Chapter 53

Xavier stood and walked toward Isabella. Before he could speak, Isabella assessed him and said, "You're recovering well."

Xavier raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Queenie, please come in." Isabella nodded and followed him into the house.

In the living room, Xavier politely asked, "Shall we have a cup of coffee?"

Isabella shook her head. "No need. Let's get started."

The sooner this is over, the sooner I can leave! Isabella thought. She glanced around the living room, noted they were alone, and pointed to the sofa. "Let's do it here."

Without waiting for a response, Isabella produced her medical tools. Xavier's eyes fell on the box; he nodded. "Alright."

He walked to the sofa, sat, and removed his shirt. Isabella glanced over, sterilized a syringe, and moved closer, her fingers lightly touching his spine. He instinctively straightened.

Smiling, Isabella said, "It won't hurt as much today."

Damn, she's teasing me, Xavier thought. He wasn't afraid of the pain; it was a reflex.

Isabella began inserting the syringe slowly, taking nearly a minute between each injection. Even though she said it wouldn't hurt much, it did. His body felt as if ants were gnawing on him—itchy and painful—yet he remained calm.

His lips parted slightly. "You are Ms. Stout."

Isabella paused briefly but continued her work without answering. Xavier felt more discomfort, but it wasn't significant.

He paused, then continued. "You are Isabella Stout, from the Stout family."

Isabella's eyebrows furrowed slightly. She paused, looked at him, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Xavier's knowledge of her identity wasn't surprising; she hadn't tried to hide it. With the Cox family's influence, finding out was easy.

Hearing the impatience in Isabella's voice, Xavier got to the point. "Marry me."

Isabella's hand slipped; the syringe went off course.

"Ouch!" Xavier yelled, sucking in a sharp breath and clenching his fist. He almost lost his temper.

Isabella calmly removed the syringe and reinserted it. As the intense pain eased, Xavier said, "I know about your situation. Marrying me would help you."

4:21 PM

Isabella's brow twitched. "No need." Samuel's anger was already a problem; Xavier's involvement would make things unbearable.

Thinking Isabella was shy, Xavier arched an eyebrow and continued to persuade. "With the Cox family supporting you, no one would dare harm you." His voice was relaxed, sincere, and earnestly persuasive.

He found the Stout family's treatment of Isabella ridiculous. Isabella was Queenie; they should have revered her. Instead, they were too stupid to realize it.

Thanks to the Stout family, I can take advantage of this situation, Xavier thought.

He spoke again. "Think it over. If you marry me, you'll be in charge of everything in the Cox family." He was completely serious.

He paused, squinting slightly, and turned to Isabella with a touch of suspicion. "Or do you have someone you like?" Immediately, Isabella quickly inserted several needles; intense pain hit like a storm.

Xavier fell silent. Isabella smiled, finally silencing him.

After finishing, Isabella stood, washed her hands, and sat on the sofa, wiping them with a tissue. "I appreciate your kindness, but I won't consider marriage." She thought it best to be clear; she was already married.

Xavier frowned deeply, suspecting Isabella of doing it on purpose. The pain felt like torture, worse than last time.

He stared at her. "You did it on purpose, right?"

Isabella chuckled softly. "If you're referring to the syringe earlier, I think you misunderstood. Your talking distracted me."

Xavier laughed in frustration; his cold eyes were sharp. But Isabella remained calm, smiling back at him. "As for the rest, I was just doing my job. Perhaps you're less tolerant to pain after only one session."

Her words held a hint of authority, silencing Xavier. She was the most commanding woman he'd ever met, possessing an authority usually seen only in men.

Isabella, you are truly unique, Xavier thought.

Seeing him about to speak, Isabella firmly said, "I suggest you rest. Talking might affect the treatment's effectiveness."

Xavier remained silent. Isabella was the first to ever bluff him, yet he said nothing more.

She removed the syringe. Xavier looked at her, smiling. "Are you scared of me?"

Isabella's eyes narrowed. "What nonsense?"

"You tried to silence and avoid me, keeping your distance. Ms. Stout, why are you afraid of me?"

During the treatment, Xavier sensed Isabella's resistance and coldness, a stark contrast to the last session. He looked at her as she smiled. "If that's how you see it, that's fine. I hope we have no communication beyond doctor and patient."

This time, Isabella didn't give him a chance to respond. She packed her things and left the Cox family home. Xavier watched her until she was gone.

The film set bustled with activity. Staff were busy, focused on their tasks. Luna sat before the monitor, watching the previous shoot's footage, her frown deepening.

She slammed the script on the table. "Damn it! Don't you understand? I want natural emotions, not this stiff, forced acting!"

The scene had been shot ten times; each take was more awkward than the last. The blazing sun outside made everyone irritable.

Luna sank into her chair, gasping for air. Fury consumed her as she stared at the monitor, her anger palpable. No one dared breathe.