CHAPTER 2

Isabella looked at the people around her.

Her father, Nathan, was boiling mad.

Her stepmother, Winona, and her half-sister, Yvonne, were getting a kick out of the drama.

Her future father-in-law Terence was just shaking his head, and future mother-in-law Lorelai was cringing.

Her would-be sister-in-law Megan was glaring holes through her.

Her fiancé, Zachary, didn’t know what to do. In his arms was the pitiful woman, Scarlett, who was once her best friend.

These folks were Isabella’s whole world. And just like that, the world flipped, leaving Isabella as the one everyone was pointing fingers at.

Isabella brushed away the tears and said lightly, “I hereby announce that Zachary Winslow and Isabella Sorenson’s marriage contract has been canceled. We have nothing to do with each other from now on. I wish you happiness!” Then she bounced off the stage.

Her dad Nathan jumped in, “Hold up, you think it’s just up to you? You and Zachary were a done deal before you were even a twinkle. Don’t even try to ditch this without my say-so!” Nathan had always been tough on Isabella, mostly because having Isabella around was a constant reminder that he was kind of a live-in son-in-law and his kids had to take their mom’s last name. Big-time embarrassment for a guy who made it big.

“And Isabella, cool it, will ya? Zachary messed up, and we’ll make him say sorry. This marriage thing wasn’t just your call, it’s our families’ deal. Don’t go and have a meltdown. I got your back,” Terence tried to smooth things over.

Then he whirled around and snapped at Zachary, “Zachary! Drop that girl already!”

Zachary looked like he didn’t know what hit him.

Scarlett, all tears and drama, shoved Zachary away. “Go after Isabella, Zachary. My bad, it’s all on me. I’m no match for Isabella. I’m sorry, Isabella. Forgive me, okay? Don’t go.”

Zachary just stood there, silent as a ghost.

“Isabella, hold it! Are you deaf?” Nathan was beside himself with rage. He thought, ‘She’s always done what I said, like a perfect little robot. Why’s she ignoring orders today?’

Isabella stopped cold, her hands balled into fists so tight they hurt. She spun around to face Nathan.

Now Nathan got real. “Come on, it’s nothing. Why you making a big deal? Zachary and his folks are cool now. What more do you need? Who else would deal with your drama? You gotta see where your bread’s buttered!”

Isabella just felt this chill and said real slow, “He deserves better than me. I’ll find someone else, no biggie.”

Nathan lost it, “Who else would even look at you?”

But Isabella, she didn’t even flinch. Shoulders back, head high, she walked right out the door.

The crowd was eating up the drama like it was prime-time TV.

Zachary and Isabella’s engagement was like the hot gossip among the rich folks. Their families were tight, and with Isabella and Zachary set to tie the knot, the business was booming.

The engagement party was just for show. They were heading for the altar anyway. But then, the plot thickened like in a soap opera.

Zachary did Isabella dirty with her own bestie. Feeling burned, Isabella put them on blast right there in front of everyone.

Instead of feeling sorry for her, people were ragging on Isabella. She was pretty shaken up when she realized that nobody seemed to care about her side of the story. But could she really get mad when her own dad dissed her too?

Isabella stepped down from the stage and nearly took a spill in her killer heels. Just in time, one guy reached out and saved her from a faceplant.

“Thanks,” Isabella mumbled, looking down.

A chill voice came from up top, “Watch your step.”

Isabella regained her balance, raised her head, and met a pair of deep, calm eyes. She was momentarily stunned, charmed by the handsome face before her. This guy was something else—strong brows, dark blue eyes, the works. He was all smiles and chill vibes.

She took a breath and laid it all out there, completely honest. “Hi! Are you single?”

He was stunned but nodded.

Ignoring the crowd’s shocked gasps, Isabella was like, “I’m Isabella Sorenson, 22, still in college at University of Moulmore. I have 40% shares in Sorenson Multimedia and will inherit all the inheritance left by my granddad and mom when I turn 25. But for now, I’m penniless. I need to marry someone. You in?”

Isabella locked eyes with the guy. She was ticked off for sure, but she didn’t give a flip. Her life’s been no cakewalk. She fell hard for Zachary, and he didn’t even say ‘my bad’ for stabbing her in the back.

Her mom’s parting advice to Isabella was to play it cool, to roll with the punches. For years, she put up with the drama and what’d she get? Zilch, just a slap in the face and zero backup.

Isabella thought, ‘I’d rather throw the baby out with the bathwater at this point. They’re all drooling over my wealth and gearing up to rip me off, right? Fine! I’ll marry someone random and not give them a dime!’

Then, like clockwork, someone in the peanut gallery was like, “Holy cow! Did Isabella just lose it? What’s she yapping about now? Poor Zachary.”

“Totally shameless! Just grabs a guy and pops the question? And after Zachary’s folks bent over backwards to get her to forgive him!” added another voice.