A CRUEL GAME

Isabella struggled to control her shaking hands which held the steering. That was close. Meeting Angelo at the conference was the last thing she had expected.

She recalled how difficult it had been for her to walk away from him. When Steve suggested that she fake her death, the idea made her uncomfortable.

Leaving Angelo when she was so much in love with him and when she had just given herself to him the previous night was a big blow.

She had said no at first. She was willing to bear Angelo's hatred, to stay by his side until he regretted his actions and accepted her as his wife, however, Steve reminded her of what Angelo was going to do to her parents.

She could endure Angelo's torture as long as it was directed at her but she could not bear to watch her parents suffer.

Steve told her exactly what to do and she went straight to her parent's house. She told them everything that happened with Angelo and how she had woken up to see Steve by her bedside.

Her parents agreed it was for th