Chapter 6
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“Stop right there, Isla.” Gabriel yelled and his voice filled the quiet room.
She stopped walking and she stiffened. When she turned, her eyes were filled with anger. Her chest rose and fell as if she had been holding back too much for too long.
“Gabriel, I can’t do this with you any longer,” she said as her voice trembled. “We need to end this now. I want a divorce p>
He moved forward with deliberate steps until he was standing directly in front of her. His eyes were cold, as if that could make her change her mind.
“Do I need to remind you, ” he said in a low, threatening tone, “that your father’s career will suffer if you even dare to move forward with this divorce p>
Isla’s brows furrowed with shock written across her face. “What are you talking about, Gabriel p>
His hands remained tucked neatly inside the pockets of his tailored trousers, his posture straight and proud.
“Exactly what I said,” he replied calmly.
“You can’t do that!” she said as her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
“Oh, yes, I can,” Gabriel countered without hesitation. “And you know it. Listen to me carefully now that I am being generous. Stop this madness. Drop this talk about divorce, and let us continue to play our parts in keeping this marriage alive. Your father’s contract papers are sitting right there on my desk, waiting for my signature. The biggest contract he has ever applied for. One stroke of my pen decides it p>
Isla’s lips parted, but no words came out.
“Think about your mother,” Gabriel pressed further, lowering his tone as if trying to sound reasonable. “ You know how much she values this marriage. This is not just about you and me, Isla. This is about our families. Don’t be foolish p>
With that, Gabriel turned and walked away. The door closed firmly behind him, leaving Isla alone in the room, staring at nothing.
Her whole body trembled. Her fists, clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Anger boiled in her veins, but beneath the anger was shame.
Because she knew, deep inside, he was right.
She hadn’t thought about the weight of her decision. She hadn’t thought about the effect of the divorce. She hadn’t thought about how it would affect her family. She was only about her own pain, her own desire to escape. And now, standing alone in the silence, she realized just how trapped she really was.
It pained her to admit it, but Gabriel had cornered her once again.
Isla stayed in the painting room a few more minutes, fighting tears and forcing her breathing to steady. Finally, she gathered herself and walked back toward the family dining hall.
When she got back into the dining hall. Conversations seized when she appeared at the doorway. Every pair of eyes turned to
her
She forced a smile, though her heart was still heavy. Stepping forward, she bowed her head slightly. “Grandfather, Father, Mother,” she said softly. “once again, I apologize for earlier. Please, forgive me p>
Anna, her mother–in–law scoffed loudly. She hissed and refused to look at Isla again
But Alfred head of the Wyndham family, the patriarch whose word was law, rose from his seat, and the entire room became
tense
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He left his chair at the head of the table and walked straight to Isla. Reaching her, he eyes swept across the family, pausing only on Gabriel for a brief moment.
took her hand firmly. His sharp grey
“Isla,” Alfred said in a deep and commanding tone, “is the daughter–in–law of this family, and she must be respected by everyone here. ”
Everyone stayed in place as he spoke those words.
“And as I was saying before. To celebrate Isla and Gabriel’s anniversary.” Alfred continued, “I have made my decision. I am appointing Isla as the General Manager of our new Wyndham clothing line. I look forward to your cooperation. I want every
one of you to support her in this new role p>
Gasps and murmurs spread across the table. Read full story at.net
Anna’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her lips parted, ready to argue, but no words came because she knew better.
The other daughters–in–law saf frozen in shock with pale faces. But, as always, they dared not challenge Alfred. His word was final. No one in the Wyndham family could oppose him.
Gabriel stood, clapping his hands and smiling. John followed, his applause warmer, and he even stepped forward to embrace Isla, congratulating her with genuine cheer.
Alfred who was watching everyone smiled with satisfaction.
Isla, however, stood rooted to the ground. She felt stunned, unable to fully grasp what had just been given to her. This was no small position..it was power and trust. To be named the General Manager of “The Wyndham Wardrobe,” one of the most prestigious fashion brands, was beyond anything she had imagined.
Gabriel slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips, whispering softly,” Congratulations, my love p>
Around the table, Wyatt and Landon also offered their congratulations, though their expressions were unreadable and their voices lacked sincerity, Isla noticed, but she said nothing.
The meal continued but Isla hardly tasted anything because her mind was spinning with questions, with possibilities and doubts.
Later that evening, Isla and Gabriel were on their way home. As always, silence filled the car as Isla kept her eyes on the glowing screen of her tablet, scrolling through the detailed description of her new role. Her heart raced faster as she read about the responsibilities, the upcoming projects and the grand plans Alfred had for the brand.
She paused when she came across a note about the company preparing to launch a new collection. Her lips curved into a small smile But that smile did not last longer as Gabriel spoke.
“ I just heard from Delphine that The Wyndham Wardrobe will be launching its new collection,” he said casually with his eyes still fixed on his phone. “Do me a favor, Isla. Make sure to employ Delphine as the lead model for the runway p>
The smile on Isla’s lips disappeared instantly. Her heart stopped beating for a second. What nonsense was he talking about?
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