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?

If it were, I would have cracked

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

fragmented memories and dreams resurfaced repeatedly, she grew increasingly convinced

thought back to her childhood, waking up in an orphanage after a high fever wiped

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

hadn't understood

the fear of fire made perfect sense if

only assumptions and

then, there

Richie's deep

into his very being,

fell

Leslie toddled over to Richie with her tiny

she asked, her wide eyes full of

met. Leslie didn't yet know his

clutched the candy wrapper Leslie had just given him,

is Richie," he

he spoke, Leslie's

today onward, you're our child. Your name will be Richard,"

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

want a sibling and a playmate?" her

pouted. "But I wanted a younger brother, not an older

and a mischievous

I'll be your big sister, and you'll be my little brother. Got it?"

older than you by several years and much taller. Do you really think it's

is! I

with a firm nod. She

swnevel

get

your big

the room

the

and

wondered

"I'm hungry," Isabel mumbled.

yet affectionate

Xander's face. His gaze

posy lips, which

the morning

bobbed

They looked... delicious.