Episode 10 — The Choice

The room was silent.

Too silent.

The black folder lay open on the table between them like a loaded weapon.

Isabella stared at the contract again, but the words still felt unreal.

Marriage.

Not love.

Not partnership.

A contract.

One year of belonging to Alexander Blackwood who happens to be the elder brother of Dominic Blackwood

Her chest rose and fell slowly as she tried to steady herself.

Across from her, Alexander stood calmly, his hands resting in his pockets as if he had just offered her a simple job.

But the tension in the room said otherwise.

The storm outside rumbled faintly in the distance.

Isabella closed the folder slowly.

“No.”

The word came out stronger this time.

Alexander didn’t react.

“You didn’t read the entire document,” he said calmly.

“I read enough.”

Her voice trembled slightly despite her effort to sound confident.

“You want control over my life.”

Alexander tilted his head slightly.

“I want to protect what becomes mine.”

Her eyes flashed.

“I’m not something you own.”

His gaze darkened.

“You will be if you sign that contract.”

The words sent a chill down her spine.

She pushed the folder across the table toward him.

“I’m not marrying a stranger.”

“You already trust strangers,” he replied smoothly.

“That’s how you ended up with Daniel Cross.”

The name hit her like a slap.

Her fingers tightened.

“That was different.”

“Was it?”

He stepped closer.

“Because from where I stand, you trusted a man who nearly destroyed you.”

Isabella’s heart pounded.

“You don’t know everything.”

Alexander’s voice softened slightly.

“I know enough.”

The way he said it made her uneasy again.

He always seemed to know more than he should.

She crossed her arms defensively.

“Even if I was desperate yesterday,” she said, “I’m not stupid enough to sell my freedom for protection.”

Alexander studied her quietly.

Then he reached forward and picked up the contract.

“Freedom,” he repeated slowly.

His eyes lifted to hers.

“You think you still have that?”

Her stomach tightened.

“What does that mean?”

Instead of answering, Alexander walked toward the massive window overlooking the city.

The rain continued to fall steadily.

He looked down at the streets far below.

“Tell me something, Isabella.”

His voice was calm again.

“How long do you think Daniel will wait before trying again?”

She swallowed.

“He won’t.”

Alexander turned his head slightly.

“You’re very confident for someone who had to run away from him.”

Her chest tightened again.

“I didn’t run.”

“No?”

His eyes scanned her face.

“Then why did you show up in my office with fear written all over you?”

She didn’t respond.

"My brother Dominic told me everything"

The truth was uncomfortable.

And Alexander knew it.

He turned fully toward her again.

“You’re underestimating the situation.”

Isabella frowned.

“Daniel is just a jealous ex.”

Alexander’s expression hardened.

“No.”

Something about the way he said it made her pulse quicken.

“He’s more than that.”

She hesitated.

“What are you talking about?”

Alexander walked back toward the table.

Slow.

Controlled.

Then he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out his phone.

He tapped the screen once.

Then slid it across the table toward her.

“Watch.”

Isabella looked down at the screen.

A video was playing.

At first she didn’t understand what she was seeing.

A dark parking lot.

Two men standing beside a black SUV.

Then the camera zoomed slightly.

Her blood froze.

One of the men was Daniel Cross.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she leaned closer.

Daniel wasn’t alone.

He was speaking with another man she didn’t recognize.

The audio crackled slightly before the voices became clearer.

Daniel’s voice came first.

“...I don’t care what it costs.”

The other man laughed.

“You’re serious about this girl.”

Daniel’s reply was cold.

“She belongs to me.”

Isabella felt sick.

The video continued.

“You just want her back?” the other man asked.

Daniel shook his head slowly.

And the words that followed made her heart stop.

“No,” he said quietly.

“If I can’t have her... nobody will.”

The video ended.

The screen went black.

Isabella stared at the phone in horror.

Her hands were shaking now.

She looked up slowly.

Alexander was watching her carefully.

“That video was recorded last night,” he said.

Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

“Where did you get that?”

“That’s not important.”

“It is to me.”

Alexander leaned slightly closer.

“I have people everywhere.”

Her stomach twisted.

“So you spy on everyone?”

“Only when necessary.”

She pushed the phone away from her.

“This doesn’t change anything.”

Alexander’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“No?”

“You’re still asking me to sign away my freedom.”

He leaned forward.

“And he’s planning to kill you.”

The bluntness of his words sucked the air out of the room.

Isabella’s mind spun.

“Maybe he was just angry,” she said weakly.

Alexander’s expression hardened.

“You still don’t understand.”

He reached forward and opened the contract again.

Then he pointed to a section near the bottom.

“Look at clause twelve.”

Reluctantly, Isabella looked.

Her eyes scanned the paragraph.

Then widened slowly.

“In the event of physical threat or attempted harm toward Isabella Morgan, Alexander Blackwood assumes full legal authority to intervene and eliminate the threat through private security enforcement.”

Her heart skipped.

“Eliminate?”

Alexander didn’t look away.

“Yes.”

“You mean… kill?”

“If necessary.”

Her breath caught.

“You’re insane.”

“Perhaps.”

His voice remained calm.

“But alive.”

She stared at him.

“You’re seriously telling me the only way to be safe… is to marry you?”

Alexander leaned closer.

His voice dropped low again.

“Yes.”

Her mind raced.

This was crazy.

Completely crazy.

But Daniel’s words echoed in her head.

If I can’t have her… nobody will.

Her fingers trembled slightly against the table.

Alexander noticed.

And stepped even closer.

“Look at me, Isabella.”

Slowly, she raised her eyes.

His gaze held hers firmly.

“I’m not asking for your love.”

The honesty in his voice surprised her.

“I’m offering protection.”

“By controlling me.”

“Yes.”

She exhaled shakily.

“You don’t see anything wrong with that?”

Alexander studied her for a long moment.

Then he said something that made her heart skip again.

“I never claimed to be a good man.”

Silence filled the room.

The rain outside intensified.

Then suddenly, a loud bang echoed from somewhere below.

Isabella jumped.

“What was that?”

Alexander’s expression changed instantly.

Cold.

Focused.

His phone buzzed.

He answered immediately.

“Yes.”

The voice on the other end spoke rapidly.

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

“Where?”

Another pause.

Then his eyes flicked toward Isabella.

And something dangerous flashed in them.

“I see,” he said quietly.

He ended the call.

Isabella’s heart pounded.

“What’s happening?”

Alexander grabbed his coat from the chair.

“They found you.”

Her blood ran cold.

“Who?”

Alexander walked toward the door.

Then stopped.

He looked back at her.

“Daniel’s men.”

Her stomach dropped.

“They’re outside the building.”

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

“What?”

Alexander walked back toward the table.

Picked up the contract.

And placed a pen beside it.

His eyes locked onto hers.

“You wanted freedom.”

His voice was calm.

But urgent.

“Now you have exactly one minute to decide.”

Isabella’s heart slammed violently in her chest.

Outside the penthouse…

Sirens began echoing faintly in the distance.

Alexander slid the contract closer to her.

And said quietly “Sign it... and I protect you.”

His eyes darkened.

“Or walk out that door and face them alone.”

Isabella stared at the pen.

Her hand trembled.

Her mind screamed at her not to do this.

But the sound of distant footsteps in the hallway made her blood run cold.

Alexander leaned down slightly beside her.

And whispered the final words.

“Tick… tock, Isabella.”

Her fingers slowly reached for the pen.

But just as she touched it, the penthouse doors exploded open.

And armed men stormed inside...