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 Leslie's

Her birthday?

I would have cracked

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

resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced that she might

her childhood, waking up in an orphanage after a high fever

a long time after waking up, she would tremble

hadn't understood why

piecing everything together, the fear of fire made perfect sense if she

assumptions and speculations

then, there

feel Richie's deep

his very being, so profound that it made her heart

drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping into a

dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie with

your name?" she asked, her wide eyes full of

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

candy wrapper Leslie had just given him, unwilling to throw

name is

he spoke,

onward, you're our child. Your name will be Richard,"

large eyes at her parents. "Mom, Dad, does that mean he's part of our family

a sibling and a playmate?" her

pouted. "But I wanted a younger

back to Richie, and a mischievous glint appeared

this family first, so I 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

you by several years and much taller. Do you really think it's appropriate to call

course it is! I think

replied with a firm nod. She ruffled

swnevel

get

your big sister

parents laughed again, filling the room with

Isabel murmured the name in

of bed and was buttoning his shirt, paused when he heard

Isabel and wondered if he had heard

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet affectionate

Xander's face. His gaze drifted downward,

lips,

the

Adam's apple bobbed as

They looked... delicious.