CHAPTER 2

ISABELLA'S POV

As I stepped into the club, the pulsating beat of the music made the hall warm and busy, with people dancing and laughing.

My eyes scanned the crowded room, searching for a seat that could accommodate me and where I could have a drink too, because that was what I had come here for.

But just then, my eyes met with those of a man dressed in a black suit, seated in the VIP lounge.

There was something about him that wanted me to go closer, to have a closer look, but I dared not, because I wasn't in any way in his link.

I turned my gaze away and made my way to the bar.

"I need a fine mixture and strong. Do your magic," I ordered the bartender, who just nodded and got to work.

As I waited for my drink, I couldn't help but steal glances at the man in the VIP lounge. There was something about him that drew me in, something magnetic and irresistible.

When my drink arrived, I took a hearty gulp; it burned its way down my throat. Impressed by the bartender's skill, I ordered another without hesitation.

"More," I declared, as I turned my gaze to the VIP lounge again.

This time our eyes met, and at that moment, time seemed to stand still.

As we locked eyes, a spark of electricity passed between us as my eyes remained glued to him. Just then he stood up, and I watched as he walked majestically toward me.

Getting closer made me have a good look at him. He is around 6.4 feet tall, with the face of a demigod. He has piercing blue eyes and strong jawlines; his hair stops at his shoulder.

As I stole glances at this charming man sitting next to me in this bar, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest as I played back five seconds ago.

His beauty was captivating, and his confident stride drew my gaze like a magnet.

Somehow staring at this man made me totally forget about the betrayal and divorce that has brought me here to the club in the first place.

Now he is sitting next to me, a smile playing at the corners of my lips, my pulse quickening. His demeanor is confident, and his voice is smooth as he delivers his pick-up line.

"Are you a magician?" he began, his voice smooth and soft. "Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears." He said, grinning from ear to ear.

But despite his charm, I can't help but feel underwhelmed by his weak attempt at flirting. Suppressing a chuckle, I meet his gaze with a raised eyebrow.

"Is that the best you've got? I don't want to believe that's what you say to all the ladies.” I tease as I challenge him to do better.

He chuckled softly as he ordered himself a drink before turning his attention back to me.

"Well, it's true," he replied with a playful grin. "But you're the only one I've said it to tonight." He responded, making me smirk.

Just then the bartender delivered the drink I ordered again, and I didn't hesitate to zip it down my throat.

I kept ordering more, trying to drown my sorrows, even though he was still seated there beside me. I was here for a reason, so I just had to get on with it.

The bartender never disappointed as he continued giving me what I had ordered.

As the drinks took effect, I started feeling dizzy and tipsy, realizing it was time to leave, but I just couldn't since he was still seated there.

"What's the occasion?" He inquired, noting how I had been drinking.

I shrugged, a smile curved at the corner of my lips. "Since you're so interested to know, I got a divorce today," I confessed.

“What?” he exclaimed with widened eyes. "Who in his right senses would divorce a woman as beautiful as you?" he teased me.

My eyes scanned from his face and stopped on his lips; somehow I felt drawn to him. Somehow I imagined myself kissing him.

“Hey, are you even listening to me?” He asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You don't need to know," I replied to him, and slowly stood up from my seat.

“Hmm! Interested?” he smiled.

"You're so beautiful, Miss Mysterious, so I guess it's his loss," he declared; somehow his words seem to make me feel better.

"I guess it's also my luck that you aren't married anymore," he teased.

But I didn't bother responding or saying anything to him anymore, and my eyes were still locked on his small lips.

“I'm Alexander, and you?” He asked me, but I didn't respond, as I took more drinks from my glass while my eyes remained glued to his lips.

“I know what you want, but this place is too noisy,” he spoke with a low and calm voice. "Let's go somewhere quieter where we can talk better," he suggested, and slowly stood up and stretched out his hands to me.

“Where are we going?” I managed to ask.

He placed his finger over my lips, and his smile deepened. "Come with me," he ordered.

I had a flirtatious smile on as I took his hand. I felt a spark of electricity at the skin contact, and I couldn't help but smile slightly.

He pulled me even closer to him as he led me out of the crowded hall.

As we walked, my mind wandered to dirty thoughts. How would he taste? I wondered, trying to take a glance at his pants, but he pulled me even closer, his body heat radiating onto mine.

I felt my face flush with desire, and I knew I was in trouble. He was a stranger to me, even though I felt so drawn to him; it still doesn't change that fact.

But I still have to just enjoy this moment with him and forget all my sorrow, even if it's just for a moment. I thought to myself.

I wanted him so badly, and I don't know why, maybe because I was drunk, but either way I don't really care about that right now. All I knew was that I couldn't resist him.

As we entered into the room in the clubhouse, he pressed my back against the door. I couldn't help but feel warm inside, and for once, nothing else mattered to me right now except this feeling.

I had never felt this spark with anyone before, and I could tell that there was something special about him. I wanted to get more of him, to know him better.

I couldn't deny the desire burning inside me. I felt my panties growing wet just from his skin contact, and I couldn't help but imagine his lips on mine.

My eyes locked onto his lips again, and I fantasized about kissing him. I imagined his hands caressing my body, and I wondered how it would feel to experience his touch.

I wanted him to do dirty things with me to satisfy the craving that had taken over my body.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, but I couldn't hold myself back anymore. I took advantage of the moment and kissed him, holding tightly onto him.

"I know you want me as much as I want you, so there's no need to hesitate," I whispered, my lips brushing against his.

"I'm hesitant because I don't want to unleash my beast on you, because you might not be able to handle me," he spoke and tried to move away.

But I tightened my grip on him, refusing to let go.

"I would love to see your beastly self, because it's just what I wanted right now, so you are free to do it with me," I giggled.

I covered the space he had created again while he stared at me.

"I think it's best if you let go. I can't control this anymore; we are alone here, remember?" he said, trying to unlock my hands from him.

"I don't want you to control yourself; I need you," I mouthed to him, pulling him to myself more as I took his lips into mine once more.

This time he didn't hesitate; instead, he reciprocated the kiss, making me realize he was already in the mood, and I loved the fact that I was about to get him to ease up, as that was exactly what I wanted.

I know it was wrong to do this, and I was going to regret it by morning, but I just have to enjoy this moment. I thought, and within a few minutes he was already caressing my body.

He carried me into his hands, took me to the king-size bed, and laid me on it. “Get ready for the beast,” he whispered against my ears, making me smile.

Within a few minutes our moans were the only sounds heard.

Chapter 3

ISABELLA’S POV

The television had been nothing but background noise for the past hour. I had been staring at the same page of my book for twenty minutes, my mind somewhere else entirely.

But then the news anchor's voice cut through my haze with words that made my blood run cold.

"The Sterling family only heir that has never come public, Alexander Sterling, was spotted in the city last night," I heard, and immediately I felt the urge to see what he looks like.

I looked up slowly, and immediately my eyes widened in disbelief. Those sharp cheekbones I had traced with my fingers in the dark.

That jaw I had kissed along, those intense eyes that had locked onto mine as we had the moment of our lives last night.

“No, no, no, this can't be,” I said, slowly setting the book down, with my hands trembling as I reached for the remote.

The man I had spent one reckless, unforgettable night with, the man who made me forget all about Daniel's betrayal and my divorce, was the very man that made me feel so good, like I have never felt in ages, that was the Sterling heir.

The very family that ruined my family and killed my parents.

"What have I done?" The words came out as barely a whisper as I pressed my palm against my forehead.

The room felt like it was tilting, and images flashed through my mind of the way he had looked at me, like I was the only woman in the world, the way his hands had felt on my skin, and the way he'd whispered sweetly into my ears.

I thought, and just then a sudden dizziness hit me without warning. The room spun, and I gripped the edge of the couch to steady myself.

My vision blurred, and a wave of nausea rolled through me. "Breathe, Isabella. Just breathe," I told myself, trying hard to keep my balance.

I tried to take a deep breath, hoping my vision would get better, but it only got worse by the minute.

“Casey,” I managed to scream, and that's when I blacked out.

I opened my eyes to a blinding brightness of lights above me. I gazed around, trying to take in the unfamiliar environment I had found myself in.

My eyes trace the machines nearby, down to the white wall, making me gasp as I realize I was in the hospital.

“What happened to me? How did I even get here?” This question rang out of my mouth as I tried to sit up on the bed.

Just then the door cracked open, and Casey, my sister, walked into the room. "Sis, you are finally awake,” she said, grinning from ear to ear, as she rushed towards me.

“But what happened to me? Why did I suddenly collapse?” This question rang in my mouth as I faced her fully.

Just then we heard the cracking sound of the door followed by footsteps.

I quickly turned my head in that direction, and I saw a woman in a white uniform holding onto a bowl.

As the nurse moved closer to me with a soft smile plastered on her face. She checked the monitors, barely glancing at me.

“You are awake now,” she said, while I used the opportunity to ask her.

"Yes, but what happened to me?" I inquired of her while she just smiled.

“Hold on, the doctor will be here any moment, and he will give you all the answers you are looking for,” she responded to me, with a soft and calm voice.

I wanted to push her for more so maybe she could just give me a hint of what I was up against, but from how she had spoken, it seemed she wasn't going to say anything more.

I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to be easier. I was still dwelling in my thoughts when the door cracked open again.

A man in a white coat entered the ward. I bet he was the doctor, making me sigh in relief.

He was tall, with short black hair, and he was a man in his forties, and he had a smile on as he walked closer to my bed.

“Hey miss, I see you’re already awake.” He spoke softly, while I just stared at him without saying a word.

“How are you feeling now?” he asked further.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before responding to him. “Confused,” I admitted.

“Please tell me, sir, what actually happened to me? Why did I suddenly collapse?” I asked him, unable to keep it in any longer.

His smile deepened as he sat down on the edge of the bed. My gaze never left his because I was just so curious to know what had happened to me.

I mean, I have never in my life collapsed before, so this was really strange to me.

“Please calm down, miss; I'm going to answer all your questions,” he said calmly, but I was still impatient.

“Please, sir, can you just get on with the answer already?” I asked him, hoping he wouldn't hesitate any longer.

“Okay, fine, but relax; you really need it,” he said, while I just watched him carefully.

“Well, first things first, you collapsed due to a sudden drop in your blood pressure. And that occurs because you have been stressed,” he explains.

He was right. I have been trying to overwork myself since my divorce with Daniel, because I didn't want to think about his betrayal even for a minute.

“Doctor, you are right when you said I'm stressed, but no matter how stressed I get, I have never once collapsed before. So I have a feeling that there is something more to this.” I explained to him.

The doctor hesitated for a moment, which made me wonder what it was all about, and slowly fear started creeping into my mind.

“Doctor, do I have a disease?” I asked him, my eyes slowly becoming teary.

“What? No, far from it,” he responded sharply, making me sigh in relief.

“Okay, then, why are you so hesitant to say what it was?” I asked him while he looked up at me immediately.

“I'm not hesitant,” he said, then he stretched his hand forward. A smile curved at the corner of his lips.

“Congratulations, Miss Cruz, you are three weeks pregnant,” the doctor announced, grinning from ear to ear, as he stretched out the pregnancy test paper to me.

My eyes widened in disbelief as my world crumbled before me, leaving me breathless.

I was such a disappointment to my parents. Firstly, I married a man that they never approved of for five years, and now I was pregnant with the heir of the family that killed them.

I bet my parents will be regretting why they ever had a daughter like me. I thought as tears flowed down my cheeks as I stared at the test results in my hand.

Chapter 4

Isabella's POV

“Isabella, you don't have to cry because of this; trust me, I'm going to fight for you,” Casey assured me, but I didn't want that, but I also didn't know how I was going to tell her Daniel wasn't responding for the baby.

“Isabella, I,” she was saying when her phone started ringing.

She immediately took up her phone and placed it on her ears. “No, no, he can't do that,” I heard her say, with a pale face as she shook her head.

"Casey, what's wrong? What happened?” I asked her, seeing tears flowing down her cheeks now.

She finally dropped her phone after a while and turned to me as more tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Casey Please say something,” I said, grabbing hold of her both hands, hoping she would just tell me what was wrong.

“Grandma, just called me,” she managed to say as more tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Did anything happen to Grandpa? Please say something." I spoke, tightening my hands around hers.

"Grandpa has a panic attack because Daniel threw them out of the house,” she explained, making me gasp.

“Oh no, this can't be happening,” I blurted out, letting go of her hands as hot tears clouded my eyes as she continued.

“Grandpa was taken to the hospital, but the doctor asked that we make half payment before he will be treated; please do something, Isabella,” she said.

“Please call Daniel and tell him about your baby; maybe he would reconsider us,” she pleaded, and that made my tears increase.

How was I ever going to tell her this baby doesn't belong to Daniel? This question rang in my head as more tears flowed down my cheeks.

I got up on my feet, with my swollen eyes. “Isabella,” Casey called to me, but I didn't bother to respond to her.

“Did you hear all that I just said?” She asked me while I took a few steps.

“Yes, I heard you; I need time to figure out what to do,” I responded to her as I made my way to the door of the ward.

“I will be in here waiting for you, Isabella, but please don't take too long; I can't bear to lose Grandpa," Casey said, while I nodded, as I made my way out of the door.

I was in the hallway when tears clouded my eyes again as I stared at the pregnancy test results the doctor had given to me earlier.

Just then, I hit someone, and the test results flew from my hand.

“I'm sorry, miss, here,” I heard a familiar voice, and looked up only to see my worst nightmare.

Alexander Sterling, and his eyes were fixed on the test results, which were in his hands and stretched to me now.

I stood frozen in the hallway, my heart hammering against my ribs like a caged bird.

“It's you,” he said softly, as a smile curved at the corner of his lips almost immediately.

"No," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what you are saying; I don't think we have met before.” I said, blinking my lashes rapidly.

Alexander's eyes narrowed, with a cold, calculating gaze. He took a step closer, and I instinctively backed away until my shoulders hit the wall.

"Don't play games with me; you are Isabella, the girl from the club, and you are also pregnant," he spoke with a calm but firm voice.

"No, you're mistaken; I have never met you before," I tried to deny it.

He placed his hands on the wall behind me as he spoke further. “You are carrying my baby from that night,” he said, but I immediately shook my head.

“Like I said before, you got the wrong girl,” I said, and moved away from him and tried to walk away, but he grabbed hold of my hand.

"Then he explained this." He showed off my locket, making me widen my eyes in disbelief.

I had been searching for it all this while, unaware that I had left it in the club that night.

“Please give it back,” I told him, stretching my hands to him.

That locket was the last gift my father gave to me before he died, and I have never taken it off since until that night three weeks ago that I lost it in that club.

“If you want it, you have to answer all my questions first," he said.

“Okay, fine, I will; just give it back to me,” I said, while he just smiled.

“Come with me,” he said, and with that he started walking away, while I followed behind him.

I stopped walking seeing that we were already on the second floor in the hospital. “Where are we going?” This question rang out of my mouth while I fixed my gaze at him.

"Somewhere we can talk privately," he responded to me.

“And what if I don't want to go?” I asked him; he didn't bother to respond to me. Rather, he reached out and took my arm, his grip firm but not painful.

We finally stopped at the hospital cafeteria. Alexander released my arm and had his seat and also gestured to the chair opposite his. "Sit." He said, more like a command.

But I remained standing and crossed my arms over my chest. "I will rather stand," I told him, while he chuckled.

“Whatever,” he sighed.

“So what did you bring me here for?” I asked him while he cleared his throat before responding.

“I brought you here for us to talk about our baby,” he stated, with a soft and low voice.

“There is nothing for us to talk about, baby; I will make this clear to you." I paused to catch my breath before I continued.

“I don't want to have anything to do with you, and I'm going to raise my baby alone. You have no claim on me or this child.” I blurted out, while his smile deepened.

He stood up from where he was seat, and walked towards me. He was so close that I could smell his cologne, the same scent that had haunted me for weeks.

"Anyway, why were you crying earlier?” He asked me. I, part of me, wanted to ask for his help, but I recalled who he was, and I hesitated.

“It's none of your business,” I managed to say.

“You really are a stubborn one, but I have to care about you since you are carrying my baby." He paused for a while before he continued.

“Tell me what's wrong; I promise to help you,” he stated, making me swallow hard, hearing him say that.

“You will help me?” I asked him to be sure I had heard him correctly.

“Yes, I will,” he responded to me.

“Okay, but why?” This question rang out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Firstly because you are carrying my baby, and second because there is also a condition attached,” he responded to me.

“A condition?” I asked him, and he nodded in response. “What condition?” I asked further, with my gaze fixed on him.

“You are going to be my contract wife for two years,” he said with a soft and low voice, making me widen my eyes in disbelief.

How was I supposed to be a wife to a man whose family ruined my father and get him killed, but again I need his help to save the family I had left? What do I do now? This question rang in my head as I stared at him.