Jayden's POVThe gate automatically opens and Jude drives into the mansion. The moment he parks the car in the driveway, I climb down and take long strides towards the house.I have been calling Isabella's phone since noon to inform her about tonight's family dinner that we have invited to but she isn't picking up.I was a bit worried, thinking she left the house because of how I scolded her this morning but after a while, I wave it off.I am not to be blamed. She was overstepping her boundary and crossing the line that we are supposed to set for ourselves.She was also supposed to go shopping with Anna but I saw Anna in the office during lunch break. When I questioned Anna about why she hadn't gone to meet my wife at home so they could do shopping, Anna told me my mother canceled the appointment.I was surprised. I should have known that my mother would take her suggestions about accompanying Isabella to go shopping, seriously. After hearing that, I guessed Isabella must have left h
Isabella's POV With our arms intertwined, Jayden flashes me a smile and I can't figure out if it is for assurance or if the act of playing real couples has started already. We begin to walk towards the front door of the big mansion. It has a waterfall in the middle of the front yard and I was mesmerized by it. The more we approach the front door, the more nervous I become and my hands tremble a little. When Jayden told me we would sleep on the same bed because we need to act like we are real and are truly in love, my heart skipped a beat. How do I manage to hide my sleeping defect from him now that we are bound to sleep on the same bed? I couldn't even suggest to him that another bed was the best because he walked past me to the bathroom immediately to take a shower so we could come here. My heart has been racing since then. I am scared and anxious. And now, I have to deal with his family members. I haven't met others but I have been introduced to his parents before. The house
Isabella's POVThe ride back home is in extreme, awkward silence. We left the mansion in a hurry even though I know Jayden wanted me to spend more time with his family but his mother ruined it all.The atmosphere became tense and moody. Jayden stood up and asked us to leave for home.I was glad. I was already uncomfortable with all the pitiful stares I was getting after the men apologized for Mrs. Russell's behavior.Apparently, she doesn't like me. She has been pretending all along to like me but she doesn't in reality.No wonder she made fun of my sleepwear. No wonder she asked me to undress Jayden. This is all in an attempt to frustrate me. She is mad at me for rejecting her offer.I can not accept her offer. Even though she is willing to offer me way more than Jayden gave, I am going to be loyal to Jayden till the end.He helped me when I was in desperate need of help. If he had ignored me when I asked for his help, what would have happened to Grandma by now?He helped me save my
Isabella's POVApparently, the day is going to end well and my first big fight with my Grandma is going to end tonight.We haven't quarreled like this before. She was always understanding and supportive. When I saw the smile on her face, I knew she had accepted reality and she is here to reconcile with me.But I feel embarrassed. More than I was the very first day she got to know that the marriage between Jayden and I wasn't real and we deceived her.She flashes me another smile as I lead her inside, towards the living room with Jayden trudging behind us in silence.We get there and I make her sit down. I sit beside her, watching her face to know if all is well. I feel bad for not going back to the house since the other day to check up on her.I should have known that her anger won't last for too long. I notice she is looking down at my silk satin dress."How are you, Mother?" I ask, breaking the silence between us.I see Jayden take the staircase up and when Grandma hears his foots
Jayden's POVIn haste to check out the samples Gabriel called to tell me he had sent, I quickly sat on the sofa with my laptop on my lap.I am supposed to go to my home office tonight to work on something. I have two pending contracts to sign and a collaboration tomorrow morning which I am not prepared for.This new partnership is taking much of my time. Gabriel is keen on giving this a try and I am only doing this because I trust him and I want us to make good use of this opportunity.The robotic samples he sent are in pictures and videos. After examining the pictures, I decided to watch the video so it will give me a clue on how they would work for the various benefits Gabriel listed out for me.I want us to delve more into insecurities. I want us to basically make it concentrated on security and I intend to do that first.These robots can be used for surveillance to prevent thieves, burglars, and hired assassins among other menacing individuals from getting into someone's house.Th
Isabella's POVI wake up with a start to see Jayden stirring in his sleep and my hands over his chest. My eyes open wide and I take my arms off him and scramble out of bed with my heart pounding hard in my chest.What the hell!When did I put my hands on his body? I ask no one in particular as my eyes glance around the room to see that the light wasn't off.Why didn't he turn off the light before sleeping?Slowly, I drag my silly self to the sofa with my two hands on my cheeks. I drop to the sectional sofa and my butt hits something. I shoot to my feet to grab whatever it is and my eyes fall on the book I am supposed to hide from Jayden.A loud gasp escapes my mouth as fear begins to consume my whole existence. This book has been on this sofa all through yesterday and I am wondering if Jayden had seen it or not.How can I forget something like this? If he sees the book, then he will get to know that I am invading his privacy by going to his personal office and going through his thing
Jayden's POVThe buzzing sound of the intercom on the desk jerks me out of my reverie and I drop the pen in my hand to pick it up."Mrs. D'Alonzo is here to see you, sir", Anna speaks into the phone and I raise a brow.What is Caroline doing in my office at this hour? I have an out-of-office meeting in an hour and I am preparing my files for the meeting.Caroline isn't one to call the office because she knows how busy I can be. I used to spend my night in the office sometimes, especially after Helena's death. I didn't see the need to go home because there was no one to welcome me back home. But I am married now and questioning brows will be raised if I spend the night in the office again.Caroline knows all about this. She was here in New York when Helena died and she understands my busy schedule. I just wonder why she is here instead of coming over to the house later tonight."Should I let her in?" Anna's voice jerks me out of my reverie."Yes, please", I say and drop the phone befor
Isabella's POV Determined to give Jayden's friend and his wife a good impression of myself and to make sure that they believe that we are in love, I step out of my room in a single piece velvet short gown with long sleeves and an ankle strap heels. My hair is packed in a low loose bun as usual and I have a nude lip gloss on my lips with little makeup on my face. I don't want to overdo it. I am the billionaire's wife and I need to look like one just like Jayden had mentioned to me when he came home to inform me that his best friend, Gabriel and his wife, Sabrina would be coming over for dinner. I know Gabriel who usually frequents the office and I have only seen his wife once and that was at our wedding day. I am a bit anxious. Jayden had gone down for more than 10 minutes and I am sure they would be waiting for me so we could eat dinner. I take the staircase down to hear the laughter of Gabriel. He has a really loud voice and I know that voice doesn't belong to my husband. I
Jayden's POVAfter collapsing for the third time, I was sent out of the ward where Isabella was wheeled into.My mind is in disarray. My heart is racing and my head is spinning.This anticipation in me is killing me slowly. Isn't collapsing better than being left off hanging without knowing if Isabella is fine or not or if she is giving her best in pushing out our baby?I don't want fate to repeat itself. I want mother and child to be fine. I might not survive another disaster. Isabella means the world to me, and so does the baby.For the first time in my entire life, I look up to the heavens, gradually becoming conscious of my surroundings.I am still looking up, praying deep in my heart for the Almighty to perform a miracle; to make this easy for Isabella, and let the baby and mother survive this.Before I can finish up with my prayer, I see my mother rushing toward someone who turns out to be the doctor.I run over to him. "Doctor, doctor?" I chant breathlessly. "How is she?"Gabri
Isabella's POVCries, giggles, adult laughter, and chattering were the sound coming from the dining area the moment Jayden and I stepped into his parent's mansion.It is still as huge as I could remember with antique furniture and high chandeliers with artistry paintings.It is a mixture of old and modern and I would say this is the largest mansion I have ever seen. Jayden's home is next in line.When we approached the dining area, the noises became louder, it dawned on me that this dinner is not only for us but for other members of the family.Jayden is leading me in with his hand on my back instead of the entwined arms locked together the first time we were here and I am glad he has agreed to take things slow.I still haven't let go of everything totally because I am not done with my course titled "Jayden 101."He needs to be thoroughly studied before I give in. We have shared a few kisses but I haven't agreed to move back to the mansion yet.We are taking things slow.To be honest,
Isabella's POVPretending has never been an easy task for me. But Jayden taught me that. He taught me to learn how to pretend. He taught me how to hide my emotions. He taught me how to pretend as if I don't feel anything towards him again. But I do.Yes, I still do.And I rejected him. When he knelt on the floor with a diamond ring in his hand to promise me eternity, I rejected him. Not because I don't love him. I still do. I rejected him because I still have my doubts. I rejected him because I want to take my time to know if this is true or not. To know if his feelings for me won't change a bit.The first mistake I made was making decisions in a hurry and I don't want that to repeat itself. I want to take my time to study him, ponder deeply and decide on what is best for me and my baby.Jayden and I have been through a lot. I watch him each time he comes visiting. I can still see the hurt in his eyes and how hard he is pushing to move past the healing process.All of a sudden, I be
Jayden's POVThe ride to the lake house is in complete silence. At a point, I believe Isabella wasn't only giving me the silent treatment but was dozing off to even know that we are headed to the lake house.When I skipped work today, I was hoping it would be worth it. I visited her and told her I wanted to take her somewhere.She was reluctant but I could see that Isabella had gone past that stage. The stage of despair, anger, betrayal, and frustration.I was hoping my letters to her will reveal all that she needed to know and I was hoping it will help heal her just like it healed my wounds.I guess it worked. But I don't want to be over-excited about it. I am going to take one step at a time till everything is cleared off, even though I doubt if she would ever trust me again.I doubt if she would trust me with her heart like she once did. I trampled upon it, breaking it into pieces and she is still trying to fix up the pieces back in their place.She asked me where we were going and
Isabella's POVBefore I can let out the tears threatening to fall down my eyes, the doorbell rings and my eyes fly to the door which Jayden took out a few minutes ago.I can't believe I actually stood up to him that way. I said I wasn't going to ever cry because of him but here I am on the verge of crying again.Why does it feel like everyone is up against me and in support of him? Is it because he was traumatized by the experience of the accident?I was traumatized too and I got out of it alone, without anyone's help. Why should it be so difficult for him?The doorbell rings again and I stalk towards the door, throw it open, about to shout at him in anger not to ever come here again when I see a familiar face I haven't seen in months.Jude."Jude?" I can't hide my surprise. When his gaze falls on my belly, he smiles."Good day, ma'am", he bows slightly in greeting, stretching some things to me. I take them without hesitation. It's a white box, a bonquest, and a package.I don't need
Jayden's POVFinally, the car halts in front of Isabella's place after three stops away from here before I could summon up the courage to ask Jude to drive me here.Those stops were for two reasons; to get some gift for her and to muster up the courage to come here to see her after several months of being apart.I still don't know what I am here to say but I feel it's high time we talked. It's time I stopped being a coward and talk to her about it, about everything.Writing all my thoughts and mistakes down for her to read won't solve anything. I need to be man enough to face her, accept my mistake, and apologize for all I have done.Staring down at the box, the flower, and the package beside me, I come down from the car with them to go in with it as a present for Isabella.On second thought, I feel it is wrong for me to do this when I haven't apologized to her properly. I turn back to Jude and stretch the things towards him."You will take it inside when I am back, ok?" I say to him
Isabella's POVI watch his car drive away even before Sabrina could point that to me. Grandma and I were discussing in the sitting room when the doorbell rang and Safina isn't around to answer the door.To be honest, I thought it was Jayden and I didn't want to answer the door until Grandma ordered me to.I am sure she must have thought he was the one too.But seeing him drive away now makes me feel disappointed. Even though the question of whether he is back in America or not has been answered."Look at you, pregnancy looks good on you", Sabrina comments, making me remember that she was a few months pregnant before I left America."Thank you. How is the baby?" I ask her as I step away from the door for her to come in. I wish she is here with the baby but now that she isn't, I will make sure to visit her and the baby very soon.I really appreciate the fact that she is here to visit me this late in the night. It means a lot to me. And it makes me realize how much I have missed her.Aft
Jayden's POVI knew that Adrianna Vineyard would do the trick. That was the only way I could make Isabella know that I have been the one behind all those strange gifts and notes on her doorknob.Grandma's insistence for me to give her more time before showing up in front of her, coupled with my lack of courage, I had to keep low till she is back in America.Now that she is back, I want to finally see her but today is definitely not that day.I didn't book the same plane with Grandma. My plane took off after theirs and this is done on purpose so that she won't bump into me somewhere.I hope she has read the note I left behind this morning and I hope it will explain everything.I have realized my mistake and I want to make amends if only she would give me a chance to do that.By the time my plane landed in America, it was already getting dark because of the time difference and Jude was already waiting for me at the airport. I asked him and Fred to come back yesterday since we have found
Isabella's POVA knock pulls me out of my thoughts and I get down immediately from the bed to answer the door.It must be Grandma. I know she can't stay angry with me for too long. I have been waiting for days for her to come back since I don't know where she is staying in Paris.We cried. We both cried. And she left.It is high time she came back so we could talk and I can tell her the real reason why I did what I did.I didn't do that for no reason. I did it for a good reason.I get to the door and turn the doorknob but surprisingly, there is no one in front of the door. I step out and look around but everywhere is silent and empty.My neighbor has gone to work already. I heard her muttering some French words as she locked her door before taking the staircase down.She isn't the one.Who could it be? Is it Grandma? Did she change her mind about coming to see me so we could talk?Realizing that Grandma must still be mad at me, I sigh and step back inside. The moment to close the door