After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen novel Chapter 234

Chapter 234 Isabel Visits Leslie's Grave
It was the first time Xander had ever refused Isabel, and it made him feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.

Isabel looked confused and shocked.

The atmosphere between them grew tense for a moment, but the one who seemed most uncomfortable wasn't Isabel or Xander—it was Leo, caught in the middle.

He glanced at Isabel, then at Xander, and quietly took a step back, then another.

After a brief silence, Xander gently reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Isabel's ear.

She stayed still, her eyes following his every move.

"I need to go pick up my mother," Xander said slowly. "You know how she feels about Leslie. To her, Leslie was the true daughter-in-law. She doesn't like you, but she's just protective of me. Today marks Leslie's death day. If you come with me, I'm afraid it'll make things uncomfortable for you."

That was the main reason Xander had turned Isabel down—not only would it upset Ivana, but it could also make things worse between them.

"Oh, okay. I understand. You go ahead," Isabel replied.

But I'll follow you.

Isabel was determined to visit Leslie's grave, though she had no idea what she would find there.

Something inside her urged her to go, like an invisible force pushing her forward.

Once Xander left, Isabel hailed a taxi and followed him.

They soon arrived at the cemetery.

"Miss, we're here."

"Take your time. I'll stay here for a little while longer," Isabel told the driver, handing him a hundred-dollar bill. She then pulled out a pair of binoculars to look around.

Xander and Ivana stood in front of two tombstones close together—one for the Nelson couple and the other for Leslie.

As Ivana spoke to the tombstones, tears filled her eyes.

"Leslie, my poor Leslie. You were so small back then. A sweet little girl with the brightest smile, always asking for hugs. Every time I gave you candy, your face lit up. You have no idea how much I adored you. I always hoped you'd be my daughter-in-law, but I never imagined ... "

She choked on her words and couldn't continue.

Xander reached out to comfort her, patting her back.

Ivana sighed deeply and turned to him. "Xan, when are you going to divorce Isabel? That woman isn't as innocent as she seems. By the way, have you taken back the emerald guardian angel pendant?"

Xander pulled the pendant from his pocket and showed it to Ivana. "I promised her I'd lend it to her for a year."

"You ... you drive me crazy!" Ivana slapped her chest, frustrated. Xander had always been a sensible son, especially after his father passed away. She had always been proud of him and supported his decisions. But his marriage to Isabel was one thing she couldn't accept.

"It might rain soon. Let's go," Xander said, clearly wanting to avoid the topic.

Ivana knew her son well—once he made up his mind, it was hard to change it.

She had thought it through. When it came to Isabel, just talking wouldn't be enough to change his mind. Saying too much might make things worse or even harm the relationship between mother and son.

So, she decided to take a more practical approach. She would have someone look into Isabel and gather solid evidence.

When the time was right, she would show Xander this evidence, and he would make his decision.

After Xander and Ivana left, Isabel got out of the taxi and walked to Leslie's grave.

"Leslie ... What exactly is our connection?" she whispered, her mind swirling with fragments of memories and dreams from the past few days.

Some of the scenes felt too personal like no one else should have seen them, but Isabel recognized them.

She had once thought they were just hallucinations or overactive dreams, but they seemed far too vivid to be mere imagination.

She couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't.

It wasn't until a few days ago, when she snuck into the Nelson Residence, that she remembered the hidden mechanism under the couch. In a moment of desperation, she pressed it. To her shock, a secret compartment opened.

That moment gave her a new understanding of her dreams and the strange 'hallucinations' she'd been experiencing.