The End of a Marriage (Colette and Matheo) novel Chapter 211

Chapter 211

His gaze lingered on her delicate features, the soft curves of her lips,

the flutter of her lashes as she glanced down, perhaps trying to

process what had just happened. The thought of her innocence, her

purity, only heightened the intensity of his feelings. She was

untouched, untainted, and the idea of being the first man to truly

claim her sent a surge of possessiveness through him that was almost

overwhelming.

His thumb brushed against the back of her hand, the gesture

deliberate, calculated. He wanted to memorize every detail of this

moment–the warmth of her skin, the way her breath hitched ever so

hu

slightly, the unspoken tension that hung between them like a charged

wire.

When she formally agreed to be his wife, everything would change.

He could kiss her, hold her, begin to show her the depth of his

devotion. Maybe tonight, in the privacy of this suite, he could start to

bridge the distance between them. Not fully–not yet. Isla was a

virgin, and Graham was resolute in his decision to wait until their

wedding night to truly claim her. But there was so much they could

explore in the meantime, ways to draw her closer to him, to deepen

the bond that was already taking root between them.

The image of Isla on their wedding night flashed in his mind, vivid

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Chapter 211

and tantalizing. He could see her standing in the bedroom at Thornfield Manor, bathed in soft candlelight, nervous yet beautiful in a delicate lace nightgown. The innocence in her eyes, the way she would look at him with a mix of trust and anticipation, sent a wave of desire crashing over him so strong it took all his willpower to remain

seated.

Graham couldn’t stop the amused chuckle that bubbled out of him at

her question. “You’ll give me the loan, then?” she asked, her tone

tentative, her voice laced with uncertainty. She had no idea,

absolutely no idea, the magnitude of what he was willing to give her.

Here she sat, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, asking for a small

loan, while he was ready to lay his entire empire at her feet. Thirty

billion dollars, the Thornfield estate, his name, his life–everything

he had. She wanted a loan, but he wanted to make her his queen.

The sheer innocence of it only made her more endearing, and Graham

shook his head with a low laugh. “No, Isla,” he said softly, leaning

forward just enough to capture her attention fully. His gaze locked on

hers, intense and unwavering. “I’m not giving you a loan.”

Her expression faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing her delicate features. It made his heart clench, but only for a moment,

because he was about to change her entire world.

“What I mean,” he continued, his voice dropping into a deep, steady timbre, “is that you’ll never have to feel that way again. Like you

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don’t belong. Like you’re a stranger in your own home.” He leaned

closer, his hand finding hers on the table again, his touch deliberate and firm, claiming her in the smallest of ways. “Thornfield Manor can

be yours, Isla. Just as much as it is mine. It can be ours.”

He let the words hang in the air for a moment, his gaze never leaving

hers, watching every subtle change in her expression. She looked

confused, her brows knitting together as if she didn’t quite

understand where he was going. But he did, and he would make sure

she did too.

almost a

“If we get married,” Graham said, his voice softer now, whisper, “if you become my wife, Thornfield Manor will be your home again. You’ll never have to feel like an outsider, Isla. Never again.”

Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, she seemed to stop

breathing. He could see the disbelief in her eyes, the way her mind

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