After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen

Chapter 222 They've Been Discovered

Before the sneeze escaped, a large hand suddenly reached over and covered Isabel's mouth.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she froze, straining her ears to listen intently.

"Don't move "Xander raised a hand, and all the bodyguards instantly halted, holding their positions.

Silence.

The room was so quiet that the ticking of the antique clock on the wall was deafening. Tick, tick, tick!

Isabel held her breath, not daring to make a single sound.

Richie, too, remained still, as his hand firmly covered her mouth.

A full minute passed. Xander stood up, his sharp eyes scanning the living room before focusing on the sofa.

"Is there something under the sofa?" Leo couldn't help but ask.

Xander kept staring at the base of the sofa. At his signal, Leo called two men over.

"Move the sofa."

Isabel nervously pressed a hand to her chest as if trying to calm her racing heart. Richie, although tense, was much calmer than Isabel. He knew that even if they moved the sofa, it wouldn't matter. Creak! The sofa was moved aside and it revealed nothing.

Isabel breathed a sigh of relief. She thought to herself that the hidden compartment design was ingenious. Only pressing the button on the sofa would activate it; simply moving the furniture wouldn't trigger the mechanism. "Boss, what was it just now?" Leo asked curiously.

"Nothing, maybe I misheard something," Xander replied, withdrawing his gaze from the floor.

"So, what now? We've searched every corner of the entire villa and found no one. They might have escaped through the window earlier," Leo speculated.

"Let's go. Keep men stationed here," Xander ordered before striding out with his long legs.

"Yes. You guys, stay here and keep watch," Leo instructed before following Xander out.

The living room was plunged into darkness once more after the lights were turned off and the door shut.

Slowly, the sofa moved back to its original position. Isabel and Richie emerged one after the other from beneath it.

"Who exactly are you?" Richie stared directly at Isabel, his eyes sharp with suspicion.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's get out of here first," Isabel said firmly.

Richie considered her words. She had a point-if Xander came back unexpectedly, they'd be caught red-handed.

window and nimbly climbed out. Isabel followed but hesitated,

fiercely earlier, yet now she climbed like an old man in his

anything, Isabel suddenly slipped from the window. Instinctively, he

heart pounded in

That was close-too close.

leg went

set her down as his gaze fell on the emerald guardian angel

did you get this?" he asked

the pendant, then stared at Richie's face for a

tell you, but you have to show me your

had a hunch that he was the person she knew as both had "Rich"

scrutinized her. "Fine, but

where I got this thing, and I want to see your face. That's called fair trade. If you make another demand, it won't be fair-unless I get to add another condition." "What condition?" Richie asked calmly. He was curious

you are," Isabel demanded as her sharp

me guess... Are

between them instantly became

silence was so grave that you could hear a

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached.

them turned their eyes in

We had

had deliberately feigned retreat, luring them out

afford to be caught by

could already see him and the bodyguards following

wasn't enough time to

was racking her brain for a solution, Richie's voice came close to her

first! I'll hold

didn't know why he blurted that out. Perhaps it was because of the emerald guardian angel

now was in honor of

course, his instincts told him she was most likely not an

to stay behind and let her

Isabel said quickly before

Xander

broke away to give

take on

she'd be delayed, and the others would surround

suddenly reappeared, blocking the guards' path and standing in

"Go!"

it!" Isabel nodded and swiftly disappeared into

stopped moving as he