The End of a Marriage (Colette and Matheo) novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258

As Graham and Evie made their way to leave the sunroof, Isla

couldn’t hold back any longer. Her heart hammered in her chest as

she called out, “Graham, I—”

He turned to her, his expression unreadable, his eyes giving nothing

away. He cut her off with a low, firm voice, his tone laced with quiet

impatience. “Not now, Isla. If you have something important to say,

wait until this evening. In my office. When we have some privacy.”

And with that, he turned back to Evie, offering her his arm like the

perfect gentleman. She laughed softly as she looped her hand

through his, and together they left without another glance in Isla’s

direction. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they disappeared down

the stairs, leaving Isla rooted in place, the words she had tried to say

stuck in her throat.

She remained standing there long after they were gone, her hands

clenched tightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. The

ache in her chest was unbearable, like a cold compress pressed

directly against her heart, numbing and yet somehow amplifying the

pain. Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions–anger, longing,

fear, and a deep, gnawing sadness that seemed to consume her whole.

Why won’t he just listen? she thought, frustration bubbling up

1/4

Chapter 258

alongside her despair. But beneath the frustration was a more

terrifying realization–one she had tried to deny for weeks. Graham

wasn’t bluffing. The coldness in his voice, the distance in his eyes,

the way he had introduced her as his step–sister to Evie–it all

pointed to the same chilling truth. He was moving on. He was done

with her.

Isla sank into a chair by the window, staring out at the sprawling

grounds of Thornfield Manor. For the first time, the thought of losing

this place felt real. The home she had grown up in, the walls that had

held her happiest memories, and even her deepest sorrows–it might

all be gone.

Her thoughts drifted back to the way Graham used to be. The warmth in his smile when he looked at her, the gentleness in his voice when he spoke her name. And it might all be gone too and Isla needed to stop that from happening, she needed to talk to him, to make him

understand.

At around six in the evening, the sound of laughter echoed through

Thornfield Manor as Evie and Graham returned from their outing.

Their voices were bright, carefree, and their steps light as they ran up

the grand staircase like two mischievous children. Isla heard them from her room, her stomach twisting at the sound. She stayed where she was, hidden behind her closed door, until she was certain the

laughter had faded and the house had settled into silence once more.

Only then did she gather the courage to venture out.

2/4

Chapter 258

The storm clouds outside were gathering again, dark and heavy,

promising another downpour. It mirrored the weight in her chest, the

tension that had been building all day. She made her way down the

dimly lit hall toward Graham’s study, her heart pounding with each

step. She paused at the door, taking a moment to collect herself

before knocking softly.

“Come in,” came his voice, low and measured.

She pushed the door open, her breath catching as she stepped inside.

Graham wasn’t at his desk, poring over papers or staring at his computer screen as she had expected. Instead, he was lounging in an armchair by the fireplace, a glass of scotch cradled in his hand. The amber liquid caught the flicker of the flames, casting a warm glow

that seemed at odds with the cold indifference in his eyes.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify