Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 38

There were only two pillows on the bed—one under her head, the other clutched in her arms.

A low chuckle escaped him. He could have watched her sleep all night, but the persistent vibration of a phone broke the quiet.

It was hers, from an unknown number.

He picked it up just as the screen went dark, showing four missed calls from the same person.

He switched off the bedside lamp, leaving only the soft glow from the floor light, and took her phone out to the balcony.

It buzzed again. He answered.

"Isabelle, don't hang up!" It was Gary's voice.

Damian's lips curved into a faint, cold smile. He remained silent.

"Isabelle, you finally answered! I'm sorry—I was drunk that night! I didn't know what I was doing, and that was despicable! I've been punished enough already! Look, I'm done with Nicole, and I don't even care about you and Damian anymore. Just... please don't leave me?"

Gary's voice was pathetic, a mix of self-pity and desperation that was almost laughable.

He was probably still in the hospital; the faint sound of a nurse's question could be heard in the background. His voice trembled, suggesting he wasn't fully recovered.

"Mr. Peterson," Damian finally spoke.

Hearing a man's voice, Gary panicked. There was a rustling sound as if he'd jolted upright, followed by a sharp hiss of pain. "Who is this? Where's Isabelle? Why do you have her phone..."

"Mr. Peterson," Damian cut off the frantic questions.

Gary fell silent. The calm, steady tone on the other end was unsettling, intimidating even. It forced him to consciously steady his own breathing, to project some semblance of composure.

He never imagined a man whose mere voice could induce such a chill existed in Isabelle's life.

"She's tired. She just fell asleep." The implication of those few, simple words was a devastating blow.

"Who are you? What's your relationship? Isabelle would never let just anyone into her bedroom!"

"Gary! Are you on the phone with that wretched girl again..." Gary's mother's shrill voice, accompanied by the rapid click of high heels, pierced through from Gary's end.

"God! The wound split open... Doctor! Get the doctor!"

Chaos erupted on the other end of the line.

"Would you like to know, Mr. Peterson?" Damian replied coolly, turning and walking back into the bedroom.

"Shut up, all of you!" Gary's roar echoed, and the background noise cut off abruptly, leaving an eerie silence.

Damian placed the phone on the nightstand but didn't hang up.

Gary's hands shook as he ended the call. His knuckles were white where he gripped the phone. He clenched his jaw so tight it ached, his eyes burning with furious, helpless rage...

In his mind, Isabelle was reserved, principled. She wouldn't get casually close to any man. Even with him, her boyfriend of five years, intimacy was limited to holding hands—and sometimes that required her permission.

Two years in college, two years long-distance, then this past year—five years total. She'd never crossed that line. If it weren't for her family background, he'd have thought she was some sheltered old-money princess.

And now, she was in another man's arms. Her voice, soft and seductive, was enough to make Gary burn even through the phone.

He couldn't bear to picture the scene. He completely broke, hurling the phone against the wall with all his strength. It shattered into pieces on impact.

*****

"Damian..."

Isabelle pushed against his chest with what little rationality she had left. Her palms burned where they met his skin, her whole body trembled, her breath coming in ragged gasps because of him.

Damian, his glasses still on, couldn't hide the raw desire in his eyes even through the lenses.

She didn't know why he had suddenly become so fervent. He'd been nothing but a gentleman all day. Is this his true nature? A beast in this regard?

Damian swallowed hard and gently wiped the thin sheen of sweat from Isabelle's forehead.

"Sorry. I just wanted a kiss. That's all I meant."