I turned Cold, He Fell hard

CHAPTER 1 – THE SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Isabella Thorne

“Sign this paper.”

Isabella turned toward her husband, Jack Moore. Then her blue eyes glanced at the paper in Jack’s hand. “What is it?”

“Divorce agreement.” Jack cleared his throat without hesitation. “It’s better if we divorce now.”

“Why?”

“Because Aurora has returned.”

For two years, Isabella had been married to Jack Moore. The only son of the Moore family. The sole heir to all the wealth of Magnum Corporation. For two years, Isabella had known that this marriage was nothing more than a business arrangement. No love, no touch, no commitment.

Yet Isabella still held on to a sliver of hope that Jack… would eventually come to love her in this marriage.

But that "someday" would never come.

“I won’t.”

Jack looked annoyed. “Why? You know this marriage was only a deal on paper. You knew from the beginning that you were only replacing Aurora when she disappeared.”

Isabella clenched the phone in her hand, then stood up. Her blue eyes stared at Jack boldly. “I knew that. But I don’t want a divorce. I can make you happy and—”

“Enough, Isabella.” Jack interrupted her. He then placed the divorce papers on the table, near the coffee Isabella hadn’t even touched. “This isn’t a negotiation, it’s an order. And I have to tell you this: I never wanted you in this marriage. Don’t expect anything from me. Because in my eyes… you’re just a shadow.”

Jack turned away without empathy. He grabbed the suit jacket on the chair and left Isabella alone; like every other day.

For two years, Isabella had lived in a business marriage approved by both families. The Thorne Family and the Moore Family. Isabella was the adopted daughter of Edric Thorne and Camilla. Her biological father died when she was five years old, and to fulfill a promise to a close friend, Edric adopted Isabella into the Thorne family. Isabella’s life got better. She lived well with Edric’s biological daughter, Aurora Thorne.

But that good life didn’t last forever. They both grew up and fell in love with the same man: Jack Moore. The son of the Moore family's business partner.

From a young age, Isabella knew her love was always rejected. Jack never acknowledged Isabella’s presence in the world of conglomerates because of her background. And from a young age, Isabella knew that Jack… had always liked her sister, Aurora Thorne.

So when the chance came—when Aurora suddenly disappeared on the day of their engagement—when Edric suddenly asked Isabella to take Aurora’s place in the arranged marriage… Isabella felt that fate was finally on her side.

But until this moment… Isabella knew that Jack had never changed—he never loved her.

Two years felt like forever.

And that day, Isabella finally realized that her existence was nothing but an obstacle to two people who truly wanted each other.

Isabella rose from her chair. She left the coffee she had made with the fancy coffee machine Jack had gifted her. A formal gift meant to please both families. She walked toward her room. A princess’s room in a cold and empty golden castle. Like Rapunzel who was always lonely, Isabella hoped that one day Jack would become the prince on a white horse who would come to her first.

Isabella’s blue eyes looked around the room. For two years she had slept there alone, they slept in separate rooms like two people simply renting the same house for business matters. Isabella’s hand opened the closet. Those expensive dresses were never worn, the sexy lingerie meant to attract Jack’s attention, and the shiny shoes that had sat there gathering dust—all felt like a slap, bringing Isabella back to the reality that this marriage was never meant for her.

Isabella packed all her clothes into her small suitcase. A gift from Edric on her tenth birthday. She took only the things she had brought as a single woman, leaving behind everything she had gained in the marriage. She walked with heavy steps as tears started falling down her cheeks. Her thoughts were a mess. She wanted to stay, she wanted Jack to come back and apologize, at least beg her not to leave.

But once again, it was all just a dream for Isabella.

Isabella got into her SUV with a trembling heart. She gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her eyes looked at the luxury cars neatly parked in the basement. Jack’s cars, formal gifts, just like everything else. Not a single one of those luxury items had ever been used with Jack. He had never taken her out for dinner or even for a breath of fresh air.

Isabella’s life had always revolved around Jack, but Jack was never like her. In Jack’s mind, there was only Aurora.

Isabella tried to brush away her thoughts of Jack. At the very least, she had tried. Today, Jack asked for a divorce. That was a clear sign that he wanted Isabella gone. And as a woman who loved Jack deeply, Isabella would grant that wish.

Isabella stepped on the gas and drove out of the garage. She left the golden palace that had imprisoned her all this time without her realizing it. As the gate opened automatically, Isabella knew she could never return inside. She had to go. But where would she go now?

There wasn’t a single person in the world who accepted her with love. Everything was about business and agreements.

Isabella’s white SUV entered the main road at normal speed, driving smoothly through the route. But as her car turned, she didn’t realize there was a truck on the other side of the road that had lost control. And when Isabella turned to look—everything was too late.

“Nooooooooo!”

HONNNNNKKKK! CRASH!

Isabella could feel her body slam hard forward, the shattered glass hitting her entire face before the car tumbled down into a ravine on the other side of the road.

BRUG!

Isabella tried to open her eyes. She saw blood everywhere. In front of her, the truck was shattered into pieces. The truck driver had been flung far away in a horrific condition. One of Isabella’s eyes couldn’t open. And her ears were ringing loudly.

“Help…” Isabella whispered with the last of her strength, and when she realized it was too late, she said, “I don’t want to end like this. Please save me, please…”

And her vision went dark.