The End Of a Marriage
Chapter 261
Isla’s heart sank, her last shred of hope crumbling into dust. Tears
blurred her vision as she looked up at him, searching his face for even
a hint of compassion. But there was none. He wouldn’t budge.
“I—you once said…” Isla began, her voice trembling, but her resolve
wavered under the weight of his dark, piercing gaze. She took a shaky
breath, forcing herself to continue. “Is this because I refused your
marriage proposal?”
The words echoed in the room, heavy and sharp. She hadn’t intended
to sound so blunt, but what choice did she have? Graham had once
warned her if she didn’t accept his terms, he would sell Thornfield Manor, leaving her and the staff with nothing. She needed to know if this was vengeance, a cruel game to punish her for turning him down.
Graham didn’t respond immediately, but his reaction spoke volumes. His body stiffened, his jaw tightening as though she had struck him. His eyes, usually so composed, darkened with something between fury and disbelief. It was as if her words had pierced through the
carefully built wall of control he had maintained.
When he finally spoke, his voice was like ice, each word measured and cutting. “I don’t wish to speak about this,” he said, his tone low and dangerous. Then, louder, sharper: “Get out, Isla!”
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The threat in his voice was unmistakable, a warning she should have
heeded. But she was desperate now, far past the point of retreat. The
thought of losing Thornfield Manor–the only place that still felt like
home–was unbearable.
“Please, Graham,” she pleaded, her voice breaking as tears welled in
her eyes. “If I agree to the marriage… will you please rethink your
decision to sell?” Her hands clasped together as if she were praying
for a miracle, her gaze begging him for even the smallest glimmer of
hope.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, Graham’s expression shifted, his fury simmering just beneath the surface. What she hadn’t
expected was the cruel smirk that curled at the corner of his lips, nor
the cold, sharp laughter that escaped him.
“A marriage?” he echoed mockingly. “You’re offering to marry me
now?” His voice dripped with disdain, and his smirk widened into
something almost sinister. “That train left the station, darling.
Months ago. In case you haven’t noticed.”
Isla’s breath caught in her throat as his words hit her like a slap.
“Graham, I’m serious,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’ve
thought about it–what happened in New York–and I know now that I
want to-”
But before she could finish, he cut her off with a bitter laugh, one
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that sent a shiver down her spine. He stepped closer to her, his eyes
scanning her face with an unsettling intensity.
“Want to what?” he sneered. “Marry me? Be my wife?” He shook his
head, his expression filled with mockery. “Do you know why I asked
you to marry me in the first place? It wasn’t for love, Isla. It wasn’t
even for companionship. I wanted you–wanted you–so badly that I
was willing to put a ring on your finger just to get you into my bed.”
The words hung in the air like poison, and Isla’s stomach turned.
“You,” he continued cruelly, his gaze roving over her in a way that
made her feel small and exposed, “were this young, innocent thing.
Untouched. Pure. And I wanted you so much, I was willing to pay the
price of marriage for it. I thought it was a fair exchange–you’d get my name, my protection, and I’d get the privilege of having you warm
my bed whenever I pleased.”
Isla’s chest tightened, her vision blurring with tears. She couldn’t
believe what she was hearing, couldn’t believe that the man she had
secretly loved for so long was capable of such cruelty.
“But then,” Graham continued, his voice turning colder, “I realized
how foolish I was. I was so blinded by lust, so frustrated, that I let my
brain stop functioning. And now?” He laughed bitterly, shaking his
head. “Now, I wouldn’t marry you if you begged me. I’m not
interested anymore, Isla. Not in marriage, and certainly not in you.”
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The cruel smile on his face felt like the final blow, and Isla staggered
back as if she had been physically struck. Her hands trembled at her
sides, and her chest ached with the weight of his rejection.
“Graham, you don’t mean that,” she said, her voice thick with tears.
“You can’t mean that.”
“Oh, I mean it,” he said sharply, his voice firm and unyielding. “And
you know what? Since you’re so desperate to save this place–so
willing to do anything–let’s make a deal.”
Her heart sank. The way he said “anything” made her feel like it was a
curse, like she was being dragged into something dark and
inescapable.
“Spend the night with me,” he said, his tone casual but laced with
venom.
“Wha–what?” Isla’s voice was barely above a whisper, her mind
reeling. She must have misheard him. He couldn’t mean—
“You heard me,” Graham said, his eyes locking onto hers with a cold,
calculating stare. “Spend the night with me, in my bed, and I’ll keep
Thornfield Manor. I won’t sell it, and you can stay here for as long as
you want. Who knows?” He smirked cruelly. “Maybe you’ll even
become my mistress. You can warm my bed whenever I’m in need or
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in town.”
The air seemed to leave the room, and Isla felt herself spiraling,
unable to process the words coming out of his mouth. Her legs felt
weak, and she clutched the edge of the table to steady herself.
Graham didn’t wait for a response. He stepped back, his expression
unreadable now, and turned toward the door. “I’ll leave you to think
about it,” he said, his voice flat. “But don’t take too long, Isla. My
patience is wearing thin.”
And with that, he left, the sound of the door closing behind him
echoing in the room.
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kathleen day
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
