Isadora had no intention of wasting her breath with him on her own doorstep.
"Magnus, think whatever you want. We''re over. I mean it."
Magnus''s eyes darkened, his voice low and rough, as if dragged from the back of his throat. "I never agreed to break up. It doesn''t count."
She let out a coldugh. "A rtionship takes two people to start, but only one to end it. Whether you like it or not, we''re done."
Magnus was clearly drunk tonight. The more he heard Isadora repeating "we''re over," the more his narrow eyes seemed to burn with an angry, red haze.
“Isadora, no. That''s not happening. Don''t even think about it!"
Without warning, Magnus stepped forward and pinned her wrists against the wall.
The sudden assault caught Isadorapletely off guard.
"Let me go! Now!"
Magnus stared her down, lowering his head to try and kiss her.
Fury boiled over inside Isadora. She brought the pointed toe of her high heel down, hard, right on his foot.
He let out a grunt of pain, his leg jerking back instinctively, and his grip on her loosened.
She shoved him away with all her strength and, without hesitation, pped him across the face.
The p echoed down the dim corridor.
A red handprint,plete with nail marks, bloomed across his cheek-stark and unmistakable.
That blow made it clear just how strong she was.
Isadora''s voice was icy. "Magnus, have you lost your mind?"
The sting of her p seemed to snap Magnus out of his stupor.
For the first time, he saw nothing but disgust and indifference in Isadora''s clear, determined eyes.
A sudden fear gripped him.
Did Isadora really hate him?
No-she loved him. She had to. There was no way she could truly hate him.
It had to be his imagination.
But her recent distance, her resistance tonight, the way she kept shutting him out -it all made her words seem painfully real.
For the first time, Magnus felt a rush of panic, an unfamiliar ache in his chest.
He reached out, wanting to grab her hand, desperate to feel that she was still there.
But this time Isadora was wary. As soon as he stepped closer, she took a step back.
Magnus dropped his gaze, jaw clenched tight.
"Isadora, I know I was wrong. I never should have gotten engaged to Elise, and I never should have let anyone make you aughingstock. For our wedding, I hired the best designer in Northmarch-I wanted you to be the most beautiful bride in the world. Isn''t that what you wanted?"
Isadora didn''t even flinch.
"Magnus, there is no future for us. I told you, we''re not getting married. If you try something like this again, I''ll call the police."
Magnus''s brow furrowed, stubborn and desperate. "What do you want me to do? Just tell me what it takes for you to forgive me."
Isadora almostughed. It was like he was speaking a differentnguage, like they weren''t even living in the same reality.
"Forgive you? Thest time Elise threw her little tantrum, you dropped everything
and left me for her. That was yourst chance, Magnus."
He replied, voice t and heavy, "I told you-she''s just a responsibility."
"A responsibility?" Isadora scoffed. "Well, you sure take your responsibilities seriously, don''t you?"
Just then, her phone started to ring.
Magnus nced at the screen and immediately hit decline.
But Isadora saw who it was-Elise.
Couldn''t havee at a better time.
The phone started ringing again, relentless and shrill in the quiet hallway.
Isadora''s lips curled into a bitter smile.
"Go ahead, answer it. Maybe Elise is having another one of her ''episodes.'' Wouldn''t want you to use me of keeping you from your precious damsel in distress again. I''m not taking the me for that one."
After all, Magnus had thrown that usation at her before.
The phone kept ringing, insistent as ever, refusing to give up.
Magnus''s hand clenched so tightly around his phone that the veins stood out on his arm.
Just as the call was about to go to voicemail, he finally answered.
Elise''s gentle, practiced voice floated through the line.
"Magnus, I''m not feeling well tonight. Could youe over?"
Magnus looked at Isadora, torn.