LOGINIsabella Williams never imagined that her father's mistakes would cost her freedom. At twenty-three, she finds herself trapped in a marriage with Alexander Blackwood, a billionaire known for his ruthless business empire, cold heart, and dangerous obsession with revenge. He doesn't want her love. He wants revenge against the family that destroyed his past. To save her father from financial ruin, Isabella agrees to marry the man she hates. But living under the same roof with Alexander exposes her to secrets, forbidden desires, jealousy, and a darkness she never expected. Alexander promised himself he would never fall in love with the daughter of his enemy. But Isabella is slowly becoming the one weakness he cannot afford to have. When betrayal threatens to tear them apart, Isabella discovers that the truth behind their marriage is far more dangerous than she imagined. Will love conquer revenge, or will Alexander's obsession destroy them both?
View MoreThe rain fell heavily against the windows of the small hospital room.
Isabella Williams sat beside her father's bed, her fingers trembling as she held his cold hand.
"Daddy, please get better," she whispered, fighting back tears.
Her father opened his eyes slowly.
"Isabella..."
She leaned closer. "I'm here, Daddy."
"There is something you need to know."
Before he could continue, the hospital door swung open.
A tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit entered the room.
Alexander Blackwood.
Even the nurses seemed afraid of him.
He was the kind of man whose presence could silence an entire room. His black hair was neatly styled, his jaw sharp, and his eyes so cold that Isabella felt a shiver run down her spine.
She stood immediately.
"Who are you?"
Alexander glanced at her father before looking directly into her eyes.
"Alexander Blackwood."
Her father's face drained of colour.
"No..." he whispered. "You shouldn't be here."
Alexander smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Williams, I have business with your daughter."
Isabella stepped between them.
"If you came here to threaten my father, you can leave."
Alexander's gaze shifted toward her.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he took a step closer.
"You're Isabella Williams?"
"Yes."
"Twenty-three years old?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Because I'm going to marry you."
Silence.
Isabella stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"What?"
Alexander reached into his jacket and pulled out a document.
"Your father's company owes me fifty million dollars. He has nothing left to pay me. His properties are already mine."
Her lips parted in shock.
"That's impossible."
"Believe whatever you want."
She turned toward her father.
"Daddy, is this true?"
Tears filled his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Isabella."
Her heart shattered.
Alexander placed the document on the table.
"Marry me, and your father's debt disappears."
Isabella looked at him in disbelief.
"Why me?"
His eyes darkened.
"Because I want something your father loves more than his money."
Her stomach twisted.
"You're sick."
Alexander leaned closer. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Perhaps."
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the room.
The nurses outside froze.
Isabella's hand trembled, but she refused to step back.
"Don't you dare think you can buy me."
Alexander slowly turned his face back toward her.
Then he smiled.
A terrifying smile.
"Interesting."
He took her hand and placed a black diamond ring in her palm.
"You have forty-eight hours to decide."
"And if I refuse?"
His eyes moved toward her father.
"Then your family loses everything."
Isabella's breath caught.
Alexander walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned one last time.
"Oh, and Isabella?"
She glared at him.
"Your wedding dress will be black."
The door closed.
Isabella stared at the ring in her hand.
Her father began to cry.
And somewhere in the darkness of Alexander Blackwood's mansion, a wedding was already being planned.
But Isabella didn't know one thing.
Alexander Blackwood had been waiting for her for five years.
And this marriage was never supposed to end in love.
It was supposed to end in blood.
END OF CHAPTER ONE
The hospital room was silent. Isabella stood beside the window, staring at the city lights. Her mother's final secret. Those words had been haunting her since Daniel spoke them. "What secret?" she finally asked. Daniel closed his eyes. "Margaret Williams left behind a will." Alexander's expression changed. "A will?" Daniel nodded weakly. "Not an ordinary will. It contains the truth about the Blackwood fortune." Alexander stepped closer. "What does my uncle have to do with it?" Daniel swallowed. "Victor Blackwood has been trying to find that document for years." Isabella turned. "Why?" Daniel looked at her. "Because your mother was the only person who knew who truly owned the Blackwood empire." Alexander's jaw tightened. "My father built that empire." Daniel shook his head. "Your father was only the public face of it." The room fell silent. Alexander's eyes darkened. "Explain." Daniel took a deep breath. "Twenty-five years ago, Victor and your father were inv
The gunshot echoed across the bridge. "Daniel!" Isabella screamed as the man collapsed onto the cold pavement. Alexander pulled her behind his black car, shielding her body with his own. "Stay down!" Another bullet struck the windshield. Isabella trembled. "He's bleeding! Alexander, we have to help him!" Alexander glanced toward Daniel. The man was lying motionless, blood spreading across his black coat. "James!" Alexander shouted into his phone. "I need an ambulance at the old bridge. Now!" He ended the call and looked at Isabella. "Don't move." But she was already crawling toward Daniel. "Isabella!" She ignored him. Daniel's eyes were barely open. "Please..." he whispered. Isabella grabbed his hand. "Who did this to you?" Daniel struggled to speak. "Clara..." His eyes closed. Isabella's blood ran cold. Clara. The woman who had smiled at her during dinner. The woman who knew Alexander's past. The woman who had threatened their marriage. "Why would Clara sh
The gunshot shattered the silence of Blackwood Mansion. Isabella screamed. "Alexander!" The lights went out completely. For a moment, darkness swallowed the entire mansion. Then came the sound of hurried footsteps. "Isabella!" Alexander's voice thundered through the hallway. "Where are you?" "I'm here!" A strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. She gasped. "Don't scream," a familiar voice whispered. Alexander. He pulled her behind him as another gunshot echoed through the mansion. "Stay close to me." Isabella clutched his arm. "What is happening?" "I don't know yet." His voice was cold, but his grip on her hand was firm. A security guard rushed toward them. "Mr. Blackwood! Someone has breached the east entrance!" Alexander's expression hardened. "Lock down the mansion. Nobody leaves." "Yes, sir." Alexander turned toward Isabella. "Go to my office. Lock the door." She shook her head. "I'm not leaving you." His eyes met hers. For a brief moment, something sof
The mansion had never felt so cold. Isabella stood at the top of the staircase, her fingers gripping the railing as she stared at the woman standing in the grand living room. Long brown hair. Pale skin. A pair of familiar eyes. Victoria. The woman Alexander had loved. The woman Isabella had spent the last few days trying to understand. And the woman who had just claimed to be her biological mother. "Isabella." Victoria's voice trembled. The sound of her name coming from the woman's lips made Isabella's chest tighten. She slowly descended the staircase. "You're Victoria?" The woman nodded, tears gathering in her eyes. "Yes." "You're the woman in the portrait?" "Yes, darling." Isabella stopped several feet away. "Don't call me that." Victoria flinched. "I understand." "No, you don't." Isabella's voice cracked. "You don't get to disappear for years and suddenly call me your daughter." Victoria lowered her head. "I never wanted to leave you." "Then why did you?"






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