The Extraordinary Bride Of The Wyndham Family (Isla and Gabriel) novel Chapter 22

Extraordinary bride 22 Summary

The story opens with Isla being disturbed by the persistent ringing of a phone, which repeatedly calls the name “Delphine,” stirring a dark mood within her. Gabriel answers the call, revealing his connection to Delphine, which shatters Isla’s fragile hope for their relationship. He tells the caller he will be with them shortly, then leaves the room, leaving Isla alone with her pain and her sketches as a form of escape.

Days pass with Gabriel absent, leaving Isla to focus on her work as the launch event approaches. Despite her efforts to stay composed, the knowledge that Gabriel is elsewhere with another woman torments her deeply. Isla learns about his absence only through her assistant, forcing herself to hide her hurt while enduring the growing emotional pain.

The tension escalates when Anna, Gabriel’s mother, unexpectedly visits Isla at her office. Anna confronts Isla with harsh accusations, telling her to leave Gabriel because he does not love her and only loves Delphine. She denounces Isla as an opportunist and gold-digger, blaming her family for using Gabriel for financial gain. The confrontation is filled with bitterness and cruelty, deeply wounding Isla emotionally.

In a sudden and violent moment, Anna slaps Isla across the face, intensifying the emotional and physical pain Isla experiences. Anna warns her to leave Gabriel, revealing that Gabriel is currently with Delphine and hinting at a future child. After delivering this harsh ultimatum, Anna storms out, leaving Isla devastated and broken, struggling to process the overwhelming betrayal and rejection she faces.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

A sharp, persistent ringing shattered the quiet atmosphere like glass smashing onto cold marble. Isla flinched at the sudden noise, but it wasn’t the sound alone that unsettled her—it was the name that echoed with every ring, twisting her mood into something darker.

“Delphine, love is calling. Delphine, love is calling.”

The phone’s relentless chime dragged on until Gabriel finally reached out and answered it.

Isla exhaled slowly, a bitter scoff escaping her lips as she shook her head in quiet disbelief. She had allowed herself a fleeting moment of hope, a brief illusion that perhaps things between them were shifting. But the insistent call of that name shattered her fragile optimism.

Gabriel rose from the bed, the phone pressed firmly to his ear. He stood motionless for a moment, listening intently to the voice on the other end. His face remained unreadable, his posture stiff and distant. After a long pause, his lips parted.

“I’ll be with you in five minutes.”

Then, without another word, he ended the call.

His eyes found Isla’s as he turned around. She remained seated, her iPad resting in her lap, a pencil stylus darting swiftly across the screen. Her sketches were more than just drawings; they were her sanctuary, her only refuge from the storm brewing inside her.

“I’m sorry. I have to take care of something important,” Gabriel said quickly, not waiting for a response before exiting the room.

Isla stayed silent, swallowing the bitter lump rising in her throat. She forced her gaze back to the glowing screen, trying desperately to focus on her work. But even as her hand moved, her heart ached painfully.

Days blurred indistinguishably into nights, and nights into days. Over a week slipped by without Gabriel’s presence. The launch event loomed just days away, and Isla’s life had become an endless cycle of work. Time slipped past unnoticed, but his absence was impossible to ignore.

What stung most was learning of his whereabouts only through her personal assistant. Each time she heard about his absence, she forced herself to act as if she already knew, as if it didn’t hurt. But deep down, only she understood the torment of knowing her husband was elsewhere, with another woman, for more than a week.

Today was no different. Another hectic day, another meal missed. Her desk was buried beneath piles of documents, and her hand cramped from signing one paper after another.

Suddenly, the office door swung open with a sharp creak, jolting her from her concentration. She gasped, her pen slipping from her grasp. Her heart leapt, and when she looked up at the unexpected visitor, her breath caught in her throat. She rose slowly from her chair.

“Mother,” Isla greeted softly, straightening her back. Her lips curved into a smile that barely touched her eyes. “What a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Anna stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing with cold fire, her presence commanding and intimidating. She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she let her gaze roam across the spacious, elegantly decorated office, taking in every detail with a silent appraisal. Only after this did she step forward and settle into one of the chairs opposite Isla’s desk.

The office fell silent once more, but Isla’s heart was anything but quiet. It shattered, breaking into countless pieces she no longer knew how to gather or mend.

Conclusion

The chapter closes on Isla’s profound loneliness and the crushing weight of rejection she faces from both Gabriel’s absence and his mother’s harsh condemnation. Her desperate hope for love and acceptance has been met with cold dismissal and painful reality, leaving her isolated in a world where loyalty and affection seem just out of reach. Despite her strength and resilience, the emotional wounds inflicted by Anna’s words and actions deepen the fracture in her already fragile heart.

Yet, beneath the sorrow and despair, Isla’s spirit flickers with a quiet determination. Though the path ahead is uncertain and fraught with pain, she clings to the fragments of her dignity and the sanctuary of her art. This moment marks a turning point, where the echoes of love lost and betrayal stir the embers of a courage that may one day guide her toward healing and self-discovery.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the emotional turmoil that Isla is grappling with, as the weight of Anna’s harsh accusations and violent outburst lingers heavily in the air. The tension between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is bound to escalate, revealing more about the toxic dynamics within Gabriel’s family and the true extent of the challenges Isla faces. Her resilience will be tested as she confronts not only external hostility but also the painful reality of Gabriel’s absence and divided loyalties.

Meanwhile, Gabriel’s mysterious dealings and the elusive presence of Delphine continue to cast a long shadow over Isla’s life. The coming events may force Isla to make difficult decisions about her marriage, her identity, and her future. As the launch event approaches, the pressure mounts, and the emotional stakes rise, leaving readers eager to uncover how Isla will navigate the storm threatening to consume her. Will she find strength in unexpected places, or will the fractures in her world prove too deep to heal?