Tremor behind doors

ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW

I woke up to the soft brush of lips against mine. My eyes fluttered open, and there he was—Felix. Sitting at the edge of the bed, staring at me with an expression I couldn’t read. Worry, tenderness, something else… something new. Something I've never felt in ten years.

“Felix…” My voice was barely a whisper.

He smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face before pecking my lips again. “I’m staying home tonight,” he murmured, voice low and gentle.

I blinked at him, heart thudding in a way I hadn’t expected. “You… you should go. work… The company…”

He shook his head, brushing my cheek with the back of his hand. “No. Not tonight. Tonight, I’m here. With you.”

I wanted to argue, but the way he looked at me—so completely serious yet tender—made my words catch in my throat. I let him stay.

When he finally left later that evening, I exhaled, a small smile tugging at my lips. I guess everything is working out… I whispered to myself, feeling the tension from the day begin to ease, if only slightly.

I pushed myself up from the bed, every muscle stiff and my head pounding from the day’s chaos. My temples throbbed like a drum, and the first thought that hit me was painkillers. I needed something to dull this headache before it spiraled into nausea.

Usually, I’d give Felix the next morning’s painkillers if he came home drunk and insisted on forcing himself on me. That was the only time he ever touched me. The memory made my stomach twist, but… maybe that was all going to change now. I hoped. I couldn’t bring myself to fully believe it, not yet.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, wincing as my bare feet met the cold floor. Each step toward the dresser felt heavy, weighted with years of fear and distrust, and yet… there was something in the air tonight that made me feel almost… safe. Almost.

I reached the door just as a soft voice made me freeze.

“Ma’am…” the maid said hesitantly, stepping into the room. “The boss said… we shouldn’t let you do anything by yourself tonight.”

I glanced at her, rubbing my temples, trying to hide my irritation. “What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice calmer than I felt.

She shifted uncomfortably, eyes darting to the closed door behind her. “I just… he said you might need… rest. That’s all. I… I can’t stop you if you insist, ma’am, but…”

“I’m fine,” I said firmly, trying to push past her. “Really. I just need to take something for my headache.”

She hesitated, biting her lip. I could feel the uncertainty radiating off her. “Ma’am… are you sure? He… he’s very worried, you know.”

I took a step closer, lowering my voice just enough that it was almost a whisper. “I said I’m fine. Please, just leave me for a moment.”

Her eyes flickered with concern, but she didn’t argue further. She nodded reluctantly and backed toward the door. “As you wish, ma’am. But… if you need anything…”

“I will,” I said softly, my voice steadier than I felt.

The click of the door closing behind her was oddly comforting. Alone at last, I inhaled slowly, letting the silence wrap around me. For the first time in… I couldn’t remember how long, the tension in my shoulders loosened slightly. But even as I moved toward the small cabinet where the painkillers were kept, a nagging thought twisted at the back of my mind—something felt off, though I couldn’t name it.

I stood on my toes, stretching toward the cabinet, my head still throbbing from the day. The painkillers were so close, but just out of reach. I glanced around for a stool, but the nearest one was too far across the room. Impatient and frustrated, I yanked the cabinet door open, hoping for an easy grab.

Instead, a small cascade of bottles tumbled to the floor with a soft clatter, and a brown envelope slipped out along with them. My eyes landed on it immediately. A file. A folder I’d never noticed before.

Felix wouldn’t mind if I checked it, right? After all, things between us were… okay now. “Cool,” I whispered, picking it up, my fingers trembling slightly.

I opened the envelope, curiosity and unease gnawing at me. Inside were documents, neatly stacked. My eyes scanned the first lines, my breath catching. A contract. My contract.

I felt my stomach drop as I read the dates. From… to… today. The calendar in my mind clicked into place, and then the horrifying truth hit me like a punch to the gut.

The contract… it expired today.

My pulse thundered in my ears. That’s why he was being sweet. Not because he loved me, not because he had changed. He wanted to keep me trapped, as his source, just like he always had.

My hands shook, and my blood boiled. I could almost hear the smirk on his face, the calculated charm he’d used all these years. But then I noticed something else—something different about the signature at the bottom. Not Felix’s. Not entirely.

With a trembling hand, I flipped the file upward, eyes widening as my brain refused to believe it.

“A Contract Marriage Between Julian Salvatore and Isabella Rossi.”

My heart hammered in my chest, my fingers clutching the paper so tightly it threatened to tear. My eyes scanned the words again, refusing to believe what I was seeing.

And then—the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a deafening crash.