Three Years of Devotion, All for His Lie

Chapter 2

After Rosie left first to deliver the letter, Isabella walked alone toward the main hall of Cloudspire Monastery. She raised her head and looked at God in the hall. He compassionated gazes seemed to fall upon her.

She bent her knees and knelt down, knocking her head to the ground. She did not rise for a long time.

"Isabella."

Dorian walked over quickly and reached out to help her up.

The wrinkled hem of his priest's robe was stained with an unspeakable milky liquid.

Isabella suddenly felt her throat tighten. A wave of nausea rose in her chest. She silently stepped back and gave a slight nod without speaking.

Dorian awkwardly withdrew the hand that had been hanging in the air. Seeing the clear rejection written all over her, he asked in confusion, "Isabella, what is wrong? Are you tired?"

Isabella raised her eyes and looked at the undisguised concern on his face. Something inside her chest seemed to shatter. It was precisely this familiar display of sincere affection that had deceived her for three whole years.

She frowned and took two more steps back.

Dorian's body stiffened. This was the first time he had seen such a distant Isabella.

"You have suffered these past three years," he said softly. "Do not worry. Tomorrow I will return to the residence."

Isabella gently shook her head. Years of upbringing allowed her to maintain her last trace of composure.

She steadied herself and said, "Very well. Tomorrow I will wait for you in the study. We need to talk."

After saying this, she turned and left without waiting for his reply.

The snow fell more heavily. Isabella stopped beside the steps. Every step here carried the mark of her devotion over the past three years.

A passing pilgrim stepped onto the stone staircase. The dark footprint looked like a blade stabbing into Isabella's eyes.

One footprint overlapped another on the stone steps. The snow mixed with mud, leaving them filthy and stained.

Suddenly she laughed.

These stone steps were trampled by countless people every day, yet she had touched them with her forehead daily and treated them as a sacred ladder leading to happiness.

God had been reminding her every day. Only today did she finally understand.

Footsteps sounded behind her. Isabella turned around and met Aurora's eyes.

Aurora sneered. "Isabella, did you enjoy listening outside the wall today?"

Isabella had never experienced intimacy, but she had been married for three years. Before her marriage, the elderly maids in her household had taught her a little about matters between husband and wife.

She smiled faintly.

"Mrs. Aurora, you are already standing here with such strength. It seems it was not very enjoyable either."

She covered the corner of her mouth with a half smile, a trace of disdain appearing in her eyes.

Aurora clearly had not expected that someone still a virgin could say such words, and anger immediately rose in her heart.

"What do you know? The young master wants me beside him every single day. That alone proves how satisfied he is with me. Marrying you in the first place was only a temporary measure because the princess consort insisted that his wife must come from a family of equal status. Even if he returns to the residence tomorrow, he will never touch you. He has already promised to raise me as a Co-wife."

Isabella said calmly, "That is your business. It has nothing to do with me."

Aurora's eyes were alluring and her voice was soft enough to drip with sweetness as she leaned close to Isabella's ear.

"If you refuse to divorce and leave the residence, then prepare to remain a widow for the rest of your life. Sooner or later I will rise in status through my child and become the mistress of the heir's residence."

Isabella stepped back slightly, creating some distance between them. Then she raised her hand and slapped Aurora hard across the face.

"No matter what happens in the future, right now I am still your mistress."

A bright handprint immediately appeared on Aurora's face. She covered her cheek and was about to strike back when a cold voice sounded from behind them.

"Isabella, are you waiting for me?"