Nicholas stepped closer to the bed, his eyes narrowing at Isabella's action of covering her body. "How have you been?" he asked."Me? I—I have been well! Perfectly well...Nicholas," she added the last word after a moment of thought, as if she was wondering if he would be annoyed by that or not."I could tell. I've been here earlier today and I must say, you seemed to have enjoyed yourself during my absence," he murmured, his tone laced with sarcasm.Isabella, however, didn't notice anything wrong with what he said."How was y—your trip?" she stuttered, clenching and unclenching her hand that tightly gripped the sheets."Hectic, as usual. Though this one was particularly worse since someone refused to pick her calls or even return the calls she missed for two whole weeks.""Ah... I'm sorry for that. I was...Busy and uh—I did..." Isabella stopped talking when Nicholas took another step closer to the bed. If he took one more, he would be right beside her. And he did."I heard about the p
Five years ago...17 year old Isabella waited alongside the rest of the Yates family members with their maids and butlers, outside the family mansion. As usual, she was positioned at the back of the maids, and her presence was just as important as that of Angela who was standing beside her. She was basically invisible."They allowed you out of the dark room because of the guest that's to arrive today?" Angela asked, surprise evident in her eyes. Isabella was usually locked in the dark room for a minimum of two weeks, but this time around she was already out even though she had only been there for just two days."That's what I think," Isabella replied. Tilting her head so she could see if her family members had already taken their positions in front of the workers, she added, "It was tougher this time. Dad put some bugs in the room."She rolled her sleeves up to reveal the purplish bite marks which she had itched until it turned to bigger wounds."Oh my goodness, Bella! How did you man
Back to present... Isabella was taking the same decision with Nicholas. She knew being on his side was the same as being on the most powerful side, if she was comparing him to her parents. And at least for now, he wasn't whipping her yet so she could take shelter behind him. She might have to suffer just like she did with Mrs Grey those years before but it was still preferable to getting whipped and locked in the dark room with its countless torture weapons and insects. "You said what?" Nicholas' voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "I did it myself." Nicholas tilted his head, staring down at her with a complex gaze. Though he didn't want to believe her words that she did all these to herself, David's words from when he had asked whom the latter suspected to poison Isabella at the wedding banquet, echoed in his mind. "Miss Yates refused to tell you what was wrong with her even after you showed you were annoyed. And after it got to your knowledge, she still refused to accept th
Isabella didn’t bat an eye when the car pulled up at the entrance of the Saint Violet’s Hospital where a team of doctors led by Joseph Franc were waiting for them. Having lived all her life without venturing out of the Yates’ Estate, there was no way she would know that this was the private hospital that was solely meant for the members of the royal family in the country.‘’Need a shawl? It’s cold outside.’’She turned, hearing Nicholas voice right behind her ears. It was strange; how this man acted. Just like earlier in the bathroom when he had offered to help take off her shirt, her cheeks had reddened instantly and she had immediately stuttered her disapproval. As she didn’t expect him to honor her words, it had come as a shock to her when he turned and walked out of the bathroom.His words when he got to the door, ‘’Wearing that horrified look makes me feel like a monster so keep it off your face. It isn’t like I would touch you without permission.’’For the rest of her bath and
Doctor Jane Branston had expected only two reactions from Nicholas, but she got neither. She expected him to be either angry that she insinuated his wife was supposed to be pregnant or be happy that she insinuated that he was having a happy marriage with his long time obsession turned wife, but instead... His usually sharp blue eyes went dull, and a hint of fear crept into them. That was...unexpected. "Are you alright, Nicholas?" Jane asked, rising from her seat. She walked around the table and didn't stop until she was standing in front of him. "Your face changed just now," she added. Nicholas gritted his teeth, his jaws set in determination as he lifted his gaze to look at her. "Let this be the last time you're broaching that topic, Jane. You know the nature of my job, how dangerous it is. I can't burden Isabella with my babies when I won't be around to take care of them," he stated. "You're joking, right?" Jane asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Since she grew up with thi
Isabella inhaled deeply, calling up the courage which she knew didn't exist, from deep within her. She knew she had to do this, for she had absolutely no power over this.Turning to look at the girl behind her, her friend, she said, "Let's go in."She placed her hand on the door knob and pushed it open as the person behind her also pushed her wheelchair inside the room. Her movement stopped when she got to the desk, and even with her head bowed slightly, Isabella knew that her friend had left her alone in the room, alone with her husband."Welcome home. I hope your drive was not stressful?"She snapped her head up when she heard that cold and gruff voice, and her eyes immediately came in contact with his face. His deep set, expressive blue eyes which were fixed on her, his frowning face with chiseled jawline, and his large muscled body which were moving towards her right now. With jaws slacked in surprise, Isabella wondered how a man could be this handsome."Miss Yates?" He sounded an
"What's the matter, Princess?" Lucas turned to her and asked, the earlier smile on his face now transformed into a frown."I...I didn't know that I was leaving tonight. Don't I need to pack? Also...""Hazel," Lucas called, cutting his daughter off.Hazel nodded in understanding and pushed Isabella away from there, stopping her from asking any more stupid questions. When they were a little distance away from the living room, she stopped and went to stand before Isabella."What are you trying to do by asking that stupid question over there? Shouldn't you know that you are supposed to pack? You don't think Mr. Hunt would waste his money buying dresses for someone like you, right?"Isabella was silent, not able to find any words to refute her mother's claim. In fact, she could not dare to do it as the scars on her body were not healed yet."Okay then. You should start packing now, I'll send Angela over to help you. Mr Hunt's driver is waiting outside already."And she was gone. Isabella h
Isabella was silent for a while, wondering if she had heard well."I asked you to read out the speech on that paper," Nicholas repeated, his expression hardening. His hands balled into fists where they were lying on the table, and that action did not miss Isabella's face. Was he about to beat her?"I...I don't. I can't read it," she stuttered, squirming uncomfortably in her seat."What do you mean you can't read it, Miss Yates? I do know you are your family's adored princess but now, you are married into the Yates family and you should at least cooperate and do whatever I ask you to. That is just the speech you will give to the press at our wedding banquet tomorrow, so you have to read it!"Isabella shivered at the angry tone of his voice. She could tell he was mocking her from his words, 'adored princess', as it was not possible that he did not know how irrelevant she was in her father's house."I really can't read it," she whispered again, trying to convince them.This time around,
Doctor Jane Branston had expected only two reactions from Nicholas, but she got neither. She expected him to be either angry that she insinuated his wife was supposed to be pregnant or be happy that she insinuated that he was having a happy marriage with his long time obsession turned wife, but instead... His usually sharp blue eyes went dull, and a hint of fear crept into them. That was...unexpected. "Are you alright, Nicholas?" Jane asked, rising from her seat. She walked around the table and didn't stop until she was standing in front of him. "Your face changed just now," she added. Nicholas gritted his teeth, his jaws set in determination as he lifted his gaze to look at her. "Let this be the last time you're broaching that topic, Jane. You know the nature of my job, how dangerous it is. I can't burden Isabella with my babies when I won't be around to take care of them," he stated. "You're joking, right?" Jane asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Since she grew up with thi
Isabella didn’t bat an eye when the car pulled up at the entrance of the Saint Violet’s Hospital where a team of doctors led by Joseph Franc were waiting for them. Having lived all her life without venturing out of the Yates’ Estate, there was no way she would know that this was the private hospital that was solely meant for the members of the royal family in the country.‘’Need a shawl? It’s cold outside.’’She turned, hearing Nicholas voice right behind her ears. It was strange; how this man acted. Just like earlier in the bathroom when he had offered to help take off her shirt, her cheeks had reddened instantly and she had immediately stuttered her disapproval. As she didn’t expect him to honor her words, it had come as a shock to her when he turned and walked out of the bathroom.His words when he got to the door, ‘’Wearing that horrified look makes me feel like a monster so keep it off your face. It isn’t like I would touch you without permission.’’For the rest of her bath and
Back to present... Isabella was taking the same decision with Nicholas. She knew being on his side was the same as being on the most powerful side, if she was comparing him to her parents. And at least for now, he wasn't whipping her yet so she could take shelter behind him. She might have to suffer just like she did with Mrs Grey those years before but it was still preferable to getting whipped and locked in the dark room with its countless torture weapons and insects. "You said what?" Nicholas' voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "I did it myself." Nicholas tilted his head, staring down at her with a complex gaze. Though he didn't want to believe her words that she did all these to herself, David's words from when he had asked whom the latter suspected to poison Isabella at the wedding banquet, echoed in his mind. "Miss Yates refused to tell you what was wrong with her even after you showed you were annoyed. And after it got to your knowledge, she still refused to accept th
Five years ago...17 year old Isabella waited alongside the rest of the Yates family members with their maids and butlers, outside the family mansion. As usual, she was positioned at the back of the maids, and her presence was just as important as that of Angela who was standing beside her. She was basically invisible."They allowed you out of the dark room because of the guest that's to arrive today?" Angela asked, surprise evident in her eyes. Isabella was usually locked in the dark room for a minimum of two weeks, but this time around she was already out even though she had only been there for just two days."That's what I think," Isabella replied. Tilting her head so she could see if her family members had already taken their positions in front of the workers, she added, "It was tougher this time. Dad put some bugs in the room."She rolled her sleeves up to reveal the purplish bite marks which she had itched until it turned to bigger wounds."Oh my goodness, Bella! How did you man
Nicholas stepped closer to the bed, his eyes narrowing at Isabella's action of covering her body. "How have you been?" he asked."Me? I—I have been well! Perfectly well...Nicholas," she added the last word after a moment of thought, as if she was wondering if he would be annoyed by that or not."I could tell. I've been here earlier today and I must say, you seemed to have enjoyed yourself during my absence," he murmured, his tone laced with sarcasm.Isabella, however, didn't notice anything wrong with what he said."How was y—your trip?" she stuttered, clenching and unclenching her hand that tightly gripped the sheets."Hectic, as usual. Though this one was particularly worse since someone refused to pick her calls or even return the calls she missed for two whole weeks.""Ah... I'm sorry for that. I was...Busy and uh—I did..." Isabella stopped talking when Nicholas took another step closer to the bed. If he took one more, he would be right beside her. And he did."I heard about the p
Raph beamed, revealing all his whites as he smiled."I will be 20 in a few days," he replied."It's my first time seeing you around. When did you arrive?" Nicholas' tone was strangely soft, surprising everyone in the room. Even Marcus was not left out."It's been a year, Sir."Seeing the questioning gaze in Nicholas' eyes, Marcus interrupted in their conversation, "After the incident with my son last year, I asked Raphael to come join me here. You have been mostly out of the mansion in the past year so that's the reason you weren't aware of his presence."Nicholas gave a curt nod. He could vaguely remember the man taking a long leave in the previous year due to a car accident that took the lives of his son and daughter-in-law. He could guess Raph was Marcus' grandson."So, do you have anything to say about what happened while I was away? Anything about the party or whatever you can think of," he asked.Raph nodded vigorously, ignoring the signal his grandfather was throwing at him."S
The mention of his wife's name sent every trace of drowsiness away from Nicholas' face."What's with her?"Joseph hesitated a while before speaking, "I...I think she's sick. Not physically so don't give me that glare. I think she's mentally sick."Whatever Nicholas had been planning to do to Joseph for saying Isabella was sick when he was the doctor in charge of her, he completely lost all motivation to do it. His doctor was simply stupid."If you're done, Joseph, could you get out of my room? I'm not in the mood for jokes," he stated, pointing at the door.Joseph sighed, "Then don't blame me when the maids begin treating her like a psycho."He straightened and turned on his heels to walk out of the room, thinking Nicholas would call him back. But it didn't happen. Instead, the man in question picked up the earplugs on the bedside table and placed it over his ears."Jobless," he muttered, though his voice was loud enough for Joseph who was at the door the hear him.The door closed and
"Where is my wife?" Marcus wasn't surprised that the question had been directed at him, and even though he knew Isabella was not behind him, he still turned out of formality."Master Hunt...ah, it doesn't seem like the Madam knows you are ba—"Nicholas strode off without listening to all that Marcus had to say. From the old man's hesitance from the get go, he knew what the answer was; and though he was surprised that Marcus was trying to cover up for Isabella, he didn't show it.Hearing the maids and butlers disperse behind him, he headed straight to the elevator which he had ordered to be installed, while Marcus hurried after him."Did she like it?" he asked.Marcus chuckled slightly at the shy question. In a way, he felt like both Master and Madam of the Hunt mansion were similar in a way. They had this childlike behavior that was hidden behind their countless facades of cold and strong individuals."What's with the laugh? Did she dislike it?" Nicholas asked again, his tone showing
"My god...Bella! You have over a hundred missed calls from... what's this? Who is 'Monster'?!" Angela asked. "Monster?" Isabella echoed. The only way to confirm Angela's words was by seeing it herself so she collected the phone and studied the characters by herself. She raised her head in confusion, "It's Nicholas. Where's the monster?"The two stared at each other in silence, trying to comprehend what was happening until it dawned on them all at once."Don't tell me..." Angela started, shaking her head slowly."It's not me," Isabella defended herself. "I asked him to save it himself and he did. I didn't know he used 'Monster'. Do you think it was a test? Does he already know I can't read? No, if he knows then...Hold on, Angel, do you think that's why he sent Mum and—""Calm down, Bella. I uhm, I think we should start seeing things differently. He didn't say anything but just saved it as this, then it could either be that's he's testing you or that he's teasing you. With his reputati