10 Days To Escape My Marriage Chapter 15
Isabella was moved.
But as a reward for persuading her, Anika was packed into the car, wheelchair and all, by her.
Samantha chattered non–stop while driving. Isabella sat in the passenger seat, occasionally chiming in, but her eyes drifted to the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Over there, Anika sat upright with a cold expression.
It was hard to tell if he was angry or just nervous about the car ride.
Isabella recalled the advice her therapist had given her a month ago.
“Ms. Montgomery, you are the most resilient person I’ve ever met!
I strongly suggest you participate in the one–on–one support program.
Helping others will heal you too.”
Isabella was skeptical.
Was someone like her–who had no skills other than being sick and taking photos–really that capable?
The therapist didn’t push it.
But two days later, she ran into the candidate the clinic had recommended in the courtyard: Anika.
She was standing under a tree watching birds build a nest when she heard a wheelchair get stuck nearby and turned around.
She saw Anika pushing his wheelchair, trying to get over a low step.
Sensing her gaze, he froze completely, radiating awkwardness from every strand of hair.
Isabella was inexplicably reminded of a cat stuck in a tree years ago, and her breath hitched.
“Let me help you.
She said it naturally, ignoring Anika’s unspoken refusal, easily tilted the wheelchair back, and pushed him up the step.
Anika pursed his lips, nodded his thanks, and added, “The path I usually take is under maintenance.”
Meaning, this was his first time taking this route, which was why he got stuck… it wasn’t a lack of ability on his part?
Isabella blinked. “Then since I’m here, how about I show you some other paths?
There are lots of places in the courtyard with great scenery.‘
Anika fell silent for a moment, then looked up. “Reason?”
The reason… probably just like wanting to walk a cat.
But Isabella didn’t say that. She smiled gently. “The therapist told me to move around more, and it’s a bit boring alone.”
From that day on, she had a companion for her daily walks.
Anika never made a formal plan with her, yet every morning, at the time she left her room, he would be obediently waiting at the spot where they first met.
That step which trapped his wheelchair had now become their tacit understanding.
If she didn’t come, he could only wait.
Like a well–behaved cat waiting for its owner.
Isabella smiled, watching the stiff Anika in the rearview mirror, and decided to distract him.
“Hey, Samantha, do you have men’s clothing?”
Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I think Anika would be perfect playing the role of a fragile romantic poet.”
Samantha froze for two seconds, her eyes practically lighting up. “Oh my god!
The fragile romantic poet and the Renaissance Princess!
That idea is absolutely brilliant!”
“Right?
Your account will definitely go viral.”
“Absolutely, I’m all fired up!”
Samantha rubbed her hands together eagerly, while Anika’s face darkened. “No, no way… I don’t know how to model.”
“There’s no ‘don’t know how,‘ just sit there.
Besides… you said it yourself, the important thing is to accept yourself.”
Isabella threw his own words back at him, and Anika completely lost the will to argue.
Before long, they arrived at the location. The professional makeup artists and stylists Samantha had hired were already there.
They stared at Isabella and Anika, itching to get to work.
“Such natural beauties… and two of them!”
“Their foundation is amazing, feels like they barely need makeup… whether my career takes off depends on today!”
Swept up in everyone’s enthusiasm, Isabella finally felt herself truly relax.
The makeup artist picked up some foundation to cover the scar on her throat, but catching Anika’s gaze in the mirror, she waved a hand to decline.
Instead, she picked up the decorative face gems, styling the scar into the pattern of a flame.
Anika’s calm voice drifted from behind: “The Phoenix rising from the ashes–born of fire, just as it should be.”
“Beautiful.”
