Isabella’s POV
The gun in my hands felt heavier than I expected. Elio was staring at me, his expression twisted with amusement, but there was something more lurking underneath. Something I couldn’t quite pinpoint.
I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t even fathom how I had gotten here, in this moment, holding his gun, ready to point it at him. But there I was, my finger hovering above the trigger, shaking only slightly as I stared at the man I was supposed to marry.
His eyes flicked between the gun in my hands and my face, his lips curling into that smirk that made my blood boil. “Is this what it’s come to, Isabella?” he asked, his voice smooth, mocking. “You point a gun at me like I’m some random enemy?”
I swallowed, the pit in my stomach deepening. He was treating this like a game. He wasn’t scared. Not really. Elio never was. He thought I was a child, some fragile thing to control.
But I wasn’t. Not anymore.
“I’m done playing nice, Elio,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion I couldn’t mask. “I’m done.” He raised his hands slowly, deliberately, mocking me even in the way he surrendered. He wasn’t scared. But he was cocky. Arrogant. Just the way I hated him.
“Relax, sweetheart,” he said, a smug grin spreading across his face. “You going to shoot me now? Or should I wait for you to make up your mind?” I ignored his taunt, keeping the gun aimed at his chest. I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears. I was scared, but not of him. I was scared of what I might do next.
“Have you been fucking your server boy on the side, Isabella?” Elio asked casually, his voice low, full of venom. “Did you enjoy the attention? Or is it just a little fun for you while we plan our future together?”
The words hit me like a slap across the face. I gritted my teeth, forcing back the sting in my chest. The way he spoke about me, like I was some possession, some plaything.
I laughed, but it sounded hollow, like I was trying too hard. “Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” I said, my voice steady, even though I was shaking inside. “The server? He’s just a means to an end. I paid him to spy on my father. I have something on him.”
His eyes narrowed, still not believing me. “Your father? What about him?”
I felt the lie come easy, rolling off my tongue like it was second nature. I could feel my heart beating faster, but I didn’t let it show. This was for Leandro. This was for me.
“He’s been having an affair,” I said, watching his reaction closely. “With some woman he’s been hiding. I figured you’d want to know, considering how much power your family wants. I thought it might be useful.”
I watched Elio’s face closely, the sharpness in his eyes telling me he was processing everything I said. “And the server?” he asked. “What does he know?”
I smirked, keeping my finger steady on the trigger, even as my nerves started to crawl up my spine. “He’s been following my father’s movements. He’s been reporting everything back to me. It’s how I found out about the mistress.”
Elio didn’t seem to question it. He didn’t even blink. Instead, he leaned back, considering my words, the idea settling in his mind.
“You’re good,” he muttered, a dark glint in his eyes. “Real good.”
I held my ground, even as I felt a pang of guilt twist in my gut. I was lying to him, making him believe something I had no proof of. But it was working. And right now, working was all that mattered.
“There’s more,” I added, my voice soft. “Once we get married, I want my mother to get a divorce. It’s about time she takes control of her own life. You know, get rid of the weight of the old man.” Elio’s expression hardened. His mind was already running through the possibilities of how this could benefit him, and I knew it would. I had made him believe every word.
“Interesting,” he said, as if he was savoring the thought. “You really are something, Isabella. You’ve got everything figured out, haven’t you?”
I kept the gun pointed at him, not trusting him for a second. But I couldn’t help the relief that washed over me. The lie had worked. For now.
Elio’s smirk faded slightly as he nodded. “Alright, we’ll talk more about this later. But you’re playing a dangerous game, Isabella. You can’t keep secrets from me. You know damn well that I can send my guards to find out about it. You don’t need to do it by yourself.” His gaze lingered on the gun in my hand.
I lowered the gun slightly, though I still kept it ready. “I’m capable of doing things by myself, Elio,” I said, my voice quieter now. “I’m done with being controlled.”
He didn’t push it any further. Instead, he gave me a once-over, then gestured toward the door. “Let’s get back to the crowd before they start wondering where we’ve been.”
I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of the gun in my hand. But then I tucked it into the waistband of my dress, still feeling the adrenaline rush as I walked toward the door. Elio followed me without a word, as if he were content with what I’d told him.
The moment we stepped back into the hall, the feeling of relief washed over me like a wave. I had kept my cool, I had controlled the situation, and Elio didn’t suspect a thing.
But as we walked back into the crowd, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I quickly glanced down and saw a text from Leandro.
“You’re going to pay for this, Isabella. I’ll teach you a lesson tonight. Be ready.”
The message made my heart race. I didn’t understand why he would be mad at me. I’d just saved his life. I’d protected him from Elio.
But Leandro wasn’t the kind of man who gave thanks. He had his own way of dealing with things. And right now, it seemed like he wanted to punish me for something I didn’t even understand.