Chapter 10
If Iselle took the pills, she’d slip into unconsciousness, and then, without anyone the wiser, she’d be delivered straight to the Durrell family.
If she refused, Don Morven’s men would simply tie her up and force her into the car.
Iselle almost laughed.
Caelen still didn’t realize
at everything he’d done was pointless.
When she got home, Nolan rushed in, out of breath.
“Bad news–the Durrell family sent word. Mr. Asher was admitted to the ICU last night. The doctors say he’s only being kept alive by machines–he could die at any moment.
“They want us to send the bride over first thing tomorrow morning.
Before Iselle could say a word, Caelen blurted out, “Already? That soon?”
He grabbed Iselle’s hand, squeezing tighter than ever before. For a moment, he actually looked reluctant to let go.
Delphine turned pale, collapsing onto the couch as she clutched Nolan’s sleeve.
“Nolan, I’m scared. What if Mr. Asher dies right after I get there?
“Am I supposed to spend the night with a corpse?”
Nolan’s heart ached for her, and he pulled Delphine into his arms. “No, don’t worry. I’d never let you go through something like that…”
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As he spoke, he glanced at Iselle, but saw nothing in his little sister’s eyes -no fear, just cold mockery.
Suddenly, his face burned with shame, and he couldn’t meet her gaze.
Iselle went upstairs. In the second–floor sitting room, the custom–made wedding gown was already laid out.
Delphine had never even tried it on. If she had, she would have realized it wasn’t her size at all.
Caelen slipped his arms around Iselle from behind, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder.
“Get some rest tonight, Iselle,” he murmured. “We’ll have to wake early to send Delphine off.”
He couldn’t see her face–but he didn’t need to. He felt the way her shoulders stiffened beneath his touch, the silence that stretched a second too long.
Still, he held her tighter. Strange… for the first time, he didn’t want to let
- go.
He shook the thought away.
This was all under control. He’d planned everything–every detail, every
move.
He’d bring Iselle out when the time was right. Then he’d be her savior. And she’d come running back to him. Grateful. Dependent. Completely his.
Even if he married Delphine in a grand, dazzling wedding, Iselle would never truly leave him.
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Chapter 10
She couldn’t. She needed him.
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That night, Caelen drifted into a restless sleep—the first real dream he’d had in years.
In it, he was back in that alley, bleeding out, helpless. Rain poured from the heavens, and then… her.
Iselle.
Tiny, stubborn, trembling–yet still lifting him onto her back like she could carry the world.
The warmth of the memory wrapped around his heart like a bandage, and something in his chest cracked open.
He jolted awake, sweat clinging to his skin.
Then his phone rang.
“Don Morven,” his subordinate’s voice was tight, panicked. “We went to Ms. Iselle’s room. She’s gone.”
Caelen sat bolt upright. “Gone? She ran?! Who the hell tipped her off?!”
“No one. We asked Mr. Branor. He said… she already left on the Durrells‘ wedding car, sir. She volunteered.
་་
The phone slipped from Caelen’s fingers.
He surged to his feet–only for a searing pain to rip through his legs like fire. He gasped and crumpled to his knees with a sickening thud.
The pain wasn’t normal.
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