From Rags to God of War

Dowry

Elsa guffawed. "You want to marry a girl from the Weber family, don't you?" she said, her smirk widening. "Go on, marry my sister!" She waved her hand towards Isabella, who had now reached the bottom of the stairs, her gaze dismissive. "I think you two would be a good match."

Isabella looked at Elsa with cold fury.

"Elsa," Isabella said sharply, "I'm lame, not mute." She shifted her gaze from Elsa to the stranger in front of her, assessing Nicholas carefully.

The man certainly looked disheveled, his clothes worn and his face stern. But there was something peculiar in his eyes, as if the world couldn't shake him. "Who are you?"

"I'm Nicholas Krause," Nicholas replied, unfazed by the commotion around him. "And I'm here to marry one of you two." He looked at Elsa, then back at Isabella, his gaze showing no preference.

Isabella snorted. Elsa chuckled cynically. "Not even my sister would marry you."

A sharp glint flashed in Isabella's eyes, but quickly vanished. She completely ignored Elsa. Her eyes were fixed on Nicholas. Then, something strange happened. With an awkward-looking movement, Isabella took a step forward, her lame foot seeming to trip over itself. Her cane slipped from her grasp and slid across the marble floor with a clatter. Her body swayed forward, directly towards Nicholas.

Nicholas's reflexes were incredibly fast. Before Isabella could even hit the floor, his arms were around her waist, pulling her tightly towards him. Isabella looked up. The distance between them was very close, so close that Isabella could feel her own slightly fast heartbeat and the man's scent.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile, touched Isabella's lips. Her eyes glinted slyly. She had succeeded.

"Interesting," Isabella said, sounding teasing. She moved slightly away from Nicholas, holding his arm to keep from falling.

"Isabella! What are you doing?!" Sonia snapped, disbelieving the scene she had just witnessed. "This isn't funny! Don't play games!"

Isabella ignored her parents. Her eyes were locked on Nicholas. "I will marry you," she said. "But there's a condition. A proper dowry. You said you came to marry me. If you can give me a good dowry, I'm willing." She winked.

Sonia shrieked. "Isabella! You're crazy! Look at this man! He has nothing!"

Adam looked at his daughter with a pained expression. "Isabella, you can't sell yourself like that!"

Elsa stared in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape. Her plan to humiliate Isabella seemed to have backfired on her.

Nicholas ignored Sonia and Adam. He looked at Isabella carefully. His smile was faint, mysterious. "Any dowry?" he asked. "I will give you anything you want, Isabella Weber."

Isabella smiled widely. "Anything?" she repeated. She straightened up, released Nicholas's arm, and carefully reached for her cane lying on the floor. Her limping leg was clearly visible as she stumbled slightly. "Then," she said, looking at Nicholas with a challenging gaze, "how about you heal my leg?"

The room fell silent for a moment, then Elsa's laughter exploded.

"Isabella," Sonia said, holding back her laughter. "You're dreaming, dear. No one can heal your leg!"

"That was just a joke, right?" Adam added.

Nicholas didn't laugh. He didn't change his expression one bit. He took one step forward, closer to Isabella, until their bodies were very close again. He bent down slightly, his voice low, only for Isabella to hear.

"Then," Nicholas whispered, his voice hoarse and deep, "we meet tomorrow night. By the bridge near the river. At eight o'clock."

Isabella looked at him. Nicholas's gaze was very serious. She saw something in the man's eyes, something powerful and unreadable.

Nicholas straightened up, turned without saying goodbye, and walked towards the front door.

"Crazy idea!" Sonia finally blurted out, full of anger. "Isabella, what were you thinking? Healing your leg? What if he actually does it?!"

Isabella leaned back on the sofa, her head turned towards the window overlooking the front yard. Her mind wandered. She knew what her family said was true.

Three years ago, a car accident had taken so much from her. Her right leg was severely damaged, and despite numerous operations and therapies, the world's best doctors had given up. They told her she had to accept the reality that she would be lame for life.

She knew. She knew it well.

So, why had she agreed to this crazy transaction? Why had she challenged Nicholas to heal her leg?

Besides using the situation for her leg's recovery, this was her last way to rebel, to show her family that she still had control, even in the most absurd way.

***

The next night, exactly at eight o'clock, the old bridge over the river was deserted. Only the sound of the water flowing calmly beneath it broke the silence. Nicholas was already there, leaning against his big motorcycle, a sleek black Harley Davidson that looked as fierce as its owner. A thin wisp of cigarette smoke curled from his lips, lost to the cold night wind. His eyes were sharp, scanning the darkness in the distance, waiting.

A black sedan drove slowly, its lights cutting through the darkness. The car stopped not far from Nicholas's position. The door opened, and Isabella got out. Her cane tapped softly on the asphalt.

Nicholas flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, crushing it with his boot. He stood tall and upright, his silhouette exuding an aura of danger and mystery. Isabella stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the man in front of her.

"I can't believe I actually came," Isabella said. She directed her gaze at Nicholas, trying to read the expression on that hard face.

"You're already here," Nicholas replied.

Isabella snorted. "This is ridiculous!"

Nicholas walked closer, now standing directly in front of Isabella. Nicholas's height made Isabella have to look up slightly. He lowered his head a bit, his gaze piercing. "I'm serious. You are too. That's why you're here."

Isabella felt uncomfortable. There was something in Nicholas's gaze that made it hard for her to breathe. She looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath. The cold night air began to sting her bones.

"What's your plan?" Isabella asked, looking back at Nicholas. She tried to hide her curiosity, replacing it with a demanding tone. "You're not taking me to a hospital, are you? I'm sick of doctors and needles."

Nicholas didn't answer. He reached out, taking Isabella's hand. A shock ran through Isabella's body. Nicholas's touch felt cold and strong. She didn't pull her hand away. Nicholas placed Isabella's palm on the shoulder of his motorcycle.

"Get on," Nicholas commanded, his voice flat. He got on his motorcycle, starting the engine. The roar of the engine broke the night's silence, startling Isabella.

Isabella was frozen. "Where are you taking me?"

Nicholas didn't turn his head. "Just get on."

For a moment, Isabella hesitated. However, her gaze shifted to the cane that had been an inseparable part of her life for the past three years. A flash of memory about the pitying looks and sarcastic remarks she had to face crossed her mind. Hatred. Anger. All of it gave her the strength to make a decision.

Isabella gritted her teeth. She lifted her cane, and with one powerful swing, she threw it into the river. A small 'plop' sound was heard as the cane hit the water, then disappeared into the current.

Nicholas showed no reaction. He knew what Isabella was doing. This was a turning point.

Isabella took a deep breath. Then, she braced herself. With difficulty, her limping leg moved. She tried to get onto the big motorcycle, grabbing Nicholas's shoulder to balance herself. It felt strange, and thrilling. A sensation of freedom she hadn't felt since the accident.

Nicholas waited, his hands steady on the handlebars. Once Isabella was comfortably seated in the passenger seat, he gave an instruction. "Hold on tight."

Without another word, Nicholas sped off. The sudden acceleration of the motorcycle made Isabella gasp. She reflexively hugged Nicholas's waist tightly, her face pressed against the man's back. Her long hair streamed in the wind.

The motorcycle sped, leaving the city lights behind and entering winding dark roads. Isabella had no idea where Nicholas was taking her.