Chapter 257
Chapter 36
The next morning dawned clear, the storm leaving behind a sky
scrubbed clean and painted in soft hues of blue and white. By the
time Isla finally summoned the courage to leave her room, lunch had
long since passed. Her stomach churned with unease as she
descended the stairs, her steps hesitant. Each movement felt heavier
than the last, her heart pounding louder with every footfall. She had spent the entire night replaying Graham’s words and actions in her mind, trying to make sense of the cold indifference he had shown her.
She found him on the sunroof. For a brief moment, as she caught
sight of him laughing with Evie, Isla froze. The way his handsome profile lit up with ease, the sound of his laugh carrying faintly over
the breeze, made her chest ache. He looked so carefree, so utterly
unlike the man who had once been her closest confidant. And Evie,
standing beside him, was the epitome of grace and beauty. She tilted
her head back, laughing softly at something he said, her hand resting
lightly on his forearm as though she belonged there.
Isla’s legs trembled, but she forced herself forward, her hands
clenched tightly into fists to stop them from shaking. She stepped out
onto the sunroof, the warmth of the sunlight doing little to calm the
cold knot in her stomach.
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Chapter 257
“Graham, can we talk for a second?” she called out, her voice slightly
shaky. She raised it louder to mask the tremor, and both Graham and
Evie turned to look at her.
The ease on Graham’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a guarded,
grim expression. His smile disappeared like a light being switched off,
and Isla felt the familiar pang of rejection hit her square in the chest.
His eyes, once so warm when they met hers, now seemed distant and
unreadable.
Evie glanced between them curiously, but Graham spoke first, his voice devoid of emotion. “Evie, this is my step–sister, Isla.”
The words were a slap to Isla’s face. Step–sister. The term felt clinical, detached, as if he were drawing a deliberate line between them. It was the ultimate dismissal, a reminder that she was an outsider in his world. Isla’s eyes dropped to the ground, her breath hitching as Evie stepped forward with a smile, extending her hand.
“Hello, Ms. Lancaster. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Evelyn Sage.”
If being called his step–sister had hurt, this was worse. Isla had never carried the Lancaster name, a fact that had always made her feel like she didn’t quite belong. Her mother and stepfather had refused to let her take the Lancaster surname, despite her pleading as a child to match their family. The exclusion had stung then, and it still stung now. Her voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with a breathless
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Chapter 257
quality she couldn’t control. “Isla Clarke, actually.” “She kept her
father’s name,” Graham said, his tone firm, as if cutting off the
conversation.
Evie tilted her head, a polite but curious expression crossing her
features. “Clarke? Was your biological father English?”
The question hit Isla like a blow. Her chest tightened, her heart
slamming against her ribcage. She hated talking about her biological
father. He was a void in her life, a man she knew nothing about except
that he had left her and her mother behind. The topic brought
nothing but pain, and Evie’s innocent curiosity felt like a cruel twist
of the knife.
Before Isla could respond, Graham stepped in, his large frame moving
between her and Evie like a protective barrier. His sudden movement
surprised her, and for a moment, she caught the faintest flicker of
something–worry? Regret?-in his expression. But it was gone as
quickly as it appeared.
He positioned himself so completely in front of Isla that she could no
longer see Evie. Isla could feel the tension radiating off him, his
broad shoulders stiff.
Evie blinked, looking slightly taken aback but still polite. “Oh, I see,”
she said lightly. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
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Graham’s voice softened slightly as he addressed her. “Evie, I’m sorry.
Aren’t we running late for the picnic lunch? If we want to see the
whole town before sunset, we should leave now.”
Evie’s face lit up again, her curiosity forgotten. “You’re right! I almost forgot about that. Please, lead the way, my good host.” She extended
her hand toward him with a playful smile, and Graham took it
without hesitation. His fingers closed around hers in a gesture so
natural, so easy, that it made Isla’s heart splinter further.
“It would be my honor,” Graham replied, his voice soft and full of
warmth that he hadn’t shown Isla in months.
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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.
