Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
“You’re lucky to have Nathan,” she says suddenly, her voice smooth as silk. “He’s a good man. He knows how to take care of the people who are important to him.”
Her words linger in the air, and I feel my chest tighten. “Important?” I murmur, my voice small. Has Nathan slept with her? Did they have something?
The masseuse smiles softly, her hands continuing their steady work. “Yes. He’s always been very generous. Always makes sure everyone’s taken care of.”
Her words feel too intimate, too knowing, and my stomach twists with a surge of jealousy I can’t quite suppress. Has she felt his touch? Has she been in his bed, too?
I close my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, but they linger, gnawing at me. The smell of the room—lavender, vanilla, and a hint of musk—seems to press down on me, making it harder to breathe. The luxury of it all, the way everything is so perfect, so flawless... I feel like an intruder. Like I don’t belong here.
The masseuse’s hands glide over my skin. “You seem tense,” she comments, her voice light but observant.
“I’m fine,” I lie, but the truth is, I feel anything but fine. I feel... small. Insecure. Like I’ll never be enough for a man like Nathan.
After the massage, I feel physically relaxed, but my mind is in turmoil. I can’t stop thinking about Ralph, about the tracker he placed in my bag, about the call... and now, about the masseuse and whether Nathan has ever been with her. I make my way back to my room, the weight of it all pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket.
NATHAN
I step into the mansion, the cold winter air still clinging to me, but the warmth of the house feels distant, like something has shifted. I brough Isabella roses, to show her how much she means to me, but as I walk through the halls, I can feel tension growing. Where is it coming from?
The library is quiet, the fire crackling softly in the hearth, casting a soft glow over the velvet drapes and the thick rugs on the floor. It’s the kind of night that should feel peaceful, romantic even. But when I step inside and see her, my heart clenches.
She’s curled up by the window, her knees pulled to her chest, and tears stream down her cheeks. The sight of her, so fragile, so beautiful in the dim light, makes something inside me snap.
“Isabella,” I whisper, moving toward her, the roses forgotten in my hand.
She doesn’t look up at me, her body trembling with quiet sobs, and I can’t stand it. I kneel beside her, my hand reaching out to gently brush the tears from her cheeks. Her skin is soft, delicate, and the sight of her like this—so vulnerable—ignites something fierce and protective in me.
“What happened?” I ask, my voice low, trying to keep the edge of panic out of it.
Isabella looks up at me, her eyes wide and filled with fear. “Ralph... he found me.”
The name hits me like a punch, and I frown. “Who’s Ralph?”
She hesitates, her breath coming in short, shaky gasps. “He lived across the hall from me. He’s been... watching me for months. I didn’t have proof, but I always felt like he was there, lurking. Then the break-in happened, and I knew... I knew it had to be him.”
Anger surges through me, but I force myself to stay calm. “What happened today?”
She reaches for her bag, her hands trembling as she pulls out a small, black tracker. “He put this in my purse. He’s been watching me the whole time. Nathan, I’m so sorry... I didn’t know.”
I stare at the tracker, rage boiling in my chest. How dare he? How dare anyone make her feel unsafe? Make her feel like she has to run and hide? I’ll destroy him. I’ll make sure he never gets near her again.
But I push the anger down, forcing myself to focus on Isabella. She’s the one who needs me right now. “Princess, look at me,” I murmur, my thumb gently wiping away another tear. “This isn’t your fault.”
She shakes her head, her voice breaking. “But it is. You don’t deserve drama like this.”
“You didn’t bring anything into my life that I didn’t want,” I say firmly, cupping her face in my hands. “You’re not a burden. Do you understand me? You’re mine, Isabella. And I will take care of this.”
Her lip trembles, and I can see the guilt in her eyes, but all I can think about is how beautiful she looks, even now. Even with her tears, even with the fear that’s wrapped itself around her heart, she’s still the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. So delicate. So fragile.
And I want nothing more than to protect her, to make her feel safe forever.