Chapter 177
Isabella’s expression shifted like quicksilver, her smile brightening until it was nearly blinding.
“Because I couldn’t bear to watch you die, Mr. Kingsley.”
Her voice was light, almost playful, but the weight behind her words was unmistakable.
Alexander’s mind erupted like a firework display, sparks of realization flashing behind his eyes. His lips thinned as he studied her, her face mirrored in the depths of his gaze.
Then, she added, “After all, we still need to get Amelia to the doctor.”
Ah. So it was for Amelia.
A storm of emotions churned inside him, too turbulent to grasp any single one. It was like his heart was being teased by a thousand feathers, each touch sending shivers down his spine.
He let out a low, self-deprecating chuckle. “I see.”
Their eyes locked again, and despite the casual air between them, Alexander could sense the turmoil Isabella was suppressing.
He didn’t want to admit it, but the thought of something happening to her unsettled him—and not just because she was tied to the research institute, not just because she might hold the key to Amelia’s cure.
They hadn’t spent much time together, yet his protectiveness over his niece was undeniable.
If their roles were reversed, Isabella suspected she’d feel the same.
If someone had the power to heal a loved one, who wouldn’t go to extremes? There was nothing extraordinary about that.
Shoving aside the chaotic emotions rising within her, Isabella smoothly changed the subject.
“What baffles me more is Mr. Sterling.”
She tilted her head, her smile turning mischievous. “I mean, sure, everyone knows Dominic is the CEO of Everett Group—the biggest advertising empire in the world. But professional assassins for marketing? A yacht that slips past radar detection?” Her grin widened, as if none of this was out of the ordinary. “Mr. Sterling seems far from your average businessman.”
Alexander shrugged, his tone equally light. “Dominic’s… unique. I’m just a simple entrepreneur.”
“Simple?” Isabella arched a brow. “Do entrepreneurs usually carry guns and fake disabilities?”
The tension between them crackled, electric. Yet beneath it, there was an unexpected ease, a familiarity that neither of them had anticipated.
In that moment, Isabella was certain of one thing: she and Alexander were two sides of the same coin.
Beneath the banter, her mind whirred. Dominic’s connections ran deeper than corporate glamour. Military-grade yachts, teams of professionals—none of it was normal.
And Alexander? He was no different. His methods, his precision, everything about him whispered of something darker, something closer to the underworld than the boardroom.
Resting her chin on her hand, Isabella asked, “After everything, do you still doubt me?”
That was why he kept testing her.
Yet his answer was immediate. “No. I trust you.”
Her lips curved slyly. “Then what’s your bank PIN?”
Alexander saw the mischief in her eyes and realized she’d outplayed him again. But instead of irritation, amusement flickered through him.
The old Isabella had been guarded, weighed down by the Blackwood family’s expectations, always wearing a mask. Now? She seemed… free. Alive.
In many ways, they shared the same scars. When they fought together, there was an unspoken understanding, a rhythm born from facing darkness side by side.
He couldn’t help but smile back. “We’ve survived life and death,” he said, feigning indifference. “You can call me Alexander.”
“Alexander?” The name rolled off her tongue, and instantly, she remembered his voice that night—low, rough, intoxicating as he whispered her name.
“Yeah.” He nodded.
Isabella blinked, shaking off the memory. “But in front of others, you’re still Mr. Kingsley. Wouldn’t want rumors spreading through the company.”
“Fair enough,” he agreed, though the sound of his name on her lips lingered in his mind. It stirred something—something familiar, like a half-forgotten dream.
He dismissed the thought, blaming exhaustion. Then, turning to her, he said, “By the way, Dominic’s influence stretches beyond business. He’s got ties to both worlds—clean and dirty.”
What he didn’t say was that Dominic’s people were his people.
“So if you ever need help,” Alexander added, “don’t hesitate to ask. You can trust him.”
