Husband With Benefits
Chapter 409: Love Darts

Chapter 409: Love Darts

Isabella stood in the middle of her living room and smiled, a glimpse of little evil in that lift of her lips. She stared at Ian with a dart in her hand and aimed it just right. "Now you know what happens when you make me mad, Mr. Cardboard Frost? Just keep standing there and smirking at me, Hole-y Ian."

Giggling at her own joke, she let another dart fly, watching with a mix of satisfaction and amusement as it whizzed through the air and landed with a thwack right beside a cluster of other darts on her makeshift target. "Ooh, close to the heart but not quite. Don’t worry, there’s plenty more where that came from. I’m going to keep sending love darts your way"

Circling the cardboard Ian, she continued, her voice taking on a teasing tone, "You know, for a piece of cardboard, you’re quite the listener. Better than the real Ian sometimes. You don’t interrupt, you don’t argue back, and best of all, you don’t distract me with your twinkling eyes and naughty hands."

She sighed and started to take out the darts that had punctured holes in Ian. " Cardboard Ian, as much fun as we’ve been having, there’s something I’ve got to admit," placing the darts on the table in the corner, she stepped closer to the printed Ian, her fingers tracing his printed smile and continued," I miss him. The real Ian. Your three-dimensional, frustratingly charming counterpart."

Isabella chuckled softly, a sound more melancholic than her previous laughter. "I miss the way he laughs and even makes me laugh, the way he calls my name in that serious tone,’Miss Ruffalo’. I even miss the way he looks at me, like I’m the only one in the room."

Isabella paused and leaned closer to the cardboard Ian, whispering her secret," Will you keep a secret for me, Mr Cardboard Frost. It’s about Ian. I think, I’ve gone and fallen head over heels for him. I’ve been reminding myself that I shouldn’t but it really is difficult. Especially when he is doing things like that. I can almost believe that he loves me too. Do you think I am right?"

As she whispered her confession to the silent confidant, Isabella felt a mix of relief and vulnerability. It was one thing to admit these feelings to herself, in the silence of the night, but quite another to voice them, even if only to a cardboard cutout.

Straightening up, she looked into Cardboard Ian’s flat, printed eyes, half-expecting them to twinkle back at her with the same warmth and humor the real Ian’s did. "You know, if you were the real Ian, you’d probably have some witty comeback right about now. Something that would make me laugh and blush at the same time. But since you’re not, I guess it’s safe to tell you everything."

"There are times, I feel like I should announce to the world that you belong to me. Maybe I will..." With a grin, she quickly walked to her room and grabbed her lipstick and came out to scribble something on his chest. Stepping back, she quickly admired her work with a nod. " See this? Now, don’t you dare erase my name off you- My Ian

She then leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper, confiding in her silent partner. "YOu are mine, aren’t you? I’m just scared, you know? Everything’s been going so well between you and me. It’s like walking on a cloud. But I keep waiting for the storm to hit, for something to come along and ruin this happiness we’ve found."

Before she could continue with her confession, the sharp sound of the doorbell jolted her out of her reverie. Her heart leaped. "Ian!" she exclaimed under her breath, a bright smile instantly lighting up her face.

In a flurry of excitement mixed with a dash of panic, she scrambled to hide Cardboard Ian in the closet, chuckling at the absurdity of the situation. "Sorry, love, you’ve got to hide. The real one’s here," she whispered, giving the cutout a pat before closing the closet door. "I can’t let him see you like this."

She rushed to the door, smoothing down her hair and clothes, mentally preparing herself for Ian’s embrace. But when she swung the door open, her smile froze. It wasn’t Ian standing there; it was her brother.

WIthout a word, she attempted to close the door. She’d already decided to not talk to this man anymore. If Ian could go forward and talk to her parents for her, then she would also have the courage to not talk to this toxic man.

"Isabella, listen to me. I’m here to..." Emeral tried to speak, but Isabella shook her head," What are you here for Emerald? I don’t even want to know. Just do not come here again."

As she tried to close the door again, he stopped it with his foot,

"Isabella, wait. It’s your Mom. She’s sick. I’ve been trying to call you, but it seems you’ve blocked my number. So, I had to come. Dad’s a mess and..."

Isabella’s heart sank, the earlier irritation vanishing as worry and panic took its place. "Mom? What happened?" She felt her annoyance with Emerald evaporate, replaced by concern for her mother.

"She’s in the hospital. It’s serious, Isabella. You need to come with me, now."

She didn’t hesitate. She quickly grabbed her phone, checking for missed calls or messages, cursing herself for being so caught up in her own world. "Okay, okay, let me just grab my things. Give me a second."

Rushing back inside, she grabbed her purse, keys, and a jacket. She cast a brief glance towards the closet where Cardboard Ian was hidden, feeling a pang of guilt for the joy she’d felt moments before. As she followed Emerald, her first thought was to call Ian and tell him but just then, Emerald called out to her,"Isabella, if you are going to call your fiance, then tell him not to come. They were having a fight because of him and Dad was really angry that Aunt Eliza was supporting him...It would be better if he did not come to the hospital until things have calmed."

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