Chapter 458

Chapter 458:

“Don’t touch him!” Belle shrieked at Isolde. “You caused this! If you had not been sitting there p>

She wrapped her arms around Grayson’s uninjured left arm. Tears streamed down her perfectly made-up face.

“Gray, you took that for me,” Belle sobbed. “You heard him screaming my name. You got hurt so badly to save me p>

Isolde’s hand stopped inches from Grayson’s shoulder.

𝗧𝘩e 𝖻𝘦ѕ𝗍 rеa𝗱𝗶𝗇𝘨 e𝘅рe𝘳𝗶𝖾𝘯𝗰𝖾 o𝗻.с𝘰m

Save Belle?

She replayed the scene in her mind. Mr. Lee had screamed Belle’s name. The kettle had been aimed toward Belle’s end of the table before he tripped. But Grayson had lunged toward her — toward Isolde. He had fallen in front of her.

Grayson squeezed his eyes shut. The pain radiating from his back was so absolute it paralyzed his vocal cords. He could not form the words to correct Belle. He could not speak at all.

Paramedics rushed into the room with a collapsible stretcher. Liam pushed through the crowd, took one look at Grayson’s steaming back, and pulled out his phone.

“Call the police!” Liam barked at the club manager. “Get that man out of here! Lock down the press immediately p>

Isolde stood and was pushed to the outer edge of the chaos by the paramedics. She watched as they carefully lifted Grayson onto the stretcher. As they rolled him past, Grayson forced his eyes open. His left hand twitched, reaching out an inch toward the hem of her dress.

Isolde took one step backward. She let his hand find only air.

She forced herself to confront the brutal truth. Belle was screaming that he had jumped for her. The world would believe it. And he hadn’t corrected her. He had jumped toward the woman whose name Mr. Lee had screamed. He had jumped for Belle.

Daron stood near the wall, brushing off his suit jacket.

“That woman is a curse,” Daron muttered, glaring at Isolde. “Everywhere she goes, disaster follows p>

Arland stepped up beside Isolde and placed a firm hand on her elbow.

“We are leaving,” Arland said quietly. “There is nothing for us here p>

Isolde nodded. Her face was a blank mask. She looked down at the puddle of water darkening the carpet.

On the stretcher, Grayson turned his head. Through the blurring edges of his fading consciousness, he saw Isolde turning her back on him. He saw her walking away without looking back.

His heart contracted. It hurt worse than the boiling water peeling the skin from his back.

The ambulance sirens wailed outside. Belle climbed into the back beside him, assuming the role of devoted companion.

Police officers began taking statements from the investors. Mr. Lee was dragged out in handcuffs, still screaming Belle’s name.

Isolde walked out through the heavy brass doors of the club. The cold night wind hit her face.

“That man was screaming Belle’s name,” Arland said quietly as they waited for their car. “He was aiming for Belle p>

Isolde closed her eyes. The cold wind dried the moisture on her lashes.

“So Grayson saved Belle,” she said. Her voice was hollow. “There is no doubt about it p>