Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus) novel Chapter 9

Fine, whatever.

Isadora, for the sake of you remembering to have the staff make me a hangover cure last night, I’ll let this one slide.

Just this once, I’ll put up with your attitude.

Magnus picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number.

It was the first time he’d ever called Isadora after a fight.

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”

She turned off her phone!

Magnus gripped his phone so tightly his knuckles went white, a surge of anger rising in his chest.

Well played, Isadora.

So this is your idea of playing hard to get?

You’ve seriously crossed the line!

Without hesitation, Magnus dialed Lean, his voice taut with frustration. “Put the wedding dress on hold. Indefinitely.”

Lean: “...”

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The next morning, the sound of waves lapped gently against the shore. White curtains billowed softly at the villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows, caught in the ocean breeze.

A man emerged from the bathroom, bare-chested, a towel draped around his neck. Droplets of water slid down his short, dark hair.

When Isadora woke up, this was the sight that greeted her: the image of a man fresh from the shower.

She froze, unable to stop herself from staring for a few seconds.

His chest was tanned and perfectly sculpted, muscles taut and defined. Tall and lean, he looked nothing like the ruthless businessman he was in public—in this light, Victor resembled a model straight out of a glossy magazine.

Isadora felt her cheeks burn, her heart thudding a little faster.

She quickly looked away, flustered, her voice shaky as she murmured a protest. “Why are you… taking a shower now?”

Victor casually toweled off his hair, glancing at her with dark, amused eyes. His lips curled in a faint smile. “Who says you can’t shower now?”

“That’s not what I meant. I just… you should get dressed.”

Victor’s voice was light and teasing, carrying a hint of laughter. “Miss Vaughan, you’re acting shy now? You sure weren’t last night.”

Isadora: “…”

How could he be so shameless?

Last night, he was just as enthusiastic as she was—and now he was pinning it all on her?

Victor took them from her. The housekeeper disappeared down the hall.

He walked back to the bed and set the clothes beside Isadora, the gesture surprisingly gentle.

“Your dress from yesterday was ruined. Here’s something clean for you to change into.”

As he came closer, the fresh scent of his shower seemed to fill the room.

Isadora caught sight of a lacy black bra and panties folded neatly atop the dress. The realization that Victor had just carried them in made her cheeks burn even hotter.

Her toes curled into the sheets; she felt like she could fry an egg with the heat radiating off her body.

The man’s presence was overwhelming—her pulse stuttered, as if her heart might give out at any moment.

Is this what it’s supposed to feel like after spending the night with someone?

Even with Magnus, her heart had never pounded this wildly.

Isadora swallowed, determined to steer the conversation back on track.

“Look, we… we’re even now, okay?”

Victor leaned down, hooking a finger under her chin and meeting her gaze with dark, unreadable eyes.

“What do you think?”