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.

trembled slightly, anger and worry mixing. "The Fitzgeralds

not nobody. We can't let

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

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

old Fitzgerald matriarch will never allow it. Even if you marry

at her mother. "I

searching her daughter's

dark lashes fluttered as she gently placed

one more time," she said

trust the tenderness buried deep

Her voice, unusually

word "sure" hovered on Isadora's lips, but she couldn't

not some old prude. I only want what's best for you. But I want the Fitzgeralds to come here properly and ask

that, Eleanor stood and left the

in her bedroom,

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

In

her knees. Half an hour passed, and she hadn't made

Her thoughts kept circling.

knew they'd have to wait at least

Suddenly, her phone rang.

glanced at the screen

man's low, husky voice came through, casual yet tinged with fatigue.

Will

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

"Mm."

at the pale light shining from an upstairs

"No," Isadora replied firmly.

still awake. After their conversation, she didn't want to sneak out to see Victor-that would only confirm her mother's

voice came again, lazy yet

"Sick? What's wrong?"

"Dunno. Fever, maybe."

but there was

"How high?"

"102."

and at

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