MasukIsadora POV I woke up to the smell of something delicious wafting in the air.I licked my lips subconsciously before slowly opening my eyes, trying to orient myself to where I was. The room was bathed in morning light and for a moment I couldn't quite remember how I'd gotten here.Then it all came rushing back.Everything that happened with matches and later with Richard.My heart started to race and I sat up abruptly, my breathing quickening.It took only one face to reset everything to normal though… Richard's.He was standing near the bed fully dressed and holding an empty tray.It seemed like he'd just walked into the room.Richard was smiling at me with something so tender in his expression that it made my chest ache."I brought you breakfast," he said, his eyes glancing toward the bedside table.I followed them and saw he'd set everything up… eggs, toast with jam, fresh fruit, coffee and even…orange juice?All of them were arranged carefully like he'd been thinking about what I
Richard POV I led Isadora upstairs to my bedroom carefully… like she was made of glass and one wrong move might shatter her completely.Honestly, she was that fragile after what happened earlier. I took her suitcase from her and set it down in the corner. This was my bedroom, and in a room like this, something terrible almost happened to her."Sit," I said gently, gesturing to the bed.She sat on the edge like she wasn't sure she was allowed to fully settle into it. I went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water, setting it on the nightstand."Take this. It will help you calm down.” I said, offering the glass to her.Isadora took it but I realised that it was a mechanical act, like her body was following instructions her mind couldn't quite process yet.I moved to the dresser and pulled out one of my shirts."You can change into this.” I instructed her.“Leave your clothes on the chair. I'll take care of them."She nodded and I stepped out of the room to give her privacy
Isadora povAfter practically running out of the house, I went straight to the garden.I sat on the stone bench at the far end of the garden, my whole body shaking.The night air was cold against my skin but I couldn't bring myself to move. Every part of me felt fragile, like if I breathed too hard I might shatter completely.My hands were still trembling. My shirt was torn at the collar where Marcus' hands had been. As I sat there, my mind kept replaying that moment… the wild desperation in his eyes and the way he had pushed me to the bed.I could not get over the sound of his voice…the way it had sounded like a stranger's.I'd almost been raped by my own husband.The thought made my stomach churn.I pressed my hands to my face and tried to breathe through the panic.I heard footsteps approaching me on the garden path and I forced myself to look up.Richard emerged from the house.The moment he saw me, his expression shifted to something protective and furious all at once. He cross
Marcus POVI stepped closer to her, my heart pounding so hard I could barely think straight."Do you want me to prove it to you?" I asked, my voice dropping to something I didn't recognize.She didn't move. She just stood there, her eyes wide, watching me like I was someone dangerous.I was something dangerous.I reached for her and she didn't pull away. Maybe because she was frozen or maybe because she was waiting to see what I would do.Then another sick thought flashed through my mind…maybe she didn't pull away because she wanted this…she wanted me to prove that I was capable of being her husband in every way.My hands found her waist and I pulled her toward me. She was stiff in my arms and unyielding but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. I needed to prove something to both of us.I kissed her but Isadora didn't kiss me back.Her lips were closed and her body rigid against mine Somewhere in the fog of my anger and desperation I registered that this was wrong. That what I was doing
Isadora POV I made it upstairs before the tears came.I closed the bedroom door and leaned against it, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. The words had just fallen out of me downstairs like I'd been holding them in for so long they'd started to rot.I swear I hadn't meant to say it. Or maybe I had. Maybe some part of me had wanted him to know…to understand that this marriage, this life, this performance was over.I was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing, when he knocked.I didn't answer immediately. I wasn't even sure whether I wanted to answer.Marcus knocked again, and this time, it was harder."Isadora, open the door," Marcus said from the other side.I lifted myself up and opened the door for him after figuring out that he wasn't going to stop and if we were to talk, I needed to be this angry…this tired.Marcus stood in the doorway like he wasn't sure if he should come in or stay where he was. His shirt was still wrinkled, his hai
Chapter 37I woke to sunlight filtering through lace curtains and the smell of something baking downstairs.For a moment I just lay there, listening to the quiet sounds of my grandmother moving around her kitchen. Here, there was no tension and no performance. It was just the ordinary vibe of a house where I actually belonged.When I came downstairs, my grandmother was pulling a tray of biscuits from the oven.Her movements were slow…of course they were slow since she was getting old…and practiced."Good morning," she greeted upon sighting me, smiling. “I thought you might like these for breakfast." she said.“ Of course I would love them. You prepared them after all.” I replied.She grinned.“ You and your sweet mouth.”Seeing her smiling made my heart tighten. I'd stayed a whole year without visiting her despite staying an hour drive from her.She raised me after all. I made a mental note to drop by every month on my free days. It would be better to visit my grandmother than atte
ISADORA POVThe dining room was elegant and well arranged.We settled in the sitting room as the servants arranged everything.Marcus' eyes remained on his phone and mine? They remained glued on the door where Richard would be making his entrance from.I didn't have to wait for long before he showe
Isadora pov I stood in front of the full-length mirror, turning slowly to examine myself from every angle.The dress was a deep crimson—the color of sin, of forbidden fruit and everything I was about to do. It hugged every curve like a second skin, the neckline plunging low enough to show the swel
ISADORA POVThe canvas seemed like it was mocking me.I had been standing in front of it for an hour and all I'd managed to create was a mess of dark colors that looked like a bruise.My small art studio was supposed to be my sanctuary. The one place where I could lose myself in color and form.It
ISADORA POVRichard's grip in my hair tightened as he set a punishing rhythm, his cock sliding in and out of my throat with brutal efficiency."That's it," he growled, his voice rough with pleasure. "Take it all and show Daddy what that pretty mouth is good for."I couldn't respond, heck, I could b







