Chapter 15
As Isabella felt her heart explode with a kaleidoscope of colors, everything around her
descended into chaos.
The look in Xavier’s eyes was bold and unhidden, filled with desire.
Though it seemed like forever, only a little over a minute had passed before she bit her lower lip, lowered her gaze, and whispered nervously, “Okay.”
Slowly, she reached out and held his hand. His palm was warm and soft.
Xavier’s heart skipped a beat.
At 3:00 pm, they checked into a luxury hotel in Canneville, far from home.
She knew exactly what was about to happen, so her nerves were all over the place. She barely remembered how she unpacked her clothes or ended up in the bathroom. When she came out, her skin was damp with steam.
Xavier casually walked in with his change of underwear and a bathrobe.
By the time he came out, she was already in bed, her hair completely dry. She lay under the covers, showing only her round head, too shy to meet his eyes.
Xavier slipped into bed beside her, sliding under the covers and slowly wrapping his arms around her from behind. They shared the same smell of the shower gel, their breaths blending
into a familiar comfort.
He felt her trembling and spoke softly, “We don’t have to do anything. Just let me hold you.”
She turned her eyes on him, looking like a small, wronged deer. “But I already took a shower.”
And then, passion ignited.
Xavier kissed her first, and the hand on her waist quickly unbuttoned her shirt. “I’ll be gentle,
he rasped. His voice was already hoarse, barely recognizable.
Later, they came up with some excuse and didn’t return home until the third day.
The next morning, Xavier left early.
As he was about to head out, Olivia, sitting in the living room sipping coffee, noticed and called out, puzzled, “Why are you up so early? And why are you going out with wet hair and carrying a bag?”
His hair was still slightly damp from the shower, similar to how it had been the previous
night. He only answered her last question, “I’m going to Titanium.”
He owned an apartment at Titanium.
Olivia frowned. “Aren’t you staying for breakfast?”
“No,” he replied, walking swiftly out the door. In the bag he was carrying were the pajamas he had slept in last night. That morning, he had taken a cold shower just to cool down the desire that had built up overnight.
Only he knew about the dream he had. The person who caused it was still fast asleep upstairs.
When Isabella finally came downstairs after getting ready, both Douglas and Benjamin had already left for the company. She joined the elders for breakfast before heading off to the Clarke residence.
The Clarkes lived in Novena, which was about an hour’s drive from Canneville. She took her car keys and decided to drive herself. Before she left, Olivia handed her several bags of gifts, insisting that she take them to the Clarkes.
The Clarkes residence was lively that day, with everyone gathering there, knowing that Isabella was coming.
As she drove into Novena, she called her younger cousin, Ryan Clarke, and told him to come out and help her carry the gifts in about ten minutes. Ryan, always obedient to her, immediately stopped playing his video game and happily ran outside to wait.
When she parked and saw him jogging over, she smiled and teased, “You’re pretty obedient, huh?”
“Of course!” he replied proudly.
“Help me carry these,” she said, pointing to the trunk and unlocking it remotely so the back. slowly lifted open.
Ryan peeked inside and pouted with disappointment. “Doesn’t the Valdez family know you have a younger cousin who’s still growing?”
The gifts were all things like herbs and coffee–nothing a teenager like him would care for.
Isabella knew what he was thinking, so she chuckled and asked, “Aren’t you taking the college entrance exams soon?”
“Yeah, this month,” he replied.
“Okay. If you do well, I’ll buy you your first car.”
“Seriously?” His eyes lit up.
For a little genius like him, doing well on the exams was no challenge. Winning a car in the
process was a sure thing
Isabella nodded without hesitation.
The two of them carried several bags of gifts toward the house Halfway there, the rest of the family came outside to greet them. There were about four or five people, a mix of old and
young
Her uncle, Alex Clarke, came over to help carry the bags
“I was wondering why Ryan ran outside so suddenly without saying anything. Turns out he got a call from Isabella,” her grandmother, Lilian Houston, sald, leaning on her cane, supported by her daughter–in–law,
Next to them stood a young woman with a gentle face–Ryan’s sister, Anne Clarke, who resembled her brother quite a bit. Lilian’s eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Isabella.
Alex was the sole pillar of the family now. As he walked closer, Isabella noticed the gray creeping through his hair, and her heart clenched with sadnes
“You’re home.” His voice was deep and gravelly, heavy with the weight of years.
When Isabella’s parents had their accident, her grandfather, Bobby Clarke, passed away with a heart attack. That year, the Clarkes family’s world had collapsed.
Alex, who had only been in his 20s at the time and newly married to his wife, Wendy Lloyd, took on the role of his brother and promised to help raise Isabella
But for reasons she didn’t fully understand, Lilian had changed her mind after a conversation with the Valdez family and decided to let them raise her instead.
Despite the distance, Alex had always treated her like a daughter, and she respected him deeply.
Isabella nodded softly in response.
The family exchanged pleasantries, arms linked as they made their way inside for a long- awaited reunion.
