Chapter 40

ISABELLE’S POV

I turned around, only to find myself face-to-face with Beta Rowan. He had a dark scowl on his face, but his stern expression immediately softened when he saw Matilda still lying helplessly on the floor.

Before I could say a single word, she scrambled off the ground and rushed towards him to stand behind his towering figure, clutching his arm and casting a wary glance back at me with an innocent expression.

Rowan watched the scene with confusion, his gaze flickering between us. His frown deepened when he looked down at Matilda behind him.

“What’s going on here?” Rowan asked, his deep voice filled with concern as he looked between both of us.

Matilda, looked up at him with her doe-like eyes, “I-It’s nothing, really. Princess Isabelle was just... pressuring me.” she said, her voice trembling.

Rowan's eyes whipped back towards me, a deep frown marrying his features. I could see the questions in his gaze, wondering who to believe.

I can't believe Matilda would go as far as lying to ruin my reputation with Rowan. ‘I can't let her get away with this, 'I growled internally.

“Pressuring you?” I echoed, rolling my eyes at her. My voice was laced with sarcasm as I raised my brow. “And what does that even mean in this context?” I crossed her arms, my steely gaze unyielding.

Matilda looked away, biting her lip as if she were some kind of victim. I shook my head at her cheap theatrics, frustration bubbling through me.

Rowan’s brow furrowed at her reaction, and then he turned back to me with a pointed look. “Is this true, Isabelle?”

I let out a dry laugh, crossing my arm over my chest. “No, it’s not true, Rowan. She tripped, and I rushed forward to catch her before she hit the ground. But apparently, even that’s a problem now.”

Rowan’s eyes searched mine for any hint of deceit, but I stood firm, holding his gaze with a calm unbothered expression.

MATILDA’S POV

I clung tighter to Rowan’s arm, trying to maintain my fragile facade. When I turned in the aisle and saw Princess Isabelle, I felt a sudden pang of insecurity. My first instinct was to seek Rowan's protection from her.

Isabelle wasn’t just beautiful—she was confident, bold, and unapologetically herself and she always had a way of rattling me

While the princess had not harmed me at all, her words felt like sharp daggers, that always made Rowan side with her.

I shifted closer to Rowan and cast him a pleading look, hoping he would defend me.

He looked very confused, his eyes darting between Isabelle and me, a dark scowl on his face.

But before he could say anything, Isabelle stepped forward, her sharp eyes assessing me.

“Matilda, you have to explain further how I was pressuring you as you said.” She ordered.

I faltered under her questioning glare, my gaze falling to the floor. I shrunk back away from both of them, a wave of guilt hitting me.

I knew I was in the wrong, I twisted my words so Rowan would side with me. Isabelle was only helping me when I tripped.

“I…I didn't mean what I said.” I whispered. “I apologize.”

Her gaze flickered over me, not losing its intensity for a second. Then she took another step forward.

“Let’s be honest,” she continued, her voice cool yet piercing. “Maybe you’re afraid of me, or maybe you’re just trying to protect yourself. Either way, women shouldn’t scheme against each other over a man. Without these petty games you are playing, we might even be friends.”

I faltered, my breath hitching at Isabelle’s words. Rowan's eyes were trained on me watching me closely.

“I…I…” I stammered, scrambling for a response.

Isabelle didn’t wait another second. She cast me a pointed look and turned on her heel, walking away with an air of grace that only seemed to worsen the silence she left behind.

I stood frozen, my hand still clutching Rowan’s arm. Isabelle’s words kept echoing in my mind, stirring a weird feeling I couldn’t quite place.

For so long, I kept relying on Rowan’s protection, playing my part as a helpless victim to Isabelle.

But in that moment, the scene with her left me questioning the facade I put up.

Rowan glanced down at me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded slowly, but the truth was, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

ROWAN'S POV

I shifted uncomfortably as I watched Matilda and Isabelle, my thoughts were tangled in confusion.

And as I listened to Isabelle defend herself and question Matilda, I could take my eyes off the princess.

I have seen Isabelle many times before, always bright and confident, but today she seemed… softer.

I just couldn’t help but admire her composure. Her eyes were narrowed at Matilda but she wasn't as harsh as I imagined she would be.

For years, I have witnessed some kind of unexplainable tension between the two women, but Isabelle suddenly seems calmer now.

I clenched my fists, I had spent most of my life protecting Matilda, but Isabelle’s presence made me start questioning whether Matilda was really the victim.

Matilda was like a little sister to me and when I was orphaned as a young boy, her parents adopted me and gave me a home. However a ghastly accident claimed her parents' life, a few years later.

As they died in my arms, Matilda's father made me promise to take care of his only child and daughter. And since then I have taken her in as my younger sister and cared for her as I would mine.

Matilda grew up very shy and timid, always hiding behind me for protection , so I always stepped up for her.

As Isabelle whipped around and left the supermarket I glanced down at Matilda. She had solemn expressions as she picked up her basket off the mall floor.

As we returned home, the car was cast in uncomfortable silence. Matilda seemed deep in thought and I was a little supposed when she turned towards me and broke the silence.

“Rowan, I want to visit Isabelle’s house someday.”

My eyes widened. “What? Why?”