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Izabella felt like fainting. Her head spun at the thought of the ridiculous request. Someone needed to pinch her, wake her up.  A bride in this Manor? 

"That is preposterous." Izabelle said sternly. "I shall marry for love and not a Name another demand for this is outrageous. You can not have me here in this castle alone. Where is my father? Father! " Izabelle's voice echoed through the old, empty manor. Izabella felt pale but she kept up a little of her tough front. She had been stern when she had started speaking only to be a mess by the end of it. She couldn't feel her father's presence anywhere near her. If only he could help her through this problem. He was always there to help her through tough situations. She needed to get them out of this trouble. She needed to be there for him this time around.

"You have until the last petal falls e. " Lord Willington said testing her name on his tongue in his low throaty voice. " You will become my bride. You will love me and marry me or you can say goodbye to your dear father. What will it be? A little self sacrifice, a treatment here in the mansion like a queen with a happy and content family or, selfishness. Do you want you family to starve this winter? Do you not know that the debt collectors took away most of the money from the cargo ship? There is not much left to even get by one month. Would you have your father's imprisonment and probably his death on you conscience? Can you tolerate knowing your family is suffering because of you?"

He had her. She knew it, he had her. He knew he had her. Izabelle broke down crying. She fell on her knees wishing for a miracle to reverse the clock or get her out of this situation. Sadly, there was nothing. No one was here for her. Tears rolled down her eyes but she refused to let her mouth betray her like her eyes.

"What will it be Ms. Edwards. What will it be? " The Lord asked ungentlemanly. If the lights were to illuminate the place, Belle was sure that everyone could have see the daggers her eyes were throwing at him. She stood up ready to answer what it will be.

"You have me in a tight spot My Lord. I may not be sure of a lot of things but I am sure you know my answer. You wouldn't have threatened them otherwise." She heard a low chuckle fill the air. Two claps by one of the two strange men's hand and after a moment of anticipation, she was with her father. She remembered all the good times spent with the old man and how great his company felt. She hugged him like she always did only now they may never see each other again and they were but mere captives.

"Izabelle, oh dear Iza. You shouldn't be here. Oh sweetheart I am sorry. I'm so sorry. Forgive me my dear. Forgive me." He murmured and they hugged until a force pulled them apart and threw her father at the gate. Isabelle let out a cry and tried to make her way to her father but something stopped her.

"Tell anyone about what happened and trust me, there would be no one worse than me as your killer. " The Lord, who seemed like a common bandit to Isabelle the more time she spent with him, said.

With what seemed like a nod, Robert Edwards stood up straighter. Izabelle watched as her father who seemed to be escorted out to the gate by the man who escorted her here. There was a strange gleam in her father's eyes.  Belle only hoped he would not do anything stupid. He was not a man to do reckless things but for the first time she was not sure.

"And Mr. Edwards, I told Miss Edwards here that your family shall not live in poverty anymore. In the carriage there are gifts. If I am not wrong excluding Miss Edwards here, you have three other children. Have a good journey. " A traitor tear escaped Isabelle's eye again. She was condemned to this darkness now that even her father was going away even if forcefully. Whenever Robert Edwards put up a fight to reach to his daughter, the strange man would straighten him up and tighten his hold.

They stay strong after breaking down. She always hated the ones who remained broken after something bad happened. She couldn't be one of those.

Izabella had already broken down once. She needed to face this man in front of her before she broke down again. Was this how her life at Willington Manor be? Crying and hate? Darkness, cold and more despair?

"Lord Willington, what am I to do here? I can not even see. It is too dark."

"All you have to do my dear is prepare to be my bride. I shall have whatever you want sent to your room. There, a fire can be started. I like the dark so do not start fire anywhere else and definitely do not open the windows or let the sun enter in the morning. Another rule my dear is that in no circumstance are you to enter the west wing of the building. East wing is yours to command as you wish as my betrothed. Have a good night dear."

Izabelle's vision blurred and she felt a little tug at the consciousness urging her to fall asleep. The thoughts of not seeing her family swam in her brain more than the thought about what she would face living as the lady of the house. Izabelle was scared out of her wits.

How will she survive this place?

_

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Love,

Princess_arielanne