36. Broken

The next morning, she woke up alone in bed. There was a blanket draped over her, but she felt drained. The bed was still a bit warm, which meant Isaac was there just a couple of minutes ago.

The girl had no energy to move. She lay there silently staring at nothingness. Her mind was blank last night, and even now it was blank to a certain point, but whatever happened the previous night began to rake her head, and she couldn't do anything to stop those memories and thoughts from roaming her mind.

He punished her for trying to kill herself last night. Innessa didn't know why she ran into the water. She was very well aware that she couldn't swim, she was aware that what she was doing was immensely dangerous, and yet she was scared of Issac more than death.

In that fleeting moment, she chose death because she was very well aware that she had hit him, the fear that Issac might raise his hand on her forced her to walk into the arms of death.

The fact that the person she was more scared of death was her husband distressed her even more.

She couldn't even divorce him because she didn't have that much money to pay him.

Never in her life had she felt so hopeless and helpless. Her first love, the man she used to cherish so much, was doing all this to her, and it broke her heart even more.

She didn't even want to remember the things he did to her last night. He was like a beast. So cruel, demanding, and ruthlessly savage.

Innessa was so worried about Faina. Her sister must be losing her mind searching for her. What if she had told her parents that Innessa was missing? Innessa couldn't even imagine the despair and stress her family must be in searching for her.

She was always a good kid and made sure never to cause trouble for her sister and parents because of herself. She always wanted her family to be happy and proud of her. Not to be stressed because of her.

The girl couldn't help but wonder where she went wrong. Maybe she should've said yes to Henry, then she might've never crossed paths with Issac. It felt like trying to save herself from one monster; she ended up falling into the clutches of another monster. The one who played with her heart and her emotions and took it to his ego just to have her, and now he has her in his claws.

There was no escape for her, and the more she pondered on this thought, the more she felt depressed and caged.

Never in a billion years could she have thought her sweet Issac had a completely different personality which would traumatize her in the future.

He lied to her about everything. That sweet Issac was nothing but just the fake avatar he created for her.

When the doorknob twisted, the sudden noise caused her to flinch as the door opened. She didn't even look in that way, but she could notice Issac stepping into the room through her peripheral vision. He was holding something in his hands as he placed it on the coffee table and ambled to her side.

She didn't turn around to look at him. Innessa just lay there staring at the wall ahead.

Her body tensed when he touched her forehead, checking her temperature. He gently caressed her hair away from her face, his knuckles stroking her fluffy cheek.

"Get up, precious. I've made us some breakfast," his deep morning voice rasped as she didn't move.

Innessa wanted to retaliate. To be stubborn, to argue, to scream all the profanities and curses in his face, but she didn't want to get punished by him again.

She quietly moved and tried to sit up properly, but her body had no strength. It was taking so much of her energy to even move. Of course, she hadn't had any food for so long that she felt drained.

She felt his hands on her shoulders as he put the pillows behind her back and helped her sit.

Innessa stared at her hands, which lay limply on her lap, before she held them together tightly.

Issac set a small table in front of her and placed the tray of food on that table. He offered her a glass of water, which she took quietly. She sipped some water, feeling her parched throat instantly wet. She placed the glass back on the table and stared at the food in front of her with tired, swollen, puffy eyes because of all the crying last night.

There were pancakes with strawberry serum on top, some very badly cut fruits, toast, an omelet, and a glass of orange juice on the tray as she quietly stared at the food.

"What would you like to have?" He asked, not once did she look his way, though she could tell he was sitting beside her shirtless and only in some sweats, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Even the sweet aroma of the food made her nauseous.

Innessa didn't answer, there was war raging through her head, and her emotions were so chaotic and wild that she had to numb herself to kill down all the frantic noise. She wanted to go blank just like last night when she fell asleep. She wanted to erase everything.

When she didn't answer and just blankly stared at the food. Issac took a small piece of pancake on the fork and held it close to her lips. She stared at the fork. Her soul screamed at her not to take that bite, but she forced herself to take it. She opened her mouth and took a bite.

The soft pancake tasted bland on her tongue. It felt like she was eating sand. It had nothing to do with the food but herself.

There was a huge ball of emotions clogged in her throat. It took a huge amount of energy from her to chew that food and gulp it down her throat.

Issac fed her another bite, and after the fourth one, she couldn't eat anymore. God knows she was trying to eat because she knew she needed strength to face him, but she had no appetite and even felt nauseous.

When he forwarded the fork, she grabbed the glass of juice and sipped the juice slowly until she drank half of it with utmost effort.

How weird that such simple tasks as drinking become so difficult when you're not in the right state of mind.

Innessa placed the glass back on the table when she saw his hand reaching for her. She flinched back, and his hand paused mid-air. A couple of seconds passed before he gently wiped her lower lip with his thumb. There was some strawberry serum on his thumb as he brought his thumb to his lips.

Innessa didn't look at him once; she tried to get off the bed. "You barely eat anything, Innessa," he said, holding her arm.

A fleeting minute passed awkwardly as she didn't say anything and kept staring at her lap. Issac let her go hesitantly.

The girl pulled herself to her feet and ambled to the restroom.

Issac was on his feet instantly as he grabbed something from the sofa and rushed after her. Blocking her, he held out a shopping bag in front of her.

"Freshen up and wear this," he said. When she didn't make any move to grab the bag. Issac gently grabbed her hand and placed the bag in it as he stepped aside, and she quietly stepped into the en suite bathroom, locking the door.

He stared at the closed door as a dejected sigh left his lips. He raked his fingers through his hair, staring at the floor with furrowed brows.

Issac didn't like her silence. Her dead eyes. Her slumped shoulders. He didn't want to see her like this.

He shouldn't have done what he did last night.

His jaw clenched, recalling how she flinched when he tried to touch her face. She thought he was about to hit her. Issac could be anything, but he never raised his hand against a woman. He'd kill himself before raising his hand on her. Maybe she thought that she slapped him yesterday, so Issac might want to take revenge for that. He regrets going overboard with her last night.

She needs time to digest everything. In his rage, he went overboard and ended up doing all that. He didn't know what happened to him when he saw her running in the water, trying to kill herself.

Maybe the fact that she was snatching herself from him triggered something inside his head, and he lost it. The fact that she was willing to kill herself just to get away from him made him lose all rational thoughts.

Though he loved the feel of her soft skin, her gentle gasps, her yelps of surprise. The way her body trembled in his arms. He shook his head.

Issac waited patiently in the room. He could hear the water running. Somewhere deep in his heart, there was a fear that she might hurt herself in there, but in the morning, he made sure to remove anything from the bathroom that she could use to hurt herself. He was on the edge until she finally stepped out of the restroom fully clothed in that beautiful sundress he bought for her. Her wet hair was faintly dried with the towel.

Innessa stood there barefoot, staring at the floor. He took in a deep breath in relief that she was alright.

He knew he had forcefully married her and scared her immensely, but he had no other option.

Issac walked over to her. He wanted to touch her cheek, but he stopped himself from doing so. Her lips were still a bit swollen because of his wild kisses from last night.

He placed a pair of slippers on the floor in front of her. "Wear them," he said as the girl quietly wore the shoes.

He didn't like her silence. He hated how she wasn't looking at him.

Issac ambled to the cupboard. Grabbing a shirt, he put it on. He grabbed the car keys and his wallet and walked back to her.

"Let's go," he said.

Innessa didn't move. She stayed rooted to her spot. Issac sighed. Walking back to her, he gently grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers. She made no move to hold his hand as he escorted her out of the mansion.

They stepped out of the main gates, and a sleek black car was waiting for them.

Issac pulled her along as he opened the door of the back seat for her. She stared at the seat and didn't budge. He instantly noticed her body language and made her face him, but she kept her eyes on his chest.

"Don't be scared, I'm not going to hurt-" She didn't let him finish as she yanked her hand out of his grasp and got into the back seat. Issac watched her keenly before he closed the door and got in the car from the other side; a driver was already sitting at the front. The driver put the car in drive. A couple of minutes passed, and Issac pressed a button that rolled up a black glass partition for privacy.

Innessa was staring so keenly outside the window that she didn't notice it. Her eyes were fixed outside as they drove out of the huge gates of the mansion's territory, and soon, they were driving down the highway.

Maybe she was still in Bradford or perhaps another country. Where was he taking her?-

She flinched, feeling a warm hand clasping her small hand, which was resting on her thighs.

Innessa stared at his big, veiny hand that had enveloped her hand in its embrace.

"Are you comfortable?" He asked. Innessa kept staring at his hand, not saying a word.

The more she stayed silent, the more it worried him. He didn't want to see her like this.

"I'm sorry about last night," his voice was gentle. The sweet voice he used to use with her when she was so much in love with him.

Innessa didn't say anything, so he continued.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Innessa. That was not my intention. I just couldn't let you go, no matter what. You're very special to me; I can't lose you. And to keep you by my side, I ended up doing everything." He said, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand, drawing soothing circles on it.

"I'll be honest with you. I don't regret marrying you, nor am I guilty about it. If need be, I'll do it again to keep you by my side. I know I was harsh with you in doing so. But you weren't ready to listen to me. You kept running away, which left me no choice." He gently brought her hand to his lap, holding it in both of his big, warm hands.

He gave a gentle kiss on the back of her thumb while she kept her gaze rooted to her lap.

"I'm aware I'm the bad guy, I'm the worst in your eyes. But I'm ready to be a monster in your eyes just to have you as my wife," he said. His voice was gentle, but his words were dark and deadly. How could someone say such things so easily?

"All I want from you is to give me a chance. I want you to accept me as your husband. Your partner. I want you to love me again. Can you do that for me?" He asked softly, gazing at her.

She still refused to break her silence, so he gently grabbed her chin as he made her look at him.

For the first time since last night, she looked at him. And the way she looked him dead in the eyes with those dim eyes did something weird to his heart. Her ice-blue eyes always used to twinkle with the brightest gleam at the sight of him, but now they looked hollow. Empty.

Innessa stared at him for the longest time, her eyes darting to the black partition for a brief second before she moved. The girl pulled her hand out of his grasp and moved closer to him. Grabbing his shoulder for support, she got up, and the next thing she was straddling him as Issac watched her with wide, stunned eyes.

The dress hitched up, revealing her beautiful, unblemished thighs as she sat on him. He was tense like a board as he watched her silently. Issac was holding his breath for the very first time in his life because no one had ever shocked him like this. And he never expected something like this from Innessa.

She scooted closer so that she was sitting on top of his crotch, which forced him to take a sharp breath. His hands automatically found home on her waist.

"You..." She cleared her throat because her voice sounded croaky.

"Hmm." He hummed soothingly, urging her to go on.

"You married me for my body, right?" She spoke. He could feel her thighs trembling as she gripped his shoulders tightly. She was scared.

"Go ahead and take it," she offered in a small voice, and his eyes darkened. His hold on her waist tightened as he glared at her.

"Innessa," there was a cold warning in his voice. It did scare her, but she didn't say anything, despite her trembling, she stayed firm in her spot.

His jaw ticked as he grabbed a fistful of her partially wet locks and yanked her head back. The light tug earned a loud gasp from her. Her eyes widened in fear before she abruptly closed her eyes tightly. Her breathing labored.

She fisted his shirt at the shoulders and took in shallow breaths.

Issac glared at her, his gaze lingering down her throat, her sparse breathing, her chest heaving up and down. He gently pressed his lips on her neck, and the girl stiffened.

He laid a soft kiss on her pulsing vein, a gentle nibble, and sucked on the spot as the girl tried to suppress her whimper. He could feel her fear as he slowly pulled back. Letting go of her hair, he grabbed her jaw and tugged her closer.

Issac meshed his lips with hers, kissing her tenderly. He let her go with a soft suck on her lower lip.

Grabbing her chin, his thumb strokes her wet lower lip.

"If I only wanted your body. I could have had it last night, Innessa. But that's not the only thing I want. Your heart is what I desire more," he rasped, staring so intensely into her eyes that she forced her gaze away from him.

Issac grabbed her waist and gently made her sit back in her seat with ease.

Resting back on the seat, he inhaled deeply to calm down. Her small daring stunt had his blood running hot and wild.

Innessa sat there quietly staring outside the window. The only thing that raked her mind was to never give him her heart.

The ride was so long, and when the driver finally stopped the car, her brows furrowed, noticing the similar neighborhood. She glanced at Issac to find his seat empty. At the same time, the door to her side was opened, and Issac stood there holding his hand for her.

She didn't grab his hand. She stepped out of the car on her own and glanced in the direction of Faina's house. She noticed the main door opened. Faina and Arthur stepped out smiling.

Innessa wanted to run into her sister's arms, but she stiffened when Faina waved in their direction. Her eyes darted to Issac behind her to find him waving back at Faina with a smile on his lips.

Faina approached them, and Innessa jumped on her sister, hugging her tightly as Faina chuckled and hugged her back.

"You little sneak," Faina teased, hugging her back, making Innessa muddled.

"Why did you make your poor boyfriend tell us about your vacations, Nessa?" Faina said, pulling back as she shook hands with Issac, and Arthur did the same.

Innessa watched them, dumbfounded; they were greeting each other as if they'd met before.

How did Faina know that Issac was her boyfriend?

"What-"

"We discussed you won't make Innessa feel bad about it," Issac said, and Faina chuckled.

"I'm not saying anything. I was just worried because she didn't tell me anything. If you hadn't come and informed us about your surprise vacation for Innessa. We would've been worried nonstop," Faina said.

Arthur chuckled. "We didn't believe the poor guy; he had to show his pictures with you to make us believe he's your boyfriend and the surprise abduction scenario," Arthur said.

"Did you like the prank and the surprise?" Faina asked, holding Inessa's hands and beaming at her.

"I told them about the abduction prank and the surprise vacation," Issac said as Innessa blinked at him, speechless.

"Let's go inside and talk there," Arthur said, escorting them inside the house.

"I've prepared Innessa's favorite food. Thankfully, Issac informed me before your arrival," Faina said, walking ahead with Arthur.

Innessa's breath hitched, feeling Issac's hot breath on her nape as he leaned down.

"I had informed them in my way, so your sister wasn't worried for you, precious. I'm not that heartless," he rasped. He was about to say something more, but she didn't wait to hear it. Innessa hurried inside the house.

Issac was the most dangerous man she had ever crossed paths with, and unfortunately, she was stuck with him for God knows how long.