Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Private Hospital.

Magnus lay back against the pillows, flipping through a book titled "100 Ways to Win Her Back."

Frankly, the advice inside left him dumbfounded. Some of the suggestions were so outlandish, they completely overturned everything he thought he knew about relationships. His brow twitched with every page.

Halfway through, Magnus couldn't take it anymore. He tossed the book onto the bed in exasperation.

What kind of man begs for forgiveness one minute, collapses in tears the next, and even threatens to hurt himself just to win a woman back? Was this insanity?

The very idea of humiliating himself like that made Magnus's skin crawl.

Just then, his phone buzzed—a message from Elise.

He unlocked the screen, and the first thing he saw was a blurry photo: Isadora's hand held tightly by another man. The picture was shaky, the man's broad back turned to the camera, Isadora's face hidden as she looked down.

But Magnus recognized her instantly.

Beneath the photo, Elise had written one line:

"Magnus, Isadora's cheating on you!"

Magnus's brow knotted instantly, his face darkening with a thunderous rage. He stared at the stranger's hand gripping Isadora's, and for a wild moment, he wished he could reach into the photo and tear them apart.

Isadora.

She'd been talking about breaking up all this time-so this was the real reason? She'd already found someone else? Yet she'd had the nerve to shift the blame onto him.

A wildfire of fury raged in Magnus's chest. He couldn't tell if it was anger, hurt, or fear-only that these emotions were tearing through him like wild animals, leaving him shaken.

He didn't even notice that his knuckles had turned white from gripping his phone so tightly, his hand trembling.

After Elise was escorted out by security, the Sky Dining restaurant quickly returned to a calm, orderly atmosphere under the restaurant manager's watchful eye.

Victor didn't sit across from Isadora, as business etiquette might dictate, but instead took the seat right beside her.

Waiters arrived with plates of exquisitely prepared, expensive Western cuisine.

Victor lounged back in his chair, one arm draped casually over the back of Isadora's seat, his gaze dark and steady as he watched her.

For the first time, Isadora experienced what it felt like to have a "boyfriend" openly and unreservedly take her side. The sensation left her both surprised and a little flustered.

Her ears flushed pink under the weight of Victor's stare. She glanced at him and asked quietly, “Why... Why didn't you believe what Elise said just now?"noveldrama

Victor raised an eyebrow, unbothered, his voice a lazy drawl with a hint of amusement—almost as if he found her question funny.

"And why would I believe her?"

Isadora hesitated, unsure how to answer.

Every time something happened in the past, Magnus always took Elise's word without question. So she'd just assumed... assumed Victor would do the same. Victor lifted his hand from the back of her chair and reached for hers, his fingers toying lightly with hers, tracing each knuckle with absentminded affection. After a long moment, he said carelessly, "Isadora, I'm fiercely protective of the people I care about. If you're my girl, I'm the only one allowed to mess with you."

The word "protective" sent a subtle tremor through Isadora's heart.

She understood what Victor was really saying—she was his girlfriend, and he'd always take her side.

She bit her lip, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Thank you."

Every woman longs for someone who'll stand beside her, no questions asked— someone who'll accept and protect her, no matter the reason, no matter who's right or wrong. Someone who'll take her side simply because she asks, not lecture her from some moral high ground about being generous or turning the other cheek.

Isadora had once pinned all her hopes on the Vaughans, and on Magnus, but her trust had always gone unanswered. Over time, she'd learned to armor herself, growing prickly and defensive.

But tonight, for the first time, she felt those defenses begin to soften.

Victor squeezed her hand gently and met her gaze. "Since you're thanking me, is there anything you haven't told me yet?"

In the distance, the soft strains of a cello drifted through the restaurant, the atmosphere warm and intimate.

Isadora hesitated, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. "Earlier this afternoon, when I was angry on the phone-it was because of Magnus. He said...

if I went back to him, he'd help me get M Boutique into the city's shopping center."

Victor's expression darkened, a sharp edge in his laugh. "Him? As if he's even worthy."