Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 26

Damian's eyes darkened as he stared at her contact name he'd set—"Honey."

Then he looked at her reply—"Mr. Cross."

*****

The moment lunch break started, Isabelle waited until everyone headed to the cafeteria, then slipped into the elevator alone.

Brian had set up facial recognition access for her, which she definitely hadn't expected.

"I'm heading down to eat. I'll leave you two alone." Brian shot her a knowing grin before the elevator doors closed, leaving Isabelle's face burning red.

She tugged at her shirt dress nervously, suddenly feeling way too self-conscious.

She knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Isabelle slowly pushed the door open and was immediately hit with the smell of food.

"Mr. Cross, you wanted to see me."

The secretary she'd seen at the hospital—Tiana White—was crouched by the couch setting out disposable utensils.

Damian stood up from his desk and walked toward her. Isabelle instinctively stepped back.

He reached out and took her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, then led her to the couch. Tiana finished setting everything up, stood, and quietly left the office, closing the door behind her.

He said, "You don't need to be so nervous. And when it's just us, you don't have to call me Mr. Cross."

How could she not be nervous? They were sneaking around to have lunch together.

"Oh. Okay."

Isabelle kept reminding herself that they were married now. There was no reason to be scared. She just needed to act normal.

But the more she told herself that, the more nervous she got.

She was so distracted that she didn't even notice when Damian poured her soup and slid the bowl in front of her.

"Thank you." Her hands fumbled nervously.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Damian took a sip of his soup and glanced over at her.

"No."

"This isn't like you."

He pressed his lips together and went back to eating.

He remembered how fierce she'd been just a few days ago when they'd talked—calling him Damian without hesitation, looking ready to throw hands at any moment.

Now look at her. The second they got that marriage certificate, she'd turned into some timid little deer who could barely string a sentence together.

"You can rest here during lunch. No need to run all the way home," Damian said it so casually, but the words sent Isabelle's heart into complete panic mode.

"I'll just take a nap at my desk. I don't sleep well in new places anyway, and I don't want to keep you up." She turned down the offer.

Damian didn't say anything. His expression stayed blank like always.

Her concerns made sense. They'd just gotten married, and they were keeping it secret. If she stayed here too often, someone would eventually figure it out.

Lunch looked incredible, way too good to be takeout. Someone had clearly put real effort into making it.

"Did your housekeeper make this?" she asked, trying to fill the awkward silence.

"No." Damian paused for a second. "My mom did."

Isabelle nearly choked on her food.

"I'm not great at this whole... making women happy thing. If I do something wrong, just tell me. I can fix it."

He finished and handed her phone back.

"Okay." She nodded.

Yeah, he definitely wasn't great at it.

Walking out of the executive office felt like dropping a huge rock off her shoulders.

*****

After work that afternoon, Isabelle drove to the mall to pick up some winter clothes and warmer layers.

The season was just starting, so there wasn't much new inventory yet. Her options were pretty limited—she'd just have to grab whatever looked warm.

But she ran into someone she knew.

"Isabelle!" A woman came walking up to her.

"Ms. Baxter?"

Regina Baxter was a university professor and her mother's best friend.

She had been around since Isabelle was little, following Caroline everywhere. She was practically like an aunt to Isabelle.

Come to think of it, Regina was the one who'd taught Isabelle calligraphy.

She dressed casually, but her natural elegance showed through in every movement. There was something refined and sophisticated about the way she carried herself.

"Shopping too?" They both said it at the same time.

She'd heard Regina lived in Aldoria, so running into her here was completely unexpected.