The Heiress’s Contract Marriage With Her Enemy

Chapter Nineteen: Bestfriend

Before Isabelle's foot even fully slipped from the edge, her body tilted too fast, and she fell.

Instead of hitting the ground, she landed right into someone's arms. Solid, warm, and very much male.

"Well," the stranger said, looking down at her with a crooked smile. "Do you fall from the sky often or just when I'm around?"

Isabelle blinked. The man who held her was... breathtaking. Tall, with dark grey-black hair pulled into a messy ponytail. His jawline could cut any mountain, and his dark blue eyes were so deep they looked like storm clouds.

She scrambled out of his arms. "Put me down, you idiot."

He laughed. "I already did, princess."

She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

"Maxx," he said smoothly. "Reign's best friend. And you must be the wife I heard absolutely nothing about. Not even a wedding invite. I'm heartbroken."

She scoffed, brushing dust off her dress. "Reign must've forgotten you existed."

"Oh, he remembers me," Maxx smiled, eyes twinkled. "He just didn't want competition. If I had known you looked like this, I would've objected at the altar myself."

"Wow," Isabelle muttered, walking past him. "You're worse than your best friend."

Reign's voice came from behind them. "Don't flirt with my wife, Maxx."

Maxx turned slowly, smirking. "There he is. Still possessive, I see."

'Possessive?'

Reign didn't smile. He glanced at Isabelle, then back to Maxx.

"You missed the wedding."

"I wasn't invited," Maxx replied, raising a brow. "But I brought myself now. Better late than never."

"You should've stayed late and never," Reign muttered, crossing his arms.

Maxx laughed and walked over to him, slapping a hand on Reign's shoulder. "So... when's the divorce?"

Isabelle stopped moving. Reign stiffened.

Maxx grinned. "Just asking for a friend. And by friend, I mean me. Can I marry her when you're done?"

Reign's hand twitched, his jaw clenched immediately but he couldn't let Isabelle see him.

"I'm joking, man," Maxx shook his head, raising both hands. "Relax. I know she's yours. For now."

Reign didn't reply. His face gave away nothing. But Isabelle saw the annoyance in his eyes—the flash like he was possessed by a demon.

'Jealousy?' Isabelle raised an eyebrow. 

She almost laughed. He had no right.

"I didn't know Reign had friends," she said coolly.

"I'm not just a friend," Maxx said. "I'm the only one who stayed after he became a cold-hearted bastard."

Reign gave him a warning glance, but Maxx only smiled wider.

"I like her," Maxx told him. "She's got fire."

"She's annoying," Reign stated.

"And you married her," Maxx replied.

Reign narrowed his eyes. "Because I had to."

"Right, of course," Maxx spoke slowly. "Totally nothing to do with those little feelings you try to crush every time she walks into the room."

Isabelle turned to him. "He doesn't have feelings. He has deals, contracts, and control issues."

Maxx looked between them and whistled. "You two are gonna kill each other."

"I hope so," they both said at the same time.

"Hahaha!" Maxx burst into laughter.

Reign turned to Isabelle. "Why were you trying to escape through the window?"

"Maybe I enjoy falling," she snapped.

"Or maybe you're an idiot," he glared at her.

"Then why do you keep me around?" she shot back.

He looked at her with that same cold stare he always used to hide whatever mess was hiding underneath. "Because I need to."

Maxx glanced at them, then clapped his hands. "This is so entertaining. I'm staying for dinner."

"You're not invited," Reign raised his voice.

"I'm inviting myself," Maxx replied, already walking toward the front doors. "And don't worry. I'll keep my hands to myself... mostly."

Isabelle gave Reign a sarcastic smile. "Your friends are just as charming as you."

"And yours are dead," he replied without emotion.

She slapped him…

Maxx turned around. "Do that again. That was hot."

Reign didn't react. He just stared at Isabelle, his cheek red where her hand met his skin.

"You crossed a line," she said through her teeth.

"I built the line," Reign scoffed. "And you've been walking over it since day one."

She pushed past him, her heart started beating faster with anger.

Maxx followed. "I like her. She hits hard."

Isabelle turned back to Reign. "You lock me in rooms. You hide secrets. And now your creepy friend shows up and talks about divorces like this is a game."

Reign didn't answer Isabelle even though he knew she was right. 

Maxx gave a lazy smile. "Not creepy. Just curious."

"Curious people die fast in this house," Reign said quietly.

"Still alive," Maxx replied, winking at Isabelle. "For now."

Reign's jaw clenched again.

"I'll be in the kitchen," Maxx added. "Maybe teaching your wife how to cook something besides revenge."

She watched him leave, completely unbothered by the weird atmosphere he caused.

Reign stood there in the hallway, staring at her, and Isabelle stared back.

"What was that?" she asked.

"My best friend," he said with a flat voice.

"He wants to marry me."

"He won't."

"You sound sure."

"I am."

She walked closer, not breaking eye contact. "Why? Afraid he'll treat me better?"

"No," Reign said. "I'm afraid you'll like it."

There was no humor in his voice. Just cold truth.

"Maybe I will," Isabelle wrapped her arms around her chest. "Maybe I'm tired of pretending this marriage isn't killing me."

"Then let it kill you."

She shook her head, her lips tightening. "You know, every day I wonder if you're the villain or just a man too broken to fix. But Maxx? He's broken too. He just smiles through it."

"And you trust smiles?"

"I don't trust anything," she whispered.

He looked at her for a long moment. "That's the first smart thing you've said all day."

She turned on her heel and walked upstairs, slamming the door behind her.

Downstairs, Maxx's laughter echoed from the kitchen.

Reign didn't move. His fists continued to stay clenched.

And for the first time in days, he looked like he was about to explode.

He didn't enjoy Isabelle's tantrums, especially when there were two children for him to babysit. But he also couldn't allow Maxx to get involved.

What if he actually had the power to steal Isabelle from him? He wasn't going to allow it even if he was Reign's best friend.

Isabelle was his property.