WHISPERS OF THE HEART

feel a sense of unease. Isabelle Dumont was a for

as she picked at her sala

t as she looked into Isabelle's eyes, she

Lily realized that Isabelle was not just a

ing to keep her voice steady. "I grew up in a poor family,

ng. "And what do you want from my son?" s

. "I want to get to know him," she said, her voic

as if searching for any sign of weakness. Bu

pping with sarcasm. "Well, I suppose we'll ju

el a sense of relief. She had survived the first tes

hat look again, It was a look of desire and p

she had no idea what secrets he wa

eady to take the risk, to follo

their love was about

and stood up. "I think it's time for us to have a little

he dining room and into a lavish study. The room was filled w

Lily. "So, Lily," she said, her voice cold and calculati

ou're insinuating, Mrs. Dumont," she said, her voice steady. "But I can

said, her voice dripping with disdain. "A distraction from Leon's duties and respo

felt a surge of anger. "Some what, Mr

sure. "Some...unsuitable person," she said, her voice dripping with di

e right background or connections, Mrs. Dumont," she said, her voice

thought she saw a glimmer of fear. But then Isabelle's

he said, her voice dripping wit

y felt a surge of amusement. She had never

g, Beatrice burst into the room,

elle. "I just had the most marvelous idea! We should th

onderful idea, darling," she said. "We'll make it a masquerade ball. Th

A masquerade ball? That sound

hing, Leon stepped forward, a

nting with mischief. "But I think we should make it even mor

surprise, and Beatrice let

g over to Leon. "That's a marvelous idea!

Lily felt a surge of amusement. This

a glimmer of something in his eyes, som

ets was Leon hiding? What de

reach a boiling point, Leon's phone

aid, stepping away

her voice dripping with venom. "But let me tell you, Lily, you have no idea what you're getting yourself

as Isabelle's eyes seemed to bore into

steady. "I'm not afraid of your secrets or your family's

she saw a glimmer of surprise. But then Isabelle's mask slip

, Lily," she said. "W

. "I'm afraid I have to go," he said. "There's been an...inc

and she stepped forward. "Is

erything is fine. But I need to go and deal wi

she nodded, feeling a sense of determination.

ne," she said, h

. "I'll be back soon," he said. "And

feeling a sense of anticipation. What secrets was

room, Lily followed too an

eel a sense of unease. The Dumont family was watching her e

as walking beside her, his eyes fi

.overwhelming."Lily smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Raphael. "I'

"I know how you feel," he said. "My fam

ay Raphael seemed to be watching her. It was as if

aphael have to gain

arden, Henri Dumont turned to Li

ily," he said, his voice dripping with mal

t Raphael stepped forward, hi

he said, his voice firm. "Lily is our gu

o Raphael. "And what do you know about

e should treat Lily with kindness and respect," he said. "Not try to inti

ds Raphael, who seemed to be standin

glimmer of something in his eyes, so

why was Raphael standing up

Lily felt a sense of unease. She didn't know what was going o

ice cold and calculating. "Don't be f

xactly what's at stake, Father," he said, his voice firm. "And I'm not g

cross her face. "I think we've talked enough for tonight

ed to bore into her soul. She didn't trust Beatrice

glimmer of something in his eyes, someth

protect her from his f

ng more and more entangled in the web of secret

ting hurt. But Raphael seemed different. He was watching her with a look of

secrets the Dumont family was hiding. And why Raphael

careful, or she might just

d off to sleep, unaware of