The Runaway Groom novel Chapter 16

Irene dreamed that she was being constricted by two gigantic serpents. She had difficulty breathing and was convinced that she would suffocate. At that time, a ray of light suddenly appeared, and she grabbed it as hard as she could…

She jolted awake when she thought salvation was at hand. She opened her eyes to find a towering man standing before her, his clothes a mess but his presence menacing as if he would consume her.

She was awake completely and shrank into a corner of the couch, stammering, "W-What are you doing?"

Having just woken up, her voice was hoarse and quivering.

Isaac merely smiled in disdain. She was the one who tried to strip him, and now she was pretending to be frightened.

"What, you weren't just pretending to sleepwalk and molest me? You really can't go a night without a man, can you?"

Irene felt her breath leave her lungs. Still, her fingers curled into a fist as she glared at him sternly. "That's not it?"

Isaac gave her a look of doubt. "Really?"

Suddenly, he pressed down on her.

From up close, his distinct presence was cold, suffocating, and invasive.

She stretched out both hands in reflex to stop him. As her soft fingers touched his chest, the sudden skin contact left him stiffening, and he looked down at her hand.

Her fingers were slim and beautiful, and her skin fair.

At the same time, the warmth of her palm flowed under her skin, crawling into her blood.

Though suddenly restless, Isaac simply blamed it on Irene's provocation.

Inching closer, he growled, "Trying to molest me again? You're really thirsty, aren't you?"

Irene bit her lip. "You're shameless!"

"Me?" Isaac chuckled lightly, but it sounded like a dull syllable grunted from his chest. "You're the one touching me, aren't you?"

It was only then that Irene realized in shock that both her hands were pushing against his chest. She never would have realized such intimacy if he did not tell her. She flinched as she withdrew her hands as if his hot, muscular chest burned her.

Even so, his warmth lingered in her palms, leaving her flustered and unsure of where to look.

Her throat felt parched even as she explained, "That wasn't on purpose."

Her scent was sweet and alluring, stirring the impulses of anyone who got too close—Isaac was no exception.

Even so, his restraint and composure kept him uninterested in anything in the world. Straightening himself, he slowly tied up his sash as he growled, "I'm hungry."

Irene was left spacing out for a moment. Isaac took her inaction as her reluctance to cook for him, and he sneered. "You're my wife, no matter how unwilling you are. You'll do what I tell you to!"

Irene pursed her lips, her heart stung by his words, but she had no grounds to retort.

She got off the couch and headed to the washroom, feeling a little hungry as well since she did not have dinner.

Heating up the food Mrs. Watson cooked, she quickly moved them to the table and called out, "It's done."

Isaac entered the dining room, his eyes sweeping over the dining table with an unfathomable expression. Through it all, Irene was virtually curling into herself and reducing her presence.

It was naturally worth celebrating that Isaac did not try to nitpick, but she messed up anyway as she felt like throwing up after a few mouthfuls of food.

Holding back from retching at the dining table, she got up and headed to the washroom to vomit.

She suddenly remembered that her period was late, although it had always come at the same time of the month before.

Suddenly, she felt uneasy.

'Am I pregnant?

'N-No way! I’ve already taken the morning-after pills.

'It's fine,' she told herself, 'I must be scaring myself. '

Still, she was distracted even as she returned to the dining table, picking up a spoon randomly and scooping up soup… but after she drank it, she looked up to meet Isaac's puzzled look.

Her chest tightened as she thought, 'Did I somehow offend him again? But I didn’t do anything though…'

"Do you not like the dishes?" she asked with a forced smile, holding back an impulse to pick up a knife and stab him.