Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 176

"Oh?" Deanna's sharp gaze flicked over the file in Isadora's hands, but she made no move to take it. “Miss Vaughan, are you turning your nose up at my gift?"

Isadora drew in a deep, steadying breath.

She knew Deanna had been waiting for her today, deliberately setting this meeting. Otherwise, with the Vaughan family's modest standing in the business world, how could they possibly have caught the eye of the Fitzgerald matriarch?

Not to mention, the Fitzgeralds were one of the most elite families in Capitolion. Every season, the world's finest new jewelry designs were sent straight to their door for their choosing.

Isadora lifted her eyes and met Deanna's gaze. Her voice was unwavering. "I don't want to make a deal with you."

Deanna's lined face was unreadable, but her deep-set eyes fixed on Isadora, unwavering.

Her voice, worn with age, betrayed no emotion. "What's this, then? Have you set your sights on Victor? Want to be the next Mrs. Fitzgerald?"

Isadora's hand trembled as she clutched the file, her expression shifting, her throat tightening painfully.

"Mrs. Fitzgerald, I know my position is awkward and I'm hardly qualified," she said, her voice low but steady. "I don't want to marry into your family, but I... I care about Victor. I'm sorry, but I won't leave him."

As the words left her mouth, the crushing weight in Isadora's chest seemed to lighten, if only a little.

She was still Isadora-at her core, always bold in love.

she realized her feelings for Victor, she'd hesitated, she'd been afraid, even tried to pull away. But in the end, she chose to follow her heart, no

Maybe it was that night he looked at her with such unexpected gentleness as the city lights blurred by. Maybe it was

different from what she'd once

was certain-she

way he lived as if nothing could hold him

desperately,

with

these days are greedy," she said coolly. "If you won't take these shares, I can just as easily give them

Isadora stared, momentarily stunned.

by the commanding

you really so

a raw nerve,

cared for her, maybe

"You thought his trip to Solstrand was just business? Gemma,

heart

but his fiancée never showed up. That's only because she hadn't graduated yet. Our families' alliance will be sealed this

Deanna let her housekeeper help her up, and

utterly drained, as if she'd just fought a losing

to speak her truth, to reveal the secret she'd guarded