Chapter 6 She Doesn't Want to Get Married

In a modest and cramped apartment, Isabella dwelled in solitude, never once feeling the squeeze of its limited space. Yet now, with Emanuele seated upon her bed, the room seemed to shrink to an unbearable extent.

Emanuele's towering presence simply overwhelmed the small space; even with him just sitting there, he occupied a significant portion of the bed. What was a cozy fit for her now felt like a mere chair under his frame. At the sound of Isabella's shriek, Emanuele frowned, seemingly disdaining the noise she made.

"Your room is far too small." Emanuele expressed his dissatisfaction; the bed was no larger than his office chair, and the room, devoid of amenities, was cluttered like a slum. It was unfathomable how she managed to survive in such quarters.

"Mr. Lombardi, you shouldn't have broken into my room without my permission," Isabella said, barely containing her rage.

Emanuele's response was a pleased chuckle, "I didn't break in; I used a key." The revelation that he possessed a key to her room sent shivers down her spine. Indeed, she had underestimated him; there was probably not a single door in Chicago that he couldn't open. The entire city simply belonged to him!

Emanuele's bloodthirsty genes stirred as he observed Isabella's angry yet helpless gaze. Licking his cheek, he commanded, "Come here."

Isabella remained motionless.

"I won't ask again," Emanuele threatened.

With no choice, Isabella approached, grumbling, "What do you want in my tiny room? You must be uncomfortable here."

Despair filled Isabella's heart. Emanuele's presence made even the whole of Chicago feel unsafe, let alone her apartment, which was once a haven of warmth and relaxation. Now, it was anything but.

Emanuele rolled up his sleeve, pointing at his arm. "It's time to change the dressing and remove the stitches."

Only then did Isabella notice his bandaged arm, which she had previously tended to. The wound had mostly healed. Despite her disdain for this arrogant man, her medical ethics wouldn't allow her to ignore a patient in need. She approached and unwrapped the bandage with swift precision, not flinching even as the peeling bandage tugged at his wound, eliciting a muffled groan from Emanuele.

"Serve you right, you cold-blooded creature," Isabella thought inwardly.

She retrieved her medical kit and tended to his arm. Out of curiosity, she couldn't help asking, "Don't you have a personal physician? Why come to me for such a minor wound?"

"No one must know," he said, his light brown irises glinting with a hint of guilt. "Those who knew what happened were all dead, except for you."

His words transported Isabella back to that dreadful night when he had threatened to kill her. Her body tensed, and she felt as if drowning in an onslaught of suffocation.

Emanuele found her fear amusing. Standing, he patted her cheek, "But you're my sister. I suppose I should spare you."

Isabella relaxed slightly at his words. Being his sister seemed to afford some safety.

Emanuele's demeanor softened. He sat her down beside him and conversed, "Isabella, you're graduating from college soon?"

She nodded.

"Good. At your mother's wedding next week, make yourself pretty and pick someone suitable for yourself. You need to get married," he said.

His words shattered her brief respite. "No!" Isabella exclaimed loudly, "I don't want to get married!"

Especially not to get entangled with the damned mafia!

She was devastated when Leo entwined her with the Lombardi family, and marrying someone affiliated with the mafia would be worse than death for her.

"You have no other choices, Isabella," Emanuele caressed her face, now so close their breaths mingled. Pain and fear replaced the usual sparkle in her beautiful eyes.

Had she not always wanted to defy him? Had she not always had so much flattery on her lips but only defiance in her heart?

Evil thoughts began to take root in Emanuele's heart. He relished seeing her falling apart, watching her suffer, which excited him immensely.

"You can marry George, the old man, or find someone suitable at the wedding. You can only pick one of the two," he said, relishing her distress.

Isabella felt overwhelmed, a choking sensation spreading from her heart to her throat in waves. Voiceless, she could only shake her head in refusal.

However, Emanuele, indifferent to Isabella's agony, had only one thought: to present her as a gift, which, to him, was the optimal resolution.

Only when he perceived Isabella as still having some value to him could Emanuele restrain himself from tormenting her.

Gazing into Emanuele's cold, gloomy eyes, Isabella felt as though she was staring into the eyes of the Grim Reaper himself, who was plotting her excruciating demise.

"Why can't you just ignore my existence?" Isabella protested, her voice tinged with sorrow.

Emanuele's expression was particularly icy: "From the moment you entered our family, you became a representation of the Lombardi family. Everything about you is tied to the Lombardis. Change your attitude, comply with my arrangements. Anger me, and I'll marry you off to George."

"I'd rather die!" Isabella exclaimed in fury.

"I could grant you that wish as well," Emanuele replied with a cruel smirk.

Watching Isabella's frail and helpless form, Emanuele reached out to embrace her, planting a kiss atop her head.

"Isabella, we will get along just fine."

As Emanuele left, Isabella collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. At this moment, she looked simply so weak and frail, as if her life was ebbing away.

Struggling to reach her backpack, she pulled out estazolam, her long-time medication.

Whenever she felt her emotions spiraled out of control, her breath grew short, and death seemed imminent, Isabella had no choice but to rely on the medication to stay calm.

Swallowing the pills, the drug took effect, and she gradually regained her composure.

Closing her eyes, she dared not contemplate the impending tribulations... No more thoughts, she cautioned herself, for only insanity would ensue.

She must find a way to defeat Emanuele before he could marry her off to someone else.