Chapter 417: A Plan
Isabella bit her lip, her gaze locking onto Ian’s with hesitant eyes before she took a deep breath. "Ian, I do love you. But we cannot be together. I need time. I have to go away."
Ian sighed, a mix of understanding and concern etched on his face, as he held her close. "Isabella, are you going to say that you need to break up with me again? We haven’t even gotten together again yet."
Isabella sighed, her eyes momentarily dropping before meeting his gaze once more. "Maybe we can take a break... Knowing you love me gives me the strength to face everything."
Ian chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "My little doll, do you really think I wouldn’t know what is going on with you when I say I love you? Who was the one who accused me of not knowing my boundaries? Of always pushing limits? I thought you knew me well..."
Isabella stilled, her eyes widening in surprise. "What did you do?"
Ian feigned innocence; his expression comically exaggerated. "Me? I’m an angel, Isabella. Always have been. But seriously, love, no tricks. Just an uncanny ability to read between the lines. Now spill, what’s going on?"
Isabella looked into his eyes carefully. In that moment, she knew that he was aware of everything that had transpired. And yet, he wanted her to confide in him. And so, she did... letting everything out between sobs as she reiterated the entire conversation, almost word for word, of what had transpired between her and Emerald.
"I knew he did not like me. I always understood that. It is why Inever said anything when he spoke all those things against me. I hoped that someday his hatred would run out and he would see the error of his ways. Even when I accepted the offer from Country N, I had hoped things would have changed when I returned. But this time, it felt different. More than anger at the past."
"It felt like a real threat, Ian. and I couldn’t help but think about Nora and her own hopes about her mother? Wasn’t I making the same mistake? Hoping that enduring everything will make him see the truth. I’d been considering things but I never thought he really would harm my mama."