CHAPTER 3

The Contract Seal

Isabella's POV

My hands kept shaking profusely as I clutched the piece of paper tight. My eyes scanned through it for the umpteenth time and I found it extremely hard to believe. Was my eyes playing tricks on me or was there another person with the name Isabella Knight? This was obviously forged because there was no way in hell that I would consciously sign a paper that would seal a marriage between I and Gabriel Santos. Most importantly, five years ago? Five years ago, I desperately wanted to kill Gabriel Santos so why would i agree to be his legal wife? What would i possibly earn from that?

"What is this supposed to mean?" I finally gathered courage to ask. Although my breathing was hitched and my hands were shaking in fear as I struggled to hold the paper tight. I snuck a glance at Gabriel, he had the same mischievous smirk from last night plastered on his face. I desperately wanted to smack that grin off his face and I was willing to take any open chances.

"It is exactly what you think it is. A contract marriage between you and I." He stated, I watched him settle down on the plush couch and cross his legs at my direction. I had to scoff in disbelief at him. Did he seriously think I was an illiterate? I was a doctor with many certificates, I could obviously tell that the paper was forged.

"I am not stupid, the signature was forged and soon enough, people will know find out that I am missing and come look for me. Your failed attempt at trying to keep as your prisoner in a legal way is quite pathetic." I snapped at him. I had not realized that I was slowly growing confidence and the worse of it all was that I could not explain where the confidence was coming from, all I knew was that it was surprisingly there. It was most likely my anger converting itself into confidence.

I watched Gabriel touch his chest in fake hurt. "Ouch, that hurt me." He muttered. He paused to clear his throat and rant. "Your mother and father signed that piece of paper years ago, they sold you to me five years ago and believe me when I say I paid a huge price to get you." Gabriel winked at me.

I gulped a lump down my throat and staggered backward in shock. The piece of paper slipped from my hand and fell right to the floor. I felt shivers run down my spine as I slowly processed everything, my parents had intentionally sold me to Gabriel five years ago? Before their death? But why? Why would they sell me off to their enemy? I found it hard to believe, I refused to let Gabriel manipulate me into thinking my parents were the bad guys in my little story.

"How stupid do you think I am to believe that?" I asked feigning confidence when deep down inside of me, I was completely breaking. I felt my heart shatter a million pieces as I realized that I was actually slowly starting to believe Gabriel's words. He scoffed at me and turned to Sandra with a poker face.  "Ask Alessandro to bring the tape recorder immediately." He instructed and i watched Sandra scurry in fear at the sound of his voice. Every single person in this mansion lived under nothing but fear most especially at the sound of his voice. In less than a few minutes, a young looking man dressed in a grey suit walked into the room with Sandra besides him. I was guessing he was Alessandro.

What made Alessandro unique from the other boys under Gabriel was that Alessandro seemed fearless. He had a poker face on and his hands were tucked firmly into his suit pockets. He gave off this nonchalant aura as he handed Gabriel the tape recorder without even bothering to spare me a glance.

Gabriel slid the tape recorder on the floor and it landed right in front of me. I was hesitant about picking the tape recorder up but my curiosity got the best of me. I slowly picked it up and gazed at the year, five years ago truly.

I gulped a lump down my throat as I gently pressed the 'play' button. There was a shuffling noises for a brief moment before I heard a familiar feminine voice say. "Gabriel Santos, you have to spare her life at all cost...." I hastily pressed the 'pause' button as I felt tears slowly roll down my cheeks. I had been dying to hear mum's voice in a really long while, hearing her voice made my heart melt.

I clutched the tape recorder tight and broke down into sobs. It was embarrassing but I could not control it. I eventually pressed the button for play but this time, my father's voice had interrupted her harshly. "Just let him have her, that way we can escape this debt Clarissa, we can be safe." My dad said desperately.

I was still finding it hard to process all of that. What was going on? Why were they making a deal with Gabriel Santos? Why did Dad sound so desperate? And safety?

"Roman! You need to consider her too. At least let us make sure she is completely in safe hands. It is bad to sell our daughter off like that." My mum cried out. I felt my heart skip a beat, was it really true?

"Not to be rude or anything but you people need to make decision fast, I do not have all the time in the world." It was Gabriel's voice this time. I snuck a glance at him and he had a proud smirk plastered on his face.

"We have made our decision." Dad suddenly said.

"So are you willing to sell your only daughter to me in order to settle your debt?"

"Yes." Dad and mum chorused.