Chained Heart (Slater Siblings Series Book 2) by Missy Walker

Author:Missy Walker [Walker, Missy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: www.authormissywalker.com
Published: 2023-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

22

Isabella

The past couple of weeks have had me riding on such a high I’m practically bracing for the ground to shatter beneath me. Every night, I find myself tangled up in Julius’s sheets, lost in the intoxicating labyrinth of his arms. Despite the convenient label we’ve stuck on this marriage, I can’t ignore the niggling feeling that I might be kidding myself. I’ve been erecting these sturdy walls around my heart, making it a fortress against trust and intimacy. But Julius Slater is like a sledgehammer, effortlessly chipping away at my defenses.

Logically, he doesn’t belong in my world, right? And I definitely don’t fit into his. Neither does Fox. I’m certain the moment some high-born princess crosses his path, she’ll captivate him, whisking him away into the world he’s accustomed to. The world that got us into this pretend marriage in the first place.

But the sight of him with Fox, reading him a bedtime story with such raw tenderness when he thought I wasn’t looking, that image is stubbornly etched in my mind. I yearn for my son to have a semblance of normalcy, a father figure that adores him as his own.

He deserves that, doesn’t he?

My train of thought is derailed by a soft squeeze on my thigh. I swivel my gaze to Julius, who kills the car engine and announces, “We’re here.”

One of Julius’s business associates invited us to a birthday party. He mentioned it to me last night, seeming a tad uncertain. Well, we’re here now.

“Yay!” Fox squeals, peering through the windshield. “Wow, Mommy, look at all the balloons!” His delight is infectious.

An elaborate balloon archway welcomes us, each balloon proudly proclaiming ‘Samuel’ in baby blue letters. It’s extravagant enough to make me mentally calculate its worth, a figure that could comfortably cover a month’s pay easily.

“Let’s go take a closer look, kiddo,” Julius suggests, unclipping his seat belt.

He winks at me, and I can’t help but return his smile. Ever since he came back from Tokyo, there’s been a drastic shift in his demeanor. He’s softened around the edges, his actions and emotions transparent.

For now, at least, he’s completely invested in the present, and I can’t help but find it endearing.

The extravaganza spread before us is less of a children’s party and more like I’m looking down the barrel of a diamond-encrusted kaleidoscope. Despite the undeniably opulent setting, the space brims with the giddy laughter of kids high on life and plenty of sugar.

Julius’s reassuring grip on my hand anchors me as we weave through the crowd. Fox’s tiny fingers clutch my other hand, his enthusiasm practically pulling us along. The glittering throng of the upper crust of society looms into sight, their attire straight off fashion runways.

Their gaze flits between us, murmurings rippling through the crowd. The anticipation sharpens my senses, readying me for the imminent encounters.

“Julius! What a surprise!” The perfectly modulated voice of Marianne, a renowned socialite and a long-time admirer of Julius, slices through the hum of conversations. I remember the cool reception she gave me after being introduced to her at the first party we attended as newlyweds.

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