40. Betrayal

"What would you like to order, sir?" Innessa was taking orders from the tables as the couple gave their orders. She noted them down and ambled into the kitchen. Jasper bumped into her as he apologized, passing her a smile he hurried to his office as she got back to work. 

A week had passed and things were slowly falling into a routine for her. She has been living in that penthouse with Issac. The place was just so beautiful that living there felt like a dream. There was also a huge pool on the terrace of their room. Issac was behaving. He was giving her space. Not bothering her at all and he has been sleeping on the couch in the hall like a good guy. In the mornings she often found him exercising half-naked. 

Darla looked shocked when she found out Innessa had moved in with Issac. Elena was also a little surprised by the sudden news but Scarlett was happy about it. Her friends didn't say much but Darla didn't seem to like Innessa living with Issac. Oddly enough she even looked worried for her. As if she knew things which Innessa didn't know. 

Issac and Innessa had fallen into a routine. He made breakfast for her every day, and they headed to the academy together then she went to her part-time job and after her shift, he picked her up and they headed back home. They'll order dinner, watch TV and she then retires to her room to study and then sleep. 

Not once he tried to touch her during this week which felt like an achievement in itself. 

She was done with her shift as she stepped out and like always. His black shiny car was parked in the corner as she headed over to the car. Innessa took her seat as Issac put the car to drive. 

"What would you like to have for dinner? We can grab it on our way home," he said as the girl contemplated before she spoke up. 

"Can we go to the nearest mart? I need to grab a few things," she said. It was rarely a case where Innessa asked anything from him so in situations like these, he was all too eager to do as she wanted. 

"Sure," Issac took the next u-turn and headed to the nearest mart. 

Parking the car in the parking lot they headed inside the mart. Issac grabbed a trolley as they walked through the aisle. 

Innessa grabbed the stuff starting from the spices, vegetables, meat, fruits, and almost everything that was needed to stock their fridge and kitchen. At first, Issac was confused about why she needed all these things but he quickly understood it and his heart melted in his chest. This was the first time she was doing something for them. For their new house which she was turning into a home slowly. 

"Shall we grab this?" He asked, grabbing a huge box of snacks. 

"If you want it then go ahead," she said. 

There were certain things that she checked on the shelves but then put them back after checking their price. While she walked ahead Issac made sure to grab those things discreetly so she wouldn't know. 

After buying almost all the stuff they headed to the counter as the cashier packed their stuff. Innessa pulled out her wallet and was counting the bills when Issac stepped ahead of her and handed his card to the cashier. 

"No, I'll pay for it-" She tried to stop him but Isaac tipped his chin urging the cashier to charge quickly and the cashier did. 

"Here, grab these," Issac handed her two small bags with the least stuff in them as he placed the other bags in the trolley and they headed to the parking lot. 

He placed all the bags in the back seat, Innessa helped him as they got into the car and headed home. 

"Why didn't you let me pay?" She asked. 

"Because I'm the man. Why would I make my wife pay for the groceries?" He asked with a raised brow. The way he called her wife felt so lovely. She also noticed all those things in the grocery bag which she checked but never placed in the trolley. 

Averting her gaze, she faced outside the window as they reached home. They carried the bags to their penthouse. 

Issac barely let her carry anything as he placed all the bags on the island counter in the kitchen. 

Innessa put her bag and stuff away as she padded into the kitchen barefoot. She pulled her hair up in a messy bun, folded her sleeves up, and began to pile stuff out of the bags. 

She went through all the cabinets and drawers before she began to place the things in their respective places. 

"I want to help," he said after seeing her going around in the kitchen for a couple of minutes. 

"Wait," she said. Once done with the cabinets at the bottom she asked him to come over. 

"Place these boxes in this cabinet and these packets in this one," she told him and he nodded, getting to work. He couldn't help but smile. Innessa couldn't reach those cabinets because they were high so she asked him to do it. She was an adorable little thing. 

After placing all the stuff away, she washed her hands and faced him who was now sitting on the stool at the island counter facing her. 

"What do you want to have for dinner?" She asked and he just blinked at her. 

"Are you cooking?" There was a pinch of suppressed excitement in his voice. 

"Yeah," she said, not understanding why he looked so excited about it to the point his eyes were sparkling. 

"I'll eat whatever you'll make. Anything made you would happily do," he said as she didn't give him much of a reaction. "Okay," she said. 

Innessa decided to make steak with white sauce, Mac and cheese, some mashed potatoes, and sauteed veggies. She was craving it for a few days now. 

Issac couldn't help but look at how gorgeous she looked in the kitchen with an apron around her small frame and her hair up in a messy bun. Her bare feet and comfortable clothes. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and hug her tightly. 

She felt like a home. The unknown destination he has been craving for years. She had no idea how strongly she affected him in ways he had never felt before to the point that sometimes it scared him. She was his cure and his damnation. 

Innessa washed the meat and the veggies when the doorbell rang. Isaac frowned, pulling to his feet. "I'll check," he said walking to the main door. 

He opened the door to reveal a grinning Maddox but he wasn't alone Theodore was also there with him holding a bouquet in his hands. 

"What are you doing here?" Isaac's voice was low and dark but Maddox simply rolled his eyes. 

"We are here to see your girlfriend and congratulate her on moving in with a crazy man like you," Maddox said, barging into the penthouse and Theodore followed suit despite Issac trying not to let them in. 

"Innessa!" Maddox called for her loudly as the girl dashed into the hall to find the twins which was a surprise. 

"My my look at her, you look so homely Innessa," Maddox beamed as he threw a glare at Issac. "I'm jealous," Maddox muttered but Issac heard him. 

"Ah, hello. Welcome," she said a bit awkwardly but as it was Issac's place and she lived with him then she must greet them as the host. 

"Hey," Theo greeted her as he handed her the bouquet and she surprisingly took it from him, smelling the flowers as it brought a soft smile to her lips. 

"Thank you for the flowers," she said softly as the huge man tipped his head with a small quirk at the corner of his lips. His nerdy spectacles hid his unique eyes as he looked away. Theodore donned a sharp undercut on his jet-black hair which gave him an extremely good look but his personality was that of a gentleman, laid back and calm. If only Issac could learn some good traits from him. 

"We thought to congratulate you guys for moving in together," Maddox mused as Innessa smiled at him thanking the guy who had a few bandages on his face and hand probably because of the accident caused by Scarlett. 

"Please, come in. Have a seat. Have you guys had dinner?" She asked, placing the flowers in a vase that now had dried flowers that Issac had given to her a week ago. She replaced the old flowers with the new ones and Issac didn't like it one bit. He had a bitter scowl plastered on his face as he glared at his cousins as if they were pests destroying his peace. 

"I'm starving. We didn't have dinner yet," Maddox said despite earning vicious warning glares from Issac. 

"Oh, then please have a seat. I'm making steaks. I'd love it if you guys would join us for dinner," she said politely and Maddox's eyes lit up as he grinned. 

"Oh, we'd love to," he grinned mischievously, winking at Issac who looked murderous. 

"That's great. Just give me an hour," she said and hurried into the kitchen. The twins took their seats on the sofa as Maddox turned on the TV. 

"You both better leave right after shoving food down your pipes," Issac threatened them as Maddox grinned cheekily while Theodore shrugged his shoulders. 

Issac hurried into the kitchen to find her pouring juice into the glasses and putting snacks on the tray. 

"What are you doing?" Issac asked. 

"What does it look like?" She asked the obvious as he rolled his eyes. 

"You don't need to do this and you don't have to make dinner for them. They have got a cook back at the mansion so you don't need to," He stopped speaking when he found her staring at him with wide eyes. 

"That's very rude and mannerless," she said and he shut up, glaring at the ceiling. 

"Take this to them. The food will be ready soon," she said, handing him the tray as he stared at it dumbfounded. 

Issac, serving his cousins? What the actual f*ck! 

"I will not do that," He grumbled and her brows furrowed. 

"Fine, then I'll do it," she said, trying to take the tray from him but he didn't let go. 

"I won't allow it," he rumbled, now getting angry causing her to stare at him skeptically. It was obvious she was judging his childish tactics but there was nothing childish in that. 

"Fine," he grumbled and headed to the hall. 

He cussed under his breath when Maddox retrieved his phone and began filming him because for the first time in the world Issac was serving them snacks. The sight was to behold. 

"Stop recording if you don't want me to kill you," Issac growled lowly so only they could hear it. 

"I love it," Maddox grinned as Issac placed the tray on the table rather harshly. 

"Who told you I live here?" Issac asked and Maddox smirked. 

"Oh, I have my ways. You left just saying I'm moving out. What did you expect from us? To sit and miss you? No, big bro. We are knights. We need to stick together and I had to make sure your place is safe and sound. Then we found out Innessa moved in with you. Aren't you a cheeky rascal?" Maddox grinned. 

"Call me a rascal again and I'll grill your flesh on my char-griller," Issac warned, making him chuckle. 

Issac sat beside Theodore who was staring at the screen of his phone as if he'd bore holes in it. But that wasn't what got Issac's attention. It was the bruise on his arm peeping through his shirt. 

"We need to talk," Issac said, patting Theodore's shoulder and walking to the poolside. Theo followed him quietly as Maddox stared at their retreating backs. 

"It was Maddox's idea. I didn't mean to disturb you-" 

"How did you get that bruise?" Issac asked, pointing at his arm and Theodore paused. 

"It's nothing much. I got it in the gym." Theodore said, making Issac shake his head, his hands resting on his hips as he regarded Theodore with calculating eyes. 

"How long are you going to lie about it? I know it's you," Issac said calmly as Theodore stared ahead at the skyscrapers with his hands tucked in his khaki pants. His hair combed back properly like a true gentleman. 

"If you're going to talk about this, then I'm heading back," Theodore said firmly, causing Issac to glare at him. 

"It's not safe, Theo," Issac said. 

"Safe for you and not for me? That's selfish, brother," Theodore said calmly. 

"What would you do if we got matched up against each other in the ring?" Issac asked. There'll be a tournament happening this week, Issac didn't want to fight his cousin bloody in the underground ring. And knowing how lethal Theodore was inside the ring. It'll be disastrous. 

"I don't think your girl would appreciate you getting hurt," Theodore said and Issac looked away. He knew that and that was why he wouldn't participate in it for Innessa but that didn't mean he wanted Theodore to participate in it. But if he had made up his mind then he couldn't stop him. 

"At least you agreed that the masked man is you," Issac said, patting his shoulder as he walked back to the hall. 

Theodore checked his phone again and there was no notification from her. Inhaling deeply to calm his nerves down he went back inside. 

Issac ambled into the kitchen and offered to help her but she refused, saying he should give time to his cousins. Oddly enough she looked happy while cooking. Faina surely said Innessa was an excellent cook and he recalled on his fake date with Innessa, she had told him she loved cooking. It felt good to see her in her zone. 

Issac set the table and helped her put the food on the table. Maddox was enjoying the show. Issac helping someone in such chores was a sight to behold knowing how truly savage of a brute he was. 

The four of them sat at the dining table. Innessa softly said her prayers and the three of them watched her. Issac was smiling while Maddox gaped and Theo didn't notice it much. They dug in their food and the three of them closed their eyes at the first bite. 

"That's delicious." Theo appraised her honestly. 

"Good grace. I'm blessed. This is awesome," Maddox mused shoving more food in his mouth, his messy hair giving him a bad boyish look. 

She glanced at Issac but he didn't say anything and quietly ate his food. Somewhere deep in her heart, she wanted to know if he liked it. 

They had their meal while she asked Maddox how he was coping after the accident. He seemed pretty chill and calm about it. Maybe he didn't know Scarlett was behind it. 

After dinner, Issac helped her in taking the dishes into the kitchen. She was about to wash the dishes but he stopped her saying house help would do it in the morning. 

The four of them sit in the hall. Maddox and Innessa were conversing while Theo and Issac sat there silently. Thoe was going through his phone while Issac was glaring at Maddox. 

Finally, the twins decided to take their leave and once they were gone. Innessa placed the leftovers in the fridge and decided to retire for the night but Issac grabbed her wrist and yanked her to him earning a startled gasp from her. Her hands landed on his chest to create an appropriate distance. 

After talking to Maddox and Theodore she knew they both didn't know about Issac and Innessa's marriage which was good for her. 

"What are you doing-" She tried to pull back but he intertwined his fingers on her lower back keeping her locked in his arms. His strong cologne made her heady as she tried to remain calm and not get affected by his proximity. 

"The food was delicious to the point I wanted to lick my fingers but I'm f*cking mad because my cousins got to eat that too," He grumbled and she just blinked at him dumbfounded. 

"We were having such a good time. You were cooking for me for the very first time but those damned idiots ruined it. It was our special moment but you offered them to stay for dinner. Don't ever do that again," he said grumpily as she glared at him. 

"And why were you talking to Maddox? You didn't talk to me like that, hmm?" He raised a brow at her. 

She jerked his arms away from her waist and regarded him with a firm glare. 

"The place from where I am. We treat our guests with utmost respect and love. And why are you jealous of your cousin? You were there with us. It wasn't like we were talking about something weird. Maddox was talking about his bikes and drifting; he was learning from his friend." She said curtly, not an ounce of amusement on her face. 

"Why are you being so cold to me? You were talking so warmly with Maddox. You even smiled at Theo when he gave you flowers-" 

"You're jealous of your cousins?" She asked, stunned, raising her brows in disbelief as his jaw ticked and he looked away for a fraction of a second to compose himself before facing her. 

"What if I am? What to do now? Shall I kill my cousins?" He asked darkly and she paled. 

"You need serious therapy," she said, referring to his mental health. 

"Then be my therapist," he said. 

Without uttering another word, she just stomped off and closed the door disappearing into their room. He was tired of sleeping on the sofa. He wanted to sleep with her in his arms on his f*cking bed. But he'll bear it as long as she needs her space. 

The next day she was done with her part-time job as Jasper and she locked the cafe. Issac wasn't there yet so she decided to wait for him. 

"I can drop you," Jasper offered but she politely refused him. 

"Shall I get a cab for you?" He asked. 

"No, it's fine. I'm waiting for someone," she said and he nodded quietly, stepping beside her and facing the street. 

She could feel his gaze on her face as she faced him after a deep breath. 

"Shall we go grab some food?" He offered. 

"Thank you for the offer. But I'm waiting for someone. You should head home-" Her eyes widened and her heart ceased to beat when Jasper grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. 

She abruptly jerked her face to the side causing his lips to land on the corner of her mouth and then he gave a kiss on her cheek as she tried to shove at his chest, at the same time she heard the loud honking followed by flashing headlights on them as Jasper let her go and she stumbled back when a black mustang came to a screeching halt right at their feet causing them to fall with loud gasps. 

Issac stepped out of the car and at the same time she felt Jasper grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. 

Everything happened in a blur of a second and the next thing she knew Jasper was on the ground with Issac on top of him landing vicious punches with brute force as he growled like a wounded animal and all she felt was raw terror coursing through her veins at the sight. 

The passersby grabbed Issac trying to stop him from killing the bleeding man on the floor. She stared at Jasper's bruised, bleeding, and swollen face in horror. Issac jerked the people away with a low growl as his gaze met hers and in that second Innessa stopped breathing as her heart came to her mouth seeing the look of betrayal flashing in those dark cognac hues.