Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 23

The calm surface of the pool shattered once again.

Before Isadora could react, Magnus had already leapt in after her with swift, decisive movements.

In the water, Magnus's powerful strokes carried him quickly to Elise's side. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her toward the edge of the pool.

Elise, once rescued, lay gasping on the ground, coughing up water that had flooded her lungs. Her eyes fluttered open, and when she saw Magnus, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Magnus, I—I thought I'd never see you again," she choked out between sobs.

Ignoring the fact that he was drenched, Magnus draped a towel over Elise's trembling shoulders, then scooped her up in his arms.

As he passed Isadora, his voice was icy and sharp. "Isadora, I never thought you could be so cruel. If you want to play games, there has to be a limit. Elise isn't well this could have killed her."

Without waiting for a reply, Magnus carried Elise straight toward the front door, not sparing Isadora a single glance.

after him. "Magnus, don't

striking something deep

at him with

for a moment, then pressed

celebration had turned into

like Elise's victory, once again," someone muttered. "Isadora should've known she couldn't win. If she keeps this

go? She's been obsessed with Magnus for five years. She'll never give him up, no

so long. Even if the world tells her to

see their guests off.

party, in the Vaughan family's living room, tension hung heavy

tight with worry. Eleanor sat nearby, gulping down iced tea in a futile attempt to cool her anger. Tonight's humiliation had surpassed anything she'd experienced in her life. Slamming her glass down, Eleanor turned on her daughter. "Isadora, what were you thinking? I wanted to talk about setting a wedding date, and you dragged Magnus away. Then, when I tried to get Elise to leave, you made her jump into the pool! Even a child wouldn't pull such a ridiculous stunt. Why not just

at Isadora, his tone harsh. "Tomorrow, you're going to

downing it in one. Her words were

had before, just as he always would. And in that moment, Isadora

truly this foolish? Why keep