Chapter 2

Business man and the highest paid engineer in the Philippines. That’s one of the results that came up when I searched his name. Zacario Isaak Cuevas. The man, my fiance rather. I’m still not really used to thinking of this man as my fiance.

It’s even funny ‘cause we’ll be married in an instant. Just a week of process and then we are already a husband and wife. I can’t even imagine that I’ll have a husband at the age of 20 and my husband is seven years older than me.

“Isabelle let’s go wife.” I lost my mind looking back at someone hugging me. I followed him. We are going to do some pampering today.

In a mall that is super popular here in Manila. It’s been a month since the last time I visited a mall. Being a spoiled brat came to life.

“Someone’s excited.” He lifted his hand and caught my hands.

I glanced at the old hair salon that I always go to. “Hair salon first.”

We visited the hair salon that I want. After that is my derma session and my nail appointment.

“Ah I feel like I’m pretty again.”

“You’re always pretty wife.” He glanced at me and gave me a smile.

We walked to the clothes section of the mall. We were just at the entrance when I noticed the shine in his eyes. I saw how his black eyes looked on those clothes. Clothes for babies.

“Can we visit this section first?” he asked and pointed out the racks where the baby clothes are located.

We went there. I just let him look at clothes and things for the child. He really wants us to have children. But me… not yet.

I wonder what will he feel if he found out that I’m drinking pills to avoid getting pregnant. I can already see the rage will happen if he found out.

“I give you everything today. I’m expecting you to act as a good girl now.” I nodded my head.

We decided to go home after that. Right after he bring me back in that mansion cage is the moment he also left. I’m still grounded but not like before that he’s locking me inside of that room.

I visited the back of the mansion again. It’s the part of the mansion I always visited. It has a garden and a mini pond. There are also workers here. Not far away is a view of the vast forest. I heard from the former staff that the end of it is a farm and there is no fence either. I mean I can escape using through here.

“Ma’am Sir is on the phone,” said an old assistant. He handed me a wireless telephone. Our communication is still through this because he still doesn’t allow me to hold a cellphone.

“Hello Mr. Cuevas,” I said on the other line.

“Hi Mrs. Cuevas,” he responded. We both laughed because of what we called to each other.

“Why? Do you need anything? “

“Just wanna hear my wife voice,” he said in a low register voice.

“We were just together. Aren’t you tired of my voice yet?” I saw a little stone near me and started kicking it like a child.

“Never baby. Never I’ll get tired of hearing your voice especially if your moaning my name.”

“Isaak!” I shouted. He just laughed on the other line.

A man cut him from laughing. He said he had a visitor outside.

“I’ll end this call baby. Anything you want from me when I go home.”

“Palabok. I want palabok love.” I suddenly crave for that food.

“Okay I’ll get one for you.”

I had fun while waiting for him to go home. I’ve been cage for almost two weeks and this is the first time he let me go after being grounded.

Only if my plan of escaping works last time. I planned that for more than a month at he found me in just before the days end. I had a hard time staying in the compartment part of the car just so I can be free.

But this time maybe I can already leave him.

“Ma’am, Sir is already downstairs.”

“Okay Yaya. Tell him to wait me!” I shouted while I am laying in the bathtub. I quickly dressed and ran downstairs.

I immediately hug him from the back when I saw preparing something in the kitchen. He smells so good. Like a lavender haze.

If only our situation is not like this I think I’ll give him a shot. I think I’ll see him as someone I would love.

“Here’s your food.” He placed the paper bowl that contains palabok in front of me.

“Thank you.” I started eating it.

“It’s like you’re pregnant,” he said. I stopped eating and just faked a smile. Conceiving? I’m drinking pills asshole.

“I’ll tell it to you right away if I feel something in me. I’m not vomiting every morning so perhaps I’m still not carrying your child.” He caressed my hair and give it soft kisses.

“We should see a doctor so they can tell us how to get a baby so fast.” Now he started caressing my tummy.

“Let’s go upstairs so that we can have our rest.”

We both left the dining after I eat.

“Can I go back studying again?” I tried to open this discussion again. He always forbids me to go back to school. He’s too jealous and scared that I might escape again.

“No Maria Isabelle.” I knew this conversation was going nowhere because he mentioned my name in full.

I rolled my eyes and remove my clothes one by one. I don’t care if I’m naked in front of him. His eyes darkened as he looked at my naked body. I immediately entered the bathroom and immersed myself in the bathtub.

I just closed my eyes while my body soaked in water. When I’m alone like this I remember my life before.

“Savi marrying him won’t kill you. You’ll die better if you don’t go with him,” Tita Alona preached to me. My step mom, who now also has a new husband.

“If Daddy is alive, he will not allow this.”

"The problem is your father is dead!” shouted Tito Oscar, Tita’s new husband.

“If it was possible for Selena to marry him, we would have done it.” Tita is referring to my sister who is one year younger than me. The went out and left me alone in my room.

“You’re lucky because that billionaire likes you!” he still screamed.

I just cried because of what he said. They’re in debt to that Cuevas and I’m the one they want to pay off. Since they know very well how crazy that man is to me.

My life would not have been like this. We are rich. But since Daddy died, his wife has already squandered the money that was supposed to be left to me. I’m not even studying anymore. And now I will marry that Cuevas.

I stop reminiscing those memories when I felt a hand touching my exposed legs.

“Get off me!” I grumble and my hand form a fist. I throw him a glare.

“You’ve been here for a while. You’re going to get sick.” He tried to lift me up but I just shoo him. He breathed deeply. Looks like patience is running out. “I don’t feel like dealing with brats today baby. We were fine before and now we are fighting again.”

“It’s because you don’t listen to me.” I snuggled closer to the bathtub and hugged myself.

“I’ll listen. Come here baby.” He tried to reach me but I just shook my head and started crying.

I saw how his intimidating dark eyes turn into a soft one. This man always had a soft spot for me. I just need to play an act. I need to act like I’m a lost puppy now.

“You don’t love me.” I said in a very low tone.

“B-baby what?” he asked in disbelief. “I love you more than anyone else.”

“Why do you lock me up if you love me.”

"Because you’re running away from me!” he hissed. He looks very frustrated now.

“I’m running away because you’re too strict!” His now giving me a hard look. I pretended to feel the pain in my foot.

“What is it?” He pulled me closer to him. “Let me see?” I show him my left feet.

“Cramps.”

He lifted me out. It’s still very cold because I don’t have any clothes on. He placed me on the chair opposite the vanity mirror. He took a clean towel and started drying me. Then he also took a set of underwear. He wears those clothes on me.

“I want your shirt.” I demand when I saw him entering our walk-in closet again. He took a plain black shirt of him and wear that on me.

“Let’s rest.” He took me to the bed to lie down. His arm was wrapped around me and my arms were the same around him.

“I’m not a bad person here baby.” He planted small kiss in my neck. “I’ll think about your admission in school tomorrow.”

“Y-you will?”

“I love you and I’ll give everything to you,” Isaak said and give me a good night kiss in lips.