ch 10: A twisted proposal

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** Chapter 10: A Twisted Proposal**

Isabella woke up, feeling the heavy weight of Tristan's arm around her. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room. Her body ached from the previous night’s events, and her mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She lay still, not daring to move, hoping Tristan would stay asleep a bit longer.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Tristan’s voice broke the silence. He was already awake, his eyes fixed on her.

“Morning,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Tristan sat up and stretched, looking at her with an unreadable expression. “Get dressed. We’re going out today.”

Isabella’s heart sank. She didn’t want to spend another moment with him, but she knew better than to argue. She nodded and slowly got out of bed, wincing at the pain in her muscles.

As she dressed, Tristan watched her intently. “We’re going shopping for our engagement,” he said casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Isabella froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Engagement?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tristan’s eyes darkened. “Yes, our engagement. We’re getting married in seven days, and I want everything to be perfect.”

Isabella felt a wave of panic wash over her. Marriage to Tristan was the last thing she wanted. She opened her mouth to protest, but the dark look in his eyes silenced her. She knew arguing would only make things worse.

“Get ready,” he said firmly. “We have a lot to do today.”

Isabella dressed quickly, her mind racing. She had to find a way out of this, but Tristan’s control over her was absolute. She felt trapped, like a bird in a cage.

---

As they drove to the city, Tristan’s demeanor was disturbingly calm. He talked about the wedding plans, the venue, the guest list, as if Isabella’s consent was a given. She listened in silence, her mind numb with dread.

“I picked out a beautiful venue,” Tristan said, his eyes on the road. “It’s perfect for us.”

Isabella forced herself to respond. “Where is it?”

“In the countryside, very private,” he replied. “You’ll love it.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Her thoughts were consumed with escape, but she couldn’t see a way out.

---

At the boutique, Tristan picked out a stunning engagement dress for her. It was beautiful, but all Isabella could think about was how it symbolized her imprisonment. She tried it on, feeling like a doll being dressed up for show.

“You look stunning,” Tristan said, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Isabella forced a smile. “Thank you.”

They spent the rest of the day shopping for various wedding items. Tristan seemed to enjoy himself, making decisions about flowers, decorations, and catering. Isabella followed along, feeling like a puppet with its strings being pulled.

---

That evening, back at the estate, Tristan seemed in an unusually good mood. He poured them both a glass of wine and led her to the balcony. The view was breathtaking, but Isabella couldn’t appreciate it. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of escape.

“To us,” Tristan said, raising his glass. “To our future together.”

Isabella raised her glass reluctantly, her eyes meeting his. “To our future,” she echoed, the words tasting bitter in her mouth.

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