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?

If it were, I would have

fingers over the pendant's smooth surface. For a

dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced

up in an orphanage after a high fever wiped away her

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

hadn't understood

the fear of fire made perfect sense if she

were only assumptions

then, there

Richie's deep longing

a devotion etched into his very being, so profound

Isabel fell asleep, slipping into

the dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie with her tiny

she asked, her wide eyes full of

day they first met. Leslie didn't yet know

clutched the candy wrapper Leslie had just given

name is Richie," he

as he spoke,

completed the adoption paperwork. From today onward, you're our child. Your name will be Richard," they announced. "Okay." Richie nodded

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

a playmate?" her mother replied gently

I wanted a

to Richie, and

big sister, and

you by several years and much taller. Do you really

it is!

firm nod. She

swnevel

get

I'm your

filling the room

the name in

just gotten out of bed and was buttoning his shirt, paused

wondered

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet affectionate

on Xander's face. His gaze drifted downward,

lips,

in the

apple bobbed as he

They looked... delicious.