Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

"Are you always this pushy? You haven't even proposed yet, and you already want to drag me off to city hall!"

Victor smirked. "So, Mrs. Fitzgerald wants a proposal, does she?"

He'd actually been planning the proposal for a while now. He wanted to wait for the Fitzgerald Group's annual board meeting-once all the business dust settled, he'd surprise her.

Seeing her bristling, Victor couldn't resist teasing. "So, what kind of proposal do you want, hmm?"

Isadora turned away, but her eyes betrayed her anticipation.

"I don't want anything," she insisted, a little too quickly.

Victor's lips curled with amusement. "If you really don't want one, then let's just get our marriage license right away."

Isadora shot upright, flustered. "Don't you dare!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Victor's deep, delighted laughter echoed through the hospital room.

Mortified, Isadora called out, "Victor! You're doing this on purpose. I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Victor reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her close to his chest. "Alright, alright, my fault. Don't worry-your proposal, your wedding, you'll have them both. I promise."

Only then did Isadora let her annoyance melt away. She realized that, after so much time together, she'd become far more sentimental than she used to be. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad one.

...

A while later, Victor's phone buzzed.

He ruffled her hair and stepped outside to take the call and handle some business.

Left alone, Isadora found her thoughts drifting back to what Victor had said about getting their marriage license. Her documents were still with Eleanor Vaughan.

Just as she thought of Eleanor, her phone rang.

Eleanor was all the way in Europe. Isadora hadn't told her about her injury-she didn't want her mother to worry.

"Hi, Mom."

"Isadora, how's work? Have you been keeping busy?" Eleanor's warm voice came through the line.

"Work's the same as always."

Eleanor laughed softly. "Your aunt can't wait to see you, you know. She asks about you every day-wants to know when you're coming over."

Isadora pressed her lips together, about to respond, when she noticed Victor standing in the doorway of her hospital room. The light behind him cast his tall figure in silhouette, making it hard to see his face.

"Isadora?" Eleanor's voice pulled her back.

Isadora looked from her phone to Victor, and in that moment, all the words she'd

left unsaid rose up inside her-words she wanted him to hear.

She crooked a finger, beckoning Victor over.

He hesitated, caught off guard, then strode quietly to her bedside.

As Victor approached, Isadora reached out, lacing her fingers tightly through his. She gazed up into his jet-black eyes and, slowly, spoke each word with care: Mom, I've decided not to go to Europe."

There was a stunned silence on the other end.

"Why? This is so sudden. What happened?"

Isadora felt Victor's grip tighten around her hand, his gaze burning into hers. She

answered softly but firmly, "I've decided to stay."

Victor's eyes stayed locked on her, dark and fathomless.

She could feel his hand trembling slightly as he held hers.

"Mom, could you send my documents to me?" Isadora asked, her voice steady.

There was a pause on the line, but

Isadora could hear the

let

understanding in Eleanor's sigh. Her little girl was grown now-and that Victor had managed to steal her away.

"What about the house here in Europe?” Eleanor asked gently. "If you love it here, you know you can always come and go, stay whenever you want."

Eleanor was quiet for a moment longer, then asked, "Are you sure he's the one?"

Time seemed to slow. After a long pause, Isadora replied, her voice unwavering: "I'm sure."noveldrama