Jayden's POVIt has been a week since I went to work and I have been home resting simply because Isabella insisted that I stay at home for a week.I know I actually needed the rest but I couldn't pay deaf ears to the piles of work I had to sort out.With Isabella's help, I got everything done in just a few days while we left the others at work. Anna usually brings the important one home for me and Isabella to work on. Most times, she handles it alone while I watch her do it.She has been really supportive and I can't believe she hasn't brought up the issue of leaving again since the other day.When she came back home that night, she was with a smile on her face and I was happy to see her back in the house. I kept on ignoring the voice telling me that Isabella would never come back again.I am going to resume work tomorrow but I decided to make today worth it for Isabella. I want to appreciate her for staying by my side all through the week, making jokes just to see me laugh, and doing
Isabella's POVI watch him struggle with his words. I watch him narrate every single thing without leaving a stone unturned. I watch him make an effort not to break down in front of me and I wish I could wrap my hands around him, comfort him and tell him everything will be fine.Time they say heals all wounds. Jayden is healing already but he doesn't know. For a whole year that I worked for him, I never knew he was battling with something as deep as this.I judged him to be cruel, harsh, and rude. I never knew he was battling with the trauma of watching his wife die in his arms just within a minute of arguing with each other.It makes me want to cry. But I am refraining from letting my tears pour.When I can no longer hold it in, a tear drops from my eyes. Before I can wipe it, Jayden sees it and he smiles sadly and stops talking.How do I console him? It feels like I was right there that night, standing aside and watching him and Gabriel struggle to revive her back to life as the
Isabella's POVHis body still goes against mine and I pull away instantly. A cold shiver runs down my spine instantly at the absence of the touch of his body on mine.What did I just do? I know I am excited about the thought of going to Verona and having Jayden sponsor my trip but why did I jump on him that way?Won't he get the wrong idea about me? Why is he even doing this?I know he has been nice to me for a week now but I believe it's because of his ill-health and how I have been helping him recuperate but it shouldn't be more than that. If I don't take care for him, who will? I am his wife after all.I clear my throat and tuck the strand of hair that falls on my face behind my ears. I gulp down and ask him. "Why are you doing this?""What?" Confusion skates his expression at the question."Why do you want to sponsor my trip to Italy?" I ask again and he smiles. A smile that sends my inside in disarray.I have seen him smile a lot these past few days but this one feels different
Jayden's POVMy breathing became ragged when her body touched mine and her arms encircled around my head firmly in an embrace.Isabella and I have never been that close before except on our wedding day. Noticing my still body, she pulled away immediately and apologized. I have been thinking about it since I left her in the kitchen to cook but I don't know what to think of what happened between us.I have never given any other woman my attention apart from Helena. "Let's go and eat outside", she suggests as she comes out of that kitchen with the food. I love potatoes and I made sure madam Cassandra got enough potatoes for me during the grocery shopping she did for me yesterday.She is my maid and she usually comes to clean every week or whenever I need her to shop for me in preparation for my arrival.I have never come here with anyone, not even Helena. I bought this house after Helena died and I felt like the mansion was suffocating the hell out of me. Everything about the mansion
Isabella's POVI was cold all through the night. I couldn't find a suitable change of clothes in the wardrobe in the bedroom.I only got to change into a pair of t-shirts that are way too big for me and I am sure it belongs to Jayden.Thankfully, I was wearing a short beneath my dress yesterday which wasn't too wet so I had to sleep in the bum shorts and the t-shirt that way.I couldn't help but worry about Jayden. I didn't even know when I slept off.He suddenly became stiff last night. I was surprised at the way he said his good night to me. I didn't expect we would go to bed that early but I guess it's for the best since the rain had ruined the plans I had in mind.As I stay in bed, thinking about everything that has happened in our marriage in just a month, a sweet delicious scent wafts past my nostril and my stomach rumbles instantly.Food.Quickly, I scramble out of bed and head out of the bedroom to trace where the aroma is coming from. I know it will be no other place than the
Isabella's POVHis lips move on mine and the kiss isn't rough. It is sweet, soft, slow, and passionate. It is the exact thing I have always envisioned for my first time.Something as soft as the feathers of a hummingbird, something as sweet as my favorite wine, Adrianna Vineyard, something as slow as the current music, and something as passionate as what is between Jayden and me.At first, the kiss caught me off guard but I did not waste any more time by thinking about the kiss instead of enjoying it while it lasted.I throw every warning and thought to the winds and grab his waist closer, tugging him hard against my front, his chest pressing hard on my bosom.He delves his tongue further into my mouth, seeking access to explore more of the insides of my mouth and I open my mouth wider to grant him full access, to taste every inch of my mouth.A groan escapes his mouth and I let out the moan I have been trying not to let out too. His touch makes my skin feel so alive but his kiss is p
Jayden's POVWhile putting some files into my briefcase so I could go home, the door opens and I look up to see my mother come in."Mother?" I wiggle my eyebrows at her as she closes the door and ventures inside.Is Anna gone? Why didn't she inform me that Mother is here?I plan to go home early today because Gabriel and I have plans to meet up somewhere to close our deal and sign up the contract of my partnership. We couldn't do that because I have been absent from work for a whole week and I have been coming to work for three days now without seeing him.He told me how busy he has been coupled with the demands of his pregnant wife and we planned to meet tonight.Sabrina would be going out with her friend too which is giving him the time to come out. I hope now that he is expecting a baby, he will be faithful to his wife."What are you doing here?" I ask her with confusion, skating my expression. Why is she here by this time of the day? We haven't seen each other for days. Well, I h
Jayden's POVThe silent ride home gives me enough time to think about everything that is happening and what just happened between Mother and me before she went home with her driver.I haven't said a single word to Jude since I climbed into the car and he began to drive me home. But I have to tell him to wait for me to take a quick shower and change into something light so he can drive me to where Gabriel and I will be meeting.I have been avoiding Isabella and sometimes I sleep in my office while other times, I sleep on the sofa.Things have been really awkward between us ever since that day. I have been trying not to let it get into the way of our new friendship but it is getting in the way. I can't just pretend the kiss didn't happen. I find it very hard to sleep on the same bed with her too, for fear that I would lose my cool and act on impulse. I had no idea what came over me that day. Maybe it was because she looked like Helena that day and she reminded me of Helena, the way she
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