Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 20

Magnus frowned, the word "breakup" grating on his nerves. He hated hearing her say it.

If she hadn't brought it up that day during that ridiculous "kidnapping" game, maybe he wouldn't have acted so coldly since.

He let out a short, contemptuous laugh. "If it weren't for me just now, Pearl would've had you right where she wanted. Tell me, Isadora-how is it you're so quick-witted and sharp-tongued with me, but when it comes to the Vaughans, you suddenly turn into a shrinking violet? Or is your temper only reserved for me?"

Five years together, and Magnus knew exactly how to cut her down.

But this time, Isadora didn't snap back. Instead, she smiled-a casual, distant smile, the kind you give a stranger. "Oh, I almost forgot to thank you for earlier. I devoted myself to you for five years let's just call this your severance pay."

There was nothing but cold indifference on her face as she looked at him, and Magnus' frown deepened.

her place in the Vaughan family, she'd need his status to keep Richard and Eleanor at bay. This

Magnus stepped forward, his tone softening just a bit. "You've been giving me the silent treatment for days now. Even that

give her closure, to grant her one last wish. If it matters so much to you, I

a favor-made it sound like he was making the

just found

and he still didn't

actually believed she'd staged the kidnapping just to

she realized how utterly

heels now less than a foot from the edge of the pool. Every fiber of

you really think that promising me an even bigger wedding is all it takes? That I'll forgive you, run back to you like before, and wait obediently for your

with you. So let me offer my sincere congratulations— you and Elise should just tie the knot for real. Why bother with a sham ceremony when you two

taken aback by her vehemence. In the past, whenever he said he'd let things go, whenever he offered her something as grand as an even more lavish wedding, Isadora would always