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.

you along, and you're pregnant..." Eleanor's voice trembled slightly, anger and worry mixing. "The Fitzgeralds haven't said a word, haven't even reached out-what

may not be much, but we're not nobody. We

once gone to beg Deanna Fitzgerald for understanding, only to

barely

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

lip, looking at her mother.

silent, searching

gently placed

believe him one more time,"

trust the tenderness buried

on Isadora. Her voice, unusually gentle, broke

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

Take this month to think it through. If you truly want 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 the right

Eleanor stood and left

in her bedroom,

pajamas. She curled up on the bed a copy of "The

In

passed, and

Her thoughts kept circling.

Dorian Fitzgerald's recent passing, she knew they'd have to wait at least

Suddenly, her phone rang.

at the

voice came through,

your house. Will you

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

"Mm."

pale light shining from an upstairs window. "Are you coming out?" he

"No," Isadora replied firmly.

want to sneak out to see Victor-that would only

lazy yet strangely boyish. "I'm

"Sick? What's wrong?"

"Dunno. Fever, maybe."

there

"How high?"

"102."

his voice, and at that number, she

aren't you at the hospital? Why come