Chapter 10
The motorboat cut through the azure sea, Isabella standing on the deck, letting the sea breeze mess up her blonde hair freely.
She gazed at the castle on the cliff growing more distant, her heart feeling like it was being squeezed tight by countless hands, the pain making it hard to breathe.
Vitale might never know that this separation could be forever.
Once Sonia's wedding was over, she would be sent back to her hometown.
"Goodbye, my cheetah," Isabella whispered softly, closing her eyes and letting the salty sea breeze whip against her cheeks, trying to numb the dull ache in her heart.
After Torian escorted her to the port, he bowed respectfully in farewell: "Do you need me to accompany you to the hotel?"
"No need," Isabella forced a smile, "Take good care of him for me."
When she arrived at the five-star hotel hosting the wedding, the dressing room was already packed with busy bridesmaids and makeup artists.
The moment Isabella pushed open the door, the room suddenly fell silent.
All eyes focused on her, those scrutinizing, curious, malicious gazes piercing her skin like needles.
"Look, the girl who stayed out all night is back," a girl in a pale pink bridesmaid dress deliberately raised her voice.
"I heard she was taken away by that red-haired man last night? They definitely had sex. Oh my God, I've seen that man, huge muscles, must have been quite an experience."
"Look at her, she definitely had a great time. God, isn't she way more beautiful than last night?"
"The glow after being loved by a man is really enviable."
Isabella suppressed the discomfort in her chest, maintaining surface calm as she moved through the crowd.
She found Sonia trying on her veil in the master bedroom.
"Oh my God!" Sonia put down the jewelry in her hand, dramatically looking Isabella up and down, "My dear Isabella, after just one night, how did you become so radiant?"
Her gaze swept over Isabella's entire body like a searchlight: "Looks like you had quite an exciting night."
"You're the most beautiful one today, Sonia," Isabella skillfully changed the subject, "Everyone will be captivated by you."
Sonia smugly adjusted her veil, beckoning to her: "Come here, let me see if that legendary Vitale left any souvenirs on you?"
"Nothing at all," Isabella took a few steps closer, "He was a gentleman, nothing happened between us."
"What?" Sonia suddenly raised her voice, and everyone in the room looked over, "He didn't want you? Why? Does he look down on you? Oh my God, he actually rejected you?"
Snickers came from all directions.
Isabella maintained a proper smile: "Dear Sonia, there's no need to let everyone know about this. We can talk calmly."
"Of course," Sonia put on her diamond earrings, her smile sweet, "I'm just so concerned about you, you know."
Isabella rolled her eyes when Sonia turned around.
Sonia never cared about her half-sister. This concern was just to satisfy her own voyeuristic desires.
But she had to maintain surface harmony.
Today, she had to make sure Sonia and Colt got married smoothly, or she would be the next victim.
"Seriously though," Sonia suddenly lowered her voice, "Did you two have sex or not? With his build, making you climax seven times in one night wouldn't be too much, right?"
Her eyes became suggestive: "Poor Isabella, is your vagina all torn up?"
"We really didn't," Isabella repeated firmly.
Sonia suddenly stood up, her fingers grabbing the shoulder strap of Isabella's dress and yanking hard.
The sound of tearing fabric was particularly harsh in the room.
The air in the dressing room seemed to freeze.
"Liar!" Sonia screamed, "Look at the marks on your back!"
Isabella stumbled back to the mirror, twisting to look at her own back.
On her shoulder blade, a clear kiss mark bloomed like a rose petal on her skin, especially striking in the mirror.
"That damn bastard," Isabella murmured, imagining Vitale secretly leaving this mark while she slept.
So his so-called gentlemanly behavior still hid such little tricks.
Sonia slowly put down the diamond earring in her hand, those carefully made-up eyes locking onto Isabella like a venomous snake.
"Dear Isabella, everyone's been talking about you all morning."
"They all say you were taken away by that red-haired nouveau riche. Want to know how much he paid you for the night?"
Isabella clenched her fists, anger showing on her face: "Watch your words, Sonia. Vitale is a gentleman."
"A gentleman?" Sonia laughed exaggeratedly, turning to the other bridesmaids, "Did you hear that? Our Isabella is actually defending a man who picks up random women at parties."
She suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice: "When he fucked you, was he this gentlemanly too?"
Isabella stepped back, only to be blocked by the vanity table: "I told you, nothing happened between us."
"Really?" Sonia's finger lightly traced Isabella's dress strap, "Then how do you explain staying out all night? Unless..."
"You're pleasing several men at once, so you can't remember who you were with?"
Malicious snickers continued to spread through the room.
Isabella felt blood rushing to her cheeks: "You know it's not like that."
"What do I know?" Sonia blinked innocently, "I only know that on the eve of my wedding, you left with a strange man like a prostitute."
Her finger suddenly pressed hard, poking Isabella's shoulder: "Was he rough? Tell me, did he hurt you when he fucked you?"
Isabella couldn't help raising her voice: "We didn't have sex, I told you."
Sonia suddenly smiled, circling around Isabella: "Then what about the kiss mark on your back? What's your excuse for that?"
Isabella gently adjusted her torn dress and suddenly smiled: "You're right, Sonia. Vitale did leave a mark on me."
Her fingertips lightly touched the kiss mark: "But this proves he's a true gentleman. Even when he couldn't help himself, he only chose this way that wouldn't truly hurt me."
Isabella turned to face all the prying eyes, her voice clear and firm: "Now, if anyone still has questions about my private life, feel free to ask me directly."
The dressing room fell silent, no one daring to gossip anymore.
Sonia snorted coldly, sitting back at the vanity: "Looks like my Isabella has finally grown up."
Isabella looked at herself in the mirror, that kiss mark seeming to still burn.
She suddenly realized this might be a message Vitale left for her—their story was far from over.