After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen
Secret Wedding 223

Chapter 223 Capturing Isabel

Richie truly cared for Leslie. Whatever Leslie desired, Richie would always find a way to make it happen.

He remembered one time when the three of them were playing in the park. Leslie casually mentioned that she wanted cotton candy. Richie disappeared soon after. While the adults were growing anxious, Richie returned with a pink bunny-shaped cotton candy in hand.

Another time, Leslie wanted to climb a tree to pick peaches. Richie lifted her up, but they lost their balance and fell. Richie made sure to shield Leslie with his own body, taking the brunt of the fall so she wouldn't get hurt. In the end, Leslie was perfectly fine, while Richie ended up injured.

"All these years, I've been investigating too," Richie said, his voice somber. "But that fire came so suddenly in the dead of night. It burned everything to ashes, leaving no trace behind."

Xander was aware of Richie's efforts and determination.

However, there was one thing Richie couldn't understand.

"What happened to the emerald guardian angel pendant Leslie gave you back then?"

Richie clearly remembered Valentine's Day when Leslie handed Xander her most treasured emerald guardian angel pendant. She had even told him to marry her when they grew up. How had it ended up with someone else?

Was it stolen? Or something else entirely?

Xander furrowed his brows. "Why are you asking about this?"

"Nothing. I was just curious."

"I've kept it in a very safe place," Xander replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.

A very safe place?

Richie recalled the emerald guardian angel pendant he had seen earlier on the woman's neck. He was certain-it was Leslie's.

"Are you sure that the safe place hasn't been compromised?" Richie pressed.

Xander's dark eyes narrowed further upon hearing that.

After a few moments of silence, he replied, "Yes, it's safe."

"Well, you might want to check anyway." With that, Richie turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Xander called after him.

"Back," Richie replied.

"My mother misses you," Xander said, watching Richie's unmoving figure.

Richie tilted his head, gazing at the starry sky. "I have my own path to walk. I'll take revenge in my own way."

Xander heard the stubborn resolve in Richie's words. He was determined to personally avenge the Nelsons and Leslie.

"Since that's the case, I won't stop you. But if you ever have the time, the Bennetts will always welcome you."

Richie glanced at Xander in silence and strode away.

Xander stared at Richie's retreating figure and thought of his words earlier.

He couldn't shake the feeling that Richie mentioning the emerald guardian angel pendant wasn't just a coincidence.

And who was the person with him earlier?

Leo had reported that the two had entered the Nelsons' villa one after the other, seemingly strangers, and had ended up in a fierce fight.

Why had Richie protected the person and helped them escape?

The more Xander thought about the person's silhouette, the more familiar it felt.

Combining this with Richie's peculiar question, Xander pulled out his phone and called Isabel.

Meanwhile, Isabel had just jumped into her car when her phone rang.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Xander's name on the screen.

Could he have figured out that the person who just escaped was me?

"Calm down, calm down," she muttered, trying to reassure herself. "He might just be calling for no reason."

With a deep breath, Isabel answered the call.

"Hello? Why aren't you asleep at this hour?"

"I couldn't sleep. I thought I'd come over to your place. Is that okay?" His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

Isabel carefully analyzed his tone but found nothing unusual.

It seemed he hadn't discovered anything.

"It's so late. Won't it tire you out to come over now?"

"What's the matter? You don't want me there? Am I bothering you?"

Hearing the grievance in his voice, Isabel panicked and scrambled for a response. But before she could, Xander's deep voice came through the phone.

"I can't sleep without you."

Those words almost made Isabel lose her composure. Her heart raced uncontrollably.

After a brief moment of flustered excitement, Isabel forced herself to calm down. Her thoughts drift Xander's nightly habit of coming to her room to sleep.

She had long suspected he was pretending to sleepwalk. However, since he had never crossed any boundaries and only slept beside her she had chosen to ignore it.

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Now, hearing him say that, her thoughts wandered back to something Samuel had once mentioned. He said that his brother suffered from severe insomnia.

From what she'd observed, Xander always slept soundly when he was next to her.

Maybe Samuel hadn't been lying. Maybe Xander's insomnia really was as bad as they said, and he could only sleep when holding her.

Wait!

A sudden thought struck Isabel like lightning.

Xander was heading to Lilac Heights!

She needed to get back immediately, or her cover would be blown.

With that in mind, Isabel floored the accelerator, speeding toward Lilac Heights.

At Lilac Heights, a knock sounded on the door of Villa No. 7.

Reggie answered the door. "You're here to see Isa?"

He had just gotten a call from Isabel, saying she was on her way back and asking him to stall Xander if he arrived first.

Where had Isa gone to have fun at such a time?

"Yes," Xander replied with a nod as

elnet

his gaze drifted to Isabel's room

upstairs. Without waiting for an

invitation, he stepped around Reggie

and headed upstairs.

Reggie, being an honest man, struggled to think of a way to stop him and could only watch anxiously as Xander walked on.

Just then, Yvette emerged from Isabel's room.

"Oh? You're here? Isabel's in the shower."

Xander reached Isabel's door and looked toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water came from inside.

Yvette's heart raced as she worried that Xander might just open the door and walk in, blowing their cover completely.

But to her surprise, Xander walked over to the bed, sat down, and waited silently.

Yvette and Reggie exchanged uneasy glances. The situation had escalated too quickly, and they had no time to prepare.

Xander, however, had already sensed something amiss but chose not to expose it.

After a minute, Xander looked up at Yvette and Reggie.

"It's late. You should both head to bed. I'll wait for her to come out."

Realizing that lingering any longer might arouse suspicion, Yvette and Reggie had no choice but to leave.

Yvette quickly sent Isabel a message.

"Isabel, hurry back! I turned on the shower in the bathroom and said you're inside. Your man is waiting in the room. We can't stay any longer.

"Oh, and I left a ladder outside the bathroom window-be careful!"

Little did Yvette know, the bored Xander had wandered onto the balcony and glanced down.

"Huh?"