The Runaway Groom

Chapter 16

Irene dreamed that she was being constricted by two gigantic serpents. Unable to breathe and convinced that she would suffocate, 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, and 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.

Her mind clearing instantly, she 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 raised a hand in reflex to stop him, and 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, and 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 where to look.

Her throat felt parched even as she explained, “That

wasn‘t on purpose.”

impulses of anyone that got too close-Isaac

in anything in the world. Straightening himself, he slowly tied up his sash

out for a moment. Isaac took her inaction as her reluctance to cook for him, and he sneered. “You‘re my wife, no

stung by his words, but she had no grounds

the couch and headed to the washroom, feeling a little hungry as well since

up the food Mrs. Watson cooked, she quickly moved them to the

table with an unfathomable expression. Through it all, Irene was virtually curling into herself

try to nitpick, but she messed up anyway as she felt like throwing

retching at the dining table, she

headed to

suddenly remembered that her period was late, although it had always come at the same

distracted even as she returned to the dining

tightened–did she somehow offended him again? But she did not

like the dishes?” she asked with a forced smile, holding back an impulse to pick

him.

to harass her every waking moment? Was he not going to rest if

have poisoned the food

and chewed slowly with a

Irene continued to eat,

beside her own bowl.

in her

up, and finally saw that Isaac‘s

felt like her head had

was using Isaac‘s

gleeful look,” Irene Spencer... You really love me,

could not explain what

to explain, but did not know

used the spoon he used, and

Argh!!!

that count as an indirect kiss? She would rather

“That was an accident...”