The End of a Marriage (Colette and Matheo) novel Chapter 201

CHAPTER 9

Isla’s hands were raw and aching, her pale skin rubbed nearly to

blisters as she scrubbed the heavy stack of dishes in ice–cold tap

water. The chill bit at her fingers, but she didn’t dare pause. Mrs.

Anne, the woman who ran the Magnolia Ridge Bed and Breakfast, was

a strict and frugal taskmaster, and any sign of slacking off would draw

a sharp reprimand. Complaining wasn’t an option either; Isla already

knew it wouldn’t make a difference. Mrs. Anne cut corners wherever

she could, whether it was underpaying her staff or ignoring basic

decency.

Beside her, a young girl named Avery swept the wooden floors of the dining room. Avery was around Isla’s age, perhaps a little younger, with a quiet demeanor that suggested she’d learned to keep her head down and do as she was told. The two worked in silence, neither

daring to say much. Outside, the sun had just set, casting a soft orange glow through the windows. Most of the guests were still out exploring the town, but they would return soon, and dinner had to be ready. The clock ticked on, a relentless reminder of the evening rush

to come.

Despite the busyness of her hands, Isla’s mind drifted, as it always

did, back to home. Thornfield Manor. Its sprawling grounds, warm

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Chapter 201

fireplaces, and the comfort of her father’s steady presence. A month

ago, she had everything: a roof over her head, a father who loved her,

and the quiet confidence that life would continue in familiar security.

Now, it all felt like a distant dream.

Her father was gone. Her home was gone. Every ounce of stability and

safety she’d ever known had been stripped away in a matter of weeks.

Two weeks ago, grief and anger had clouded her judgment, leading

her to flee in the dead of night, packing her things and leaving

Willow Creek without telling a soul. She thought she was taking

control, but now she could see it for what it was: a rash, foolish

decision driven by ego and pain.

A lone tear slid down her cheek as she plunged her hands back into the freezing water, fishing for another bowl. The memory of that night in Willow Creek haunted her. She could see herself rushing to pack her bag, driven by a storm of emotions she barely understood. Pride and anger had told her she couldn’t stay, that she didn’t need anyone. She’d wanted to prove she could survive on her own.

But now? Now she knew better.

The realization came harshly on her fourth night in Magnolia Ridge. By then, she was already well aware that the guest house she’d chosen to stay in was far from safe. The owner, a greasy, leeting man with a predatory gaze, had made her skin crawl from the moment she

Chapter 201

arrived. Worse still, she knew someone had rifled through her

belongings the first day she’d left the room, likely the owner or one of

his staff. She’d found her carefully folded clothes in disarray and her

few possessions disturbed, though her hidden stash of money had

thankfully gone unnoticed.

Even knowing all this, she’d stayed. Perhaps out of desperation or the

naive hope that things wouldn’t get worse. But on her fourth night,

her hope shattered.

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