Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223 Clearing the Air

In March, the night air still held a bite of winter’s chill.

+20 Free Caths.

But both of them had drunk enough wine, and with the warmth from the fire pit, the cold was barely noticeable.

Damian was sprawled back on the wooden bench, legs apart. He held a wine glass in one hand, the other resting along the back of the seat. His eyes, full of undisguised affection, followed her as she walked toward him.

Isabelle sat down beside him, and he naturally draped his arm around her shoulders.

“Ms. Snow left, I see,” Isabelle remarked.

“Yeah.” Damian replied, his tone casual.

“I heard from Diana that you helped her place an order with Muddlehead,” Isabelle said, keeping her voice light.

“Yeah.” Damian took a slow sip of his wine. “A flat fee of 200 thousand. Who set the rate?”

“Huh?” Isabelle didn’t follow.

“200 thousand is far too low. Muddlehead’s reputation commands more. Next time, quote a higher price,” Damian stated matter–of–factly.

Isabelle let out a soft, exasperated huff, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement. “I was just worried you were spending too much.”

“It wasn’t my money. What do I care what she spends?” Damian’s gaze remained fixed on her face. He frowned slightly. “Do you really think I’d drop 200 thousand on a gown for a woman who means nothing to me?”

Didn’t he?

Isabelle saw the faint exasperation in his eyes.

Damian gave a low, self–deprecating chuckle and drained his glass.

“My girl has quite the imagination. In your eyes, am I really that kind of man?”

“I was just asking.” Isabelle murmured, pouting slightly as she rested her head against his shoulder.

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Chapter 223 Clearing the Air

+20 Free Coms

So Celeste had been cunning, flaunting the dress to imply it was a gift from the boss. It was all just vanity.

A slow, knowing smile spread across Isabelle’s lips. It seemed she needed to take more decisive action.

“Good thing you asked. Otherwise, you’d have stewed in silence and made yourself miserable.” A chill had run down his spine earlier, but thankfully, slipping the ring on her finger had gone without a hitch. Otherwise, all his efforts tonight would have been ruined

He gritted his teeth gently, then pinched her cheek, the gesture a blend of feigned severity and deep tenderness.

“Chasing you has taken every ounce of my focus. Where would I find the time or energy to fuss over another woman’s life?” He slid his hand to her waist and pulled her securely into his lap.

“I was being silly,” Isabelle admitted, her mood lifting completely at his words.

“A little silliness is perfectly acceptable,” Damian murmured into her hair. One should never be overly generous about matters of the heart.

That day, Celeste had begged Damian to help her commission a gown. Since she genuinely had no connections to Muddlehead and was desperate to make an impression at the company’s IPO event, she had paid the premium out of her own pocket.

But now, Damian was methodically reclaiming her responsibilities and easing her out of the company’s core operations–a classic case of the slow boil, and she was only just realizing she couldn’t jump out.

Isabelle wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled closer against his chest.

“Damian, thank you,” she whispered.

“Save your thanks for later, when we’re back in the room,” Damian replied, the corner of his mouth curling into a suggestive smile.

She pressed her ear to his chest. His warm breath and the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat vibrated softly against her skin.

“Look up,” Damian said, giving her waist a gentle squeeze.

Isabelle tilted her head back and gazed at the sky. It was empty.

The deep twilight made the night sky look like spilled ink. The man gently draped his suit

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Chapter 228 Clearing the Air

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jacket over her shoulders. The thin, warm fabric settled around her, catching strands of her loose hair.

“Three, two, one…” he counted down softly.

Streaks of silvery–white firework tracers, like shooting stars, sliced through the darkness and erupted at their zenith into cascading showers of light. The tiny, sparkling embers reflected in her upturned eyes.

Damian looked down at her profile, bathed in the rosy glow. He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his finger accidentally brushing against her warm earlobe.

The moment Isabelle turned to look at him, thousands of fireworks seemed to ignite within her pupils, even more brilliant than the spectacle above.

It was the suddenly swirling galaxy in his eyes…

And what burned at that moment was far more than just

fireworks.

The damp night breeze, carrying the chill of early spring, tousled the wisps of hair at her temples.

Damian gazed into her eyes, now shimmering with emotion. He gently traced her heated cheek with his thumb before drawing her into an embrace she couldn’t resist.

Amid the distant, thunderous booms of the fireworks finale, he captured her lips in a kiss.

In that tender, lingering connection, he tasted the faint, sweet remnant of whiskey on her

tongue.

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