ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO MR POPULAR

CHAPTER 5

_THE MONSTER

"Isadora, such a lane name" Helen sneered settling herself comfortably into the armchair

"What does your mother do?" she questioned her gaze piercing Isadora like a blade

"She runs a business" Isadora responded fighting to maintain her poise

"Oh a business? Some kind of... popular enterprise?"

"No just a small bar And I'm an only child My father passed away some years ago"

"Good lord I can't fathom how my precious Leonardo could have married someone like you Frida's parents were wealthy and her family held status. My family is prominent, too I run a successful enterprise my husband was a renowned figure my daughter still in school is building her own name And now we're stuck with someone like you a nobody a nameless wretch."

Isadora bit her lip to restrain her tears, her anxiety reaching a breaking point as she heard footsteps descending the stairs

"mum you are here"

"Leonardo darling I just wanted to surprise you," Helen purred embracing her son

"Well, you succeeded," Leonardo chuckled but his smile quickly faded as he caught sight of Isadora fleeing the room

Helen followed his gaze her lips curling into a condescending smirk "I can't believe you married such a nameless witless girl What were you thinking?"

"I didn't have a choice Mom It's all because of Frida."

"When is Frida coming back?" Helen asked

"She said in five years" Leonardo replied.

"Five years?" Helen scoffed "That's an eternity You'd better pray nothing happens between you and Isadora before Frida returns"

"What do you mean Mom?"

"It's simple That Isadora is your type even if she doesn't dress to impress You can't deny it"

"Me fall for that girl? It's not possible I'll never be attracted to a nameless nobody like her She disgusts me And how long are you staying Mom?"

"A few months I think it's time I took a closer look at this girl."

★★★
Isadora stood in the shadows tears streaming down her face as she eavesdropped on the conversation

"Nameless" Helen's voice echoed in her mind "I'm just a nameless nobody to him."

As the sobs racked her body she reached for her inhaler the hiccups making it hard to breathe

"He's a devil a monster" she whispered

Then, her phone vibrated A message from Jane: "Your mother's sick Come home"

"I need to see my mother" Isadora repeated pacing back and forth as her gaze landed on the hoodie and mask on the table
★★★
"Five years?" Coco exclaimed

"I'm telling you Frida's an idiot" Amy retorted.

"A lot can happen in five years This could backfire on Frida big time"

"I hope Leonardo leaves Her for Isadora"

"She's your sister,"

"She's acting like an idiot I hope Leonardo's not mistreating her I heard your mom moved in with them"

"She did" Coco confirmed, her gaze glued to her phone A message appeared on her screen her eyes widening in surprise

"What is that?" Amy whispered her voice quivering as she peered at the screen over Coco's shoulder

"That's who she really is" Emily said  breathed, her eyes fixed on the video "I can make this go viral."

In an instant Emily lunged for the phone "I'm going to post it!" she cried but Coco and Amy quickly overpowered her pushing her into the storeroom and locking the door

"Let me out" Emily screamed pounding on the door

"We have bigger problems," Coco warned

"Leonardo"
★★★
Leonardo's office door flew open Karen rushing in

"Mr. Leonardo, you have to see this," she said thrusting her phone into his hands

He glanced down his eyes widening in shock "How bad is it?"

"It's already gone viral,"

"The paparazzi," Leonardo murmured his hands shaking

"They're outside already."

"We have to bring this under control" he barked

"There's nothing we can do" Karen stammered her face growing pale as Leonardo's fingers dug into her neck "I'm paid you all so handle this" he snarled "I want these videos and photos taken down now"

He released her and Karen scurried from his office

Enraged Leonardo swept his arm across his desk sending papers and books flying

George burst into the room his eyes wide with alarm "Leonardo calm down"

Leonardo's knuckles turned white as he clenched his car keys

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to deal with that bitch" Leonardo growled
★★
Isadora dropped her phone her face draining of color as she stared at the comment section "I wore a mask how did they manage to capture my face? Leonardo's going to kill me"

"There was something off about the bride" one comment read

"Leonardo's rich," another added"Why's his wife taking a taxi?"

"Look at that place Is she living in a dump?" one user scoffed

"She shouldn't even be called Leonardo's wife She's a slum-dwelling, low-life bitch Disgusting"

"And she goes to a rundown hospital? Pathetic,"

the scathing comments poured in like a flood:

"who's that disgusting woman? leonardo's hit a new low marrying someone with no name on the internet"

"nameless and useless why would he marry her at all?"

isadora dropped her phone tears streaming down her cheeks"i just had to take my mom to the hospital," she sobbed.

then, leonardo's voice echoed up the stairs, booming with rage

"where the hell is that bitch?" he roared

"leonardo please calm down" helen pleaded

"don't tell me you've seen the video and the comments," leonardo seethed his rage palpable as he pounded on isadora's door "that bitch is going to destroy me!"

isadora cowered inside fumbling to lock the door as leonardo's tirade continued each blow reverberating through the house

"open this door right now, you bitch!" he howled

ignoring isadora's terrified pleas leonardo forced the door open charging in like a raging bull his grip was like iron as he seized her collar dragging her toward the wall with a sickening thwack his hand connected with her face leaving a crimson imprint on her cheek she scream

pinned against the wall isadora's heart pounded as she looked into leonardo's eyes it was a glimpse into the abyss the face of a devil and a monster staring back at her........