ISLA
A marriage contract?
The bold heading stared back at me, stark and cold.
My breath stuck in my throat as my fingers hovered over the page.
It took a moment to completely digest what I was reading.
I noticed this one wasn’t the one I signed before.
The clause of three years wasn’t written on the paper.
Instead, it was replaced with one cold condition: I would remain his wife for as long as he wanted.
My head snapped up.
“What…is this supposed to mean?”
I was too confused and bewildered.
Why would he draft another agreement?
Alistair leaned back on the sofa across from me, one arm resting on the armrest.
His posture was too casual and deliberate, like he was making a simple business agreement—and waiting for me to squirm.
“The agreement you signed with my grandmother was dissolved.
Now I will give you two paths,” he said evenly.
“You either walk away now—” His eyes flicked to the document.
“…or you stay, under my terms.”
A sharp laugh almost escaped me, but the lump in my throat stifled it.
Heat rushed to my face—not from any tender feeling, but from anger and resentment.
My family had already dragged me into this mess once, selling me mercilessly into the Montgomerys—as if I were some disposable thing.
Now he was doing the same—pushing me into a corner with no way out.
My nails dug into the folder.
“Why are you doing this?
What are you trying to prove?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze stayed fixed on me, sharp and probing, like he was peeling back my defenses layer by layer.
The silence settled on my chest, suffocating as ever.
When he finally spoke, his tone was decisive.
“I’m giving you a choice.”
My stomach twisted violently.
Choice?
This wasn’t a choice—it was a trap.
Refuse the agreement, and I would walk away with nothing—powerless against my father’s threats and cruelty.
Stay with him, and I would be bound indefinitely, with no guarantee of freedom.
But then, for a fragile second, I thought of Grandma—her fragile hands, her soft smile when she reminded me to endure, no matter what life threw at me.
And then came my father’s brute words from this morning, replayed in my head: If you don’t leave him, you’ll never see her again.
A bitter, desperate laugh burned in my throat.
I never had much choice at this moment, did I?
The only thing that would keep us safe was to stay on Alistair’s side, even though being with him felt like endless torment.
I had made up my mind.
If Alistair Montgomery wanted to use me, then I would use him too.
His name was power, and power was what I needed most to take Grandma away from Dad’s grip.
I lifted my chin, forcing my voice steady.
“I will stay.”
Something flickered in his eyes—subtle but unmistakable.
I saw a hint of amusement there, sharp and fleeting, like I’d just played into his hand.
“Sign the agreement,” he motioned me with one look.
My heavy hands took the pen and scribbled my signature on that damned piece of paper sharply, without a second thought.
He reached forward once it’s done, snapped the folder shut, and straightened.
His tall frame seemed to swallow the space between us.
“Good choice,” his tone held a deep smirk.
My heart pounded hard against my chest.
I wasn’t sure if I had won anything at all—or if I had just handed him everything he wanted.
“Let’s go,” he said, adjusting his cufflink.
“You’ll know soon enough,” he throw me probing look before turning away.
I pressed my lips tight, but realizing I had just signed a contract with him, I knew it wasn’t wise to go against him for now.
I followed him out in silence, carrying a heavy heart.
He brought me to a restaurant, and we had lunch together.
But no matter how good and delicious the dishes were, I couldn’t taste them.
My nerves were still raw from what had just happened in his office.
Never once had I thought Alistair himself would make such a deal with me.
Back when he had woken up from his coma, I thought he would divorce me.
But that was only my wishful thinking.
Still, I wondered—why would he make such an agreement with me when I was just a nobody?
What benefit would he get from me?
We were already on the road again, and wherever we were heading, I didn’t know.
I was about to tell him to drop me back at the hospital when my phone buzzed.
It was Riley calling.
I hesitated, glancing at Alistair.
He didn’t seem to care whether I answered or not; his attention was fixed outside the window.
I slid my finger across the screen.
“Isla?” Riley’s voice came through, sharp and frantic.
“Where are you?
I just found out what happened at the hospital.
Are you okay?”
”I’m fine.” I kept my voice calm.
“Fine?” she hissed.
“Those crazy people were throwing things at you.
I almost lost it when I saw the videos online.
Where are you now?”
I glanced at Alistair again, who had stayed silent the whole ride.
“I’m…with him,” I admitted.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back at the hospital later.”
Riley was quiet for a beat.
“With him?
You mean—”
”Yes.” My tone left no room for questions.
She sighed heavily on the other end.
“Just call me when you’re safe, okay?
I swear, one of these days, all this drama is going to give me a heart attack.”
A faint smile tugged at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest.
“I’ll be fine.
Promise.”
I hung up before she could push further and slid the phone back into my bag.
The car slowed, and that’s when I noticed where we were.
Home.
My stomach lurched at the sight.
I blinked hard, not believing it at first.
But there it was—the gates of the Bennett villa looming closer as the car rolled forward.
I twisted toward Alistair, my voice unsteady.
“Why—why are we here?”
This time, he did look at me.
His dark gaze locked on mine and lingered for a few seconds.
“It’s time to meet my in-laws.”