NovelFinishChapter 365 Summit Crest Estates.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, rain blurred the world into a gray haze. Thunder split the midnight sky, lightning illuminating roiling clouds as if the heavens themselves were at war.
Isadora stood in front of the window, arms crossed, quietly watching the storm rage outside.
Victor appeared behind her without a sound. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin gently on her hair.
"I thought you were afraid of thunderstorms," he murmured. "So why are you watching?" Isadora blinked, trying to slip from his too-intimate embrace, but Victor's arms only tightened, holding her fast.
For a moment, she simply watched the downpour. "I'm not really afraid of storms," she admitted, her voice soft. "That night, I lied to you." "Oh?" Victor's voice was low, teasing.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I just... wanted you to stay with me." Victor remembered the message he'd missed that night-a pang of regret flickering in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I missed my chance that night." With that, he swept her up into his arms and carried her over to the sofa. Sitting down with her in his lap, he fixed her with a gaze so dark and intense it seemed to swallow the room's dim light.
Under the weight of his stare, Isadora felt a warm flush creep up her neck and into her cheeks. She made a move to get up.
Suddenly, something cool clasped around her wrist. She glanced down and saw a sapphire bracelet encircling her arm, catching the lightning's glint.
"Wear it," Victor said softly.
She looked at the sparkling gems. "I already gave it back to you." His voice was almost a whisper. "It's always been yours." Isadora ran her fingers over the smooth stones. "It isn't mine anymore." Victor gently tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Isadora, I know you don't believe how much I care about you. That's all right. This time, let's take things slow. I'll wait for you." I'll wait for you to fall in love with me, he didn't say, but the promise was there in his eyes-deep, calm, and impossible to look away from, like a whirlpool that threatened to pull her under.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Victor's phone rang. He excused himself to the study for a video conference.
Isadora slipped away to the bathroom, letting a warm bath soak away her fatigue. Only after a long while did she feel her tension begin to ease.
When she cout, Victor had finished his call.
She picked up a magazine in the living room, then headed to her guest room as she always did.
Victor stood by the kitchen counter, a glass of water in hand. The muscles in his throat moved as he th, the sound oddly intimate in the hush of the stormy night.
His dark eyes followed Isadora, gaze as deep and wild as the howling wind outside a silent, irresistible pull.
She bit her lip. "I'm going to bed." His voice rumbled low and warm. "All right." Isadora turned and walked to her room, her steps growing clumsunder the weight of his gaze. Even without looking back, she could feel his eyes burning into her.
She opened the guest room door, stepped inside, and glanced back at him. "Good night, then." Victor didn't move, his eyes tracking her until the door clicked shut.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWith her back against the door, Isadora pressed a hand to her racing heart, willing it to quiet down.
That man-he actually knows how to make her lose her composure.
On the other side of the closed door, Victor stared after her, a quiet laugh escaping his lips. "Coward." Midnight.
Thunder rumbled endlessly across the sky, the storm raging as ift M meant to tear the world apart.
The noise woke Isadora. Her mouth was dry, so she got up to fetch an glass of water. The living room was dark. She didn't bother with the lights, letting the faint glow from the storm outside guide her to the kitchen. She poured herself swater and drank it all in one go.
The cool liquid soothed her nerves, slowly chasing away the restlessness that the storm had stirred awake.
She headed back to her room.
Opening the door, she stepped forward- And suddenly, Victor was behind her, sweeping her up into his arms.
In the next instant, he pressed her gently but firmly up against the door.
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