After the Secret Wedding Rise of My Queen

Chapter 254 Xander and Richard Confront Each Other Over Isabel "Xander, let me explain."

Isabel knew this time Xander's jealousy had been pushed to the limit, and she could understand why. If the roles were reversed and she were in his place, seeing her husband hiding under another person's table, she would have lost her composure long before having a

calm conversation.

The fact that Xander was managing to hold it together this much showed incredible restraint on his part!

"There's no need to listen to her explanation!" Ivana finally lost her patience. She stepped forward, her voice trembling with fury as she shouted at Isabel.

"You homewrecking hussy! The moment you stepped foot in this house, I knew you were trouble! First, you sink your claws into my son, and now you're not satisfied until you've got Richard too? You-you-you've got no shame!"

Ivana's face flushed crimson, then deepened to a furious purple. Xander was her son, and Richard a young man she'd mentored and cared for like her own. Yet this vixen, Isabel, had somehow managed to wrap them both around her little finger. And now, because of Isabel, Xander and Richard looked like they were about to come to blows.

A woman like her was nothing but poison-rotten to the core! She was a ticking time bomb in their family, one the family could never tolerate!

Isabel frowned and glanced at Richard beside her. She didn't care how much Ivana insulted her, but if Richard got caught up in this because of her, it would leave a bad taste in her mouth.

"Say what you want about me," Isabel said. "I know you don't like me, and you've always wanted Rachel to be your daughter-in-law. But Richard and I are just friends."

The way Isabel spoke made it clear to anyone with ears-she was trying to shield Richard from the brunt of the blame.

Xander, who was already furious beyond words, only grew more enraged seeing Isabel stand up for Richard like this. His emotions churned inside him like a violent storm.

He grabbed Isabel's wrist roughly and locked his grip tight, pulling her away without a word.

Isabel didn't react immediately and stumbled as Xander dragged her along.

Richard frowned, concern etched on his face. He quickly followed them, saying, "You've got it all wrong. There's nothing between us. She came here to help me with my illness. You'll hurt her if you keep this up."

Xander's anger momentarily cooled at Richard's explanation, but the last sentence reignited his fury. In those words, he heard something that sounded like affection.

"This is between me and my wife. It has nothing to do with you," Xander said coldly.

With that, he continued to pull Isabel toward the car. "Hey! Xander, you're hurting me!" Isabel exclaimed, her face pale with discomfort. "Can you calm down and listen to me?"

Seeing Isabel's pained expression, Richard instinctively rushed forward and grabbed her other hand.

"She's not feeling well! Can't you see that?!" Richard's voice carried an edge of anger.

He didn't know why he was reacting this way-it was as if seeing Isabel being "bullied" triggered something primal in him, a need to protect her.

Xander narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold as ice. His thin lips pressed into a harsh, unyielding line, exuding an aura of pure menace.

However, Richard didn't let go of Isabel's hand. He feared that the moment he released her, Xander would continue to hurt her.

"Let go," Xander said, his tone commanding and absolute.

Richard's brows furrowed. He knew he didn't have the right to interfere-after all, they were husband and wife. But the misunderstanding had started because of him. "I think we should all calm down and talk this through," Richard suggested.

"Exactly" Isabel quickly nodded in agreement, her head bobbing like a chicken pecking at grains. "He's right. This is all just a misunderstanding. Please, let's talk it out first." The word "we" hit Xander like a slap to the face.

As the word hung in the air, the atmosphere around them dropped several degrees. A suffocating chill enveloped the room, rushing toward Isabel like an impending storm. This is bad, panic rising in Isabel's chest.

Before she could come up with a way to explain herself, Ivana suddenly stormed forward, raising her hand to slap Isabel across the face.

By the time Isabel realized what was happening, Ivana's hand was already inches from her cheek.

Although Isabel managed to dodge in time, Ivana's nails still grazed her skin, leaving a long, bloody scratch across her face.

Seeing that her slap hadn't fully landed, Ivana raised her hand to strike again.

Before she could, Xander and Richard each stepped forward simultaneously, pulling Isabel behind them. They stood side by side, shielding her like a protective wall. "You're... you're both protecting her?!" Ivana screamed, on the verge of a meltdown.

What kind of curse has fallen on our family? she thought. To end up with such a plague like Isabel?!

"Move aside!"

Xander frowned. "Mom, this is none of your business."

His gaze shifted to Richard, who still held Isabel's hand.

Richard noticed Xander's cold stare and finally let go of Isabel's hand with some hesitation.

The moment he did, a strange sense of loss washed over him. It felt as though he had just let go of the most precious thing in his life, leaving a hollow ache in his chest.

en FindNovel

Xander turned to look at Isabel. The scratch on her cheek was vivid against her pale skin, the crimson streak stark against her snowy complexion.

Slowly, he raised his hand as if to touch her face, but halfway, he stopped and let it drop back down.

His thin lips tightened before he spoke, his voice cold and distant. "Come with me."

This time, Xander's grip on Isabel's hand was noticeably gentler, though still firm. Isabel glanced back at Richard, an apologetic look in her eyes.

Why is she still looking at him?!

Does he look that good to her?!

Xander's grip tightened again, and he roughly dragged her into the car.

The entire ride back was silent. Neither Isabel nor Xander said a single word. The tension in the car was so thick it was suffocating.

When they arrived at the villa, Xander wasted no time pulling Isabel upstairs and into their bedroom.

The house staff wisely chose to disappear, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire of whatever storm was brewing.

Xander practically yanked Isabel up the stairs. Once inside the room, he immediately began tugging at her clothes.

"What are you doing?!" Isabel protested, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

Thankfully, it was winter, and she

was wearing layers. If it were summer, with Xander's quick, decisive movements, she would've already been stripped bare like a peeled egg, completely exposed to his gaze.

"Checking," Xander said bluntly, continuing his actions.

The sound of fabric tearing echoed in the room.

"Checking my foot! Xander, you've gone too far!" Isabel snapped, anger flaring.

"Xander, what do you take me for?!" she yelled, trembling with fury. "I've already told you-it's a misunderstanding! I went to Richard's house to treat his #ness! Why don't you believe me?"

"Treat his illness?!" Xander sneered. "Then why were you hiding under the table? Feeling guilty about something?"

Jealousy clouded his judgment, and no matter what Isabel said, his anger refused to subside.

He was determined to "check" every inch of her.

Riiip-riiip-

"Enough! Xander!" Isabel shouted, grabbing his hair and pushing at his shoulders, her face flushed with equal parts anger and humiliation.

Xander paused for only a second before resuming his "inspection," his actions becoming increasingly over the line.