Chapter 388: Dazed
Isabella was in a daze as she stared up at the roof in her room. She should be sleeping. She’d been up since early this morning, had no rest over the weekend and needed to go to work in the morning again, but that sleep seemed to have disappeared. Her brain seemed to be treating Ian’s words as some sort of catchy music as his words repeated there, as if in a loop.
"We are in an exclusive relationship. This means you won’t be seeing anyone and neither would I. Also, about this morning, I did not do whatever your overactive imagination has you thinking! Erica was there for business and thought that she could use me to get it. All we did was talk business. Capsice? Understood?"
She’d nodded without comprehending but he wasn’t satisfied. Instead he’d continued to scold her! "And what do you mean it was just a bit of fun? Are you looking down on yourself. Don’t you dare do that! I cherish that you trusted me and angry that you trusted so little? And why are you not expecting a relationship? For that matter, even if you are not, you have a right to ask questions about us! So, am I clear about my intentions?"
And instead of answering him, she’d continued to stare at him as he stared at her. And then he’d smiled and caressed her cheek," Isabella, repeat after me. Ian and Isabella are in a relationship. I expect him to be totally committed to this relationship. And if he dares to break my trust, I will break his bones."
Isabella shook her head, sighed and muttered to herself," And like a fool, I even repeated the words."
But as she closed her eyes, she knew that there was a warmth in her heart. All these years, she’d assured herself that she was being herself. Even if it meant going against the expectations of her parents. But in little time, Ian had changed things around.
Everytime, he made her see a different version of herself. He’d somehow made her trust him and open up so that she realized that everything she had been doing until now had been a rebellion of sorts, trying to challenge her parents and test their love for her.
Unfortunately for them and even more so for herself, they’d been failing miserably. On the other hand, Ian seemed to take everything in stride and treat her differently. Not byhis words, but by his actions he had proven to her that people’s opinion of her or even her own low opinion of herself made no difference to him. He... cared for her. For her.
It made her feel ticklish inside. As if a thousand butterflies were dancing in her stomach. Maybe this was what it felt to be a female lead in a romance novel? Giggling, she caught the pillow on the side and hugged it to herself before something reminded her to ruin her mood.