Chapter 113 113

Chapter 113 113

CHAPTER 113

CLEAR SIGNALS

ISABELLA

Huh!?

I touched my cheek again to confirm that my eyes were indeed seeing correctly. The blood was watek and sticky, dripping down my jaw. I could feel it starting to dry there, pulling at my skin like a second layer I didn't ask for.

Camille was still staring at me, her coffee cup forgotten in her hand.

"What happened?" she asked again, her voice going softer and becoming more worried but insistent.

I dropped my hand, thinking of what to say because there's no way I'll tell her her mum cut up my face.

“It's nothing for you to worry about. I'll be fine.”

And of course, she stared at me like I had a few screws loose.

“What happened to you Izzy? It looks like you were hit.”

Knowing Camille, I knew that she was not going to let it go and I just needed to give her something to chew on.

"I ran into my bathroom wall when I woke up this morning. Y'know… sleepy eyes and all."

Her eyebrows dipped. "A wall cut your face?"

"I'm clumsy."

She stepped closer, her eyes moving over my face, arms, and my posture in general. I straightened, trying to hide the ache in my ribs.

"You're not clumsy," she said. "And that's not a wall scratch, that's a ring. Someone hit you."

My heart lurched. "Camille—"

"Was it Julien?" Her voice was hard now. "Did he do this?"

"No." The word came out too fast. "It wasn't him."

"Then who?"

I looked at her and all I saw was a bestfriend who has been through so much in the space of weeks. She was already carrying the weight of her father's secret, her mother's presence and he slow unravelling of everything she thought she knew. There was no way I could add her mother abusing me to it.

"I told you I'm clumsy." I forced a smile. "Can we just... drop it?"

She stared at me for a long moment, then she sighed.

"Fine… but at least let me clean it up. You're bleeding on your collar."

I looked down and she was right. A small red stain was blooming on the white fabric.

"Okay," I said.

She led me to her room. The first aid kit was in the bathroom cabinet, white and looking like it had been untouched for years. She pulled out antiseptic wipes and cotton pads and made me sit on the edge of the bathtub while she worked.

The antiseptic stung, making me hiss.

"Sorry," she murmured. "Just try to hold still."

She dabbed at the cut gently, her face close to mine, her brow furrowed in concentration. I watched her in the mirror. She looked tired, her eyes were puffy from crying and her hair was pulled back in a careless knot.

Was this vacation really now a vacation?

"There," she said, pressing a small bandage over the cut. "It's not deep, it shouldn't scar."

"Thank you."

She put the supplies back in the kit and closed the cabinet. When she turned, her eyes were searching again.

"Isabella."

"Yeah?"

She shook her head. "Fine, keep your secrets." She walked to the door. "If Julien is trying something and you need to talk—"

"I know where to find you."

With a sigh, she nodded and left. I sat there for a moment, staring at my reflection. The bandage was small, white and almost invisible. And it hid perfectly my horrors.

I stood and walked out.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I stayed in my room, avoiding Julien, avoiding Élise and avoiding everyone. Camille checked on me once, brought me lunch. She stayed and we had girls talk for a while before she left again.

By evening, the house had settled into its usual rhythm. Voices in the dining room, clinking of glasses and the low hum of conversation. I went down for dinner because hiding was exhausting.

The table was full. Camille, Élise, Julien, at the far end, his eyes flicking to me and away. Alexander's chair was empty… as usual. I sat, ate and said nothing.

Halfway through the meal, the door opened.

Alexander walked in, looking the worse I'd seen him in days. He didn't bother to sit, he just stood in the doorway, scanning the table. When his eyes landed on me, he held my gaze for a beat longer than necessary.

“Oh welcome back, Xander. Care for dinner?”

He turned to look at Elise and said nothing before taking his gaze away. Then he turned around and walked out, his gaze lingering on me longer.

That has got to be a signal.

I looked back at my plate, my heart pounding against my chest. I sat there, still munching on my food. And about 2 minutes later, I set down my fork.

"I think I'm done," I said. "Excuse me."

I didn't wait for a response, I stood and walked out of the dining room. Observing the surroundings, I made my way towards his wing. His door was closed, but I didn't knock. I just turned the handle and slipped inside.

The room was dark, but there was an unmistakable hand above my head that pushed the door shut and turned the key in the lock. Then his hands were on me.

Wothout saying a word, he pulled me against him. His mouth found mine, his fingers tangling in my hair. He kissed me like he had been starving, like the hours apart had been days, weeks or years.

Grabbing his shirt, I kissed him back as hard, pulling him closer and letting him press me against the door.

"Alexander—"

"Shh." His lips were on my neck, trailing wet kisses down my skin. "I need this. I need you."

I need you too… more than I can say.

“Allow me the chance to mark every inch of your skin as mine,” he whispered against my neck, trailing his lips up to my ear.

My hold on him got tighter and a response slipped past my tongue.

“Do to me, whatever you want.”