Chapter 19

Luke knew that he was going to see her today but the Isabelle he was seeing was far from the woman he remembered. She was now what he didn't want her to be. There was no trace of the his old wife though she looked so damn hot.
More f*ck*sses to smack ehh? he asked himself while clenching his fists.
More men would find her attractive but he could handle them because he gained another belt in Taekwondo. He had waited for her return for years. If she didn’t come home now, he would have gone to get her.
( Three years ago)
When Luis told him that Isabelle went to the condo unit where he was with his friends, they hurriedly went home. He tried calling her and even sent her a lot of messages but she hadn’t replied. He was out of his mind thinking what she was planning to do. She couldn’t leave him! But his world collapsed when he discovered that she was not home. No one knew where she was. An overnight bag was missing and some of her clothes were gone.
"F*CK!" he furiously cursed as he threw stuff everywhere.
He called his mother hoping his wife called her. Unfortunately she didn’t. His parents came over his house though it was the wee hours before he did something drastic. They asked the security for the cctv record for that night. They were able to find out the taxi driver who brought her to the airport. Since his family was influential, his mother got information about Isabelle’s destination which was Jakarta. He promised himself that he would find out who helped his wife get out of the country. That person would pay. He was ready to fly to Jakarta but his mother made him see sense.
"Son! Please let her be! If you really love her, set her free for the meantime. What she saw really hurt her so she ran away. Let her heal, grow and become matured. She is still too young and inexperienced to be married especially to a very possessive husband like you. I know she won't mar your marriage. Let me handle this. I will hire someone to watch over her so in that way you won’t be tempted to come and see her. I will report everytthing to you. She is only 19 now. Wait until she's 24..."
"NO! Too f*cking long!!" he cut in angrily and his mother shook her head.
"Okay! Just give her three years! By that time, she had finished college and will be working already. If she didn’t go back to you after three years, then you have my blessing, you can go to her."
He didn’t like it but his mother was right. He won’t be able to stop himself not to go and get her if he would hire someone to watch over her. Because of his strong desire to have her, he snatched her innocence from her too soon. But actually it didn't take him long to know where Isabelle was. The next day he asked Joyce. She didn’t want to tell him but he threatened her that he would find her himself and force her to go back. He confessed what really happened the night so Joyce finally talked. He was only tricked by his friends. Joyce made him promise that he won’t force her to go back. She said they both needed space. Their relationship had become toxic and he agreed.
He focused on work to divert his mind off her. From his mother, he learned that she was in CA. with her dad and stepmom. Her three years was almost over when he heard about Joyce's upcoming wedding. He called her several weeks before his wife's return. He told her that he would take care of the place where Isabelle would stay. Joyce didn’t argue anymore since he held on to his promise. He waited patiently for Isabelle. He had given his wife three years to do what she liked and be the person she was now. Now it was time for him to claim her back.
(End of flashback)
Luke could smell her wonderful body. He could almost touch her smooth skin too. She didn't only look so f*cking hot she also smelled so damn good. Just seeing her walked towards the reception desk a while ago made his body react. Years without her was pure agony. He hadn't touched any woman when she left him. He tried but he couldn't do it.
"She is my wife,” he announced to the receptionists. He pulled her towards him by encircling her waist with his right arm. Her soft body was perfect for his hard one. He frowned when she tried to wriggle free so he tightened his hold.
The staff smiled widely. The counter was between them so they couldn’t see their bodies waist down.
"Welcome to the hotel Mrs. Contero,” one of them said.
"Sir Luke, your wife is very lovely! You are a perfect match!” the other commented.
Isabelle didn’t want to see Luke’s eyes and face but she had no choice. She was curious why they were familiar with him. But the moment she looked at him she wanted to take her eyes off him immediately. He removed his sunglasses. She then realized that he was more good-looking than before. She didn’t think it was possible but he did look hotter.
Oh no! I shouldn't entertain such thoughts! she scolded herself.
When she turned to him, Luke almost caught his breath.
DAMN! She is really more gorgeous! He thought.
His stick throbbed when he saw how lovely she was this close. His eyes went down her smooth neck. Her breasts seemed to have become bigger too. His wife's body developed these past few years. She was so sexy! He almost groaned when he imagined how she looked like when she was naked.
Isabelle saw the way he was looking at her. She knew the looked in his eyes and what it meant. He was lusting after her. She wanted to kick his shin but she didn’t. She should stay calm, composed and cold towards him.
"Yes. My Mrs. Contrero is very beautiful," Luke murmured as if to himself while his gaze went back to her face.
The two women giggled. She wanted to say something about her status but she held her tongue. This was not the right time and place. Later, when they were alone they would talk. She had goosebumps again when she thought of the moment that they would be alone in one room. Now that there were other people around, she somehow didn’t feel safe with him, what more when it was just the two of them? She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts. She was a different woman now. The naïve a and gullible Isabelle dela Vega was gone. She shouldn’t worry. She could handle him and any situation with him.
"My wife and I will stay in the honeymoon suite,” she heard him inform the receptionists.
The women nodded while they both smiled knowingly. Envy evident in their eyes. It was expected since women would want to be in her place. But with what he said and the women’s reaction she couldn’t stop herself from protesting.
"I don’t want to stay..." she began to speak but Luke interrupted her.
"Tell Ryan to bring my wife's bags, " he ordered them as he directed his eyes at her expensive looking baggage.
Before she could move or speak again, he got her hand then tugged her towards the lift. She didn't want to cause a scene by wriggling from his hold since all eyes were at them.
With a smile that didn't reach her eyes, she said in a small but firm voice, “What are you doing? You are not gonna stay with me! I didn't reserve a suite! Much more a honeymoon suite!"
"Good afternoon sir Luke, " one female staff greeted him and smiled at her.
"Good afternoon Miss Perez. This is my wife Isabelle. Give her the best service when she uses the spa, " he told her.
The woman's smile widened, "Sure sir! Nice to meet you Mrs. Contrero."
She had to smile too and say hello to the woman. When they entered an empty lift and the door closed, she angrily pulled her hand from his.
"Let go! How dare you tell people that I am your wife?! You are so thick-skinned! You are still very arrogant!" she said while gritting her teeth.
Luke looked at her with furrowed brows. He was now positive that his wife was still very angry at him, "We'll talk in the suite babe. We can’t do that here," he told her.
She jutted her chin. "Don't call me babe! "she hissed.
Luke was about to say something when the elevator opened. A waiter got in. He was carrying an empty tray.
"Good afternoon Sir."
Luke nodded while Isabelle just sulked on the other side of the lift. She positioned herself as far away from him as possible. Even if she wanted to yell at him, she couldn’t. They waited for the lift to reach her floor in silence. Luke wanted to hold her hand when they went off but she didn’t let him so he just sighed.
“The room is the door at the center babe,” he informed her and she walked ahead of him. The last thing she wanted was to be close to him so she would do everything to prevent that. She stopped when she was only a few inches away from the door. She moved to the right side of the corridor to let him open it. Her back was almost touching the wall as she did her best to not let their bodies touch when he walked past her. She raised one brow when Luke’s eyes turned half slits before he took out his card key.
She was amazed on how big and grand the room was. She was sure that staying here for one night was extremely expensive. After examining the whole room, she turned to look at him. She crossed her arms on her chest. She almost rolled her eyes. As she had anticipated, he was intently looking at her. His hunky frame was near the door. It seemed like he was eating her with his eyes. His stare would have made her conscious years ago but not anymore. But she rolled her eyes when his went down her body. He stopped for a second or two when they reached her private parts. Her boobs and her sex. She tried very hard not to flinch by the way he was stripping her with his eyes. Heat seemed to touch every area they went to. When they were back on her face, she cocked one brow and he flashed a naughty smile which she chose to ignore.
"I didn't book this suite! It's too much! I want to be transferred to a standard room!" she was almost yelling.
She wanted to throw something at him because he was really annoying. She was ready to get anything to hit his sinfully hot looking face to remove his sexy grin. When he slowly moved, she narrowed her eyes. She swallowed when she thought he would come closer to her. She was ready to step back but to her surprise, he went to the bar counter which was on the left side. He took a can of beer from the small fridge. He flashed a wider grin when he saw her raised a brow. He knew that she was aware that he didn’t drink much and when she was with him, he never had any booze. He pulled the tab then took a gulp while still looking at her.
"I started drinking when you left me," he confessed.
She didn’t expect him to admit something like that but she didn't say anything. She was speechless.
"And why wouldn't you stay here? I had this hotel built for you, for us. We own this so you can stay here for as long as you want,” he added.
"What?" she couldn't help asking in surprise.
"This is L & IC Hotel which stands for Luke and Isabelle Contrero. Building new hotels and resorts kept me sane for three f*cking years without my wife,” he confessed bitterly.
She gaped. Now that he mentioned that, she noticed the emblem of the hotel which was on wall next to the window. He wasn’t lying. The letters L & IC were engraved on the wall. She was shocked again but she shouldn’t let what he said affect her.
Her eyes went back to him, "How could you call me wife if our marriage is fake?" she accused him.
She swallowed when she saw his expression slowly changed to puzzled then incredulous lastly to angry. Out of instinct, she moved away from him as he slowly walked towards her. His eyes were steely and there was a white ring around his mouth.
"What in God's name did you just say? Our marriage was what?" he asked in a voice full of menace.
She continued backing away from him slowly. She moistened her lips, "I-I overheard you say that our marriage was not real."
He stopped walking but his expression was still very dark, "And when did you f*cking hear me say that? " he asked in a spine-chilling tone.
She gripped the back of the sofa as she tried to put the couch between them, "Y-You were talking to someone on the phone. Y-You s-said something like, that wasn’t true and I did that to have her or something," she tried to remind him.
It was evident by his expression and eyes that he was trying hard to remember what she was talking about. He released a heavy sigh when he seemed to have recalled it now then his eyes narrowed again. His lips were a thin line.
"That's what you get from eavesdropping babe. Tsk! You got it all wrong my wife. Sorry to tell you but we are legally married. FYI, Mrs.Contrero, I am your legal husband and you are legally mine. All mine," he said as he looked at her face then her body.
(the phone conversation between him and his mother)
Mrs.Contrero: How did you feel about her before?
Luke: I was only after her body.
Mrs.Contrero: But now? Do you feel something more?
Luke: Yes.
Mrs.Contrero: Reed thinks that you are not serious about this marriage.
Luke: That’s not true.
Mrs.Contrero: But why did you almost force her to marry you? She is so young son!
Luke: That was the only way I could do to have her."