She even began to harbor a delusion—
Her Nicholas was here specifically for her.
She was utterly addicted to this feeling.
Being looked up to, being the center of everyone's raging envy.
All the glory belonged to her alone.
Isabella's heart beat wildly.
Her gaze toward Nicholas grew even more bashful, and she desperately wanted to close the distance between them.
"Nicholas, I..."
She reached out, intending to lightly grab his sleeve.
She wanted to ride the wave of the crowd's assumptions and cement her identity as his fiancée right then and there.
Nicholas had always been a gentleman.
Plus, they shared years of history.
Old Mr. Blackwood adored her too.
With so many people watching and gossiping, Nicholas had to give her some face.
At the very least, he wouldn't completely humiliate her in public.
That was exactly what Isabella believed.
But the man didn't spare her a single glance.
He simply stepped past her with his long legs, completely bypassing her to walk toward the other side of the crowd.
Isabella's hand froze mid-air.
The smile plastered on her face shattered.
She slowly turned her head.
She watched Nicholas calmly approach Serena and come to a halt.
In that instant, his terrifying, domineering aura vanished without a trace.
His cold features melted into an expression of absolute, unfiltered adoration.
He lowered his gaze, his elegant fingers naturally tucking a stray lock of windblown hair behind the girl's ear.
The gesture was so fluid it looked as though he had done it ten thousand times before.
Then, he took Serena's hand, his eyes practically dripping with affection. "You've lost weight."
His voice was husky, brimming with heartache. "My Serena has worked so hard these past few days."
Serena arched an eyebrow, making no move to pull away. "Why are you here?"
Nicholas let out a soft chuckle. He wrapped a long arm around her slender waist and pulled her flush against his chest.
Dipping his head slightly, his warm breath brushed against the shell of her ear as his low, magnetic voice hummed.
"My fiancée competed in such a brutal
+
teament, clinching the final
team victory and dominating the rankings for eleven straight rounds
"As your fiancé, it's only right that I come personally to celebrate your triumph."
They were standing incredibly close.
Their breaths mingled.
Serena laughed lightly, throwing a question back at him. "The results aren't even out yet. You're that confident I won?"
"Is there even a question?" Nicholas toyed with a strand of her hair, his tone laced with unwavering trust, and pride. know your capabilities better than anyone. You taking first place is an absolute certainty."
Off to the side, Lydia slapped a hand over her mouth, smiling so hard her eyes vanished into little crescents.
Caleb pushed his glasses up, failing miserably to hide his grin.
Jasper wrapped his arms around himself, looking like he was suffocating on their public display of affection.
Vanessa flushed bright red, cupping her cheeks. "Damn, that is way too romantic..."
As for Isabella's manufactured, attention-seeking performance just moments prior, Nicholas didn't even care enough to clarify it.
He openly referred to Serena as his fiancée with every breath.
Using his blatant favoritism, he declared to the entire island who truly held the title.
A dead silence fell over the crowd.
Everyone's brains short-circuited.
They stared blankly at the scene unfolding before them.
Their expressions twisting into complex masks of confusion.
Just seconds ago, they were
gossiping about the arranged
marriage between the Lancaster and
Blackwood families. They had
genuinely believed that this god-like
marmust have been blind to
choose Isabella as his bride.
But...
The Blackwood Crown Prince was holding their Code Goddess in his arms.
If the Code Goddess was The Blackwood Crown Prince's fiancée.
Then where did that leave Isabella?