Chapter 298 There was a loud thud.
Isadora tossed the entire cardboard box-contents and all-straight into the trash bin by the door.
The sound made Victor's gaze darken, his expression turning stormy.
A moment later, Isadora appeared in the doorway again.
She slipped off the sapphire bracelet she'd been wearing.
"I think it's tI gave this back to you," she said.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIsadora held out the bracelet.
Victor didn't take it.
She set it down on the table instead.
Victor stared at the bracelet. The sapphire still caught the light, sparkling coldly, but sitting alone on the table, it looked even more forlorn.
He remembered the last tIsadora had been angry with him-she'd still worn the bracelet, stubbornly refusing to take it off. He never imagined that this time, she'd actually return it.
She was serious about the breakup.
He almost wanted to applaud her for it.
Victor's jaw was set, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Isadora, I suppose after so many relationships, you're a pro at breakups, huh?" She knew he was taking a jab at her history with Magnus-their on-again, off-again romance.
Isadora just smiled. "Well, at least it's better than stringing someone along when you've already got a fiancée, Mr. Fitzgerald. I'd rather not waste your time." For a moment, the weight of everything they'd shared pressed in on them. Maybe they hadn't been in love, but those moments of warmth and happiness weren't so easy to erase. All they could do now was tuck away their true feelings, hide the most vulnerable parts of themselves, and pretend to be unaffected.
Victor narrowed his eyes, his gaze shadowed as he studied her. He knew she'd used him, made skind of deal involving Deanna. He didn't care about that-if she'd only asked, he would have handed her The Vaughan Group, or anything else she wanted.
What bothered him was that she'd said she didn't love him.
Victor had never been jealous of anyone in his life, but he had to admit he was damned jealous that Isadora still loved Magnus.
The thought soured his mood even further.
"So should I thank you, then?" he said coldly. "All this self-sacrifice, is it really for me—or just for you and Magnus?" Isadora knew that denying it now-telling him she had nothing with Magnus, that she didn't love him-wouldn't change anything. It was better to just let it go.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHer throat tightened. She bit her lip and forced a steady voice. "If there's nothing else, I'll leave now. We don't owe each other anything anymore." Pudding had been napping in the other room, but now he woke up, catching the familiar scent. Instantly, he bounded out, barking at Isadora as she made for the door.
Isadora froze when she saw Pudding-his bright, eager eyes fixed on her, as if asking why she was leaving.
Her composure, carefully held together all night, began to crack. She sniffed, crouched down, and stroked him tenderly.
"Pudding, be good, okay? Eat your meals, go on your walks, and... be a good boy."
Pudding heard the tremor in her voice 1.
and sensed that something was different tonight. The sadness in the air was unmistakable. He grabbed the hem of Isadora's jeans with his mouth, trying to hold her back, not letting her leave.
Isadora truly loved Pudding.
Watching him like this, her heart ached. She thought of the baby NO m growing inside her, and tears welled up, spilling over before she could stop them. She wiped her eyes, which were now red and swollen. "I probably won't be able to visit you anymore. You're getting older now, and you have to stay healthy." Victor watched the scene unfold-a woman and a dog at the doorway, as if they were parting forever. The sight made his chest tighten with frustration.
"What is this, a funeral? He's not dying, is he? Why can't you csee him?"
Isadora looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears, her voice unconsciously laced with hurt m "You're the one who said a good ex should disappear completely from each other's lives. Pudding is your dog. Of course I won't get the chance to see him."