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?

not. If it were, I would have cracked it

the pendant's smooth surface. For a long time, she had been haunted by a

and dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced that she

childhood, waking up in an orphanage after a

waking up, she would tremble

understood why

fear of fire made perfect sense if

these were only assumptions and

there

could feel Richie's deep longing for

his very being, so profound

drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping into a

dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie

she asked, her wide eyes full of

first met. Leslie didn't yet know his

clutched the candy wrapper Leslie had just given him, unwilling

is Richie,"

soon as he spoke, Leslie's parents

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

sibling and a playmate?" her mother

I wanted a younger brother, not

eyes darted back to Richie, and a mischievous glint appeared

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

by several years and much taller.

is! I

with a firm nod. She

swnevel

get

your big sister

the room with

Isabel murmured the name in her

out of bed and

wondered if he had heard

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet affectionate

face. His gaze drifted

lips,

the morning

Adam's apple bobbed as he

They looked... delicious.