Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 177

Isadora's hand slipped, and her phone tumbled to the floor.

A woman's voice was still coming through the speaker, but Isadora ended the call on reflex.

Maybe it was just an accident.

She tried to reassure herself, but her fingers trembled on the steering wheel.

For a long moment, Isadora just sat there, folding her hands over the wheel and lowering her head against it, lost in silent, tangled thoughts.

From outside the car, the interior looked dim and shadowed. Her slender figure was hunched in the driver's seat, shoulders shaking ever so slightly with quiet despair.

***

Across the Atlantic, in Solstrand.

Victor emerged from the bathroom wearing gray lounge pants, a black sweater thrown on carelessly, and a towel draped around his neck. His hair was damp and a bit tousled.

He paused when he saw the tall woman in the living room, dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans.

brow furrowed, his expression darkening.

It was Nannie Hayes.

himself to save Victor's mother during a kidnapping. In gratitude, Mrs. Fitzgerald had

event had changed the

you could almost call them childhood friends, though in

the Fitzgeralds, Nannie was almost like a chess piece: as long as she obeyed, prosperity and privilege were hers.

found out, she sent Nannie abroad. Nearly ten years had passed since she'd last been

she was only here because the old lady had called, asking her to deliver something—and,

at the man

a strong nose, and those hooded eyes that always held a hint of mischief. Nothing

one glance, and she felt her heart

she couldn't let the old lady see through her

check on you. She was worried you'd get so caught up in

insulated container on

tossed it into the laundry basket, and,

"Yes. I was going to bring it to you, but the call ended before I got

fingers, his gaze turning cold. "Unless it's

stood quietly, obedient as ever.