After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258 A Long Day
Isabel could tell that Xander wouldn't let it go until she gave him an answer.

"Alright, since you're so curious, I'll break it down for you," she said, her eyes fixed on his chiseled, stoic face. She reached out with two fingers and gently lifted the corners of his mouth.

"See? Smiling like this makes you look so much younger and approachable. You always walk around with that stone-cold expression. Young people don't act like that! Even people in their thirties or forties don't always have to look so serious."

More smiles? More approachable?

Xander imagined what that might look like and immediately rejected the idea. It felt absurd—completely out of character.

Seeing his slightly furrowed brows, Isabel guessed what was going through his mind.

Honestly, she was used to his cool, detached demeanor. If he ever suddenly loosened up, started bouncing around while walking, or acting playful ...

She wouldn't know how to handle that either.

Personalities don't just change, nor should they have to. If that's the case, there was only one solution.

"Come with me."

Isabel grabbed Xander's hand and led him out of the amusement park, heading toward a nearby mall.

"What are we doing here? Don't feel like staying at the park anymore? Shopping? Sure, buy whatever you like," Xander said, perfectly fine with either activity as long as Isabel stayed by his side.

He preferred the mall. It allowed him to spend money on her.

As her husband, he believed that earning money was primarily so she could enjoy it.

For weeks, he'd been trying to get Isabel to accept his gestures, but she always refused, insisting she had her own money.

Now that the opportunity had finally presented itself, he was more than eager.

"It's not for me. It's for you. I'm buying you some clothes."

Isabel led Xander into a men's clothing store.

Xander scanned the racks and shelves, feeling out of place. The styles were far too juvenile—clearly aimed at guys in their early twenties. Some pieces looked so childish that even Samuel wouldn't wear them.

As Xander mulled over this, Isabel's eyes lit up. She hurried over to a display and grabbed a pair of light yellow overalls.

"Look! This style is so similar to what I'm wearing!"

Xander glanced at the overalls in her hands, then at her outfit. Aside from some slight differences in detail, the style and color were practically identical.

Isabel held the overalls up against Xander, sizing him up. "Why don't you try them on? You'd look so much younger in these!"

Do you want me to wear this?

Xander's face practically screamed "no" without him needing to say a word.

"Let's try somewhere else," he said, clearly uninterested. He couldn't fathom wearing anything from this store—least of all the bright yellow overalls Isabel was holding.

Isabel could pull off pastel yellow just fine. She was young, cute, and beautiful.

But he was 30. His wardrobe consisted almost entirely of black, white, and gray, with little deviation.

And now she wanted him to try something as blindingly bright as this? The idea was preposterous.

Just as Xander was about to turn and leave, Isabel tugged on his arm.

"Come on, just try it. It won't kill you."

"It will," Xander replied, dead serious as he stared at her.

If he went out dressed like this, he'd never be able to show his face in public again.

Isabel's antics had to have a limit.

Since she wanted to see him in this outfit, Xander thought indulging her for a moment was enough. But now, Isabel was actually insisting he wear it to go out?

That was absolutely impossible for him.

Before he could protest, Isabel had already scanned the code and paid.

"You don't need to pay me back—it's a gift!" she declared with a bright smile.

That caught Xander off guard. It was the first time Isabel had ever bought him clothes, and while the style wasn't his cup of tea, the sentiment behind it made it special.

"Alright, let's go!" Isabel grabbed his arm again.

"Where to now?"

"To a salon, of course. That hairstyle of yours doesn't go with this outfit at all. Look in the mirror—it's a total mismatch!" She pushed him toward a nearby mirror.

Xander avoided looking, turning his head to the side. But Isabel wasn't having it. She firmly turned his face toward the glass.

"See? It's not that bad," she said.

Xander reluctantly glanced at his reflection and immediately looked away. The person staring back wasn't ugly, but he looked so out of place that Xander couldn't bear it.

"Let's just go," he grumbled, feeling like a kid being dragged off to kindergarten against his will as Isabel pulled him toward the door. They arrived at a high-end salon.

"What kind of style are we going for?" the stylist asked.

"Give him a silver-gray dye job, something trendy and fun!" Isabel replied.