Chapter 184
Isabella Sinclair let her eyelids flutter shut, mentally berating herself for her recklessness.
Now that she’d been caught, the idea of hiding seemed as futile as chasing after smoke.
With a resigned sigh, she pushed open the cab door, painting on an innocent smile.
“Mr. Kingsley, what an unexpected surprise to see you here.”
Alexander Kingsley’s icy demeanor thawed slightly at the sight of her, leaving him momentarily speechless. His mind raced, struggling to comprehend why she would be lurking in this secluded corner of the estate—a place strictly off-limits to outsiders.
The tension between them was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.
A coincidence? Hardly. Everyone knew better.
Clearing her throat, Isabella broke the heavy silence. “I… accidentally wandered in here. I swear, I wasn’t spying on you—” Her eyes shimmered with sincerity, but Alexander wasn’t naive enough to believe that.
This was a restricted wing of the Kingsley estate, accessible only through a concealed passage.
Yet, he chose not to dwell on her uninvited presence. What truly mattered was—
“It really is just a coincidence,” Alexander murmured, his gaze sweeping over the lavish decor before settling on her face.
Any sane person would have recoiled at the scene before them, desperate to vanish into the background.
He searched for even a flicker of disgust in her expression, but all he found was a startling clarity—so transparent it was almost mesmerizing. It left him both intrigued and frustrated, unable to decipher her thoughts.
His voice was rough, like gravel underfoot. “When did you get here?”
“Before you did,” Isabella answered without hesitation.
A faint smirk tugged at her lips. “I meant to leave sooner, but… well, I was a little embarrassed. I didn’t expect to be caught.”
“Sooner?” Alexander’s expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled into tight fists at his sides.
Isabella, however, exuded an air of effortless composure, as if this were just another ordinary encounter.
With a playful tilt of her head, she tried to diffuse the tension. “This was presumptuous of me, I admit. But let’s not overthink it. Besides, you’re an attractive man with… needs. It’s only natural.”
She shrugged lightly. “If anything, I should be thanking you for the view.”
Alexander didn’t let it slide. His gaze locked onto hers, intensity crackling between them like static.
“Isabella,” he said slowly, “don’t you find this… disturbing?” He gestured toward the scattered items in the room, watching her reaction closely, waiting for even the slightest flicker of revulsion.
But Isabella merely arched a brow, her eyes still bright with amusement. “Why would I? Preferences are personal. Who am I to judge?”
Truthfully, she’d rather not linger on the topic, so she waved a dismissive hand. “Anyway, Mr. Kingsley, with your looks and wealth, even if you have… unconventional tastes, I’m sure plenty of women would be more than willing. So don’t worry—your secret’s safe with me.”
Before she could finish, Alexander cut in. His voice was low, weighted with meaning.
“Other than you… and Amelia, there are no other women in my life.”
Isabella blinked, momentarily thrown by his response. She had been assuring him of her discretion—why was he correcting her? It was as if their thoughts existed on entirely different planes.
Noticing her silence, Alexander pressed on. “And besides you, I haven’t been intimate with anyone else.”
Isabella’s lips parted in surprise. “Well, Mr. Kingsley, that’s… impressively disciplined of you.”
In truth, she didn’t think he owed her an explanation.
But Alexander seemed to misinterpret her words. His brow furrowed as he said, “Ms. Sinclair, you misunderstand. These items aren’t for women, but…”
He hesitated, searching for the right words—
