The students around them gasped silently. Even the girls who had been gossiping earlier suddenly looked at Isabella with complicated expressions.
They had always thought she was arrogant, sharp-tongued, untouchable.
But at this moment, the way she held Victor's arm and smiled, it was as if she had deliberately wrapped herself in his shadow, turning her pride into a weapon of sweetness.
A beautiful trap.
And Victor… was clearly willing to fall into it.
His lips curled slightly, the coldness in his eyes easing, replaced by something dangerously indulgent.
"Good," he said softly.
Then, without warning, he reached out and lifted his hand, gently pinching Isabella's chin, forcing her to look up at him.
His gaze swept across her cheek again, as if confirming she was truly fine.
"You're clever enough to stop me."
His voice was low, almost intimate.
"But next time, don't stop me."
Isabella's heart skipped a beat.
