CH 003: A Surprise Ride

[ BROOKLYN ]

If Izaac is surprised by the way I say his name as if we’ve known each other before this moment, he doesn’t show it. 

Instead, he simply stops in front of me and takes my hand. His touch is gentle and careful in a way that causes the heat on my skin to rise. The kind that might've swept me off my feet if I didn’t know how important and poisonous this moment is. 

This moment that will decide what becomes of me and my family. The day it all started.

I stay stiff as he lowers his head and presses a kiss to the back of my hand. His lips are warm and they linger, his eyes never leaving mine, not even for a second.

“A pleasure to finally meet you, Brooklyn,” he says softly. His dark eyes search my face, intense and unreadable. “You look really lovely.”

Despite the cold tension running through me, the compliment and the feel of his lips against my skin makes heat bloom in my stomach. My face warms, and for a brief, dangerous moment, I forget that this is the same man whose negligence led to the destruction of my entire family.

Thankfully, I catch myself just in time.

Gently, I pull my hand from his grip and force a thin, polite smile onto my lips.

“You don’t look bad yourself, Izaac.”

Behind us, I hear hushed, excited whispers from my parents and his family. If only they knew what was coming.

Slowly, I turn back to face everyone. 

My blood boils as my eyes land on the Armanis. Odion, Cordelia, Lance, and Paris. They’re all smiling at me, and Paris even gives me a small wave, cheering silently.

I scoff inwardly.

That snake.

I remember too well how she changed the moment I married into their family. How she joined them in tearing me apart. I’m grateful for this second chance, because now I see her clearly. I know the face she hides behind that mask of friendship.

Exhaling deeply, I finally begin the speech that will change the fate of my family for good. “I believe both our families are gathered here to discuss the marital union between Izaac and me, isn’t that right?” 

They all pause and exchange stunned looks. Even my parents stare at me like I’ve lost my mind. Before anyone can speak, I continue.

“I’ll be direct,” I say, straightening my spine and lifting my chin as all eyes lock onto me. “I don’t like wasting time.”

“I won’t be accepting this marriage proposal. My answer is no.” I turn my gaze to Odion, holding his confused stare. The look on his face is priceless. I’d choose this over his usual smug confidence any day. “And as for my father’s debt to you, Mr. Armani, I’ll pay it off myself.”

Silence crashes down on the room. It’s so thick you could literally hear a pin drop.

My parents stare at me, mouths open in shock.

And me? I fight back a smile. My chest feels lighter than it has in a very long time.

God, I did it. I’ve cut off the very start of our misfortune.

I deserve a shot of vodka for this.

“Please,” I add, gesturing to them with my hand. “Enjoy yourselves, and feel at home. Do not let my announcement ruin your day.”

Without another word, I turn to leave. Then stop.

There’s one more thing. One more person to confront.

I turn back, my eyes locking onto Lance. He sits there with that harmless, confused look on his face, as if he’s incapable of hurting anyone or even a fly. The sight makes my stomach twist with disgust.

I walk toward him in long strides. Before anyone can see it coming, I grab a glass of red wine from behind him and dump it over his head.

The liquid spills down his hair, his face, his body, soaking into the white shirt he’s wearing. He just stares at me, wide-eyed, arms lifted in shock.

“What the fuck are you doing, Brook!” Paris jumps up, yelling.

The moment I slowly turn my gaze to her, she steps back like she’s seen a lunatic.

Good. That’s exactly what I want them to see. A lunatic. Someone who has tasted death and came back, ready to drag them all to hell.

“Honey…” My father finally snaps out of his shock and hurries over. He gently takes the empty glass from my hand and leads me a short distance away. 

“Why would you do that to our guests?” he asks, shaking his head, completely lost. “You were fine with this arrangement. What changed?”

While he speaks, I barely register his words. I just watch his face. My chest slowly warms, the earlier cold melting away as I take him in.

Alive. Not dead.

Deep inside, I thank the universe once again for this second chance and swear that this time, I’ll do everything within my power to keep my family alive and whole. I’ll clear my father’s debt, and after that, I will ensure we never cross paths with the Armanis again.

“Are you even listening to me, Brooks?” My father’s voice snaps me back to reality. He grips my hand tightly, worry etched deep into his face. His palm is sweaty and his fingers tremble. “How do you even plan to come up with five hundred thousand dollars to pay off my debt?” 

“Well… uh…” I blink. Right. That small detail. I hadn’t thought that far yet. Everything had happened too fast. Fuck. 

I shrug anyway. “I’ll win every ice-skating competition I see. Including the Olympics.”

Dad stares at me like I’ve completely gone nuts.

We both glance back. Mom is doing her best to calm the Armanis, while Izaac has rushed over to Lance, checking on him like the devoted brother he is.

The sight almost makes me gag.  

I imagine what his reaction would’ve been if he had known what Lance did to me. If he had known about the nights, the violations, the pregnancy. Would he have ignored it like the rest of his family, or would he have finally snapped?

Not like it even matters now.

“Trust me, Dad.” I squeeze his hand, offering a small smile even though I know none of this makes sense to him yet. His world is spinning, and I put it there. “This is for the best. The Armanis… they aren’t who you think they are. One day, you’ll understand why I did this. Just believe in me until then. Please.”

I release his hand before he can say anything else and walk away, not even stealing a moment glance behind me. 

If my parents knew what that family would eventually do to us, they wouldn’t hesitate to choose this chaos over the cruelty that waited ahead.

The moment I step outside, I spot a man scrambling away from the window, camera clutched in his hand.

Paparazzi. Of course.

By tomorrow, this news will be splashed across every headline. Something dramatic and humiliating like:

‘Izaac Armani Rejected by Bankrupt Heiress’. Or ‘Popular Miami Playboy Finally Turned Down by the Daughter of a Failed Empire? Unbelievable!

The thought makes my lips curve upward in delight. Typically, I hate the Paparazzi but in this case, I’m all in. Let their perfect name get dragged along the mud for once.

Humming softly, I head toward my car parked outside. A small smile blooms when I see my Audi A5.

The car my parents gifted me on my eighteenth birthday. We were forced to sell it after the bankruptcy, but here it is now. Not yet sold. Untouched and just like I remember it.

Gosh, I’ve missed it so freaking much! 

“Oh, my pretty baby.” I murmur fondly, walking toward it.

I don’t get far before a hand grabs my wrist from behind and yanks me back so fast that I slam straight into a hard, warm wall. 

A startled gasp leaves my lips as the scent of expensive cologne and danger fills my lungs.

I slowly lift my head. And no… I didn’t collide into a wall. I collided into a wall of warm, hard, masculine chest. 

Izaac.

He towers over me, his expression dark and tightly controlled. His eyes are calm on the surface, but rage simmers underneath. His jaw is clenched so hard it looks painful, and his fingers tighten around my wrist, not harsh, but firm.

“What did you do that for?” he growls quietly. “You agreed to this from the beginning. Why are you trying to sabotage all of our plans?”

“Let go of me.” I rip my hand free, glaring up at him as anger coils in my chest.

“Why?” He drags a hand through his perfectly messy jet-black hair, frustration written all over his annoyingly sharp handsome features. “Do you have any idea what you just put at risk for me?”

I scoff.

Seeing him like this feels good. Too fucking good. In fact, I want him to feel the same frustration and abandonment I felt when he left me alone right after our wedding.

I lift a finger and press it lightly against his chest.

“Fuck off, you self-centered prick!”

Then I turn, slide into my car, and slam the door shut. I drive off immediately, leaving him standing there, staring after me in shock, most definitely wondering what the hell has come over me. 

If only he knows that this is just the beginning. I’m going to take my revenge on every single one of them and by the time I’m done? 

They’ll realize how much of a beast they’ve created out of me.