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.

is Leslie's

Her birthday?

it were, I

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

dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced that

her childhood, waking up in an orphanage

after waking up, she would tremble and

hadn't understood

piecing everything together, the fear of fire made perfect sense

only assumptions and speculations

then, there was

could feel Richie's deep longing for

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

her thoughts drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping

dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie with her tiny

your name?" she asked, her wide

met. Leslie didn't

had just given him, unwilling to throw it

name is Richie,"

as he spoke,

child.

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

sibling and a playmate?" her mother replied gently

"But I wanted a younger brother, not an

to Richie, and

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

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

it is! I

nod. She ruffled

swnevel

get

your big

filling the room with warmth

the

had just gotten out of bed and was buttoning his

stared at Isabel and wondered if

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet affectionate

on Xander's face. His gaze drifted

posy lips,

the morning

Adam's apple bobbed as he

They looked... delicious.