After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268 Divorce? Not in This Lifetime
Isabel couldn't stand the stares anymore. Compared to her, Harriet and the others were even more uncomfortable.

But it was Rachel who was the worst.

Isabel dared to speak, and Xander immediately answered with a blunt "No."

So direct, with no hesitation. How much did he dislike her for him to answer so decisively?

Rachel, stung by his words, closed her eyes and turned her head away.

She couldn't bear to look any longer. If she kept staring, she feared she'd lose control and tear Isabel apart on the spot.

"Ahem—" Max cleared his throat and took a couple of steps forward.

"Cough, cough—" Max cleared his throat and took a couple of steps forward. "Xander, I need to explain. Those people who insulted Isabel earlier? I don't know them. I didn't invite them. They just heard about it and tagged along."

The people who had just spoken ill of Isabel were now trembled in fear. They had been stirred up by Harriet and Rachel earlier, their anger clouding their judgment, and they forgot they had been brought into this drama.

Whom Xander hung out with was his business. Even if Rachel was a good person, if Xander wasn't interested, they had no right to interfere.

It was fine to quietly complain in their hearts, but when they followed Harriet's lead and blurted it out, it was a different story.

With their hearts racing, the crowd sneakily glanced at Xander.

Whether it was by accident or pure coincidence, when they looked, Xander's icy gaze swept over them.

His eyes were so cold, it felt like they could freeze anything in their path. A chill ran down their spines, and their hairs stood on end.

"There's a patch of flowers over there, let's go check it out," Isabel said, uninterested in wasting time with these people.

She didn't want Xander to waste his energy on them too.

"Hold on a minute," Xander said, adjusting his sleeve slowly as he made his way toward the people who had insulted Isabel earlier.

"Wait, X-xander, we—" The group, led by Vernon, who had been the loudest in their insults, trembled in fear when they saw Xander, who looked as terrifying as a grim reaper. They started backing away uncontrollably.

"Xander." Isabel reached out and grabbed his arm.

"No need," Isabel shrugged.

"But they insulted you," Xander said, frowning, his brows knitting together.

"I don't care. They're nothing but irrelevant people to me," Isabel said, pausing for a moment before adding with a smile, "A bunch of people who talk without thinking."

Her words ignited anger among the crowd.

"Who are you calling brainless?" Harriet snapped.

Isabel looked at her as if she were an idiot. "Isn't it true? You got played, and you didn't even realize it. The instigators are silent, and you're still barking. Isn't it a problem if you don't see that?"

Her words made several people start to think.

Had we been manipulated?

A few clearer-headed individuals looked between Isabel and Xander.

The pair looked perfect together—handsome man, beautiful woman.

When they stood together, they were a harmonious and captivating sight. It was obvious to everyone how much Xander cared for Isabel, and they were legally married. Was it that unusual for them to be in the woods, showing affection?

The more they thought, the more people realized Isabel might be right.

"Speaking of which, these two are a married couple just out here for a quiet moment. Is it appropriate for us outsiders to be here?" someone asked, causing others to start reconsidering their actions.

Thinking back, it was Rachel who had started pretending to be a victim, looking like she might cry. Then her best friends Harriet and Vernon, who idolized Rachel, led the group here.

Now that they thought about it, Isabel and Xander were the only ones who belonged here. They were outsiders, really, just sticking their noses where they didn't belong.

As that thought spread, the expressions toward Rachel shifted, turning awkward.

Rachel lowered her head, silent. Now, her only option was to keep pretending to be the victim.

Luckily, she had Harriet, her clueless friend, by her side.

"Why are you all looking at Rachel like that? She's the innocent victim here!" Harriet blurted out.

Hearing this, Rachel played along, letting tears fall, and ran off, making it look like she was in utter despair.

The crowd's expressions became even more complicated.