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 Leslie's

Her birthday?

not. If it were, I

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

dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced that

childhood, waking up in an orphanage after a high

time after waking up, she would

understood why back

fear of fire made perfect sense if she really

these were only assumptions

there was

feel Richie's deep

his very being, so profound that it made her

drifted, Isabel fell asleep, slipping into a

the dream, Leslie toddled over to Richie with

your name?" she asked, her wide eyes full

met. Leslie didn't yet

clutched the candy wrapper Leslie had just

name is Richie,"

he

child. Your

Dad, does that mean he's part of our family

a sibling and a

wanted a younger brother, not an older

and a mischievous glint appeared in

From now on, I'll be your big sister, and you'll be my little brother. Got it?" she declared. Her parents

taller. Do you really think

is! I think

a firm nod. She

swnevel

get

your big

laughed again, filling the room with warmth and

murmured the name in her

and was buttoning his shirt,

wondered if he had heard

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet affectionate

Xander's face. His gaze drifted downward, landing

posy lips, which

in the morning

apple bobbed as

They looked... delicious.