Chapter 72 The Choice
Isabella — POV
Dinner ended much later than any of us expected.
It had only been two days since the kidnapping.
Two days since the nightmare that nearly destroyed everything.
The first twenty-four hours after it happened, Alexander went completely insane with his security team. Phones were ringing constantly, people were moving in and out of the penthouse, and every conversation seemed to revolve around protection, surveillance, and safety.
Now I had a bodyguard everywhere I went.
Not just one.
Several.
Security guards outside the building. Security in the hallways. A driver. Cameras installed in places I didn’t even know cameras could exist.
And Alexander?
Alexander had barely left my side.
For two days straight he had been glued to me like letting me out of his sight for even a second might make me disappear again.
Tonight we were having dinner at my mother’s new house.
The house Alexander bought for her.
A beautiful, quiet place surrounded by tall trees and iron gates that now had more security surrounding it than some government buildings.
Guards stood outside the property.
Two more were near the driveway.
And another pair was positioned discreetly near the back garden.
I had told Alexander we didn’t need that many people.
He refused to even consider negotiating.
Not after what had happened.
So I stopped arguing.
If this was what gave him peace of mind, then I would let him have it.
Inside the house, the atmosphere felt completely different.
Warm.
Safe.
Normal.
My mother had insisted on cooking everything herself even though Alexander had already hired a private chef for her.
Alexander tried to stop her.
She ignored him completely.
“You bought me a house,” she said while placing plates on the table. “The least I can do is feed you.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
She smiled softly.
“Too late.”
So now we were sitting around the long wooden table in her cozy kitchen.
Me.
Alexander.
And my mother.
The smell of warm food filled the room—roasted chicken, fresh bread, garlic, herbs.
It felt comforting.
Normal.
After everything that had happened, normal felt almost surreal.
For a few minutes we ate quietly.
Not because anyone felt uncomfortable.
Because everyone was thinking.
My mother broke the silence first.
“So,” she said gently, looking between the two of us, “I assume the two of you didn’t exactly plan this marriage over candlelight and flowers.”
Alexander coughed slightly.
I kicked him under the table.
He shot me a look.
My mother smiled knowingly but didn’t push.
Dinner continued with quiet conversation, small laughter, and stories my mother insisted on telling about me that made me want to hide under the table.
By the time we finished eating, Alexander leaned back in his chair, watching us quietly while my mother and I cleaned up the dishes.
Eventually he wandered into the living room, turning on the television.
He pretended to watch it.
But I knew exactly what he was doing.
He was giving us space.
Giving me time with my mother.
And we used it.
For hours.
We sat together on the couch and talked about everything.
Everything.
She asked questions.
I answered honestly.
I told her how everything started.
How angry Alexander had been at the beginning.
How controlling he could be.
But also how things had changed.
How he had changed.
And eventually I admitted something that made my mother smile in a way that made my chest feel warm.
“I’m crazy about him too,” I told her quietly.
“And he cares about me now.”
She squeezed my hand.
“I can see that.”
When Alexander finally came back to check on us, my mother looked at both of us with a calm, knowing expression.
“I think,” she said softly, “you two might actually survive each other.”
When it was time to leave, she hugged me tightly.
Then she looked at Alexander.
“You take care of her.”
His answer was immediate.
“I will.”
She nodded once.
And just like that—
She sent us home with her blessing.
The drive back to the penthouse started quietly.
Alexander sat beside me in the back seat while the driver navigated through the late evening streets.
Streetlights passed across the window like slow flashes of gold.
At first I didn’t notice anything unusual.
But after a few minutes, something felt off.
I frowned slightly.
“Alexander.”
He looked over.
“Yes?”
“You missed the exit.”
His mouth curved just slightly.
“I know.”
I stared at him.
“…Why?”
He glanced out the window for a moment before answering.
“I have something to show you.”
Now I was curious.
The car continued driving for another fifteen minutes before turning onto a quiet private road.
Tall trees lined the driveway.
At the end of the road stood large iron gates.
The gates slowly opened as the car approached.
I blinked.
“What is this place?”
The car rolled through the gates and down a long curved driveway.
And then I saw it.
A massive house stood in the distance, lights glowing softly against the dark sky.
Huge.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
My jaw literally dropped.
“Alexander…”
He turned toward me calmly.
“This is our house.”
I stared at him.
“Our… what?”
“Our house.”
The driver stopped the car.
Alexander stepped out first, then reached for my hand.
I stepped out slowly, still staring at the enormous mansion in front of us.
“This is… insane.”
He smiled faintly.
“You needed somewhere safe.”
I shook my head.
“This is not a house. This is a palace.”
He led me toward the front doors.
The inside was even more unbelievable.
Large windows.
High ceilings.
Soft lighting.
Elegant furniture.
Every room looked like something out of a luxury magazine.
“This is too big,” I whispered.
Alexander just shrugged.
From him, an average-sized home probably didn’t exist.
He walked me through room after room.
Living spaces.
A library.
A private garden visible through glass doors.
Then finally we reached the bedroom.
The bed alone looked big enough for a royal family.
Everything was already prepared.
Clothes in the closet.
Personal items.
Even things that clearly belonged to me.
I turned toward him.
“How did you know how to decorate all this?”
He loosened his tie slightly.
“I talked to Sarah.”
I blinked.
“Sarah?”
“She told my team about your style—what you like, the kind of things that feel like you.”
I looked around the room again.
Suddenly it all made a little more sense.
Sarah had clearly been very… enthusiastic with her advice.
Every corner of the house looked ridiculously luxurious—like something straight out of a high-end design magazine. Marble, glass, soft lighting, furniture that probably cost more than my first car.
If I knew Sarah, she probably told them to buy the most expensive thing they could find for every single room.
It wasn’t exactly my style.
Beautiful, yes.
But definitely… a lot.
Still, the place was stunning in its own way—elegant, polished, and clearly chosen with care.
So I kept that little observation to myself.
He studied my face carefully.
“Do you mind staying here tonight?”
He gestured around the room.
“We have everything we need. Clothes, toiletries… everything.”
I thought about it for half a second.
“I don’t mind.”
I grabbed a towel and headed toward the bathroom.
“I’m taking a shower first.”
The warm water helped relax muscles I didn’t even realize were tense.
For a few minutes, everything felt quiet.
Peaceful.
Then the bathroom door opened.
I turned slightly.
Alexander walked inside.
My heart immediately started beating faster.
He looked completely calm.
Dangerously calm.
And incredibly attractive.
He didn’t say a word.
He just looked at me.
Then slowly—
He started removing his clothes.
Without breaking eye contact.
Shirt.
Belt.
Pants.
My entire body reacted instantly.
And judging by the faint smile that appeared on his face…
He knew it.