Twenty-Six

~ Isabella’s POV

It was extremely late by the time I was able to complete my tasks in the kitchen. I had been under Lillian’s supervision and she had taken great pleasure in nitpicking on every little mistake I made. And even when I had completed a task successfully and perfectly, she still found reasons to berate and belittle me. I retired to my room looking half-dead. My body felt limp but painfully protested against what I had put it through both in the morning and after.

Despite all she had put me through that day, I had been immensely grateful to Lillian when she had volunteered to serve Damien his meal that night. I knew she had only done that to prevent me from getting closer to Damien, but I couldn't find it in me to care. By then, I was completely convinced that I had pledged myself in marriage to a cruel and ruthless monster. I wished with everything in me that Alpha Damien would fall for Lilian's wiles and divert his attention to her. The thought of that happening brought