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.

stringing you along, and you're pregnant..." Eleanor's voice trembled slightly, anger and worry mixing.

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

remembering how she'd once gone to beg Deanna Fitzgerald for understanding,

fork, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said he'd marry

Fitzgerald matriarch will never allow it. Even if you marry in,

her mother. "I trust Victor.

fell silent, searching her daughter's

she gently

want to believe him one

trust

gaze lingered on Isadora. Her voice, unusually gentle, broke the

on Isadora's lips,

be with him, I'm not some old prude. I only want

that, Eleanor stood and

in her

into her pajamas. She curled up on the bed a copy of

In

knees. Half an hour passed, and she hadn't made it past the first

Her thoughts kept circling.

to marry her, but with Dorian Fitzgerald's recent passing, she knew they'd have to wait at least three

Suddenly, her phone rang.

at the screen

husky voice came through, casual yet

house. Will you come

doing here? I told you I

"Mm."

light shining from an upstairs window. "Are

"No," Isadora replied firmly.

didn't want to sneak out

came again, lazy yet

"Sick? What's wrong?"

"Dunno. Fever, maybe."

almost nonchalant, but there was an

"How high?"

"102."

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

why aren't you at the hospital? Why come