Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

"Yes, exactly. I was driving in from the edge of Capitolion, and to my surprise, the trail led all the way here."

"It must be the owner of the ISA Grandeur Hotel. Do you know what that place means? I heard it was built just for the woman being proposed to today."

"She must be the leading lady-look how beautiful she is."

"No, did you see the man? He's even more handsome! Like a prince straight out of a fairytale!"

The surrounding chatter swelled, drowning out everything else.

Only then did Isadora realize what Nanette had meant earlier when she talked about a life-changing event.

Victor was proposing to her.

For the first time in her life, Isadora's palms were slick with nervous sweat, her blood rushing so hot it felt like it was simmering beneath her skin.

A sudden wave of regret washed over her.

She'd never been proposed to before. She had no idea what to do.

She was wearing a loose, deep navy dress-nothing fancy.

She hadn't even bothered with makeup.

Victor stepped toward her, his eyes dark as obsidian, brimming with a wild, overwhelming tenderness. In that moment, the entire world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them.

Victor had always preferred to keep a low profile.

Every year, the Fitzgerald Group received countless interview requests, but he rarely accepted any.

In his mind, a proposal should be spontaneous—maybe he'd just blurt it out one day: "Marry me?" Or perhaps he'd tease her in the intimacy of their bedroom, whispering the words while she pouted at him, unable to resist demanding she become his.

None of his daydreams looked anything like today.

But even as over-the-top as this public proposal felt, Victor wanted Isadora to experience it just once.

Because he never wanted her to look back on her life and feel she'd missed out.

Finley had pulled Nanette aside the moment she stepped out of the car. Noticing the shimmer in her eyes, he assumed she was jealous.

"If you want, I could make this happen for you, too."

He paused, surprised at how easily the words had left his lips. He'd always thought he would resist this sort of thing, yet saying it to her felt strangely natural.

Nanette dabbed at the corners of her eyes, laughing through her tears. "I just can't help it. I'm so happy seeing her this way, but watching her take this huge step forward—I almost want to cry!"

Isadora watched as Victor came closer, every step he took echoing in her chest.

She could feel every curious, envious, gossip-hungry gaze fixed on her.

But all she could see was Victor, and in his eyes, there was only her.

A lump rose in Isadora's throat. Her voice sounded small and a little plaintive. "I didn't put on any makeup today."

Victor's lips curled into a gentle smile. "You look beautiful."

"And I'm not even dressed up."

"You look perfect."

"You're lying."

Victor closed the distance, reaching out with a gentle hand. He brushed away the tears from Isadora's

cheeks-tears she hadn't even

realized had fallen.

"What's wrong? Don't you believe you're so beautiful it takes my breath away?"

Isadora's eyes grew even shinier.

Just then, a snow-white Samoyed bounded into view, its fluffy coat gleaming in the sunlight.

Pudding was dressed to the nines in a tiny tuxedo, a sharp bow tie at his neck and a precious velvet box"

clamped firmly in his mouthte"

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trotted up proudly. fo

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Pudding barked, his voice clear and excited.

At the sight of Pudding, Isadora began to laugh through her tears until she was

laughing so hard, she couldn't stop crying.

Sensing something was wrong, Pudding's tail drooped. Deciding someone must be upsetting her, he barked even louder, rushing to her

defense: "Woof! Woof! Woof!"

It was as if he was trying to comfort her.

Victor bent down and took the velvet box from Pudding's mouth. His long, elegant fingers flipped open the lid with a practiced grace.

Inside lay a stunning heart-shaped sapphire ring, its deep blue facets blazing with a mesmerizing light.

Victor drew a deep breath, lowering himself slowly onto one knee, his eyes locked on Isadora with a fierce, unwavering devotion.

He held the ring up to her, his voice low and magnetic. "Isadora, will you marry

me?"

Isadora's gaze softened, overflowing with emotion as she looked at the man kneeling before her and at Pudding by his side.

│.....