chapter 2

Chapter Two — The Man She Was Going to Marry

Isabella spent the next ten minutes wishing the ground would open beneath her.

Lucas was still standing in front of her.

He hadn't said much.

That was the problem.

Every time Isabella looked at him, she felt as though he was silently studying every little thing about her.

She finally looked away.

Her father cleared his throat.

“Why don't we go inside?”

Lucas nodded.

Isabella followed them.

She deliberately walked behind her parents, hoping nobody would notice how nervous she was.

Unfortunately, Lucas noticed.

He noticed everything.

When they entered the sitting room, Isabella immediately sat on the farthest sofa.

Lucas sat across from her.

Her father and Lucas began discussing the marriage.

Isabella tried to listen.

She really did.

But all she could think about was the man sitting opposite her.

He looked completely relaxed.

As if marrying a stranger was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

She couldn't take it anymore.

“So…”

Everyone looked at her.

Isabella suddenly regretted speaking.

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“So?”

She swallowed.

“Do you actually want to marry me?”

Silence.

Her father looked horrified.

Her mother closed her eyes.

One of Lucas's men coughed into his fist.

Lucas simply stared at her.

Then he answered.

“No.”

Isabella's heart sank.

“Oh.”

She looked down.

“But,” Lucas continued, “I agreed to it.”

She looked up again.

“That's supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

For some reason, that almost made her laugh.

Almost.

Lucas leaned back.

“Do you want to marry me?”

“No.”

Her father opened his mouth.

Isabella quickly continued.

“I mean, I don't know you.”

Lucas nodded.

“Fair.”

She studied him.

“You're not angry?”

“Why would I be?”

“Because I said I don't want to marry you.”

“You're allowed to.”

Isabella blinked.

That wasn't what she expected.

“You are?”

Lucas looked at her.

“I don't want a wife who is forced to smile at me.”

Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.

She looked down at her hands.

“Then why are you agreeing?”

“Because some things are bigger than what we want.”

Isabella understood immediately.

Their families.

The alliance.

The enemies.

She hated that answer.

But she couldn't argue with it.

Her father stood.

“I'll give you two some time.”

Isabella's head snapped up.

“Papa!”

But he was already walking away.

Her mother followed him.

The door closed.

Silence.

Isabella stared at Lucas.

Lucas stared back.

“This is awkward,” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“You could say something.”

“You could too.”

“I did.”

“You're doing very well.”

She frowned.

“Was that sarcasm?”

“Yes.”

For the first time, Isabella saw it.

A tiny spark of amusement in his eyes.

She smiled before she could stop herself.

Lucas noticed.

His expression softened for half a second.

Then it disappeared.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said.

Isabella thought about it.

“I'm eighteen.”

“I know.”

“I like flowers.”

“I can see that.”

She glanced at the vase beside her.

“Oh.”

She cleared her throat.

“I like books.”

“What kind?”

“Romance.”

Lucas's eyebrow lifted.

“Romance?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

“Why?”

“You're about to marry a man who doesn't believe in it.”

Isabella stared at him.

“That's tragic.”

His mouth twitched.

“Probably.”

She smiled.

“What's your favorite book?”

“I don't read romance.”

“That wasn't my question.”

Lucas looked at her for a moment.

“I don't have one.”

“That's boring.”

“I'm beginning to understand why your father looks exhausted.”

Isabella gasped.

“You're making fun of me.”

“A little.”

She crossed her arms.

“I don't like you.”

Lucas nodded calmly.

“That's unfortunate.”

“Why?”

“Because we're getting married.”

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

He had a point.

---

Later that evening, Lucas returned to his car.

His right-hand man, Adrian, was waiting for him.

“Well?”

Lucas said nothing.

Adrian smiled.

“You like her.”

Lucas gave him a cold look.

“I didn't say that.”

“You didn't have to.”

Lucas looked out the window.

Isabella's image appeared in his mind.

Yellow dress.

Nervous hands.

Soft voice.

And that ridiculous habit of saying exactly what she was thinking.

“She talks too much,” Lucas said.

Adrian laughed.

“You're smiling.”

Lucas immediately stopped.

“I am not.”

“You were.”

“Drive.”

Adrian grinned.

“Yes, boss.”

Lucas looked back toward the house.

For some reason, he didn't want to leave.

That irritated him.

He had met countless people.

He had negotiated with powerful men.

He had stared down enemies without blinking.

But one innocent girl with a yellow dress had managed to make him uncomfortable in less than an hour.

He didn't understand it.

And he didn't like things he couldn't understand.

---

That night, Isabella couldn't sleep.

She lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

Lucas's voice kept replaying in her mind.

I don't want a wife who is forced to smile at me.

She turned onto her side.

“He's strange.”

She pulled the blanket over her head.

“He's also rude.”

She paused.

“And kind of funny.”

She immediately shook her head.

“No.”

She sat up.

“I am not falling for him.”

She pointed at herself in the mirror.

“You don't even know him.”

Her reflection obviously didn't answer.

“Exactly.”

She lay back down.

Five minutes later, she whispered,

“But his eyes are really nice.”

She covered her face with a pillow.

“This is hopeless.”

---

The following morning, Isabella found a small black box sitting on her breakfast plate.

She stared at it.

“What's that?”

Her mother smiled.

“Open it.”

Isabella slowly lifted the lid.

Inside was a delicate necklace.

A small silver pendant shaped like a flower.

Her eyes widened.

“It's beautiful.”

“It's from Lucas.”

Isabella froze.

“Lucas?”

Her mother nodded.

“Consider it an engagement gift.”

Isabella picked up the necklace.

There was a small note beneath it.

She unfolded the paper.

Three words were written in neat handwriting.

For my future wife.

Isabella's cheeks turned pink.

She quickly folded the note.

Her mother smiled.

“You like it.”

“No.”

“You're blushing.”

“It's hot.”

“It's raining.”

“Mom!”

Her mother laughed.

Isabella touched the necklace again.

For the first time since hearing about the marriage, she felt something other than fear.

Curiosity.

She wanted to know why Lucas had chosen a flower.

She wanted to know what he was really like.

And, despite everything, she wanted to see him again.

She didn't know it yet, but that simple necklace would become one of the most important things she ever owned.

Because years later, when Isabella would look back on the beginning of their marriage, she would remember one thing clearly.

Lucas hadn't given her the necklace because he loved her.

Not yet.

He had given it to her because he had made a promise.

And Lucas never broke his promises.

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