Poison In The Room

Chapter Six: Poison in the Room

The wedding was over, and Isabelle and Reign were on their way to the Kraus estate. 

Reign's parents didn't attend their wedding, refusing to acknowledge a Munro into their family's blood. 

While they were getting closer, everything didn't seem cold, not angry as well, but silent in a way that scraped Isabelle's nerves raw. 

Like waiting for the sound of a falling mirror breaking.

Their estate itself looked like it belonged to another world. Sharp lines, high walls, stone older than memory. Even the air smelled expensive.

Reign walked ahead without waiting, and Isabelle followed him, her hands clenched tight in the pockets of her coat.

He had told her nothing.

Just, "You'll meet my parents tonight."

There was no warning or care, also no curiosity if she was ready.

Though Isabelle wasn't ready to meet the tigers while looking like a lamb.

But she went anyway.

Because this wasn't about feelings. This was about answers.

Inside, the warmth was fake. The gold lights and polished floors…The gentle but unwelcoming music played somewhere upstairs.

A maid took her coat, and then, and the doors opened…

Reign's parents were standing, looking down at Isabelle from above, even though just a week ago they were on the same financial and mental level. 

Mr. Kraus had silver hair and eyes that didn't know how to blink. His suit looked like it had never seen a wrinkle. Beside him, Mrs. Kraus wore something that cost more than Isabelle's new apartment. 

She looked at Isabelle the way people look at trash left on marble floors.

"Well," Mrs. Kraus said first. "So this is the little Munro girl."

Mr. Kraus didn't speak. He only stared, and was full of judgment.

"Not quite what I expected," the mother continued. "You look thinner in person. And younger. How old are you again?"

"Twenty-four," Isabelle replied, keeping her voice confident.

Mrs. Kraus scoffed. "And you married my son."

Isabelle said nothing to his comment.

"Married him… after your sister, what? Jumped into a river? Very convenient."

Isabelle's jaw locked.

"Funny how tragedy can open such doors," Mr. Kraus said finally. His voice was as empty as some basket.

"She's clearly here for money," Mrs. Kraus added, not even hiding it. "Or maybe power or both? What else would a Munro be good for now? Your family name is dirt."

Isabelle didn't look at Reign, but she was waiting for him to say something…however, Reign said nothing.

He was just standing there and smiling, refusing to defend her.

Reign was not even flinching…

That was the worst part to Isabelle…His silence…His approval of their disrespect towards her. 

Mrs. Kraus took a step closer. "Let me be very clear, Miss Munro—"

"It's Mrs. Kraus now," Isabelle cut in, calmly and sharply enough to make sure they all heard her. "You wanted a daughter-in-law? Well, here I am."

Mrs. Kraus blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You think I married your son to crawl into your fortune? Please. I watched my own empire burn down before I'd ever want yours."

Mr. Kraus narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not here because I need your money. I'm here because your son dragged me into this. Or maybe you all planned it together. But I'm not going anywhere. And if you're hoping I'll cry or run away… get used to disappointment."

The room went still like a warm summer's night. 

Mrs. Kraus stepped back like she'd been slapped.

Reign's eyes flew towards Isabelle now, but still no words or defense. Just something evil and curious behind that calm stare.

Isabelle turned. "Where's the car?"

"We're not done," Reign said as he followed her out.

But she didn't stop until they were alone again, in the back seat of his car, with the doors shut, air too feeling thick like some invisible hands on her throat.

Isabelle turned to him. "You just stood there."

"They weren't wrong," Reign replied coolly.

Her heart slammed once, but she didn't let it show.

"Wow," she breathed. "You really are as hollow as they said."

"Careful," he muttered.

"No. You want honesty, right?" she said, voice started rising. "You let them treat me like filth. In front of you. As if I'm nothing."

"Because you are nothing to me," Reign snapped.

"Hah!" Her laugh was short and bitter. "Well, I'm your wife now. Shouldn't that count for something?"

"On paper only," Reign rolled his eyes slowly.

And that was it…The match dropped…let the fire burn the car.

"You think this marriage is just ink and a signature?" Isabelle leaned in, glaring with her eyes into Reign's organs. "Then you're dumber than I thought."

His jaw clenched. "You don't scare me."

"I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to wake you up."

Reign looked away, toward the window. But Isabelel wasn't done, not even close to finishing declaring her feelings. 

"You know what you are?" she said. "You're poison. You slide in quiet…And then you eat whatever you touch. From the inside, so slowly and gently. Until there's nothing left but rot."

His eyes went back to hers.

"I've known men like you," she went on. "So controlled. So sure they're winning. But you're not. You're just cold. And sad. And somewhere deep down, you're afraid. Afraid someone might see through you."

Reign said nothing to her sentences…

Isabelle leaned back. "So no, I don't need you to defend me. I don't even want it. But don't ever smile when someone spits on me again. That's a warning."

The car drove on in an awkward silence. It felt like there was no need for any more words.

But Isabelle didn't shrink. She didn't regret a single thing.

Because she wasn't the same girl who used to stay quiet.

That girl had burned with the Munro name.

This one?

She had fire of her own.

"You think this offends me?" Reign finally muttered under his breath. "You don't know anything about me. I have sinner more than you could ever-" 

"Who the hell cares, Reign? Who cares?" Isabelle started shouting no longer about hiding the water in her eyes. "You think I do? Hah? I just lost my sister! My one and only sibling, and all people care to say is how I married you for your money! What money??!"

"The ones my family ha-"

"Your family has nothing! Don't forget the shit they did after your father signed the contract. You guys were so close to going bankrupt, and who the hell saved your asses? We did! We did…" 

"Isabelle, you need to relax, don't make me remind you what your father did to the innocent-"

"I know!" Isabelle leaned back, then covered her face with her hands. "I know what he did, and he will pay for it…but your damned family has no right to judge me or him." 

Reign looked at her, crying and covered in water…the makeup seemed to be flowing down her cheeks, and the ring…

The golden ring he chose for her, it was the one that Charlotte was supposed to wear…during their marriage. 

Reign swallowed hard, "let's not get too emotional, and just think about the twins for now."