Isabella's POVChecking out myself in front of the mirror, my mind begins to drift back to what Sabrina said about how she failed to get Jayden interested in her friend for the marriage contract.I wish I could see what the woman looks like so I can compare myself to her. For me to see her, I need to become friends with Sabrina and I doubt if that is possible. I don't like people who talk too much and Sabrina seems like one. Additionally, she acts weird just like her husband.I wonder what type of girls Jayden loves going out with. The class of girls is known as I told myself the other day. People like him go out with successful women or billionaire daughters; women who have something to invest in his businesses and not dumb-ass broke girls like me.Sabrina seems like a working-class lady and I'm sure her friend must also be a working-class woman, why didn't he accept her? Why did he choose me instead of her?Is it the shape? I ask myself when I realize I have been standing in front o
Jayden's POVIsabella's hands are balled into a fist out of nervousness the moment the car halts in front of the big restaurant where we will be having dinner with Alejandro.He couldn't meet up with the 2 pm appointment and he called this evening for us to meet at this Italian restaurant with my wife.I feel this is a way to introduce them to each other. Alejandro is a friend and is one of those who wanted me to get married. He tried to matchmake me with his sister but I told him I wasn't interested even before we could meet.Now that he is interested in seeing Isabella, I want him to be impressed and I tried to tell Isabella that I want her to wear something nice.I couldn't because I felt remorseful for what I did to her at the poolside. We haven't said a single word to each other since I left her at the poolside and I have a feeling she is mad at me.She doesn't look mad but I know she is. She is used to pretending not to be angry even while we were working together. How can she
Isabella's POVI couldn't believe Alejandro and I talked all through the dinner and even after and I enjoyed his company.The discussion was able to lift my spirit and get rid of my anger toward Jayden. Actually, I have no right to be mad at Jayden. I should have expected what he did this evening but I didn't expect it and that was why I was hurt.I don't always get comfortable with strangers but Alejandro is different. I find myself opening up to him and telling him things I wouldn't have said to other people when we first met.He is free-spirited and I guess that is why I was free with him. When he mentioned that I looked familiar, I realized I knew him too. He is the same Alejandro Lorenzo who scheduled an appointment with Jayden a few months ago but he never came. He missed the appointment and came when I was about to close for the day.I don't know if I am supposed to tell them that I was Jayden's Assistant and I don't know if Jayden wants him to know Jayden and I stand in fron
Jayden's POVIn just a few hours of practically calling Isabella a loose woman for dressing that way around the house when I didn't even know that she went to the pool with a towel, my emotions are all over the place.I still feel remorseful and I want to do everything possible to make her forget what I said.It was an insult and I have no idea what came over me to say that. She isn't my real wife so I have no right over her.It wouldn't be offensive if only we were real. This is just on paper.She has had me feeling sorry for her for no reason. She accepted this because it was what she needed but I don't know why I feel sorry for her.She mentioned something about love during the dinner with Alejandro and I am curious to know what she means by that.Does she want to go to Verona to find a man who truly loves her? Can't she wait till after our marriage is up to a year before going? I remember she also said something about this when I first presented the offer to her and she outright
Isabella's POVIt was Adrianna Vineyard.That is the name of the wine Jayden served when Gabriel and his wife came for dinner three nights ago.With crossed legs and a book in my right hand, my back resting comfortably on the sofa, I take a sip of the wine, moaning in delight before dropping it back on the coffee table.I love this wind. The taste is unique. Probably because I haven't had a taste of many wines. Maybe if I take more varieties, I will find others who are good too.But for now, I love this wine and I will always have it beside me whenever I am reading.Reading does something magical to me. It makes me create a world of my own. A world filled with nothing but love, laughter, joy, and everlasting happiness. This is in contrast to the reality we are living in.The reality of challenges and tribulations. Filled with mixtures of laughter and sorrow, joy and sadness, love and hatred, laughter and tears.If there is one thing I wish for right now, it is LOVE. True love. Becaus
Jayden's POVWhen I come out of the bathroom, I see Isabella still sleeping on the bed, making me wonder when she will wake up.I have some questions to ask her. These were the questions I was supposed to ask her last night but I was surprised to come out of the bathroom to see her fast asleep.It amuses how fast she can fall asleep within minutes.Taking my eyes off her still body, curled up in bed like a baby, I walk to the closet to get a dress to wear.I pull a black jacket out of the closet and a pair of black pants with a white long-sleeve top before turning back to drop them on the bed when I see Isabella stirring in her sleep and yawning loudly without covering her mouth.I halt and watch her as she opens her mouth widely before fluttering her eyes open. Our eyes lock and she scrambles out of bed with embarrassment.I chuckle lightly and walk to drop my clothes on the sofa. A towel is still wrapped around my waist.I don't know if the embarrassment is a result of that or becau
Jayden's POV When Anna brought the wrong file for me for the second time, I refrained from shouting at her but I couldn't stop myself from slamming my fist on the desk. The pen on the desk falls off as she scuttles backward in fright. First, it was a white coffee and now she is bringing the wrong file for the second time. Is today meant to be a bad day for me? Isabella did hers when I was getting ready to come to work by asking me the silly question of who Helena was. How dare she? She has no right to ask me who Helena is. I don't know how she got to know about Helena and I don't care to know. I am just mad at her for bringing up the topic of Helena. She has no right to do that. Because I am being civil with her doesn't mean she can ask me personal questions. Is it because I also asked her personal questions? "I'm sorry, sir", she apologizes immediately, fear flashing in her eyes. "Sorry?" I growl out in frustration. I have been doing all I can to stop myself from transferrin
Isabella's POVJayden has been extremely cold towards me ever since the day I asked him about Helena.Well, I never knew it was a big deal to ask about her but the moment I saw his expression, I knew it was more than a big deal and my curiosity to know who she was intensified.I do not know why. I just want to know why Jayden looked like someone who could kill when I mentioned her name.Obviously, she isn't just anybody. I thought she was one of the exes he would like to talk about. I was very much interested in knowing about his love life and why he doesn't believe in love anymore.I was so sure he used to believe in love and he was in love with someone. Probably her.Helena.Helena.I always think about her anytime Jayden comes home with this same cold expression and anytime he ignores me as if I am not in the same room as him.I ought to ignore him too. But I can't. I should probably start now. At least it will ease everything. This is our third week already and we still have a lon
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