Chapter 33

Seeing the guarded, hurt look in Isabella's eyes, Desmond's heart clenched hard. Without saying a word, he pressed his lips together and scooped her up, ignoring her squirming as he headed downstairs. "Put me down!" Isabella shouted. "No way." "It's your engagement party. If you're late, it's done." "Screw that." His words made Isabella look up at him in disbelief. From this angle, all she could see was the hard line of his jaw. What was he saying? Wasn't marrying Nora supposed to be the thing he wanted most? He should've been tired of her by now anyway. Her faint hope crashed instantly. "Desmond, are you having fun messing with me?" she asked. His steps faltered before tightening his hold around her. "I'm not messing with you." "But I overheard you talking to your grandma that day." "That was just for her to hear," he said quickly. "And with how much she clearly hates me, do you really think we've got any shot?" Isabella tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her face unreadable, the sa