After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221 Isabel and Richie's Fight
Isabel's reflexes were sharp. She swiftly dodged the attack while grabbing her opponent's arm and aiming a kick at his lower body.

Her opponent was just as quick. His free hand shot out and grabbed Isabel's leg.

The man's grip was strong, nearly preventing Isabel from pulling her leg back.

She stumbled back two steps after freeing herself and steadied her stance. This time, she didn't rush to attack. Instead, she put some distance between them and caught sight of a figure standing by the window.

She couldn't make out the person's features under the moonlight's hazy glow.

However, the silhouette resembled the one she'd seen in the photos on Xander's phone.

It also looked like ...

Like him.

"Who are you?" The man's deliberately low voice cut through the tension.

Isabel's sharp gaze roved over him, studying him closely.

"Who are you?" she countered, lowering her voice as well.

The atmosphere grew taut, like a bowstring ready to snap.

After a moment of silence, the man spoke again, "Are you an enemy of the Nelsons?"

His question mirrored Isabel's thoughts. It was something Xander had also been investigating—was this man part of the Nelsons or their enemy?

After a brief pause, Isabel decided to test him. "What if I am?"

The moment the words left her mouth, the man's voice, brimming with murderous intent, rang out.

"Then you'll die."

As his words fell, his hand turned into a fist, aiming straight for Isabel's chest.

Isabel raised her palms, catching his punch mid-air.

But then the man's fist shifted into a claw, veering toward her neck with the intent to strangle her.

Isabel reacted quickly, leaping backward.

As she retreated, the man advanced. His long stride allowed him to grab her shirt.

Her pupils dilated as she stumbled back several more steps.

Rip! Her collar was pulled open.

After several exchanges, their positions shifted, leaving Isabel standing by the window.

She glanced down at her neck. Luckily, only an inch below her collarbone was exposed.

Just as she felt a small wave of relief, the man's voice, now tinged with excitement, startled her.

"The emerald guardian angel pendant? Why do you have it?"

Did he recognize the pendant?

From his earlier words, if I were an enemy of the Nelsons, he'd kill me. So, he must be one of them?

Before Isabel could ask, a noise came from the doorway.

"Someone broke in!"

Sh*t!

We had been discovered!

The commotion earlier must've drawn attention.

Isabel scanned the room, searching for a hiding spot. Then, her eyes landed on the couch.

A memory flashed through her mind. It was Leslie and some other children playing hide-and-seek in the living room. Leslie had pressed a hidden button on the side of the couch, causing it to shift and reveal a secret compartment.

Isabel wasn't sure how she knew this, but there was no time to dwell on it. She had to hide.

Without hesitation, she rushed toward the couch.

To her surprise, the man followed.

Did he know about this spot too?

The sound of a door opening came from outside.

There was no time to waste. Isabel quickly pressed the hidden button on the couch. It shifted, revealing a secret compartment below.

It was exactly like the scene in her mind.

Isabel didn't notice the shock on the man's face.

She jumped into the compartment and looked up, gesturing to him. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

"Richard! What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

Her words seemed to jolt him. Leslie had said the same thing to him once.

When they were younger, several kids played a game of hide-and-seek in their house. Just like the woman earlier, Leslie had pressed the hidden button on the sofa, causing it to slide away, and led him to hide inside the secret compartment.

Click! The door outside began to open!

The man snapped out of his thoughts and jumped into the compartment just before the couch slid back into place.

The door opened, and bright lights flooded the room as a dozen uniformed guards stormed in.

Isabel crouched in the darkness of the hidden space, listening intently to the commotion outside.