Chapter 713 Isadora Is My Only Woman 2
By the time they stepped outside, Avery was still simmering.
In a shadowed corner of the club, he caught Isadora by the wrist and pressed her against the wall, his mouth crashing down on hers. His kiss was rough, unrelenting, a claiming more than anything else. She didn't fight him, and that only made him push harder, tasting every breath she gave.
When he finally drew back, he didn't move far. His forehead rested against hers, his voice low and rasping. "Why didn't you fight back? I thought you couldn't stand me."
His tone was teasing, but Isadora knew him too well. Beneath that edge, Avery cared.
The last time, he had blurted out a question about her and Tobias. She'd been angry then, and hadn't denied it. But tonight was different. Tonight, strangers had mocked her in front of everyone.
Her fingers curled around his arm. "I've never been with anyone else," she said quietly.
For Avery, the weight of those words was crushing.
He pulled her into a fierce embrace, his gaze locked on her face, one hand sliding to her waist. His breath was hot against her skin. "Why didn't you say that before? If you had, we wouldn't have gone through all of this."
The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable, and she knew exactly where his mind had gone.
But tonight, she wanted to give in. She knew how hard it had been for him to hold back earlier. And what woman didn't like being defended? Maybe she could give him a reward.
Avery wasn't satisfied with that. He wanted her to cut ties with the man she'd been set up with.
Leaning against the wall, she lifted her chin and said softly, "There was never anything to begin with."
He didn't believe her.
He took her phone from her pocket, typed out a blunt message ending things, and sent it. Only then did he take her away. She didn't ask where they were going.
It was summer, and she wanted to let go—just this once.
In the car, she thought he would head for a hotel or one of his apartments. Instead, Avery drove toward the mountains.
The road wound upward, the city lights below stretching like a river of gold. The air was cool at the summit, the night quiet except for the wind.
Avery lit fireworks, the bursts painting the night sky, then pushed her back against the hood of the car and kissed her again.
Her arms went around his neck. "Sometimes you're unbearable, Avery. And sometimes you're… perfect. If only you could stay like this."
He smiled against her lips. "Then I'll keep changing until you're satisfied."
He didn't rush to take her. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a diamond ring, the stone blazing even in the dark. Threading it onto a fine chain, he fastened it around her neck. "Don't lose it. Five-point-two carats aren't easy to replace."
She froze, unsure what to make of it.
It didn't feel like a proposal.
Avery cupped her face, kissed her long and slow before murmuring, "Wear it. We'll date first. When you're ready, we'll get married. If you're not, you can find someone else—but I'll break his legs."
And then he took her, right there.
Isadora held him close, listening to his reckless words. She thought he must be insane—and she must be too, to let herself waver, to let this happen in a place like this.
Maybe it was the chaos of the night, the pull of old memories. She let it all go, giving herself over to him completely.
A fine rain began to fall.
Avery carried her into the car. Through the misted glass, their faces were blurred, but the diamond at her throat swung and caught what little light there was.
Back in the private room of the club, Erik was pale and desperate. He clung to Jacob's arm. "Jacob, please. Tell Avery I didn't mean anything by it. I'd never dare to insult Isadora. I was only looking out for him."
Jacob shoved him away with a cold laugh. "You're lucky he didn't kill you tonight. Go back to the office and clean up every mess you've made. Don't say I didn't warn you—if I can't get away with crossing Avery, what makes you think you can?"
He added, "Erik, I can't help you. I don't want to help you. Did you forget? Isadora is my sister-in-law. You're lucky we didn't take you apart together. Now get out."
When Erik left, the room stayed silent.
Everyone knew his days were numbered. In this circle, he was finished. No one would do business with him again. He'd go from drinking champagne to begging for scraps.
Whispers began to ripple through the crowd. The Montagues and the Windsors, united—who would dare defy them?
Only Isadora.
With her sister wed to Jacob and her daughter cherished as the Montagues' darling, she moved through Evergreen City as if every street and doorway belonged to her. For Erik to mock her personal life was pure suicide.
While the others talked, Elliot slipped out.
Elliot was Jacob's younger brother.
He hadn't taken over the Windsor Group, but Oliver had given him more than enough to build his own empire. His tech company had grown to two thousand employees, and he was in talks with Samuel for an acquisition.
Samuel was remarrying and moving abroad. He'd decided to sell at eighty percent of market value—a quiet compensation to Taylor, Elliot's cousin. Elliot already planned to transfer the difference to Taylor's account.
The night lay still and silver under the moon.
Elliot stepped out of the glittering club, the scene from earlier still fresh in his mind. He shook his head with a wry smile.
Smart men didn't drown in love.
He had once. He'd thought they were in love. He'd knelt with a ring, promising her forever. And she had told him it was all a misunderstanding.
She had been poor. She had needed money. She'd made a bet with someone that if she could make the proud Elliot fall for her, she'd win a million dollars in cash.
A million dollars meant nothing to the Windsor family. But it had bought and destroyed his love.
Across the street, a massive billboard lit up with an ad for the latest starlet. Her face was all sweetness, her lips curving as she spoke the scripted lines.
Elliot stared at it, cold and unblinking, wishing he could rip the wall down.
Molly. The woman who had played him.
Behind that innocent face lurked a heart rotten to the core. Elliot prayed their paths would never cross again.