Chapter 20 Playing The Part

• (POV: Isabela)
• The marble hallway felt miles long. Each step echoed in the quiet, like a slow clock ticking down my patience. Mateo walked next to me. He wore midnight black and felt like a dark shadow. His hand rested on the small of my back, not comforting, just a reminder – like a hot brand. Tonight, another heavy feeling pressed down besides his closeness – the secret knowledge of that fancy, scary note hidden in my room. Its promise of death felt chilling next to Mateo's possessive claim. His hand felt light, but it burned. Did he guess? Could he feel the secret I was hiding? I kept my face smooth, pretended calm. The silk of my emerald dress felt stuck to my back from tension. We were back on stage tonight – our first fancy dinner as an engaged couple since the chaos of the party. The public marking. The private warning. And now, this hidden threat humming underneath everything, a secret deal made with a snake in my own family.
• He hadn't talked during the drive here, and I didn't try either. Mateo's silences weren't empty. They were heavy, on purpose. They were weapons used to make nerves raw and demand attention.