FRAGILE - The Runaway Girl

Conditions - 10

Trigger warning: Depiction of strong language, abuse, sexual assault, violence.

Isabella's POV :

I fooled the guards and snuck into the room; they didn't know about my library ban. I giggled at the thought.

The library was enormous, like a university library. Book shelf towered 10 feet high, filled with encyclopedias, biographies, autobiographies, and my favorite, novels. One title caught my eye: "How to get a boyfriend" I needed a stool to reach it.

I spotted a mini staircase, moved it closer, and climbed up. Still, the book was inches out of reach. This chair is adjusted to Christian's height, I thought.

I stood on my toes and tried again. I succeeded! But I lost balance and fell backward... into something soft yet hard?

I slowly opened my closed eyes. I lay on someone's lap, No! I was sitting between his legs. "What the hell were you doing up there?!" Christian's hot breath sent shivers down my spine.

The room was a mess. Books scattered everywhere, the staircase broken, But the book I wanted -for which this mess was created in the process- remained on the edge, teetering. Out of bad luck, It fell down hitting my head. "Ouch!" I rubbed the spot.

"Serves you right for the mess you created, Little Missy!" Christian flicked his fingers against my forehead, making it worse. "Your stairs are broken" I pointed out.

"They weren't broken until you ant-like creature used them for god knows what purpose!" he snapped back scoffing at me. "Remove yours hands off me!" He said rolling his eyes at me, before getting up and dusting off his clothes.

"It was not intentional, okayyy! I just needed a book-" "How to get a boyfriend? Huh!" he showed me a thumbs up, before throwing it somewhere without looking caring.

"It's none of your business what I read!" I shouted, quickly realising I messed up, but it was too late he turned around approaching me, till my back hit the book shelf

"It's my business since you snuck in here despite my warning," Christian said, trapping me between his right arms.

"And you'll never escape until I let you go, piggy." He said leaning forward and flicking my forehead again.

"You're going to marry me next month. Since you're here, we will set conditions and rules for our sweet wedding life" he said emphasizing the word, 'sweet'. His words stunned me.

Marry me? Next MONTH? Setting conditions and rules? Is this some kind of kdrama or what, to contract marry someone.

"Wh-hat the heck-k?" These were the only words that managed to escape my mouth. My mind was too occupied by the weird thoughts. WHY should I marry him? Was the first question that was going around in my head.

"I'll explain later. Help me secure my throne, and I'll protect you." He turned to leave but stopped, "-And yes this is not movie, but we're in a contract marriage for real" he said again and left the room.

"How did he read my mind?" I wondered, and followed him to the dining room.

After lunch, Christian took me to his room and handed me documents. "I know you're Isabella Lancaster, Robert Lancaster's daughter, our family's rival."

I widened my eyes, how did he?! Now that he knows I'm his rival, will he kick me out of here? No! Then why would he   offer me that contract marriage thing?

"How did you—"

"Mafia have well-trained agents, Shouldn't you know that better too?" he explained, I kept my calm.