Chapter 60 Bed of roses.
Isla’s POV.
The ride home was a quiet one. Dante sat beside me, tapping on his screen.
I sat at the other side of the window, looking as the streets blurred away.
“Careful not to catch a cold.” Dante said, trying to pull in inside.
“I need fresh air.” I gently pulled his hand away.
“Do we have to do this all the time?”
“Not again,” I muttered to myself.
Damian had been busy lately.
Dante had insisted on taking me home. Not like I didn’t have a choice.
“How do you feel?” He asked, sliding his hand into mine.
My body jolted.
His eyes locked on mine.
“You look pale. You should get more rest.”
“Hmmm. Why do you suddenly care so much?”
He paused, then shied his eyes away.
“I’ve always cared about you. You just don’t see it.”
I bursted into laughter. “Keep those feelings to yourself.”
In a few seconds, we arrived home.
I hurryingly opened the door and walked inside.
He followed behind me.
“Isla!” I pretended as if he didn’t exist.
In three strides, he caught up with me. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him.
A soft gasp left my throat before I could control it.
“Can we not fight anymore?”
His hands moved around my waist.
I gripped on his shirt to maintain balance.
“Do you enjoy pulling me close all the time?” I asked, moving my hands through his button.
His hot breath grazed on my neck.
I jerked.
“You’re my wife…”
I grabbed his shirt and pushed him away.
“Get the hell away from me please,” I turned and walked away.
He didn’t move. He watched me walk into the hallway.
I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me.
“God! It’s good to be home.” I gently dropped my bag on the couch and jumped on the bed.
After three days of sleeping in the hospital, I’m finally home.
After a few hours of a warm bath, I felt so refreshed. I haven’t had that in days.
A knock came at the door.
“Is there never a day where I’d have a moment of peace in this house?”
I walked to the door, and opened it.
“Dinner is ready, Mrs.” A servant informed me.
“I’m not hungry,” I said, almost closing the door.
But then, my stomach growled.
“Damn stomach…” I said, circling my hand on them.
I turned to her, smiling. “I’ll be there soon.”
When I arrived at the dining room, Dante was already seated, waiting for me.
“You’re here,” he said, pulling out a seat for me to sit.
“Sit,” he ordered.
I pulled another seat across from him.
My hands found the cutlery and I dug into the food.
“You must be very hungry. Take it easy.”
I ignore him.
The only thing I wanted to do right now is eat and think about my life.
“Why are you staring at me? You should eat too.”
“You look pretty whenever you’re upset.”
Hmmm. I snorted. “Your words won’t flatter me.”
“Save that for your mistress.”
The expression on his face changed. “I don’t have a mistress.”
“I don’t care anyway.” I hissed. “It’s your life, you can do whatever you want with it.”
He slowly stood from his seat, dragging his feet toward me.
My eyes darted on him, following every movement he made.
“What are you doing?” My voice went soft.
“Don’t come close… stay where you are.”
I pulled my chair backward, slowly standing.
My heart skipped, my lungs burned.
He closed the distance between us. My thighs trembled as my back hit the table.
I couldn’t move, he pinned me against the table.
He looked at me, really really looked at me.
“Isla, have you ever loved me as a husband?”
What’s he playing at? Self pity?
Yes, I’ve loved him once, but that was in the past.
I was hoping that even if it was a contract marriage, maybe someday he would look at me.
Maybe I would have a place in his heart.
Stupid me, I was being delusional.
When I needed him, he wasn’t there. Now I don’t need his support anymore.
You can’t force love, it comes on its own.
My heart only belongs to Damian, and no one can change that.
“Have you ever loved me as your wife apart from the contract agreement?”
“I… I…” he held my shoulder.
“You what?”
“I’ve always loved you, Isla,” his voice cracked.
“You think I’ll believe you?”
“You have to. No matter how hard I try to deny it, my heart aches.”
“Hahaha, quit acting. I won’t buy your cheap dramas.”
“Excuse me. I need to rest,” I said, walking away.
“Can you give me some time to make it up to you?”
“I already gave you chances. I’m no longer interested in anything that has to do with you.”
He held my wrist. “Just this time.”
“All my life, nobody ever gave me a chance. I’ve always lived by the decisions of other people.”
“I just want to live for myself.”
I won’t make any mistake of hurting myself anymore.
“Do you think he loves you? He’s just using you.”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
“You don’t love me either! You just don’t want to lose me to him.”
His eyes flared cold, a smirk tugged in his lips.
“How are you even sure he hadn’t been lying from the very beginning?”
“Hmmm. No longer playing sympathy haa?”
“How are you even sure you’re married to the right twin?”
My pulse hit my rib cage. “What does he mean?”
This wasn’t the first time they had said that to me.
I had ignored it at first, thinking maybe it was just a joke to scare me off.
Why was he repeating those words again?
Are they playing some kind of games with me?
“What else do you know about him apart from his First name?”
“Can you even differentiate between the two of us?”
My body trembled, my knees almost gave out.
“Am I really married to the wrong twin?”