Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 369

Isadora returned to the house that evening to find the dining table set with a comforting spread: a pot of homemade chicken soup, sautéed shrimp with broccoli, perfectly seared salmon, and salad.

The fragrance filled the air, warm and inviting.

Eleanor emerged from the kitchen, removing her apron and handing it off to the waiting housekeeper.

"Come on. Dinner's ready," she called.

Mother and daughter sat together in the dining room, sharing the meal in companionable silence.

Eleanor ladled a generous portion of soup into a bowl and set it in front of Isadora. Throughout dinner, she would glance over at her daughter with an unreadable expression, as if there was something she wanted to say.

Even someone less perceptive than Isadora would have picked up on it. "Mom, is there something you want to talk about?" Isadora finally asked. Eleanor set down her fork, thinking for a moment about how to begin. "Last night, a friend of mine saw Nanette at the Grand Regent Hotel."

Isadora's mind jumped to the excuse she'd given Eleanor the night before-that she was going to Nanette's to avoid the thunderstorm. Apparently, that little white lie hadn't gone unnoticed.

Eleanor's worried eyes met her daughter's. "Isadora, where were you last night?"

Isadora pressed her lips together. "I..."

Eleanor frowned. "You were with Mr. Fitzgerald, weren't you?"

Realizing there was no way to hide it, Isadora nodded sheepishly.

"I knew it. You've been acting strange lately. Why are you getting mixed up with him again?"

"Isadora, you promised we'd leave Capitolion together."

Isadora answered quietly, "We are leaving."

"Then why are you seeing him now? Are you having second thoughts?"

Isadora shook her head softly.

Eleanor sighed, her tone growing more earnest. "If you really want to leave this

city, you have to be decisive. Cut things off with him cleanly."

Isadora tightened her grip on her fork, knuckles turning white.

go, and he keeps stringing you along, and you're pregnant..." Eleanor's voice trembled slightly,

be much, but we're not nobody. We can't let them treat us

more Eleanor spoke, the more upset she became, remembering how she'd once gone to beg Deanna Fitzgerald for understanding, only

down her fork, her voice barely above a

Fitzgerald matriarch will never allow it. Even if

lip, looking at her mother. "I trust Victor. He'll protect

silent, searching her

dark lashes fluttered as she gently placed

believe him one more time," she said

promises. To trust the tenderness buried deep in his

lingered on Isadora. Her voice,

on Isadora's lips, but she

to be with him, I'm not some old prude. I only want what's best for you. But I want the Fitzgeralds to come here properly and ask for your hand, to do things

Eleanor stood

in her bedroom,

into her pajamas. She curled up

In

hour passed, and she

Her thoughts kept circling.

they'd have to wait

Suddenly, her phone rang.

the screen

husky voice came through, casual yet tinged with fatigue.

your house. Will you come

blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here? I

"Mm."

seat, Victor looked up at the pale light

"No," Isadora replied firmly.

conversation, she didn't want to sneak out

again, lazy yet

"Sick? What's wrong?"

"Dunno. Fever, maybe."

there was an unmistakable

"How high?"

"102."

his voice, and at that number, she couldn't help scolding

have a fever, why aren't you at the hospital? Why come