pter 242
In Willow Creek, the days had been quiet, slow, and unchanging. The same hundred faces, the same routines, and endless stretches of empty land. There was comfort in it, sure, but it wasn’t enough. She had always felt like she was meant for something more, something bigger than the fields and the familiar. She didn’t want calm and sleepy anymore–she wanted the chaos, the thrill, and the promise of a city that never stopped moving.
But that dream came with a catch: Graham Lancaster. His proposal hung over her like a shadow, tying her dream to his terms. The life she yearned for seemed inseparable from him and the deal he was offering. And Isla hated that too. Because even as she dreamed of skyscrapers and city lights, she couldn’t shake the feeling that accepting his proposal would mean trading one kind of trap for
another.
Isla sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping as she decided to find Nella. Maybe Graham’s assistant could help her discreetly arrange a taxi to take her back to the penthouse. The party, which had felt like a slice of paradise just moments ago, now felt suffocating, the glitter and glamour dimmed by her growing discomfort. The weight of her emotions pressed against her chest, making her feel on the verge of tears. She couldn’t stay here, not like this.
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At the bar, she spotted Nella sitting with the same man she had seen
earlier, speaking with Graham. They were leaning close, engaged in conversation, but as Isla approached, Nella straightened abruptly, putting a noticeable distance between herself and the man. A flush of color crept across her cheeks, her expression one of barely concealed
embarrassment.
“Ms. Isla,” Nella greeted, her tone polite but laced with a hint of
surprise.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Nella,” Isla began, trying to keep her voice steady. “Could you call me a cab, please? I think I’d like to leave now.”
There it was again–the feeling that she sounded like a whiny, petulant child. She hated it. But Nella, ever composed, looked puzzled
rather than annoyed.
“Of course, Ms. Isla. But why would you take a cab? Mr. Lancaster’s driver is on standby. He can be here in five minutes, at most,” Nella replied, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Isla’s stomach sank. Now she felt not only like a child but a foolish one. What could she say to this? Admit that she was trying to avoid Graham altogether and explain why? Or swallow her pride and let herself be escorted home in the very car Graham had arranged for
her?
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She forced a weak smile. “I just wasn’t sure when Graham would be
ready to leave. It’s okay. I’ll ask him myself.”
Nella’s confusion turned to amusement, a knowing smile tugging at
the corners of her lips. “I’m sure Mr. Lancaster would leave with you
whenever you’re ready. After all, the party is in your honor,” she
added cheerfully.
Isla froze. Her mind blanked for a moment as the words registered.
The party… in my honor? Her fingers tightened around her clutch,
the pressure building until she felt her nails digging painfully into
the fabric. Her heart pounded in her ears, her mind racing to make
sense of what she had just heard.
“For me?” Isla managed to ask, her voice strained, her jaw tight as she
fought to maintain composure.
Nella nodded enthusiastically, missing Isla’s growing tension. “Yes! I
mean, I didn’t have much time to plan, with only half a day’s notice.
Mr. Lancaster only told me yesterday that he was hosting this party
for you, so I tried to-”
A deliberate cough interrupted Nella’s words, and both women turned
to the man she had been speaking with earlier. He wore a smug,
knowing smile that instantly grated on Isla’s nerves.
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“Nella,” he interjected smoothly, “I think you’ve said enough. I’m not
sure Graham has made the surprise public yet.”
Nella blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion, before realization
dawned on her. Her face turned crimson, her earlier cheer giving way
to mortification. “Oh! Oh no, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was
supposed to be a surprise. Ms. Isla, I… I ruined it for you! I’m so
sorry.”
But Isla didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her thoughts were a whirlwind
of disbelief and confusion, her emotions teetering between anger and
humiliation. The idea that this entire evening had been orchestrated
for her–and that Graham hadn’t even bothered to tell her–felt like a
cruel joke. And the man’s smug grin only made it worse, as if he were
reveling in her discomfort.
She felt trapped, her chest tightening as she struggled to process it
all. The grandeur of the party, the glittering lights, and the elegant
guests–all of it suddenly felt suffocating. She needed to leave, to
escape before the walls of this gilded cage closed in on her
completely.
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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.
