The mall was bustling with the weekend crowd, but Isabella's focus was entirely on the new outfits she wanted to pick. Adrian walked beside her, casually holding her hand, his presence steady and protective. There was something calming about having him near—like no matter what the world threw at her, she had a safe haven.
As Isabella reached for a beautifully embroidered dress, a familiar voice cut through the ambient chatter. "Well, well… if it isn't Isabella Grace," sneered Aurelia, stepping out from behind a display rack, Victor trailing casually beside her.
Isabella froze for a brief second, her pulse quickening. Aurelia's icy gaze was sharp, and Victor's lazy smirk didn't help. "What are you doing here?" Isabella asked, keeping her voice calm but firm.
Aurelia's lips curled into a malicious smile. "Oh, nothing much. Just wondering if you've been keeping secrets. You know, your husband here deserves to know that You has been seeing Victor for a whole year. I mean, are you really worthy of someone like Adrian?"
A flash of fury surged through Adrian. His grip on Isabella's hand tightened slightly, though his voice remained controlled, icy as ever. "Aurelia, I suggest you stop talking about my wife. If you even think about defaming her in public again, I will make sure you regret it. And let me remind you—there is not a single detail about Isabella's past that I don't know. So, you don't need to try to give me or anyone else information about her."
Aurelia's confident smirk faltered for a moment as she realized Adrian's words carried the weight of warning and authority. Isabella, noticing the shift, felt a surge of courage. She squeezed Adrian's hand and turned toward Aurelia, her voice steady and sharp.
"You see, Aurelia," Isabella began, her eyes locked on her cousin, "you say I became unworthy because I had a past with Victor. But tell me this—after knowing the truth about him, you are still with him. Isn't that… a double standard?"
Aurelia's mouth opened, but no words came out. The weight of Isabella's logic and Adrian's silent support left her speechless. Victor shifted uneasily beside her, realizing he couldn't speak up either.
Isabella straightened her shoulders, the confidence in her posture shining through. "I suggest you think twice before you speak about me again." With that, she turned, and Adrian followed her closely.
As they walked away, hand in hand, Aurelia's eyes burned with frustration, but she couldn't move. Adrian's protective presence and Isabella's sharp words had left her powerless. Isabella glanced up at Adrian, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you," she whispered.
Adrian's lips curved slightly, his gaze softening just for her. "You handled that beautifully, my wife," he said, his tone both approving and affectionate. And with that, they continued their shopping, leaving the shadows of the past far behind them.
Isabella almost felt exhausted after walking through so many shops and buying so many things. She looked at Adrian and said softly, "Let's go home. I'm tired now."
Adrian glanced at her and nodded without any argument. "Alright," he said.
He turned to one of the store staff and instructed politely, "Send all these items to my address."
The staff member bowed slightly with a professional smile. "Of course, sir. Thank you for shopping with us. Please visit again, Mrs. Frost, if you liked our service."
Isabella gave a polite smile and a small nod before she and Adrian stepped out of the shop. Just as they walked out into the mall corridor, Adrian's phone rang. He looked at the screen — it was David.
He answered the call. "Yes, David."
"Sir," David said from the other side, "the Alpha of Moonviel Pack has accepted your request for a meeting."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Good. When is the meeting?"
"Tonight," David replied. "But… she has also invited Mrs. Frost. She wants Isabella to join as well."
Adrian stopped walking. "Isabella?" he asked, surprised. "Did she say why she wants to meet her?"
"Yes," David said. "She said that to enter her territory, you must be accompanied by a woman. And she trusts only your wife for that. She also mentioned that it will be like a welcome dinner for the newly married couple — her way of showing respect."
Adrian was silent for a moment, thinking. Then he replied calmly, "Fine. Inform her that we will be there on time."
"Yes, sir," David responded. Adrian ended the call and looked at Isabella, who was watching him curiously.
Adrian looked at his tired wife and spoke in an apologetic tone. "I know you're exhausted, but tonight I have to attend an important business meeting. The problem is, the person I'm meeting will only see me if I bring you along. I hope you don't mind."
He looked at her face with hopeful eyes. Isabella thought for a moment and then replied calmly, "It's not a big deal for me. I'll go with you, but I have one small condition."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What condition?"
With a playful smile, Isabella said, "Bring a chauffeur to drive the car. On the way to your meeting location, I want to sleep in your lap so I can get some rest."
She looked at him like she was waiting for praise. Adrian stared at her for a moment, warmth filling his eyes, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Good girl," he said softly.
He immediately called David and asked him to come and pick them up for the meeting. After ending the call, he turned to Isabella and said, "Have some juice or something to refresh yourself while we wait. The place is far, and it will be a long drive."