After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen

Chapter 228 A Kiss to Wake-Up

Richie's question left Isabel momentarily speechless.

"How should I put it? He's very nice to me."

"I can see that," Richie chimed in.

"But-" Isabel's brows furrowed even deeper. "Feelings aren't as simple as liking someone and being together because of it."

"So, you don't have that kind of feeling for him?" Richie asked.

Isabel raised a hand to scratch her neck awkwardly. "I think so? Or maybe... I just can't treat him the way he treats me."

The more Isabel spoke, the more unfair the whole situation seemed to Xander in her mind. It wasn't as if she wanted things to be this way. Just like she had said earlier-if someone liked her and treated her well, was she obligated to reciprocate? Did not returning his feelings make her a bad person?

That didn't make sense.

She wanted to stay true to her heart.

"If that's the case, why are you two still together? Haven't you already exacted your revenge?" Richie looked at her with genuine confusion.

Because of the emerald guardian angel pendant.

But that wasn't something Isabel planned to share with Richie.

"There's a promise between us. For now, I can't leave his side," she explained briefly, then swiftly changed the subject. "Let's get you lying down again. I wasn't done treating you earlier." "Alright." Richie nodded obediently.

That night, Isabel lay in bed, tossing and turning. The events of the day weighed heavily on her mind.

It wasn't until nearly midnight that Xander arrived, right on schedule.

As always, the moment he climbed into bed, he pulled her into his arms.

Isabel feigned deep sleep, staying perfectly still as she waited for him to fall asleep.

Listening closely to his even breathing against her face, she deduced he must be asleep.

To test it, she shifted slightly.

A minute passed and there was no reaction from Xander. He was truly asleep.

Carefully, Isabel slid her hand out, reached under his shirt, and retrieved the emerald guardian angel pendant.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

"Leslie, this is the treasure your parents left you. The password is your ...

The voice faded away again.

password is

Her birthday?

If it were, I would have cracked

gently traced her fingers over the pendant's smooth surface. For a

fragmented memories and dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced that

childhood, waking up in an orphanage after a high fever

For a long time after waking up, she would tremble and cry

understood why

fear of fire made perfect sense if

only assumptions and speculations

there

could feel Richie's deep longing

into his very being, so

her thoughts drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping into a

the dream, Leslie toddled over

your name?" she asked, her wide

day they first met. Leslie didn't yet know his

had just given him,

name is Richie,"

as he

the adoption paperwork. From today onward, you're our child. Your name

eyes at her parents. "Mom, Dad, does that

you always want a sibling and a playmate?" her mother replied

I wanted a younger

eyes darted back to Richie, and

get dibs. From now on, I'll be your big sister, and you'll be my little brother. Got it?" she declared. Her parents couldn't help

much taller. Do

is! I

replied with a firm nod. She ruffled chie's

swnevel

get

your

again, filling the room with

murmured the name in her

had just gotten out of bed and was buttoning his shirt, paused when he

Isabel and wondered if

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet

face. His gaze drifted downward, landing

lips, which

in the morning

bobbed

They looked... delicious.