Chapter 27

Isabella and Amelia split up after leaving the mall.

Isabella headed home and dropped the gift box on the table. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Curious, Isabella walked over and peeked through the peephole. It was Michael standing outside.

"What are you doing here?" Isabella asked, opening the door and looking puzzled.

Michael, holding a box, followed her inside.

"My buddy got some manuscripts from the painter Eleanor Grey. I'm not into them, so I thought you might like them," Michael said, opening the box to reveal some old, yellowed papers.

Isabella's eyes widened as she quickly moved closer to check out the papers.

"These are really Eleanor's manuscripts. Where did your friend find these?" Isabella asked, stunned.

Michael shrugged. "He just likes collecting stuff that most people don't get. He's kind of a weird collector."

"These are super valuable; I can't just take them," Isabella hesitated. Even though they would make a perfect gift for Mason, she felt uneasy accepting something so precious.

Michael sighed and tossed the box towards the trash. "If you don't want them, I'll just throw them out. To us, they're not worth more than toilet paper."

"Are you crazy? Do you know what you're doing?" Isabella exclaimed, quickly rescuing the manuscripts from the trash.

"These are worth millions! What would you do with that kind of money?" Isabella clutched the box, glaring at Michael.

Michael just smiled. "They're only valuable to people who appreciate them. To me, they're worthless. You're my wife, so if you like them, they're yours."

Isabella rolled her eyes, baffled by Michael. He was just an ordinary office worker, yet he was giving up a chance to make a fortune.

"My friend didn't have a good place to keep these manuscripts. If you can find a real collector, it's better than letting them rot in the trash," Michael explained, giving a reason Isabella could accept.

"Mason would be a perfect collector. He knows how to take care of these," Isabella said, deciding not to argue anymore and carefully storing the manuscripts.

Michael then pointed to the men's gift box on the table. "Is that for me?"

With a hint of excitement, Isabella nodded and opened the box, pulling out a razor.

"Since you gave me that bracelet last time, I wanted to get you something too. I got this razor because your beard's been getting pretty thick," Isabella said, handing it to Michael.

Instead of taking the razor, Michael sat down and asked, "Can you help me shave?"

Surprised, Isabella pointed to herself and asked, "You want me to shave you? I've never done that before."

"Give it a shot. You're my wife, after all," Michael said with a wink.

Blushing, Isabella stepped closer with the razor.

"Alright, here goes nothing." She took a deep breath and sprayed shaving foam on Michael's face.

With his eyes closed and head tilted back, Michael relaxed into Isabella's touch.

Feeling her gentle fingers on his face and hearing the razor scrape his beard like dry leaves, Michael could sense her breath on his skin.

Isabella moved carefully, afraid of nicking Michael's face. The warm air from her breath tickled his skin. Opening his eyes, Michael saw Isabella's focused expression.

Their eyes met, and Isabella quickly looked away, her face turning red and her breathing uneven. Michael's lips curled into a slight smile.

As Isabella shaved down to his chin, her fingers brushed against his Adam's apple, making him look even more attractive.

'Oh my gosh, what am I thinking? Is it because I haven't been close to a man in so long? Why is my heart racing?' Isabella thought, blaming her reaction on a surge of hormones.

Michael watched her intently, his eyes soft and smiling.

Under his gaze, Isabella felt her face heat up even more. Finally, with the last stroke, she finished shaving his face.

As she wiped his face with a wet towel, she sighed in relief, ready to leave. But then, Michael grabbed her hand. Startled, Isabella turned to face Michael's handsome face.

Their eyes locked, and this time, Isabella found herself in Michael's arms, her heart pounding. The tender look in his eyes made her feel breathless. She watched as his mouth slowly moved closer to hers.

When their lips finally met, Isabella felt her body melt, leaning into Michael's chest and gripping his shirt to keep from falling.

This time, she responded to his kiss. Their tongues danced together, exploring each other like a shy couple discovering love.

As the kiss deepened, Isabella felt her breath grow short and her mind foggy. Just in time, Michael pulled away.

"Thanks for the shave. That was the best one I've ever had," Michael said with a gentle smile.

Blushing, Isabella nodded. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Amelia.

"I need to take this," Isabella said, blushing even more as she hurried back to her room and closed the door firmly.