Chapter 18

Isabella shook her head. "I am not scared," she answered truthfully. "On the contrary, I am glad and proud of you."

Erik looked at her seriously. "What do you mean?"

"Your scars show that you have been through a lot, and the fact that you are here with me shows you made it out alive, you conquered it all. So I am happy that I could meet you in my lifetime," Isabella said while looking into his eyes.

"I am also proud of you because you have not allowed what you have been through to affect your personality. You continue doing life with a beautiful smile on your face. Have I told you that your smile lights up the room?" Isabella asked him.

"My smile?" Erik asked shyly.

Isabella blushed and looked away. "Y-yes, I like your smile a lot," she admitted.

Erik chuckled. "You are different, Isabella."

"Different? Is that a bad thing?" Isabella asked curiously. All her life people have always said she was different, and she felt bad about it. She never wanted Erik to see her in a bad light.

Erik