During dinner, Shawn sat at the table without talking much. He still remained quite unbearable, but at least that evening he had not spoken to her, he had not verbally attacked her… yet. But the night was young, so she kept her fingers crossed. Marie tried very hard to carry on the conversation at the table, but her nephew opened his mouth only to give monosyllabic answers. Shawn finished dinner and asked his aunt to excuse him, after which he retired to the study.
"Something bad happened in the office," Marie murmured, looking at him as he was closing the door of the study. “He’s always like this when there is something that worries him or when he’s angry. He barely speaks and closes in on himself worse than a hedgehog. I adore him, but sometimes I wish he was more open to me."
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She sat on the edge of the chair opposite Shawn but didn't look up at him. She didn't want to prolong this agony too much.“This afternoon, I felt the strong desire to go on a horse ride and I went to "Silver Spur Ranch". And since the ranch belongs to our family, even if you and your father are living there for several years now, the people who work there are still very loyal to the Grayson family. I talked a little with every one of them, starting with the boys from the stables to the administrator of the ranch, and everyone told me a very interesting story. It’s something that I get a few evenings ago and today I had further confirmation. He stopped and sip some coffee. It had gotten cold and Shawn pushed the cup aside a little testily."I’m not sure what’s ab
Isabelle closed the door to her room, turned on the light, and stood by the bed. Although the day had been long and tiring and ‘the match’ just ended between her and Shawn had left her without strength, Isabelle wasn’t sleepy at all. Since she hadn't had so much time to organize all the things Marie had bought for her, she opened the small closet and started looking at all the clothes lying on her bed. Marie had bought her so many clothes and she checked carefully every little thing. Her fingers touched the wonderful fabric of the dress she was to wear at Friday's party and she felt a tear rolling down her cheek. Isabelle could not believe that a stranger like Marie was acting with her as only a mother should act. Apart from Lucy, nobody had taken so much care of her. Isabelle felt so emotional... She covered her face with her hands and started to cry without making a noise. She didn’t w
“Belle, look! I found uncle Shawn!” the little girl said softly, moving away from him and running towards her. “I wanted to play with him, but also he also told me what you told me earlier: right now, we have to go to sleep.” Isabelle took Frannie's hand without looking at Shawn. She didn't want to hear jokes from his part, she had heard enough for that evening. Isabelle wanted a truce and she would have had it at the cost of raising her voice with him and making him discover her temperament that she kept so well hidden.“Chérie, promets-moi que tu ne le feras plus! (Baby, promise me you won't do it again!)You can never run away like this again!” she said softly, trying to keep calm because she didn’t want to frighten the child, or to offer Shawn the chance to tel
Shawn's lips brushed lightly those of a shocked Isabelle. As he lingered on her lips, Shawn heard her moan. He touched her with his lips. His mouth was soft, firm, terribly patient. That brief contact was to Isabelle like a punch in the stomach. She clung to it, opening her lips and invited him to explore it. No one had ever kissed her like this and never would have imagined it possible. A slow kiss, deep and dreamy. The floor seemed to collapse under her feet as he tasted her upper lip. She didn't want to think about what had happened that night, or what was going to happen tomorrow. She wanted to experience that wonderful present and what was happening between her and Shawn. Isabelle shivered, moaned, and let herself go. Isabelle's scent, her taste... they were irresistible. Shawn thought he could lose himself in her for a moment or a l
The next morning, Isabelle woke up early than usual and decided to go to the terrace and have coffee before everyone else. And if by chance she will meet Shawn, she will pretend nothing happened. She will pretend that it was nothing since he had told her that their kiss wasn’t a big deal for him, that it won’t change a single thing between them, that he will keep tormenting her. Isabelle put on a pair of black trousers instead of her reliable jeans and a white silk shirt, an outfit bought for her by Marie. Even the black flats were a gift and Isabelle thought they would be perfect for her new look. She brushed her hair until it became soft and silky and decided to leave it down. Isabelle closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of Shawn's fingers while he was caressing her hair."No!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "Isabelle, you can't! You have to stop, do you hear me?!"
Shawn finished reading those words that had hit him in the stomach, closed the diary, and put it back on the table, next to the cup. He felt a strange sensation in his fingers as if what he had read had burned his hands. Who was Isabelle talking about? Was she talking about him or her father? He had to read some more, he had to see if he could find some answers. Shawn picked up the diary and opened it again. This time his eyes stopped on a poem."Why do we love?Why do we dream?Why are we failing?Why do we forgive?Perhaps because love is the force that keeps us alive,because it is love that has guided us from the beginning.Why do we love?
Leaning against a tree, she wrote a little, but she didn't like to sit still for too long. So, she got up and started exploring the surroundings that offered a wonderful view. Isabelle began to walk barefoot in the freshly trimmed grass, enjoying the sunlight and the scent of the roses. This was the period she preferred the most; it wasn’t too cold and not too hot outside. Isabelle looked at the blue sky, so clear and blue, and for the first time in so long, she felt free. How she would have liked to travel, go somewhere, without feeling worried about her father or Lucy. This little... work vacation, away from Andrew, was offering her a small taste of what her life would be like without too much responsibility. She started laughing and opened her arms, dancing, and singing, with a heart full of happiness and freedom. She bega
Standing in front of the mirror, Isabelle tried to straighten the dress she had chosen for that evening's party. The girl that Marie called to come to the villa and help her with the make-up and to do her hair had left a couple of hours ago. So, she stood in her room, making sure everything was perfect. Isabelle saw her image in the mirror. Who was that woman? Where did the shy Isabelle disappear? She was stunned by what she was seeing... The dress was magnificent and at that moment she was feeling like a princess. Isabelle pulled up the dress and looked at the silver pumps she had decided to wear. Until that evening, she had worn them every day and, in her room, all alone, she had learned to walk in heels. It was a miracle that she had not sprained her ankle wearing them. But for the Spalding party, she wanted to be perfect, for Marie’s sake.