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

surface. For a long time, she had

dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced that she might be

up in an

long time after waking up, she would tremble and cry whenever

understood why back

fear of fire made

were only assumptions and speculations without solid

then, there was

feel Richie's

was a devotion etched into his very being, so profound that

Isabel fell asleep, slipping

the dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie with her tiny

name?" she asked, her

day they first met. Leslie didn't yet

candy wrapper Leslie had just given

name is Richie," he

soon as he spoke, Leslie's parents

From today onward, you're our child.

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

a sibling and a playmate?" her mother replied gently

wanted a younger brother,

eyes darted back to Richie, and a mischievous

your big sister,

by several years and much taller.

it is! I think it's

a firm nod. She ruffled

swnevel

get

I'm your big

laughed again, filling the

Isabel murmured the

and

Isabel and wondered if he had

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet

gaze drifted downward, landing on

lips,

the morning

apple bobbed

They looked... delicious.