Chapter 3 Nullified

Jake entered his house, his mood already foul from the events of the day. His sharp gaze swept across the grand living room, only to land on a familiar, unwelcome presence.

[You suck]

"Eres un inútil! I said 'no sugar in my tea,' don't drown it!" Isabella's sharp Spanish cut through the air as she berated one of the maids.

Dressed in one of her expensive designer gowns, she stood in the middle of the living room, her manicured nails tapping against the rim of her teacup.

She was a model which they know, and yet added sugar to her tea. Every staff was used to her cøcky attitude.

The moment she noticed Jake's presence, her entire demeanor shifted. A soft, practiced smile curled on her lips as she took a step toward him. The maid doesn't need to be told before she leaves at once.

Before Isabella could touch him, Jake's cold voice rang out.

"Why are you here?" He demanded, his tone unforgiving.

Before she could answer, heavy footsteps echoed behind him. Efren strode past them, carrying an unconscious Lillian in his arms.

"Take her to the basement," Jake ordered without sparing him a glance.

Isabella's head snapped toward the movement, her sharp eyes locking onto the limp woman being taken away.

"Who is she?" she asked, her tone sharp with curiosity.

Jake ignored her and walked further into the house. "Answer my damn question," he snapped. "What are you doing here?"

Isabella doesn't seem fazed by the tone of his voice. She lifted her chin, feigning confidence, but he could see through her.

"My father asked me to be here," she said smoothly. "He thinks it's time we start... living together."

His stare darkened. She continued, placing a hand on his chest, her fingers trailing lightly. "We're having dinner at my father's house tonight. He said we need to give the public something to talk about. So you need to be there."

He grabbed her wrist before she could go any further. Her eyes widened slightly at the sharpness of his grip.

"You're not listening." His voice was dangerously quiet. "I don't give a damn what your father wants."

She winced as his grip tightened slightly before he let go.

"I'm busy." He added dismissively, walking away.

Isabella clenched her fists.

"We've been engaged for six months, Jake!" She yelled, frustration leaking into her voice. "You can't keep pushing this forever!"

She was tired of this.

Jake halted mid-step. His already irritated mood spiked. All of this was because of that damn whøre.

Isabella's Father, Rodriguez, the Mafia Lord of California, had spent years trying to push his daughter into his life, hoping to strengthen their bond and take down their mutual enemy-Saheed Habib, the Indian Mafia King.

Jake had ignored those advances for as long as he could, but when Lillian had him arrested in his country, Rodriguez had wasted no time pulling strings to get him released before Jake could even use his influence, using the situation to his advantage.

That's how he ended up engaged to Isabella. And now, they were trying to force a wedding on him?

Isabella took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "The dinner is to finalize our wedding," she stated hesitantly. "I can't make up excuses for you anymore."

His gaze locked onto her with cold calculation. He studied her carefully. She sounded too sure.

"You met him, didn't you?"

She stiffened at the question, avoiding his gaze to mask up her expression. And that answers Jake's question. He exhaled slowly, tilting his head back. He was going to kill someone today.

"You went to my father?" His voice turned deadly.

Isabella took a small step back. "No... it was your mother," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, the house fell into complete silence. Then, the tension snapped.

In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his presence towering over hers. She gasped, stepping back, but he grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at him.

"You think I give a damn about that woman?! That woman has done nothing but saw me as a trophy, and you ran to her like a desperate little b!tch?"

She trembled, but she didn't cry. She knew better than to show weakness now. She would become the Mafia Queen soon.

"Baby, it's for us," she whispered, her voice unsteady and sweet. "We need this marriage. It will solidify our position. Don't you see? This is how we win..."

Jake pulled out his phone, cutting her off. She watched in growing panic as he dialed. The moment the call connected, Jake's voice was cold and commanding.

"Efren. Escort Isabella home."

Isabella stiffened. "Jake, what are you..."

"The engagement is nullified," he declared, his tone final. He turned and walked away.

Isabella felt blood drained from her face.

"What?! You can't do this!" she shouted, chasing after him. "What about my father? And your parents? Do you really think they'll let you back out of this just like that?!"

Jake turned around that second, pulled out his gun and fired toward her. The scent of gunpowder filled the room, together with Isabella's scream, stumbling backward.

He shot the floor, just inches away from her feet. Only he knew how badly he wanted to kill her at that spot.

His grip on the gun tightened. "Don't push me, Isabella."

She knew him well enough to understand that he was moments away from doing something irreversible. She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay quiet.

Jake turned on his heel and walked toward the basement, his thoughts still simmering in rage.

Going against his father wouldn't be easy, and that's what piss him off the most. Because no matter how much he hated the man...

They were alike in one way. They didn't like losing.