Page 65 of Isabelle and the Beast

“So, party tonight?” Isabelle asks.

“Party tonight,” I confirm. I check the time on my phone—two in the afternoon. “I should probably let Lionel know so they can preparethe ballroom.”

Isabelle nods and presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you at dinner, then.”

I feel like a teenage boy again, excited to see the girl I’m interested in at a party that night. While I should be disappointed in myself for such feelings, I can’t help enjoying the way she’s worked her way into my heart. “See you then.”

Isabelle leavesto do a final dress fitting with Josephine, and I take the opportunity to call my father and Henry. It’s been a few months since I’ve spoken to them. I know I’ve disappointed them both greatly, and I don’t have much to say to make things better. But the three of us have agreed to form a task force of sorts to manage Lily, and hopefully the three of us together can keep her safe.

I don’t pay attention to the notifications on my phone that have piled up over the last three days, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand. I sit in my office chair, dial my father’s number, and look again at the picture of our family in the cracked glass. Guilt washes over me at being unable to protect Lily. She needed someone’s guidance. After my mother’s death, Father and Henry threw themselves into the business, although they tried their best to split their attention between Stone Technologies and raising Lily through her teenage years. But I completely ignored all of them, except the one fateful night I unwittingly created the circumstances for Lily and Tristan to meet.

It’s all my fault, and I’m doing everything in my power to rectify my errors.

“Adam.” My father’s voice comes through the speakerphone. There’s little emotion in his voice, but I didn’t expect a warm greeting.

“Hello, Father. I wanted to speak with you and Henry about Lily.”

“Thank you, Adam,” he says, sarcasm tinging his words. “I’m doing well. How are you?”

I heave a sigh. “How are you, Father?”

“Genuinely, I’m well. And I am glad you’re taking an interest in your sister. I’ll dial Henry.” I hear some beeps on his end, then ringing.

“Hello, Father. Adam.” Henry’s voice sounds just as impassive as Father’s.

“Hello, Henry,” I say, attempting a cordial greeting this time. “How are you?”

Silence.

“Are you there?” I ask.

“Yes,” Henry says. “I’m recovering from your interest in someone other than yourself.”

“Ha ha.” If only they could see the scowl on my face. “I wanted to speak with you and Father about Lily. She called earlier and wanted to discuss her Internet restrictions. Have you spoken with her lately?”

“Luna and I visited last weekend,” Henry says. “She seems like she’s doing much better. And Luna calls her almost daily. She says she’s nearly back to herself.”

“I have to agree,” Father says. “She’s showing her personality again. She practices the piano all day, but she doesn’t withdraw nearly as much as she did before. I feel very confident in her progress.”

“That’s how it seemed to me, as well,” I say. “So, she’s returned to herself, but can we trust her to not make the same mistakes again?”

“That’s the question,” Father says. “I’m not so sure. She’s still so naive andoptimistic.”

“True,” Henry says. “But how will she learn unless she gets some experience?”

“Experienceis what led us to the situation we’re in,” Father says sharply. “Sometimes experience is not the teacher we need.”

“But she deserves to live!” Henry exclaims, more passionate than usual. “What kind of life does she have in the penthouse?”

“She has everything she needs,” Father retorts. “Her protection is of the utmost importance.”

“I agree, Father,” I cut in. “But I’m not suggesting she has all her typical freedoms. She’s just asking about getting Internet access for now. I believe that would be a way to ease her back to normalcy.”

Father and Henry are quiet for a minute. Finally, I hear Father say, “Fine. But I need to be able to monitor who she contacts.”

“Of course,” I say. “Although I doubt she’d be interested in having any contact with…you know.”

Father grunts in agreement.

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