Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 159

Gary is awake again? It doesn't matter. He can go back to sleep later.

Damian sneered.

Gary avoided his gaze.

Damian was his nightmare. Every bit of suffering he'd endured lately was thanks to him.

And Damian wasn't just in the clothing business. His reach extended into nearly every critical sector of commerce.

It was only recently, at Callum's banquet, from whispers among Blaze's circle, that Gary truly understood who he was dealing with.

That's when Gary realized the magnitude of the man he had offended.

As he averted his eyes, his and Nicole's gazes fell into the private room, landing on Isabelle, who was sitting right next to Regina.

Since when does a kept mistress get to sit at the table for a family meal?

No.

Absolutely not.

The Cross family's principles would never allow someone so unsuitable to dine with them.

Yet the Isabelle they saw was chatting and laughing easily with Regina and Louis, showing no sign of being an unwelcome presence.

That left only one possibility—they were really married.

Were Isabelle and Damian married?

No!

Gary was in agony with every step he took.

Back at Twilight Lounge, Isabelle had said she and Damian were married.

She'd even called him "honey" right in front of Gary.

Gary thought she'd just said it to spite him.

Were they actually married?

When did that happen?

A haze clouded his vision.

"It's dark now. Time to wrap things up." The low, magnetic voice came from Damian beside him. He spoke the words calmly into his phone, then slowly put it away.

Gary's steps faltered. An icy chill shot down his spine.

A sudden racing heartbeat made him feel like something terrible was about to happen.

Back in their private room, Gary was restless.

Nicole, beside him with her pregnant belly, glanced at his defeated expression and let out a disdainful snort.

She said, "Stop moping. Look, the man Isabelle landed is so far out of your league you could never hope to measure up to him."

Nicole knew Gary's heart was beyond warming.

Her prayer was to give birth peacefully and live a quiet life.

As for Gary, if he wanted to keep making trouble, let him. He'd failed at this the same way so many times and still refused to learn.

Maybe the consequences just hadn't been severe enough yet.

A few more painful failures might knock some sense into him.

Damian sat down next to Isabelle. He saw the sanitized tableware already set before him, along with the mildly spicy dishes he loved.

A husband's gentleness softened his eyes, which were full of quiet amusement.

"Mr. Cross, can we not work on Christmas Eve?" Isabelle teased.

The gift-giving style of the wealthy is truly something else.

Thanks, Mom.

If I'd offered her two hundred million back then, wouldn't I have scared her off?

And now it's my fault?

"Ms. Baxter, my dear mom..." Isabelle opened her arms and hugged Regina. "How could I possibly live in all of these?"

She was on the verge of happy tears.

"Making lots of babies! One house each!" Theodore boomed with laughter.

The others chuckled while continuing their meal.

Isabelle let go, her face heating up. A flush spread uncontrollably from her neck to the tips of her ears.

Embarrassed, she closed the box and shoved it toward Damian.

"Grandpa, we'll certainly do our best," Damian said, taking the box with a faint smile.

Isabelle kicked his foot under the table.

Twenty-two properties... twenty-two kids?

Even a workhorse needs a break.

Are we trying to field a soccer team?

The pressure to procreate was delivered with flawless logic.

Meanwhile, in the other private room, Gary listened to his phone call. The color that had just returned to his face drained completely, leaving him pale.

His legs gave way. He grabbed the table for support, sending dishes clattering. He almost fell.

The phone slowly slipped from his hand, dropping onto the carpet with a soft thud.

Everyone at the table froze, all eyes turning to him.

What was wrong with him again?

"What is it? Can't we even have a proper meal on Christmas?" Nicole asked impatiently.