Chapter 127
CHAPTER 14
For a moment, Isla simply stared at him, her wide, ocean-blue eyes fixed on his face, her expression a perfect blend of shock and disbelief. Graham could feel his patience stretching thin as an awkward silence settled over them, and he couldn’t help but internally groan. He’d just laid his heart—and his future—on the line, offering her everything he had, and she was looking at him as if he’d grown a second head.
But he reassured himself it was just the initial shock. Of course, she hadn’t expected him to propose this. How could she? She didn’t yet understand what he was offering her—how monumental, how life-changing this was. Once she let it sink in, he was sure she’d see the opportunity for what it was. He wasn’t just proposing a marriage; he was offering her a life most people could only dream of.
His lips curved into a slow, self-assured smile. He wasn’t a vain man, not in the traditional sense, but he knew his worth. He was Graham Lancaster, a man who turned heads wherever he went, not just because of his striking looks but because of his power, his wealth, and his influence. With dark, piercing eyes, a strong jawline, and the kind of physique that came from relentless discipline, he’d been called "irresistible" more times than he could count. Add to that the billions in his bank account, and he was well aware of how the world saw him.
He also knew Isla wasn’t blind or stupid. She was smart—maybe too smart for her own good sometimes. Surely, she would realize what he was offering her. As his wife, she wouldn’t just belong somewhere; she’d belong everywhere. Thornfield Manor, his empire, his life—they’d all be hers. And when she understood that, she’d be happy. Excited, even.
The thought made his chest tighten with anticipation. She’d be radiant, glowing with the joy of realizing she’d finally found what she’d been searching for—a family, a home, a place where she truly belonged.
Graham’s mind drifted to the future, and he couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face. He imagined her a few years down the line, with a softness in her face that came from true happiness, her hand resting on a swollen belly as she carried their child. He wanted two children—no, he needed two. A boy to carry his name and legacy, and a girl who’d inherit Isla’s beauty and gentle spirit.
The thought of making those children with her sent a heated wave rushing through him. His body tightened instinctively, and he shifted slightly in his seat to disguise his growing arousal. He could already tell that their chemistry would be explosive. Every glance, every accidental brush of their hands, every charged moment between them had hinted at it. Isla might be innocent, but her body spoke to his in ways words never could.
He imagined their first night together, the way she’d look beneath him, her cheeks flushed with a mix of nervousness and desire. He’d take his time with her, guiding her, showing her that she was his and that he would worship her in every way possible. The thought alone made his breathing shallow, his pulse quicken.
And when they made love, it wouldn’t just be about passion—it would be about claiming her, body and soul. She’d be his in every way that mattered, and he’d ensure she knew it with every touch, every kiss, every whispered word. She would belong to him, not just in name but in every fiber of her being.
Isla remained silent, her wide, expressive eyes betraying a storm of emotions she couldn’t seem to voice. Graham’s frown deepened as he studied her. The thought struck him suddenly—was she shy? Perhaps overwhelmed? He set his coffee cup down deliberately, the porcelain clinking softly against the saucer. If she was too stunned to speak, then it was his job to guide her through this.
“Isla, darling,” he murmured, his voice softening as he reached across the table to take her hands again. His touch was firm yet gentle, meant to reassure her, to promise silently that he was here for her, that he would do whatever it took to be the kind of husband she deserved. But the moment his fingers brushed hers, she jerked her hands away as though his touch burned her.
Before he could process the rejection, Isla shot to her feet so quickly that her chair screeched against the floor, wobbling precariously. She nearly stumbled into the coffee table, her movements clumsy and frantic, and her sudden outburst was barely above a whisper.
“No.”
Graham stared at her, the single word echoing in his mind, louder than any shout. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Isla, his Isla, the girl he had rescued from the brink, the one he had just offered the world to, had said no.
“No, thank you,” she continued, her voice trembling yet resolute, as though the words cost her everything she had. Her teary eyes locked on his, shimmering with unshed tears that made her look heartbreakingly innocent. “I’m just not desperate enough to belong somewhere to accept a marriage without love.”
The words were a dagger to his pride, and Graham felt his jaw tighten as he processed what she had just said. Without love? Did she not understand what he was offering her? This wasn’t just some transaction—it was a promise, a lifetime of security, devotion, and care. He could give her everything she’d ever wanted, everything she didn’t even know she needed, and yet she was refusing him?
As she turned to leave, something primal flared within him, a surge of possessiveness that overrode any rational thought. His voice came out low, commanding, and unyielding.
“You are not going anywhere. Sit down.”
The authority in his tone froze her mid-step. Isla’s shoulders tensed, her small frame rigid as she stood there, torn between defiance and submission. He could see the war waging within her, the way her delicate features twisted in conflict. A vein throbbed at her temple, a telling sign of her inner struggle.
For a moment, he thought she might challenge him, might summon the courage to defy him outright and walk out that door. But then, as though the weight of his presence bore down on her, Isla slowly turned and sank back into her chair.
Her tears threatened to spill over, her lower lip trembling as she crossed her arms protectively over herself. She looked so small, so vulnerable, like a doe caught in the glare of a predator’s eyes. And yet, even now, there was a flicker of defiance in her pouty expression, a hint of the strength she didn’t yet realize she possessed.
Graham leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he fixed her with an unrelenting gaze. His dark eyes bore into hers, the intensity of his presence filling the room.
“Isla,” he began, his voice softer but no less commanding, “you don’t understand what I’m offering you. This isn’t just about belonging or convenience. This is about me giving you the life you deserve. You think love is the only thing that matters, but love grows, Isla. It’s nurtured, built over time. And I promise you, I’ll be everything you’ll ever need. You won’t just belong; you’ll be cherished.”
He reached for her hand again, and though she flinched, this time she didn’t pull away. His fingers enveloped hers, his grip firm but not forceful.
“Look at me,” he urged, and when her teary blue eyes met his, he felt something shift inside him. “I won’t let you walk away from this. From me. You belong here, with me, and I’ll prove it to you every single day if I have to.”
His words hung in the air, a mixture of arrogance and conviction. He was Graham Lancaster, a man used to getting what he wanted, and right now, he wanted Isla.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
