The Ultimate Betrayal

I was thrown roughly into the boat, my body hitting the hard surface with a painful thud, a sharp pain blossoming in my side.

I struggled to sit up, my hands tied at my back, peering over the edge as the boat began to pull away from the Mansion. 

Massimo stood in the dock, his face was a mix of fury and despair, his eyes locked on mine as the distance between us grew.

 My heart shattered; he had been so close to saving me, but Gus had been one step ahead, 

The boat's engine roared to life, the cold breeze hitting my face, as we sped away from the dock, the waves slapping against the sides of the vessel. My gaze never left Massimo's figure, even until he became just a speck on the horizon. 

A dark cloud of darkness settled over me as I turned back to Gus's, his expression hard and unfeeling, a devilish smile on his face from outsmarting Massimo. 

When they finally reached another dock, black SUVs awaited. Gus gripped my arm tight as he dragged me out of the boat, shoving me into the back seat of one of the SUVs, sliding in beside me, his body too close to mine. His grip was still on my arm, a constant reminder of his control.

"Don't ever try anything like you did with Ana," Gus warned, his voice cold and menacing. "You saw what happened to Ana."

"You're a monster," I spat, glaring at him with all the hatred I could muster. "She was only trying to help me."

Gus chuckled, a dark menacing sound. "And now she's dead. Let that be a lesson to you to never try to outsmart me."

I sharply moved away from him as he played with my hair. " We are going to meet a very special person now, maybe you'll feel a little better."

His words confused me but I ignored him. I turned my face to the window, tears stinging my eyes at the thought of Ana, she was so young and she had a family. I refused to let him see me cry as I bit my cheek and held back my tears.

 The ride was long and silent, the tension in the car suffocating. My mind raced, trying to piece together who this "special" person could be. No one came to mind, and the uncertainty scared me.

The car finally stopped, and I was yanked out, my blindfold secured tightly over my eyes. I almost fell as I landed on the floor, holding onto the car for support. I heard Gus greeting someone, and then a voice I knew too well cut through the darkness.

"Dad?" I whispered, my voice breaking.

My blindfold was removed, and I blinked against the sudden light. There stood my father, Alfredo. Relief surged through me, but it was short-lived as 

I realised he was smiling at Gus.

"Alfredo and I have come to an understanding," Gus said smoothly, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"How could you?" I screamed at my father, tears streaming down my face. "You gave me up! You sold me to this...this animal!" Red-hot anger flowed through me at the man who was supposed to love and protect me as his daughter.

My father looked away, unable to meet my eyes. "I did what I had to do, Ruby. For the family."

"Family? You call this betrayal family?" My voice cracked with rage. "You're nothing but a coward, you're dead to me."

My father turned, walking back to his car, his face a mask of unfeeling.

Gus grabbed my arm and dragged me back to the car, my screams and struggles futile against his iron grip around my body.

At the new safe house, I was locked in a room once more. This time the walls were barren and a single bed without sheets stood in the middle of the room. A maid entered with a wine-coloured dinner dress and heels, instructing me to get ready.

"Why?" I demanded, ready to disobey the order "What's the point of this?"

The maid glanced nervously at the door, then back at me. "Please, miss. Just do as you're told."

She reminded me of Ana, as her hands trembled in fear of the guards. I picked up the dress, I didn't want any other person to pay for my stubbornness.

My confusion turned to dread as I complied, knowing I had no other choice. My hair and makeup were done meticulously, the process taking nearly an hour. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, hardly recognizing the woman looking back at me. I looked like a stranger, a doll dressed up for someone else's amusement.

An hour later, the guard outside my room led me to a door. The guards told me to walk through, returning to his post.

Hesitantly, I pushed the door open and stepped into a grand ballroom, the whole room was suddenly silent as I took a few steps in, their whole attention on me.

 I stood at the top of a staircase, my heart pounding, a hundred pairs of eyes staring back at me.

I saw Gus at the bottom, his hand extended toward me, a slippery smile on his face. My skin crawled as I descended and he wrapped his arm around me.

"Act normal," he hissed. I jumped, letting out a gasp as I felt the tip of the knife piercing into my side.

Guests approached, congratulating us. I was bewildered, but I acted the best I could. A fake smile plastered on my face as people kept talking.

My ears were ringing, I couldn't hear a word anyone was saying, I plucked a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray. As I tried to calm myself, my hands trembled.

" What's wrong with you?" Gus snarled in my face.

" I just need a second," I begged him.

He watched me for a second before releasing me. 

" I'm giving you two minutes," he ordered.

I quickly darted to the restroom, splashing cold water on my face and neck.

I returned to the ballroom, watching people perfectly dressed mill around the room. I saw a tray at the entrance with the programs stacked on it.

I ran to it picking one up, my whole body simmered with anger as I saw the program.

 Engagement of :

 Gustavo Adolfo

 And

 Ruby Rivera 

My body shook as the program slipped out of my fingers onto the floor, I turned back to the ballroom. This was my engagement party with Gustavo, a man old enough to be my father, my body retched in disgust. 'This was the secret deal with my father'.

Burning with rage, I barged into the meeting room where Gus and my father were talking.

"I will only marry you over my dead body!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the room.

" Don't be quick to make judgements Bellazona ."

Gus smirked and motioned to a computer screen. There, in a grainy video feed, was Massimo in an office, "I have snipers watching him, their hands ready to pull the trigger at my word. Marry me, or he dies."

My world crumbled. I looked from Gus to my father, then back to the screen. Tears blurred my vision as I struggled with the impossible choice.

"What's it going to be, Ruby?" Gus's voice was a sinister whisper in my ear.

Inside, my heart was a storm of conflicting emotions. I couldn't let Massimo die, but marrying Gus was unthinkable. I felt trapped, my love for Massimo clashing with my hatred for Gus and my father's betrayal.

"I..." I began, my voice shaking. "I need time to think."

Gus's smile widened. "Take all the time you need, my dear. But remember, Massimo's life is in your hands."

I stared at the screen, my mind filled with fear, anger, and desperation. How could I choose between love and life? The weight of the decision threatened to crush me, and I felt alone in this nightmare.

The ballroom scene replayed in my mind as I was escorted back to my room. The congratulations from strangers, the sinister smile on Gus's face, my father's averted gaze—it all felt like a twisted dream. I sat on the edge of the bed, my mind still racing. 

Massimo had always been there for me, he had protected me since I met him, to keep me safe from the likes of Gus. And now, because of me, he was in danger.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. It was the maid again, this time with a tray of food. She set it down and hurried out, avoiding my eyes. But I had no appetite, so I forced myself to eat, the food tasting like cardboard in my mouth. I needed my strength if I was going to figure a way out of this.

Hours passed, and night fell. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts drifted back to my father. How could he betray me like this? I had always known he was a man of questionable morals, but this...this was beyond anything I could have imagined.

The door creaked open, and Gus entered, his expression smug. "Have you made a decision, Ruby?"

I sat up, my heart pounding. "I'll do it. I'll marry you."

Gus's smile widened. "Good girl. But remember, any attempt to escape or sabotage the wedding

, and Massimo dies."

I nodded as he shut the door and he walked out. I shot up, from the bed my mind racing, I had a plan.