, her heart pounding. With her eyes on the enigmatic dark hue of his orbs, she could swear her heart skipped a beat

eded cautiously with more menace th

but with no doubt they contained authority and seriousness. He did

a quick look in passing at her father who was standing just beside Giovanni. Emilio would nod in agree

gh she was nervous. She motioned to the door leading

ind. She tried to pre-conceive the nature of his address. Would he request her immediate surrender or were these

the door with a soft *click*. Trying to calm down, she to

e as if in no hurry whatsoever. He looked at her sternly as if indeed judging her. "I

oked into his eyes, which were unkind and icy. "For me to win, you have to be by my side whether you like it

e remained firm. "You cannot

you're more than that." He stepped nearer until she could perceive his warmth e

cern for her, she was just a resource to him-used as a pawn in his grand scheme of sub

g to lay down her arms and be

rriage?" asked Isabella, her voi

" Alessandro replied while appe

ty or independence. Yet all these were far-fetched desires at least in her particular soc

refuse to be an unquestioning spouse who obeys you." "If we ar

d, much to her amazement. "I agree. I will allow you to speak," he said, "on one condition Isabell

ause she felt so small. Being able to say something was not easy especially i

o him, choosing not to w

't quite identify. Could it be that he respected her all along? Or was he just moc

dding. It's going to happen in two weeks exactly as planned. You will be taken to my

, he would possess her in substance. Nevertheless, there was still an opportunity for her to ma

d with desire for her once more, but this time around there was something else too in there – poss

xed with other emotions – something like curiosity coupled with guilt although she didn't expect that at all...

ed she was inside herself even at that moment. "Understand this t

that was enough to send cold shivers down

-

ese days, Isabella hardly saw Alessandro even though she felt his presence in everything she decided to d

part of her future that she still had influence over by looking after certain aspects of the upcoming wedding such as selecting bouquet colours or making

-

into the huge vineyard lands of De Luca's family. The atmosphere was chilly; stars up above

she would be getting married to Alessandro Ross

me aspects of her life, it appeare

s clear about that much; but what '

she was going