Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Stranger's Intervention 

ISABELLA

The stranger's voice was loud enough to be heard through the chaos, making everywhere silent in an instant, and I watched in amazement as everyone—including the security guards—immediately stepped back. The authority in his tone wasn't just commanding; it was absolute.

"I asked a question," he said, his voice dropped so low, to a dangerous whisper that somehow carried across the entire ballroom.

 "Who dared to put their hands on her?"

The security guards looked genuinely terrified, their faces were pale as they stammered apologies, bowing their heads at the man.

 "Sir, we were just—"

"You were just what?" His blue eyes were cold as ice as he glared at them, and I felt a shiver run down my spine despite the fact that it was warm inside the ballroom. 

"Manhandling a woman? In public?"

I stood frozen still, unable to move or do anything, tears still running down my face, as I was unable to process what was happening. 

This man, standing in front of me, this complete stranger—was defending me when my own husband had thrown me to the wolves without coming to my defense.

Max stepped forward, his jaw was clenched from irritation as he looked at the man and replied. 

"Mr. Rodriguez, there's been a misunderstanding here. We aren't manhandling her. She was covering the identity of someone else. Isabella is just our housekeeper, and she's been experiencing some... mental health issues. We were simply trying to handle the situation discreetly."

"Housekeeper?" The stranger—Rodriguez—turned his piercing eyes on Max, and I watched my husband actually shrink back from fear which made me even more surprised. I had never seen anyone that made my husband cower before.

 "Is that what you're calling her now?"

Cassandra moved closer to Max, her arm moving possessively around his waist as she replied. 

"She's been with our family for years, Mr. Rodriguez. She is also a very dedicated employee, one of the very best and we have no idea where we would be without her, although recently she's been having delusions about her position in our household."

"Delusions," Rodriguez repeated, his voice both furious and dangerous as he nodded his head slowly. "How interesting."

He made his way through the crowd, and people parted the way for him like he was royalty.

 I noticed how everyone avoided direct eye contact with him, how they seemed to shrink into themselves when he passed and how they stopped themselves from even brushing near his clothes like they were afraid of retaliation. Who was this man that commanded such fear and respect?

"Tell me," he continued, stopping directly in front of Max and Cassandra,

 "would a housekeeper be wearing a custom Valentino gown? Or perhaps you were just being generous enough with your bonus employee benefit?"

Cassandra's face flushed red as she clenched her free hand tightly as she said,

"That dress belongs to me. She had no right—"

"To wear clothing that was delivered to her? With her name on the package?" Rodriguez's smile was cruel and almost like a predator as he continued speaking.

 "I have excellent sources, Miss Mills. Would you like me to share exactly what they've told me about your... arrangement... with Mr. Henderson?"

The threat in his voice made the hair on my arms stand up as well. Max's face went white, as all blood seemed to drain from his face and I saw him exchange a panicked look with Cassandra.

"Mr. Rodriguez," Max said, his voice filled with barely controllable panic, he was starting to see that he was losing control of the situation and wanted to reign it back under his control as he said, 

"I think there's been some confusion—"

"The only confusion here," Rodriguez interrupted him as his voice got louder, "is how you two thought you could publicly humiliate my wife without consequences."

Wife. Hearing that word, the crowd gasped loudly, murmuring amongst themselves in disbelief.

I was shocked as well when I heard those words from his mouth. Was he talking about me being his wife?.What was he talking about?

"Your wife?" Cassandra laughed, but it sounded forced at this point as she shook her head, like she had heard him wrong. "That's impossible. She's just a servant. Look at her—she's nothing special, just a broken little—"

"Careful." Rodriguez growled in a way that made my skin crawl with something I couldn't identify.

 "You're speaking about the woman I married. The mother of my child. I'd choose your next words very carefully."

The crowd broke out again in whispers and shocked murmurs. I stood there, completely bewildered and frozen, as this stranger claimed me as his wife in front of hundreds of people. 

Mother of his child? I'd never seen this man before in my life.

"This is ridiculous," Max said, his composure finally cracking. "Isabella, tell them the truth. Tell them you're not married to him."

All eyes turned to me, and I opened my mouth to speak, but Rodriguez was already moving. He crossed the distance between us in three long strides, and before I could react, he was draping his suit jacket around my shoulders.

The jacket was warm and smelled of expensive cologne and a different musk that seemed like pine cones and morning dew that made my head spin. His hands were gentle on my body as he adjusted it around me, which was a sharp contrast to the dangerous energy he'd been radiating moments before.

"Isabella," he said softly, his voice meant only for me. "Trust me."

I looked up into his blue eyes, searching for some clues about what was happening. There was something in his eyes. It was not kindness, but not cruelty either. It felt like a strange kind of protection that I once saw in my husband's eyes years ago.

Before I could respond, his hand cupped my face and his lips pressed against mine.

The kiss was gentle but firm as the crowd exploded into chaos around us.

There were cameras flashing, voices shouting, people pushing forward to get a better view. But in that moment, with this stranger's mouth on mine, the world narrowed to just the two of us.

When he pulled away, his thumb brushed across my cheek, wiping away the last of my tears.

"Come on," he murmured, his arm sliding around my waist. "We're leaving."