Chapter 1
On a bright and beautiful afternoon, Lucas Hawthorne sat at the grand dining table of Hawthorne Manor, clutching an absurdly thin document that stirred the curiosity of everyone present. This was no ordinary contract—this was a Bond of Service! “Brother Gaius, are you sure this is the 'great' Mary that Father arranged for you? This seems completely outrageous!” Clara Hawthorne, the second eldest of the Hawthorne siblings, exclaimed, her eyes wide as she glanced across the table at her elder brother. Lucas narrowed his eyes, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “What Lord Edmund thinks is beyond me! But there’s no way I’m marrying this person he picked out,” he bit out, a fierce defiance in his voice. Clara, scrunching her nose in disbelief, leafed through the pages of the document until an Assistant's photo slipped out. “Gaius, look at this! She looks so young, almost like a kid! Is she really the Mysterious Noble they were talking about?” He shot her a quick look, an unimpressed sigh escaping his lips. “If you’re so curious, why don’t you marry her instead!” Clara jumped to her feet, startled, and stammered an excuse about needing to visit the restroom, hastily retreating from the room to escape the mounting tension. Left alone with the document, Lucas took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure. He straightened, addressing Rowan, a close assistant standing nearby. “I want a full report on this Isabella Frost—where she is, her background, everything.” “Yes, Mr. Johanna!” replied Rowan, eager to please. He took off, determined to fetch the information quickly, not wanting to be caught up in the family drama. “Isabella Frost,” Lucas muttered under his breath, his fist clenching around the edges of the contract. “I’m curious to see what you bring to the table that could compel Lord Edmund to force my hand like this. Hmph!” With those words, he felt a mix of intrigue and annoyance weaving through him as the afternoon light danced whimsically across the grand dining hall of Hawthorne Manor.
Chapter 2
Under a grey sky, Isabella Frost stood at an unremarkable crossroad, feeling as though all directions blended into one, her gaze flickering between the four streets. "Where am I? Did I come from here?" she muttered to herself, frustration creeping in. “Let your dreams spread their wings and soar…” A peal of laughter rang out from her phone, jolting her back to reality. Fumbling through her bag, Isabella answered, “Hello, Julian? What’s up?” “Frost, where are you? I just left Chill Tavern, and I can’t find you!” came the slightly panicked voice of Julian Grey from the other end, though his tone still held a playful warmth. Isabella took in her surroundings, searching for something familiar. “I don’t know where this is! There’s a Market Hall across the street, and I’m near a traffic light.” Julian thought for a moment, piecing together the landmarks in his head. “I know where you are. Just wait right there; I’ll come to you on The Noble Steed.” Ten minutes later, Julian arrived, ruffling Isabella’s hair affectionately. “You! Can you not wander off like that? You know you have the worst sense of direction.” Isabella nodded sheepishly. “I admit I’m directionally challenged, but I only walked a short distance. Why can’t I find my way back?” “Forget about it for now. Aunt Agnes is waiting for us to return,” he replied, shaking his head in exasperation. With a heavy heart, Isabella trudged alongside Julian, yet she couldn’t shake off her dwindling spirits. After a brief walk, they reached Isabella's home. As they entered, her mother, Luna Yew, looked up from the kitchen with a knowing smile. “Julian, is Frost in trouble again? She looks all down and out.” Julian chuckled softly as he explained, “She just got a bit lost because she walked too far. Other than that, everything is peachy.” “Mom, I’m starving! Can we hurry up with dinner?” Isabella chimed in, tugging at Luna’s sleeve with a playful pout. Luna gave Isabella a gentle tap on the forehead. “You’re such a handful!” Turning to Julian, Isabella smiled brightly. “Young Julian, you’re staying for dinner, right? It’s always more fun with extra company!” Julian nodded with a grin. With joy bubbling over, Isabella rushed into the kitchen alongside Luna to help prepare dinner. Little did she know that behind her cheerful demeanor, Julian wore a wistful expression. “Frost, if your invitation wasn’t simply for noise, how much better things could be…” In the warm embrace of laughter and chatter, dinner progressed and soon came to an end. Julian stood to leave. “Aunt Agnes, I should head back now. I’ll come visit again soon!” “Are you leaving so soon, Young Julian?” Luna asked, genuine concern in her voice as she rose from her seat. “Yeah, I’ll be worried if I get home too late. My dad tends to stress out a bit,” Julian replied. “I’ll walk you out,” Isabella exclaimed, standing up abruptly. Julian laughed lightly at her concern, ruffling her hair again. “You stay here. I don’t want to spend another night looking for you in the dark.” “Just be careful on your way back! Call me when you get home,” Isabella urged, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. Julian smiled, nodding as he left their home. --- Sitting on the couch after they departed, Luna motioned for Isabella to come closer. “Frost, you’re eighteen now, and there’s something I need to discuss. Your father had a close friend, Uncle Richard, someone who knew you well when you were younger. They became quite the duo, but after moving overseas to start a company, he hasn’t been around. Your father had mentioned a verbal engagement for you. What do you think? Would you accept it?” Isabella's brows furrowed as she pondered, “Can I say no?” Luna’s expression turned serious. “Of course, sweetheart. I would never force you into something you don’t want. I just hope you’ll think it through when making any decisions. Your happiness and wellbeing are what matter most to me.” Isabella moved to embrace her mother, whispering softly, “Thanks, Mom. You mean the world to me.” Luna chuckled, giving her a gentle pat on the head. “Alright, time to get some rest. It’s summer break, but a late bedtime isn’t good for you, sweetie.” Sticking out her tongue playfully, Isabella replied, “Goodnight, Mom!” Luna watched her with a smile, shaking her head as she retreated to her room for the night.
Chapter 3
Early in the morning, Luna Yew pulled herself out of bed, determined to get her daughter, Isabella Frost, out for a morning run. Isabella, unfamiliar with the neighborhood, made Luna uneasy about letting her go alone. So, as they settled into the routine, Luna found herself adapting to the early exercise as well. After ten minutes of packing their bags, the mother-daughter duo stepped outside to begin their jog. On the way, they passed several fellow morning runners and fitness enthusiasts, all of whom greeted them with friendly nods and smiles. As they made their way back to the entrance of Young District, Luna and Isabella switched to a leisurely stroll, exchanging laughter and cheerful conversation. When they reached Upstairs Street, they spotted a man carrying a briefcase. Luna approached him, curiosity piqued. "Excuse me, are you...?" The man turned to face them, his expression friendly yet somewhat businesslike. "Hello! I'm Sir Cedric from Hawthorne & Co. You can call me Little Jude." Luna nodded slowly, her mind racing. So it had begun—had to be about Frost! Keeping her expression neutral, she smiled and invited him inside. Sir Cedric pulled out a contract, handing it to Luna as he explained, "Aunt Johanna sent me to see what your daughter thinks about this engagement. If she’s not on board, Hawthorne will transfer twenty percent of its shares to her name!" Intrigued, Isabella leaned in to examine the contract, her brow furrowing. "So, if I don’t marry him, can I opt-out of the shares?" Cedric’s eyes widened in astonishment. "Those shares can only be decided by Gregory and Aunt Johanna. I have no say in that. However, I’m just here to inform you—this contract won’t change! Aunt Johanna instructed that if you’re not interested in the marriage, I also have a contract for the share transfer. You can sign it directly if you choose." Isabella bit her lip, torn about her next move. Then, a flash of inspiration struck her. "I’ve got to go—can’t chat right now. Just take this back and pretend we weren't here. Bye!" With that, she darted off. Luna couldn’t help but chuckle, realizing she had likely ducked away to avoid the situation. "Looks like that’s that," she thought, accepting the reality. Sir Cedric sighed, turning to Luna. "Aunt Luna, I really wish we could sort this out." "Little Jude," Luna replied with a soft smile, "this is a decision only Frost can make. As her mother, I have no control. The contract only holds with her signature, right?" Cedric felt the weight of the world as he looked at Luna, feeling as though he was now dealing with someone even tougher than his boss. ------------------------------------ Isabella darted away from home, her mind blank on where to go. Spotting a few cars parked along the road, she approached the one with a driver inside. "Excuse me, can I use your ride-sharing service? I need to get somewhere!" The driver glanced at the man seated in the back—the boss—who gave a brief nod before responding, "Sure, hop in!" Once inside, Isabella turned to the striking figure next to her. Gregory was as intimidating as people said, but mostly because he was also incredibly handsome. He had piercing eyes that shone with intensity, a sharp nose that resembled a sculpted masterpiece, and thin, tightly-pressed lips that gave off a stern vibe. “What’s your destination?” the driver asked. Shaking off her surprise, Isabella replied, "Number Thirty-Three, South Ridge, please." She straightened in her seat, trying to appear composed. Twenty minutes later, the vehicle came to a halt, and Isabella hurriedly jumped out, tossing back a quick, "I’ll pay for the ride through the app!" before racing off. Gaius, seated in the back, turned his head to watch her sprint away, captivated by her determined figure disappearing into the distance. The driver broke the silence. "Sir Johanna, where to next?" “Back to the Company,” Gregory replied, closing his eyes as he leaned back, seeking a brief respite.
Chapter 4
Isabella Frost bounded up to the front door of Number Thirty-Three, South Ridge, her spirit high as she rang the doorbell. After a brief wait, Uncle Richard appeared, a puzzled expression on his face. "Isabella, are you here to see Julian? He left for overseas today. Didn't he tell you?" Isabella was taken aback; this was news to her. She swallowed her disappointment, reasoning that he might just be gone for a few days. "Oh, Uncle Richard, where did Julian go? When will he be back?" Uncle Richard, sensing she was unaware of the situation, gently explained, "Isabella, this trip is for an assignment at his father's company. He might be gone for a couple of years." The weight of his words sank in, extinguishing the smile on Isabella's face. He had left without a word, and she realized just how little she really knew him. Feeling disheartened, she turned away and wandered aimlessly through the streets. --- Inside the office of Hawthorne & Co., Sir Cedric stood at Lucas Hawthorne's desk, recapping his morning visit to Isabella. "She looked over the contract and asked if there was a way to avoid marriage but still receive shares. I didn't answer directly, and she used an excuse to leave. Aunt Agnes said this decision is really up to her daughter; she won’t interfere." Lucas leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. He had noticed something interesting about Isabella: she didn't seem to be money-driven. She didn’t want to marry him or take the shares - it made him curious about Lord Edmund's contract with her. Julian must have had some standout quality to catch Lord Edmund's attention, and Lucas figured he would need to meet Isabella again to uncover more. For now, he returned to his paperwork, confident that another opportunity to interact with her would present itself. --- Isabella had been wandering for what felt like hours, finally arriving at the Market Hall in the Old District. It then struck her that she didn’t know how to get home. Defeated, she plopped down on a bench near a flowerbed. Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching from a distance. After a couple of hours of work, Lucas took a break, stepping toward his office window for a cup of tea. That's when he spotted her looking forlorn on the street, and he quickly dialed his driver. "Young Thomas, go to the entrance of the Market Hall. Find the girl sitting on the flowerbed and bring her home." Within moments, Lucas hung up, and two minutes later, Young Thomas was on his way to find Isabella. Upon locating her, Young Thomas could see that she was not in high spirits. "Isabella, what’s up? Why are you sitting out here in this heat?" Looking up and recognizing him, her face brightened slightly. "Oh, it's you! Hey, Thomas." Young Thomas winced at being called "Master," feeling a bit embarrassed. "Just call me Young Thomas. The 'master' sounds too stuffy for me." She chuckled softly. "Alright, Young Thomas. How did you know I was here?" He thought it best to keep things straightforward. "I was passing by. Didn't you go to the villa this morning? What brings you here now?" Her smile faded once again. "My friend left town for a while. I didn't want to stay alone, so I took a walk." Understanding her predicament, Young Thomas felt grateful that the villa area wasn't too far away; otherwise, she would have had a long and tiresome journey. "So, do you want to head home? I can drive you." Isabella nodded. "Yes, thank you! I can pay for the ride through a rideshare service." Young Thomas shook his head playfully. "Don't worry about it. I was just taking our lord to his appointment this morning anyway. Actually, you should pay him for this ride, too!" With a clearer understanding of her situation, Isabella agreed, and together they got into the car, heading back to her cottage.
Chapter 5
It had been over a week since Young Julian left for overseas, and Isabella Frost had gradually calmed down, feeling less lost than before. One day, she received a call from her mother, Sophia Frost. “Hey sweetie, your dad is coming home tomorrow, and he’s bringing you a surprise gift! How exciting is that?” Isabella pouted. “Mom, I’m not the least bit curious about the gift. What I'm curious about is why Dad arranged a marriage for me without even asking! It’s so embarrassing! I don’t even know the guy, and suddenly I’m promised to him!” Sophia chuckled lightly, “Oh, sweetie, we’ll talk about that when your dad gets back. He’s busy right now. Bye for now!” Before Isabella could say anything more, she heard the familiar busy tone of the line disconnecting. If Sir Cedric had been there, he would have surely thought how alike father and daughter were, both enjoying a good jest at each other’s expense. The next morning, Luna Yew and Isabella prepared to head to the Aerodrome to pick up their returning family member. After about an hour’s wait, they spotted Lord Edmund from a distance and waved to him. The months apart had darkened his skin, yet his bright white smile remained unchanged since he left. His athletic build, a testament to his vigorous career in photography, contradicted the stereotype of a middle-aged man. Sophia Frost beamed at her two favorite people. “Did you miss me, or are you just happy to see the gifts?” Luna’s eyes shimmered with tears. “I’ve gotten so used to missing you, it’s hard to measure time anymore. But it’s you, so I’ll always wait!” Sophia felt a pang of guilt, wrapping Luna in a heartfelt embrace. “I’m sorry for making you worry.” Isabella cleared her throat, a playful reminder, “Are we really going to continue this show of affection here? The whole world can see us!” Feeling a bit sheepish, Luna let go of Edmund and linked her arm through his. “Let’s go home!” Sophia nodded, stepping forward. Isabella followed closely, thinking, I must be some kind of entertainment plan—every time they get all mushy, I fade into the background, an unwanted third wheel. Life feels so sad at times. --- At Hawthorne Enterprises, Lucas Hawthorne flipped through a contract again, tension brewing in his chest. The main point was clear: if he married Isabella Frost within a year, his father would hand over 30% of his shares to her. If he didn’t, that same 20% would revert to him. In short, he felt trapped. When had Lord Edmund started plotting? He remembered their agreement—just five years for his uncle to manage, then the shares would go to the heir with the most holdings. What was happening now? With only 20% of the shares in hand, if he did marry Isabella, she would suddenly hold the majority. But could that sweet, innocent girl handle such responsibility? Lucas didn't realize just how much he was beginning to worry about Isabella. --- At a picturesque retreat by the sea, a laid-back traveler lounged under a large beach umbrella, wearing board shorts and dark sunglasses, lost in thought. Moments later, a stunning woman emerged from The Travelers' Lodge, sauntering over to him with a teasing grin. “Are you hiding from your son’s wrath? Why else would you bail on the family for so long?” The man sat up abruptly. “Who said that? I’m finally able to take you on a honeymoon. That brat doesn’t appreciate me at all; it’s as if I’m invisible to him! I swear, he needs a reality check about who he’s dealing with!” She chuckled softly, “I won’t argue with you. But remember, if your son loses it when we get back, I’m not helping you out!” Although she loved him dearly, letting him take charge of such a significant decision for their son felt excessive, and she wouldn’t support him this time around.
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