Chapter 5

• ISABELLA'S POV
• I arrived At the golf course in a white collared shirt and army green shorts, my hair swept back in a sleek ponytail. The sun hung high in the sky casting a yellowish warm light over the manicured green field.
• Theodore Whitmore is a man of structure and order. I had done my research Properly and figured out he respects strategic and responsible people, and if I wanted him to choose me over Camilla, I had to embody that. I spotted him on the lawn dressed almost the same as me: a white tailored polo and a green short. I walked up to him without hesitation.
• “Do you mind if I join you?”
• He raised his gray eyebrows up “And who might you be?”
• “Isabella Reed.”
• “Oh, the illegitimate daughter,” he mused; the sentence stung like salt to my wound. “And what do I owe the pleasure of you visiting me, I'm sure you are not just here to have fun with me.”
• He saw right through me and knew immediately that I wanted something; he is indeed what everyone proclaimed Him to be.
• “Yes, I am here concerning the marriage arrangement between your grandson and my stepsister.”
• “What about it?” he picked up the golf club nearby, testing its weight.
• “I would like to be the one getting married to him.”
• He humphed, studying me for a moment before gesturing to the field. “If you can beat me in a round, I will listen to what you have to say.”
• A challenge.
• I expected this. Theodore Whitmore is a man who respected strategy and control. This isn't about golf but about showing that I am capable.
• I walked over to where the club rested, gripped it tightly and adjusted my stance “I lined up my shot, took a deep breath, and swung.
• The ball soared through the air, landing neatly near the hole.
• Theodore let out a low chuckle. "Not bad," he mused. "Now tell me, Miss Isabella, why should I choose you over your step-sister?"
• I turned to face him, an unknown confidence motivating me.
• "Because I know how to play the long game," I said. "And I don’t lose.”
• He chucked once again as if amused by my words. “Come along, let's sit this through,” he led me towards a shaded sitting area not far from the golf course, the type that was reserved for serious discussions, I rested my back on the fancy chair as gazed at the beautiful view of the field.
• He sat across from me, leaning back on the chair and crossing his arms as if to read me; he watched me handle myself with composure while testing my ability to think intelligently. “You are very ambitious," he said while sipping his tea from the teacup and setting it on the table.
• I held his gaze. "I know what I want, and I know you want your grandson to have a partner, not a liability like my stepsister.”
• “How so?”
• “I understand business, I understand power. I know you need a wife who would support Shaun while taking over the company, not one who would crumble under the pressure, but you also need a Reed woman who can uphold your legacy, and that woman is me.”
• “Hm...that's true.”
• Hope flickered in my chest. “Then you will support me and as your grandson's fiancée.”
• He leaned forward. “Absolutely, I will even make it official—”
• My chest erupted with joy. I smiled widely. This had gone easier than I thought.
• “...If you can convince Shaun himself.”
• My smile turned upside down. I wasn't expecting that, I didn't even know Shaun Whitmore on a personal level besides the fact that people said he was the only heir to the Whitmore family and is ruthless.
• “Speak of the devil— look who we have here, Shaun in all his glory.”
• I turned my head to face a tall man with an athletic build; he looked the opposite of Theodore. While Theodore is old, he still gives off the youthful vibe of a golden blonde boy, while Shaun, with tousled brown hair and his darkened gaze, portrays what everyone said. He commanded the space he walked into. Not a bounce of compassion or emotion exuded from him.
• Cedarwood filled my nostrils as he walked by my side to exchange a peck with his grandfather. I had never felt so ignored in my life.
• His eyes met mine, they widened and his whole body tensed like he was shocked by me. I wondered what brought about that reaction.
• “Shaun, this is your new fiancé. I will leave you two youngsters to it,” Theodore said, winking at me as he walked away.
• Shaun's jaw clenched as he turned his attention towards me. “You!” he thundered, pointing at me.
• I stilled, startled by his thick deep voice.
• “What the hell is this?” He questioned.
• “I do not understand what you mean.”
• “Have you been following me?”
• “Following you, what do you even mean by that? I haven't even met you before.”
• “Now you are lying and acting pathetic, meeting up with my grandfather to force me to marry you.”
• “The marriage between our families has already been arranged. I was chosen.” He didn't need to know he was supposed to marry Camilla, and not me. I just need to manipulate my way out of this.
• “Then why are you here?”
• “Because I was chosen,” I said, standing my ground. “Your grandfather sees my worth, this engagement is going to happen unless you want to break a deal worth billions with my family just because you want it to throw a tantrum.”
• His eyes burned into mine full of rage and disbelief. I honestly didn't know why he was acting that way, this is his first time meeting me and he is acting like I had been miserable to him in his past life.
• “You think you can play this game with me,” he whispered in my ears. My throat hitched; we were standing too close, and my cheeks burned warmly with heat.
• “I know I can.” I lifted my chin while maintaining eye contact with him.
• A tense silence settled between us; Shaun exhaled, stepping back.
• “I will not get married to you, and this would be the biggest mistake you ever made in your life I promise,” he muttered.
• And with that, he storms out of my front leaving me standing there shocked.
• “She moves in with me today and we get married in two weeks so you will have time to adjust to your attitudes.”
• I stiffened. This party had flashed before my eyes like a dream and I didn't know what to believe anymore.
• The fact that I was going to be Shaun Whiltmore’s wife in two weeks, or the fact that he defended me blankly in front of my stepmother and sister.
• I looked at him from the corner of my eyes, and for the first time in a long time, I was grateful for the decision I made to marry him.
• The guest had bored their eyes into my head as we shared the kiss that had caught me unawares. The kiss reminded me of someone, but surely It couldn't be him.
• “The party's over. Thanks for coming," he said coolly, pulling me gently with him.
• “Where are you taking me to?” I called out as I couldn't catch up with his long legs.
• “You will find out soon,” he was cold now, and his countenance had changed; he was no longer the man who had called me his or the man who had displayed a romantic show of affection to me. I watched as his eyes, which had softened when he looked at me in the ballroom, changed to an emotionless one. It was then I remembered his warning to me.
• “This would be the biggest mistake you make in your life.” I shuddered as we approached his black Rolls-Royce.