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?

I

the pendant's smooth surface. For a long time, she had

memories and dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew

in an orphanage after

detail stood out. For a long time after waking up,

hadn't understood

of fire made perfect sense if she

were only assumptions

there was

Richie's deep longing

a devotion etched into his very being,

drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping

toddled over to Richie with her

she asked, her

met. Leslie didn't yet know

had just given him, unwilling to throw it

is Richie," he

soon as he spoke, Leslie's parents

onward, you're our child.

Dad, does

want a sibling and a playmate?" her mother replied gently with a

"But I wanted a younger brother, not

darted back to Richie, and a mischievous glint appeared in

first, so I get dibs. From now on, I'll be your big sister, and you'll be my little brother.

several years and much taller. Do you

course it is! I

a firm nod. She ruffled chie's

swnevel

get

your

filling the room with

the name in her

and

at Isabel and wondered if he

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet

face. His gaze drifted downward, landing

lips, which

the

bobbed

They looked... delicious.