Isadora liked to think that things with Magnus were really, truly over.


    He was the one who showed up out of the blue today.


    He was the one rambling on about forgiveness, as if she''d asked him to confess and beg for her pardon.


    He just happened to walk in at the wrong moment.


    Isadora considered her options, deciding it was best to start with something neutral to ease the tension in the car.


    "So, what brings you here all of a sudden?"


    Victor nced up at her, his voice cool and detached. “I had a feeling someone was sneaking snacks behind my back this morning, so I came to see for myself. Turns out my girlfriend''s got quite a few tricks up her sleeve."


    Isadora pressed her fingers to her temple, exasperated. "Victor, could you please just say what you mean?"


    A mocking smirk tugged at his lips. "Why? Am I not as gentle as he is?"


    She met his gaze, her voice steady. "No matter how much I try to deny it, Magnus was my boyfriend once. If that bothers you, there''s nothing I can do about it."


    "That''s your exnation?" Victor''s eyes narrowed, his tone as cold and sharp as midnight. He spoke through clenched teeth.


    Isadora turned away, staring out the window, her lips set in quiet defiance. "If you don''t trust me, then no matter how much I exin, you won''t really listen."


    Victor suddenly reached over, his hand gripping the back of her neck and forcing her to face him. His eyes locked onto hers, icy and unyielding. "Why don''t you try exining properly and see if I won''t listen? Or... is it that you don''t want to exin at all? Have you gone soft on him?"


    Isadora tried to pull away, but the cramped back seat left her nowhere to go. Victor''s presence was oppressive, crowding in on her.


    "Could you stop being so childish?"


    He let out a coldugh. "Childish? If you can''t stand being around me, why''d you get in the car in the first ce?"


    No matter what she said, tempers were ring. There was no way to talk this out right now.


    Maybe a little space was what they needed.


    She pushed him away and reached for the door handle, ready to step out.


    But Victor''s deep,manding voice stopped her cold. "Go ahead, Isadora. Try getting out of this car."


    Could he be any more controlling?


    He''d spent the whole drive throwing barbedments at her—and now he wouldn''t even let her leave.


    Isadora loosened her grip on the handle and sank back into her seat, head bowed, eyes fixed on the sapphire bracelet circling her wrist.


    For a long moment, she just turned the gem between her fingers, then spoke softly.


    "Victor, do you remember when you were in Solstrand? I called and told you that when you got back, we needed to talk."


    Victor''s brow furrowed, a sense of foreboding settling over him.


    He was about to tell her to stop when her voice rang out-clear, cool, and resolute.


    "What I want to say is, Victor... let''s break up."


    The temperature in Victor''s eyes dropped, a storm of emotions surging behind them-hurt, anger, disbelief.


    He suddenly grabbed her chin, his palm pressing hard against her throat.


    Isadora stared back at him, meeting his fierce, narrow-eyed re.


    For the first time, she saw a darkness in his eyes-as though she were a stranger.


    Victor''s voice was low and sharp,ced with bitter usation. "Isadora, have you forgotten how we began?"


    She couldn''t find her voice.


    "This game started when I said it did. You don''t get to decide when it ends."


    It took her a moment before she could speak. "Mr. Fitzgerald, don''t you already have a fiancée—and plenty of childhood sweethearts? Why waste your time on me?"


    He smiled, the expression twisted and dangerous, making his striking features even more unsettling.


    "Because I want to. And I''m not done with you yet."