Isabella barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes,she saw Rafael's shadow towering over her. she felt his hand around her throat again. The wall at her back. His voice, furious, clipped, low enough to make her bones vibrate.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
Isabella squeezed her eyes shut, breath shaking.
Her heart still pounded like she was trapped in that moment.
She sat curled up on her bed, knees to her chest, staring blankly at the soft morning light filtering in through the curtains. Her fingers kept brushing her neck,the place his hand had gripped her.
The mansion was quiet. Too quiet.
As if everyone was afraid of stirring the Devil on the second floor.
A gentle knock broke through her thoughts.
"Señorita?" a small voice called from the other side. "May I come in?"
Isabella cleared her throat hesitating for a second.
"Yes… come in."
The door opened, revealing María,the young maid with timid eyes and always-trembling hands. She stepped in holding a large, luxurious gift bag decorated with gold patterns.
"Señora…" María said softly, still catching her breath. "El Diablo sent me to give you this."
Isabella blinked.
Her stomach flipped in confusion.
"For me?"
"Yes, señora." María nodded quickly. "He said… bring this to her immediately."
Isabella stared at the bag as if it were a bomb.
"Just.....just put it on the bed," she murmured.
María obeyed, then stepped back toward the door with relief written all over her face.
"Have a good morning, Señora Isabella."
The door shut. There was silence again.
Isabella slowly stood, her bare feet touching the cool floor, and approached the bag like it might bite her. She wasn't sure what she expected....chains? Poison? Another warning?
But when she opened it…
Her breath caught.
Inside were layers of wrapping paper hiding neatly folded gifts.....expensive ones.
A soft beige coat. A delicate silk blouse.
Two pairs of elegant heels. A set of gold earrings and a necklace.
Several boxes with designer labels she recognized immediately.
She swallowed, confused.
Why on earth would he send her these?
But then, her eyes fell on something at the bottom.
A book.
She froze.
Carefully, she reached for it.
It was a novel,a story she had mentioned once to Selena, something she hadn't seen in years and loved dearly. A beautiful hardcover edition, embossed with gold.
Her heart trembled a little.
Why this?
Why… something so personal?
She was still staring at it when the door burst open again.
"Isa!" Selena rushed in, bright only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw the bed.
"What… what is all this?"
Isabella gave a tired shrug. "He sent it this morning."
"El Diablo??" She asked surprised.
"Who do you think?" Isabella answered bluntly.
Selena approached the bed, touching the clothes with wide eyes.
"Wow… these things cost fortunes. Did....did he say why?"
"No." Isabella sat back down, still holding the book. "María just dropped them off."
Selena turned to her slowly. "And how… how did last night go?" She asked.
Isabella looked at her hands. They were shaking.
"…Isa," Selena whispered.
"I shouldn't have gone into his room,I should have just listened to you" Isabella said, voice cracking just a little. "He was furious, Selena. I thought he was going to kill me. I've never seen him like that."
Selena sat beside her, gently rubbing her back. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know." Isabella took a shaky breath. "He grabbed me. He asked who sent me. He wouldn't listen. I don't even know how I managed to get away."
Selena's face grew serious. "And after that… he sent you gifts?"
Isabella nodded slowly.
Selena picked up the silk blouse, feeling the fabric.
"This isn't a peace offering, Isa. This is his way of saying, 'I'm watching you. Don't forget who controls this place.'"
"But why the book?" Isabella whispered."That's what scares me most. He noticed something about me. Something small."
Selena sighed heavily. "He knew you liked books Isabella, he just asked me the author you were interested in, I didn't think he'd actually get her book for you" Selena pointed out.
"I'm worried, Selena" Isabella said.
"You should be worried," she said quietly. "Men like him… they don't give gifts. They give warnings wrapped in ribbons."
Isabella looked down at the book again.
Somehow, that scared her more than the night before.