Chapter 40
Cecil reclined comfortably in the backseat of the car, her eyes occasionally glancing at the passing lights outside. The soft hum of the vehicle filled the silence until she broke it with a question.
“Did you argue with Izzy?”
Calen’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. He kept his gaze on the road, his expression unreadable. He knew she would notice. The fact that Izzy left alone without him was simply too obvious.
“No,” he replied, his tone clipped.
Cecil tilted her head, studying his profile in the rearview mirror
“You’re lying,” she said plainly. “Izzy seemed different tonight Distant.”
Calen exhaled sharply, the tension in his shoulders visible.
“It’s nothing. She’s just under a lot of pressure lately”
Cecil didn’rlook convinced.
“Calen. I’ve known Izzy for years. That wasn’t just stress. Did something happen?”
He hesitated, his fingers tapping the steering wheel before he finally spoke.
“It’s complicated,” he admitted. “Dad’s been working with Izzy behind the scenes to push me toward becoming COO. He thinks I’m ready, but I’m not interested. Not yet.”
1
Cecil raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly..
“I didn’t know anything about that. Why would your father involve Izzy?”
“It’s a secret,” Calen said with a shrug. “Dad’s been talking about retiring for a while now. He thinks I need a push, and who
etter to nudge me than Izzy? She’s good at convincing people, and she knows how to handle him.”
Cecil studied him for a moment before shaking her head.
“Are you sure that’s what’s going on? Because what I saw tonight didn’t look like someone ‘nudging‘ you. It looked like someone who’s lost patience.”
Calen sighed, his jaw tightening,
“I’ll take care of it, Mom. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Cecil leaned back again, her gaze thoughtful. After a moment, she asked,
“When are you going to marry Izzy?”
Calen’s hands tensed on the wheel. He didn’t answer immediately, the question hanging heavy in the air.
That’s not part of my plan yet,” he said finally. “I’m still young. There’s no rush.”
Cecil gave a soft, incredulous laugh
“No rush? Calen, do you have any idea how many men have been eyeing Izzy since her grandfather’s death? Didn’t you notice how the room reacted to her tonight?”
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Chapter 40
“She’s not the type to be unfaithful,” Calen said firmly. “Izzy loves me.”
Cecil sigheil, shaking her head slightly.
“Some men are simply too confident,” she muttered, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him in the mirror. “Izzy stole the entire show tonight. Raising a million dollars isn’t just about generosity. It’s about power and presence. Do you know how many people in that room wanted her attention? And that includes Liam Horvath.”
At the mention of Liam, Calen’s jaw clenched. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as his mood visibly shifted.
“Liam doesn’t matter,” he said sharply.
Cecil raised an eyebrow at his tone but decided to press forward
“If you’re serious about her, you should consider proposing. You could use your grandmother’s ring”
Calen glanced at her in the rearview mirror, surprised.
“Grandmother’s ring?”
“Yes,” Cecil said simply. “It’s an heirloom, and it’s been in our family for generations. I rarely wear it anymore. It would be perfect for Izzy.”
Calen’s surprise turned to hesitation.
“That ring is important to you. Why would you suggest giving it to her?”
“Because she’s important,” Cecil replied. “And if you don’t see that, Calen, then you’re more foolish than I thought.”
Calen didn’t respond immediately. He stared at the road ahead, his thoughts churning
“I’m not planning to get married yet,” he finally said. “I’m young
Cecil shook her head, exasperated.
Foolish,” she muttered again. “You think the world will wait for you to make up your mind. But someone like Izzy? She won’t wait forever, Calent. Not with men like Liam hovering around, ready to step in where you hesitate.”
Calen gritted his teeth in silence.
how
“Did you know my friends were fascinated when I mentioned the Rossi empire her grandfather built? Imagine awkward it’d be if they assumed you were gearing up to take the reins, only for it to fall apart because… well, you’re dragging your feet and she just got tired of waiting?” Cecil closed her eyes as if talking to her own son was such a tiring thing to do.
This time, Calen didn’t answer his mother.
Meanwhile, Izzy slumped into the passenger seat of her car, her head leaning back against the headrest, eyes shut. The champagne had definitely gotten to her. She had more glasses than she cared to count. At least no one had witnessed her stumble when Liam insisted on driving her car home instead of letting her attempt it. That would’ve been humiliating.
Peeking through one half–opened eye, she caught a glimpse of him. His jaw was set, his hands gripping the wheel as he stared at the road ahead. She let out a small sigh, inaudible over the low hum of the engine.
To her surprise, he hadn’t said a word about her drinking. No snarky remarks, no scolding about how irresponsible it was to even think about driving after champagne. The silence was unseling. Was he biting his tongue because he thought she’d passed out? Should she keep up the act?
The car began to slow, and Izzy’s pulse quickened. What was he doing? Panic flickered for a moment, and she quickly shut her eyes tight, deciding to stay “asleep.” Better to feign ignorance than face whatever lecture he’d been saving for later.
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The car eased to a stop, and she heard the driver’s side door click open. Her breath hitched when his footsteps crunched softly on the gravel, moving around to her side. The door creaked open, and she felt the cool night air brush her skin. Before she could react, strong arms slid beneath her legs and behind her back.
“Really?” she muttered instinctively, cracking her eyes open just enough to meet his.
“Shh,” Liam said, his voice low as if her half–hearted protest was nothing more than an inconvenience. His gaze flicked downward briefly before locking back onto the task at hand. “You can pretend to be asleep, but I’m not letting you stumble out of this car on your own.”
She didn’t resist when he lifted her effortlessly, cradling her as if she weighed nothing. His cologne mingled with the crisp evening air, and she hated that her brain registered the way his hold felt–stearly, sure. Annoyingly comfortable.
Liam adjusted his hold on Izzy as she instinctively wrapped an arm around his neck for balance. He stepped carefully across the gravel driveway and into the house, his steps steady. The door shut quietly behind them, and he carried her through the dimly lit entryway. Izzy kept her eyes closed, her breathing ever, but her mind raced with thoughts of what he might be thinking. Hold on. Why was she worried about his thoughts?
The stairs creaked slightly under his weight as he ascended, his grip unwavering. She felt the slight shift of her body as he maneuvered them toward the room they now shared. The door clicked open, and he carried her across the threshold without hesitation.
Inside, he walked to the bed, pausing just long enough to pull back the covers with one hand before lowering her onto the mattress. She felt the firmness of the bed beneath her and the coolness of the sheets against her arms as he adjusted the blanket over her. For a moment, she wondered if he’d say something, but instead, she heard the faint rustle of his steps
retreating
She kept her eyes closed, straining to hear the faintest sound–his footsteps down the hall, the click of a door, or even the start of a phone call. Nothing.
When the quiet stretched on, she cautiously opened one eye. The room was empty. She sighed softly, pushing herself up to sit on the edge of the bed. Her head buzzed faintly from the champagne, and she rubbed her temples as she stood. A bath might help clear her head and ease the tension that had been building all night.
She wondered briefly if Liam had left for another late–night meeting. Since they’d started staying in the same room, he often returned late, slipping into bed sometime after she’d already fallen asleep. But despite waking to find him there every morning, her sleep had been anything but restful.
She shuffled toward the bathroom, but before she reached the door, it swung open again. Startled, she froze as Liam stepped back into the room. His suit jacket was gone, his shirt sleeves rolled up slightly. He walked toward her, a bottle of water in hand.
“Here,” he said, holding it out to her.
Izzy blinked, caught off guard.
“What’s this for?”
“Drink it,” he said plainly. “I didn’t see you drink water earlier.”
She hesitated, still unsure what to make of him, but eventually reached out and took the bottle. She unscrewed the cap and took a small sip, but before she could stop, he gestured for her to continue.
“More,” he said.
Rolling her eyes but too tired to argue, she drank again, this time finishing half the bottle. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and set it on the nightstand.
“Happy now?” she asked.
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He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he moved past her toward the closet, pulling out a fresh towel and setting it on the bathroom counter. Then, without looking at her, he spoke.
“You need to take a bath,” he said. “It’ll help you sleep.”
To her surprise, however, Liam left the room before she could even respond.
Izzy blinked, unsure if something had happened. Was lac… was he angry?
SEND GIFT
