Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 155

Victor parked the car and stepped out, gently taking Isadora's hand in his.

Together, they crossed to the glass elevator and rode all the way up, the city lights flickering further and further below. When the doors slid open, they stepped out onto the rooftop-a dazzling canopy of midnight blue stretching above them, studded with bursts of fireworks and a thousand glittering stars, as if someone had sewn diamonds into velvet.

The rooftop itself felt almost magical. Balloons and vibrant roses framed a cozy, intimate viewing deck-just for the two of them.

Victor produced a small first-aid kit from somewhere-Isadora had no idea where he'd been hiding it. He took out a cotton swab, soaked it in antiseptic, and reached for her, careful and deliberate as he dabbed at the red, swollen cut at the corner of her mouth.

The sting was sharp. Isadora flinched, instinctively turning her face away, her voice barely a whisper. "That hurts..."

Victor frowned, his tone gruff but his touch impossibly gentle. "Hurts now, does it? Funny-why didn't you dodge when Prescott hit you?" His voice was low, rough around the edges, but his movements softened even further.

Isadora looked away, frustration clouding her eyes. How could she have known Prescott would just walk up and slap her in front of everyone? Even if she'd shouted, even if she'd fought back, it wouldn't have mattered. A woman's strength was no match for a grown man's.

Prescott was impulsive and hotheaded, always ready to defend his own-but only when it came to Pearl. Just thinking about it dimmed the light in Isadora's usually

bright eyes.

bandaging her split lip and said, "Next time, I'm

him, a little incredulous. "You mean... two against one? Are you any

of a smile, his voice dry as he replied, "What's this? I swoop in like a knight in shining armor and your first thought

fought for her. She remembered how effortlessly he'd hauled Prescott out, his forearm taut with muscle, every line in his body radiating cold, dangerous energy that seemed to freeze the air around him. It

finally understood why people always whispered about the Capitol heir's boxing skills. If only she could be half as

then flopped back onto a lounge chair, one arm tossed behind his head, the other lazily playing with her

Suddenly, his phone rang.

then answered

and worried, drifted through the speaker. "My dear boy, I heard you've been working yourself to the bone at the branch office-barely sleeping, flying back in such a rush! Fifteen hours

away on business for a week. Yet here he was, back after just four days- if you counted the flights and all the work he still

his profile—the strong jaw, the sharp nose, the sculpted lines of his face, every feature carved with the same careful precision. But there was a shadow under his eyes, a hint of exhaustion at the corners of his

with warmth and something achingly bittersweet-it was almost too

turned away so he wouldn't notice her