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

Her birthday?

were, I would

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

she grew increasingly convinced that she might

in an orphanage after a high fever wiped away

detail stood out. For a long time after waking up, she would tremble and cry whenever

understood

fire made perfect sense

were only assumptions and speculations

then, there was

Richie's deep longing for

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

thoughts drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping into

dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie

she asked, her wide eyes full of

met. Leslie didn't

had just given

is Richie," he

as he

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

her parents. "Mom, Dad, does that

a playmate?" her mother replied

pouted. "But I wanted a

and a mischievous

to 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

is older than you by several years and much taller. Do you really

is! I

replied with a firm nod.

swnevel

get

your

laughed again, filling the room with

murmured the name

had just gotten out of bed and

stared at Isabel and wondered if he

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

helpless yet affectionate

gaze

lips,

in the

Adam's apple bobbed as

They looked... delicious.