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.

Chapter 5

Isabella's POV

My mind raced, scrambling for solutions, for options, for anything, but there was nothing; I had nothing. My savings account held barely just some pennies, not even enough for food.

I haven't really taken any time to save any money since I was working for Daniel all his years; he didn't pay me a salary, but I never complained because he was giving me anything I needed as his wife.

I lifted my gaze to Alexander, who stood watching me with that same controlled, patient expression. He hadn't moved, hadn't spoken, hadn't even seemed to breathe.

I need to help my family; I can't let anything happen to my grandparents and sister.

I shut my eyes for a second and finally opened it to meet Alexander fully, my heart pounding so hard that I could feel it in my throat.

His dark eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made me feel like he could see straight through to my soul.

"I will do it," I said, the words rushing out before I could stop myself.

"I will be your contract wife, and I will sign whatever you need me to sign and play whatever role you need me to play. But I need your help," I said, while he stared at me.

“Tell me anything; I'm ready to help you,” he said, while I swallowed the leap that had formed in my throat before speaking.

“Well, my grandfather is in the hospital right now, and he needs any emergency treatment, so please, can you help me with the money for his treatment right now?” I asked him, hoping within me that he would agree to it.

"Consider it done," he said with a soft and firm voice as his lips curved into a smile.

I blinked, my mouth still open mid-sentence. "What? You are ready to do it right now?" I asked him, with my eyes widened in disbelief, as I stared at him.

Alexander pulled his phone from his pocket with deliberate calm, his fingers moving across the screen.

"Yes, just give me the hospital account details so I can make the transaction." He requested, and somehow a smile found its way into my face.

"Wait, do you really mean that?” I asked him, still finding it hard to believe it.

“Yes, just give me the details already,” he said.

“One moment, please,” I said, and quickly dialled my grandmother's phone number.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight with a mixture of relief and something that felt dangerously close to gratitude.

“Grandma, text me the hospital account details, and the amount we need to pay before treatment can begin,” I told her the moment she took the call.

“Okay, but where did you get the money?” She asked me with a concerned voice, but I wasn't going to just tell her anything just yet.

“Grandma, please, that's not important right now; Grandpa's life is more important for now, so please just send it,” I blurted out, trying to brush off the questions.

“Yes, right, I will do that right away,” she said, and then the call disengaged.

After a few minutes, my phone peeped with a message. Without any hesitation I gave the details to Alexander, and he did the transaction.

“It's done,” he announced, and immediately relief washed through me; I bet the treatment must already have been started.

"Thank you," I whispered, and the words felt pathetically inadequate. "I don't know what I would have done without you," I said, finding it hard to believe he could really have helped me out.

"You don't have to." Alexander stood up from his seat and moved closer to me, close enough that I could smell his cologne, something expensive and subtle, cedar and sandalwood.

"We had an agreement. You agreed to be my wife, and I agreed to help you, so that's how this works." He said with a soft but firm voice, as he gazed at me.

I nodded, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "So when are we going to get the marriage license?" I asked him, and he cleared his throat before speaking.

"I believe that can wait until tomorrow. But for now, you should go to the hospital with your family. Your grandfather will want to see you when he wakes up," he said firmly.

The kindness in his voice caught me off guard. I looked up at him, searching for the angle, the catch, the hidden price. But his expression was unreadable, as always calm and controlled, giving nothing away.

"You're letting me leave without signing any contract?" I asked him, still finding it hard to believe that he just helps me without my signing any contract yet.

"Isabella, I'm not a monster. You agreed to be my wife, so I have no interest in imprisoning you," he spoke calmly, and somehow I felt a kind of sincerity that I never knew was possible.

"I don't understand you," I admitted, the words escaping before I could stop them. "You're not what I expected." I added, as I looked up at him.

"And what did you expect?" He asked me his eyes narrowing at me.

I shook my head. "I don't know. Someone colder, maybe, or more transactional." I admitted finding it hard to lie to him.

"I'm not entirely without sentiment. Go see your grandfather, Isabella. We'll talk more tomorrow." He said and turned to leave, but stopped halfway.

“I need your contact information. I will call you tomorrow morning by 9am,” he said, and dropped his cellphone in front of me.

I didn't bother to hesitate; he had done a part of the bargain already, and I still needed his help too.

I took his cellphone and put in my contact information and returned it to him. “I guess I will see you tomorrow then,” he said.

“Yes, we will meet tomorrow,” I added, while he just smiled softly and turned around and made his way out, leaving me there.

I didn't know what the future held, and I didn't know what Alexander truly wanted from me or what I would have to become to survive in his world.

But for now, all that mattered was that my grandfather was getting the treatment he needed, and I'm also sure with Alexander, my family will get a roof over their heads again.

But from tomorrow, I would sign my name on a dotted line and become someone else entirely. From tomorrow, I would belong to Alexander Sterling, my enemy.

I don't know if my family will ever forgive me for this decision I have made, but I'm never going to regret doing this to help them.