. You'll not ask questions. You'll not expect affection, love, or romance. You'll not interfere in my schedules" Easton barked instructions like commands to a soldier.
"Oh, you're right. I'm the furniture," Isabella muttered.
Easton immediately stopped, his eyes narrowed.
"No, Furniture has more value than you. You're here to fix my image, that's all."
Her heart sank, but she managed to lift her chin.
"If you say so, better tell your secretary not to leak it to the press."
Easton froze. "What?"
"That blonde woman that was taking pictures at the courthouse."
"Alessia wouldn't do that," he said sharply, then walked away.
Isabella was left alone in the house. She kept thinking of how to handle the problems her decision was coming up with.
"It's even risky not to take risks. I'll face whatever comes with this," she thought aloud.
It was already getting late and there was no trace of Easton. He had warned her not to ask questions, so she decided to fold her hands and see things unfold on their own.
I took a little nap, and by the time I woke up, it was already a few minutes to 12am, and it really bothered me. She picked up her phone and dialed Easton's number, and immediately Alessia picked it up.
"Hello, Easton, Aren't you coming back to the house you..."
Alessia immediately hung up.
I tried calling again, it was ringing but nobody was taking the call. I called and called and finally Easton picked up his phone.
Before I could say a word, he gave me a piece of his mind.
"Let today be the first and the last time you'll call me on the phone. You don't deserve to do that. If there's anything you want to tell me it can wait till I come back. By the way, why have you been disturbing me with calls" Easton snapped.
Isabella was shocked. She was not expecting that harshness from East, on. She could not say a word but just held the phone.
"You've been calling now you don't want to say anything. Please don't call my number again " Easton said and hung up.
Isabella cannot explain how she felt. She knew that Easton was very harsh and strict but never knew he could be this harsh.
"Is this what I'm going to go through for the next year of living with Easton?" she thought aloud.
Just then, her phone rang; she rushed to pick it up, thinking it was Easton who had called back. To her greatest surprise, it was an
Unknown Number
Isabella had had a previous experience where she was scammed by an unknown number, so she was afraid to pick up the call. The caller kept calling and calling but she refused to take the call.
After much calling, she picked up the call, but the caller was not saying anything. She was just hearing the background voice.
"Hello. Hello... Who's there? Hey!"
The caller was not saying anything. He suddenly hung up and left her with a text.
It reads: The journey is too long to be here. Just leave"
Isabella felt shivers down her spine.
Who could have sent this and what is the meaning of this text?
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