The Heiress’s Contract Marriage With Her Enemy

Chapter 13: More Suspicious Than Ever

Isabelle hissed between thin lips, "wha-what are you doing here?" 

Her voice trembled from shock, but it was more like a relief. She saw a cut near his jaw and blood dribbling down his neck.

He pressed a hand there. Reign looked tired...

"I came to look for something," he said, breathing hard. "I found the broken safe and the money, and then I heard the noise…so, I had to see if someone was here."

Isabelle stared at him. The pipe didn't feel like a weapon now. It felt like a barrier between them…'I could just end him right here…'

"You scared me," she whispered. "I thought you were a thief."

"I'm not a thief, you uncultured swine," he stated, stepping closer. 

Isabelle raised an eyebrow and moved her head to the side, "excuse me????"

"You're excused…"

The pipe in her hand was soon to get broken one more time by the force Isabelle was holding it. 

"You son of a basta-"

"And you're the daughter of a fraudster." Reign didn't even let her finish her sentence. 

He smiled, but then the smile vanished real quick when Isabelle grabbed him by his collar and placed the pipe next to his face.

"Do you really want to try me, Kraus?" 

For a second, Reign thought Isabelle's eyes changed colour. Instead of bright blue like the twins, her eyes were red and full of some veins in them. 

He knew she wasn't kidding, he gulped.

"I'm sorry."

Isabelle released him but slapped him with her palm instead. 

"Next time will be a fist," she declared, but continued to frown.

"I'm sorry…"

"Parrot."

"You're my parrot…"

She flinched. Her blood turned cold. Isabelle was ready to puke from his silly comment, but then she looked at the money, the broken lock, then back at Reign.

"What do you want?" she asked flatly. "And you better answer honestly or I will use this against your ugly face."

"Everyone says I'm handsome, Mrs."

"Who's everyone? Your mother?"

"Employees of the compan-"

"Answer my question," Isabelle raised her tone, tapping her foot on the ground.

Reign let out a long sign, "I want to know why Charlotte hid this," he answered. "I want to protect you from whoever took the other things. But right now you almost killed me."

Isabelle's muscles loosened, rolling her eyes- she dropped the pipe. The heavy rattling echoed in the empty room.

Reign stared at the safe. His eyes looked at the money in her arms, then to her face.

"Why didn't you take all of it?" he asked.

"I don't want stolen blood money," she said without hesitation. "I want to find what Charlotte left behind. Not just bills. Something real."

He nodded. "She trusted you. She knew you'd see more than just cash."

His gaze held hers. For a second, the anger between them dropped away, like it was replaced by something small and strange.

Then Isabelle tucked the pipe behind the old drapes and looked at him squarely.

"Help me find the rest," she said.

He closed his eyes for a moment. She held her breath, and waited.

He nodded. "I will."

Isabelle felt a twist in her chest..but couldn't figure it out what it was exactly…Worry? Relief? She wasn't sure.

Reign looked at the broken safe again. "We need to go together. We need a plan."

Isabelle wasn't stupid enough to believe that Reign happened to come here by an accident, and his sudden "friendly act" was more than just he showed. 

Everything about him during this moment was saying 'traitor!' But why a traitor, Isabelle had no answers. 

But Isabelle knew she couldn't trust him, and what was worse-she didn't know what he was capable of doing right now. 

'Screw you, Reign.' She extended her hand.

Reign took it.

The canvas bag looked heavy between them. The air felt electric for the first time in weeks.

She whispered to the money inside. "This is for them, for Charlotte, for you. We'll find the rest. We'll make it right."

Reign lifted his other hand to touch her cheek, gentle and careful. He pulled back at the last second.

His voice was lowered to sound gentler: "Don't cut yourself on broken things."

Isabelle nodded, "Yes…I would rather cut you…"

"I know…"

The floorboards creaked, the old house sighed around them, and a moment passed between them that felt like years.

They were enemies, but now their blood and secrets were tied together. And there was a safe with missing pieces waiting for them.

It was just the beginning…

'Reign is dangerous.'