The Billionaire's Pretend Wife (Isabella) novel Chapter 5

Isabelle’s heart hammered away in her chest. Why was he suddenly asking that? Had she said something to give herself away?

If he found out the truth and cancelled the marriage… No! She couldn’t let that happen. If he discovered her family’s deceit, her parents would no longer cater for Hannah’s treatment.

“Of course I am,” she replied, crossing her arms across her chest. “Why would you ask that?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his eyes narrowed as he continued to stare at her. It made her even more uneasy.

“You are the Garcias' eldest son, right?” she asked, attempting to shift the attention from her to him.

Jacob shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and rocked on his feet. “I am.”

She nodded. “Well then, it’s all good, right?”

Was it? Jacob wondered as he studied Isabelle.

Knowing that he was going to marry a strange woman to fulfil his mother’s wish, he sent someone to investigate the eldest daughter of the Cruzes. He had needed to know about her so he could figure out how to encourage her to divorce him quickly.

But now, he was wondering whether his source had gotten his information wrong.

When Jacob appeared at the wedding, he was ready to meet a haughty woman who would turn hostile at the sight of their living arrangement. Because according to his source, his intended bride would never settle for such a life.

The reality was turning out to be completely different.

Isabelle was not showing any animosity towards the situation. Did she really not mind being married to a poor man she wasn’t even in love with? Was she so devoted to her family that she was willing to sacrifice her own desires to ensure they met their end of the agreement?

Because if that was the case, Jacob was afraid it would be so much harder to get her to divorce him. But that couldn’t happen. Whether this woman was who she said she was or not, he didn’t care. As long as he was concerned, he had fulfilled his mother’s wish and married the eldest daughter of the Cruz family.

Now, all he needed to do was find a way to end the entire thing. What besides passing off as a notorious man could make a wealthy heiress divorce you?

“It’s all good,” he replied finally. “It has been a long day, we should go to sleep.”

“Yeah,” Isabelle said, then her eyes slid past him to the only bed in the room.

Jacob held out one hand to her. “Care to join me?”

She shook her head quickly. “I’ll take the sofa.”

“The bed is big enough for both of us,” he pointed out.

“You’re only my husband on paper, Jacob. Other than that, you’re a stranger to me. I don’t share a bed with strangers.”

He took a step towards her, crowding her. “You don’t?”

Isabelle swallowed as he stepped closer. “I don’t.”

“I’ll not try to touch you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he assured her.