The End of a Marriage (Colette and Matheo) novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209

CHAPTER 13

“Talk about what?” Isla asked, her tone casual, but Graham could see

the tension simmering beneath her calm exterior. She leaned back

slightly in the chair, the fluffy pink hotel bathrobe tied loosely

around her slim waist. It was oversized, a shade of pink that was

almost comical against the seriousness of the moment, yet somehow

she managed to make it look effortlessly charming. Beneath it, she

wore a nightgown–one Graham had purposefully avoided thinking

too much about. After all, he had been the one to order the bathrobe

for her the night before, a small act of care that felt like it had carried

more weight than it should.

But now, sitting across from her, he found himself noticing things he

hadn’t before. Isla had always been there, a familiar presence in his

life. Yet in this moment, it was as if he was truly seeing her for the

first time. And it hit him–a realization so sudden and profound that

it left him momentarily breathless. She was beautiful. Not in the way he had allowed himself to acknowledge in the past, but in a way that felt undeniable and consuming.

Her face was delicate, like it had been carved with intention. Wide

blue eyes framed by dark lashes that seemed to hold the weight of the

world in their depths. A small, perfectly buttoned nose that added to

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Chapter 209

her air of innocence. And her lips–those lips. He’d caught himself

staring at them far too often last night, particularly during the quiet

moments in the car when the glow of passing headlights illuminated

her profile. They were full and inviting, and more than once, the

thought of leaning in and tasting them had crossed his mind.

—

The temptation now was almost unbearable. He wanted–no, he

needed to feel the softness of her lips against his, to reach across

the table, cradle the back of her neck, and kiss her with the intensity

of everything he’d been holding back. He imagined the way she might

respond, how her lips might part under his, allowing him to claim her

completely.

And yet, beneath the pull of attraction, there was a stark reminder

that struck him like a sharp jab to the stomach. She was so young.

Too young, perhaps, for him and the life he was proposing. Every time

this thought resurfaced, it brought with it a wave of guilt that

threatened to drown him. What if he was wrong about this? What if

this decision he was on the verge of making ruined the life she hadn’t

even begun to truly live? What if she hated him for it?

He didn’t have the answers. He didn’t have any guarantees. The only

thing he knew for certain was that Isla needed protection, and the

world outside was a cruel, unforgiving place. She was vulnerable in

ways she didn’t fully understand, a fragile figure who deserved a

chance to flourish without the constant weight of survival on her

shoulders.

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And Graham couldn’t, wouldn’t, let her face it alone. If marrying her

was the only way to ensure her safety, her security, then he would do

1. it. Not out of desire, though that was undeniably present, but out of

an unshakable sense of duty. She deserved a life where she was

cherished and cared for, where she didn’t have to fight for every

ounce of respect and protection.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze steady on

hers. “We need to talk, Isla,” he said softly, his voice carrying the

weight of the decision he was about to make.

“About your future,” Graham said at last, his tone firm but measured.

He watched closely as Isla’s hand paused mid–air, the bowl of fruit

she’d been eating from set quietly back onto the table. Her appetite,

it seemed, had disappeared the moment those words left his mouth.

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