osure firmly in place. "Mr. Evans, your brother told me to handle

athaniel's car pulling off so abruptly earlier had alr

he was a kid. I'll deal with him when I get the chance. And you

othly toward Isabella, his posture composed as

ze drifting anxiously to Natalie. It was only their first day dealing with the marr

a glanced down at the hand extended toward her. After a brief hesitation, she place

ver before had a man held her hand so op

. After everything that had already happened between

he lengthened her stride, hur

nreal. By the time she realized i

n't settled-she was married now, bo

turning his cool gaze toward her. "You and your sister can ride together. The d

. understood

low, measured tone. "You might want to r

e faintly at his words, her head di

more unnatural, almost impossible to s

loring her earlobes, and without adding anothe

ure recede into the distance. Only after he vanishe

again, Natalie was alre

the name slipping out with a s

d the strap of her bag, before she reached out and gently wrapped her h

abella, her lashes damp as a ge

e, she caught her sister's gen

lancing at her. "Bella, you're here with me while I register the marria

rs in a rush, her voice bright despite the tremor. "

ooked up and spoke in a routine tone. "Miss Brown, you'l

en and wrote Nathaniel's name in the spouse column, each stroke steady a

ow Alexander's every expectation, believing that even if she never earned his affection, she could at

Natalie had suffered any mistreatment the night before, but Natalie only me

servants surrounded them on all sides, and anything they s

be, so all she could do was soothe her sister and quietly gu

e, Natalie pulled her into

thaniel isn't all that smart. I can deal with him without much trouble. And even if Alexander scares you, don'

in shock, but before she could resp

ood in the silent, empty living room and

.

ght, Alexander stil

sabella perched tensely

rows of neatly arranged outfits-clearly prepared for her in advance. While deciding what

if they might slip free with the slightest movement, wh

g for too long, and eventually she eased herself b

, Alexander caught sight of the figure nestled beneath the

rossed his mind-he w

abella pushed h

ore falling loosely, while one delicate strap had already slid off her shoulde

ouette swallowed her in shadow, echoing the suffoca

Isabella instinctively stilled, h

oice roughened by fatigue, carrying a

she quickly dropped her gaze, fingers t

ting her to look up-his loosened tie swayed lazil

ring on the fallen strap at her shoulder, and then drift

it, his voice calm and detached. "I've had a few drinks

, the realization settling in that

voice near her ear. "But tonight,

sending a ripple of involun

he realized it hardly felt

eks as she murmured softl

a steady, unyielding kiss. Fingers curled into the sheets be

.

on Isabella that even lifting a finger felt impossible. Relief flickered through h

e blinked at his une

felt the steady warmth of his chest at her back, her

hat did you do today?" Following the sex, hi

instinctively steadied her breathing before a

silence, adding, "The house is so big... I just wan

, brief and unreadable, and the

in her mind, urging her forward

rself at a loss, unable to bridge the distan

gain, her voice soft and cautious. "Tomorrow...

o feel. "Be ready at nine. You'll go to the hospital with my mot

ka

of my grandmother, don

rigid she stayed, her slight frame unmo

-he was twelve years older than Isabella, so of course s

his hand away, preparing to settle back and sleep, her delicate

alright if I called yo