The sound of Dante's retreating footsteps echoed through the hallway, each step ringing in Isabella's ears like the ticking of a time bomb. She stood frozen, staring at the open doors as if the devil himself might return to drag her into hell.
Her father broke the silence with a heavy sigh, collapsing into his chair as though the weight of his sins had finally caught up to him. "This is for the best, Isabella. You'll see that in time."
Isabella's head snapped toward him, fury bubbling up inside her. "For the best? You've just handed me over to a monster! Do you even care about what happens to me?"
Her father's bloodshot eyes met hers, guilt flickering across his face. "I care more than you'll ever know. But this is bigger than you, bigger than me. If I had another option—"
"Save it," Isabella interrupted, her voice trembling with anger. "You didn't just sell me, Father. You sold what little soul this family had left."
Without waiting for his response, she stormed out of the dining room, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She needed air, space—anything to escape the suffocating weight pressing down on her chest.
The garden was quiet, the faint glow of the moon casting long shadows over the manicured hedges and rose bushes. Isabella clutched her arms around herself, the chill of the night seeping through her silk blouse.
Her mind raced. She knew of Dante Marino, of course. Everyone in their world did. He was a man whispered about in darkened corners, a ghost whose name struck fear in even the most hardened criminals. But the rumors didn't just stop at his ruthlessness—they spoke of his charm, his cunning, and the way he played the game like a master chess player.
And now she was a pawn on his board.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the footsteps until it was too late.
"I thought I might find you out here," came a voice, deep and smooth, like velvet dipped in poison.
Isabella spun around, her heart lurching in her chest. Dante stood a few feet away, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, as if he owned not just this garden, but the very air she breathed.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.
"I never left," he said, stepping closer. The soft glow of the garden lights caught the sharp angles of his face, making him look even more dangerous in the moonlight. "I had some… unfinished business with your father. But I couldn't resist seeing you one more time."
Her pulse quickened, though she couldn't tell if it was fear or something far more dangerous. "You've seen me. Now leave."
Dante chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. "You're feisty. I like that. But let me give you some advice, Isabella."
He closed the distance between them in a single step, and suddenly he was towering over her, his presence consuming. "You might hate me now. You might even dream of finding a way out of this arrangement. But let me make one thing clear: no one escapes me. Not enemies, not traitors, and certainly not my wife."
Isabella's throat tightened, but she refused to let him see her fear. "You don't scare me," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.
His lips curved into a smirk, though his dark eyes betrayed no amusement. "You're brave. I admire that. But bravery without caution can get you killed in my world."
"I'm not in your world," she shot back.
Dante leaned in, his face so close that she could see the faint stubble along his jaw. "Oh, you are, Isabella. The moment you said yes, you became mine. And in my world, the sooner you learn to play by my rules, the better."
His words were a promise and a warning, and for a moment, Isabella felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
"Why me?" she blurted out, her voice cracking. "You could have anyone—why choose me for this… this twisted game of yours?"
Dante's smirk faded, replaced by a look she couldn't quite read. For a moment, she thought he might actually answer her, but then he straightened, stepping back.
"You'll find out soon enough," he said, his tone unreadable. "Get some rest, Isabella. You'll need your strength for what's coming."
And just like that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the estate as silently as he had come.
Isabella stood there for a long time, staring after him, her chest heaving with a mix of fear, anger, and something she didn't want to admit.
The gilded cage was closing in around her, and she had no idea how to escape.