Isabella's POVTelling the cabman to wait for me, I climb down from the cab in a hurry and dash into the house.I am overwhelmed by what has happened to me today but I don't want to give it much thought until after the surgery is done.Grandma and I could barely sleep last night because of the severe pain she was feeling. The medications she usually takes to deduce the pain were finished and I was waiting for my next salary to buy her another.I was already thinking of giving my boss's offer a chance because of how much she was in pain. But something kept holding me back and now I don't know how it happened.Suddenly, I have become $50,000 richer in just a matter of seconds.When I enter the small living room, grandma isn't there sitting on her cane chair, watching old movies on our TV, I hear whimpers instead coming from her room.Without hesitation, I hurry into the room to see her writhing in pain on the bed. Before I left for work this morning, she was still sleeping and I made br
Jayden's POVSitting at the back of the Mercedes Benz driving me home and staring intently at the picture of my Assistant, Isabella Gracia Rodriguez, I expel a sigh of relief for choosing the right person.She is the right person for the job. Now I can see the reason why she doesn't have a boyfriend, her dress sense is totally out of it, and that needs to change.She is not the social type and this is the exact person I need, not some sophisticated, spoiled brat who would ruin everything for me and make it very difficult to end this facade of a marriage we are about to venture into.Isabella isn't going to be a difficult person and my mother might like her for not being social. This was one of the bones of contention between my mother and my late fiancée. She never told me anything but I knew it. Mother is good at hiding her emotions.I scroll down and begin to see more pictures of Isabella's ruffled gowns, tank tops and skirts, plain black gowns, and all sorts of unfashionable dress
Isabella's POV I squeeze my eyes shut as I pace our tiny living room, impatient for my boss's arrival. Grandma won't stop bombarding me with questions about why my boss decided to help me all of a sudden after I have always complained about how difficult he can be. I know her fear. She doesn't want me to end up on the wrong track and she feels men don't do things for free. They always want something in return. To escape from more questions now that she is finally back home after a successful surgery, I decided to do something which is to invite my boss over. First, I can't hide the fact that we will be getting married soon from my grandma. He wants us to be married as soon as possible. Second, I can no longer hide the fact that I now have enough to pay for our bills. I have settled the house rents, and the electricity bills, I have gotten new clothes for myself and grandma and I have sorted out other expenses, including stocking up the house with enough groceries. Another reason
Jayden's POVI stride out of the elevator the moment the door dings open, with my new Personal Assistant right behind me.Her name is Anna and she was recommended by my mother after I told her that my wife-to-be is Isabella and she would no longer be working for me again.I don't know what my mother thinks of the idea of getting married to Isabella, my Personal Assistant but I have the belief that my plan will work.I am doing this because of her after all and after a year just like the contract stated, Isabella and I will go our separate ways and that way, my mother will let me be and stop pestering me to get married again, and have kids.I have a feeling my mother recommended Anna for a reason and I am sure she is one of her friend's daughters. Anna doesn't look at all like someone who is in dire need of a job. She comes to work with a portable car and she dresses glamorous which makes me wonder why she is here in the first place.My instinct is telling me that my mother purposely
Isabella's POVGrandma's hovering eyes are all over me, monitoring my every movement. She hasn't asked me a single thing since yesterday when Jayden came to tell her of his intentions to marry me in two weeks.I know she was shocked beyond words but her silence is killing me.As much as I don't want much interrogation, I want to know what she thinks and if she will support me.I can never tell her that this marriage is just for a year and there is a contract involved. She won't understand my reasons and she will be mad at me. How can I possibly tell her that I will be married for just a year, not because I love this man but because I need money from him? How can I tell her that I will be divorced after a year and then I can begin to start my life afresh?She would never understand that I am doing this for her and this is the sacrifice I am making for her to live again and be able to use her legs.She would never understand.She has always been dreaming of that day when I would come h
Jayden's POVStill fuming in anger, I throw the office door open to enter when I see someone inside sitting comfortably on the chair opposite my desk.Without a word, I stride in. When I close the door behind me, I know instantly that it is no other person than Gabriel."How the hell did you get in here?!" I growl at him as I walk to my chair.He chuckles lightly, leaning over and dropping the phone he was pressing. "You weren't picking your calls."I really don't want anyone else to piss me off today. First, it was Anna, then Juliet and Isabella, and now Gabriel.How will I pick up his call when he humiliated me in front of that bitch? He didn't stand up for me but he laughed just like his wife did, making me feel stupid.Gabriel is so childish!"I said how did you get in here?" I question again, glaring coldly at him."Well, Anna let me in", he leans backward, the smile off his face.He knows that I am angry with him. This is why he is here. I refused to pick up his calls when he ke
Isabella's POV Music blasts from the in-house where Juliet works part-time and I stroll in, shrugging off my tote bag and glancing around for her in the bar. There is a low-class club attached to the back of the bar and Juliet works inside mostly. She is charged with the duty of offering drinks to the clients inside the clubhouse. Not finding her in here, I know she must be inside the clubhouse, probably trying to persuade one of the men for a tip. My emotions are all over the place and I am trying so hard to calm myself down and search for a reasonable excuse for her actions. There is no excuse for what she did. No excuse for not informing me beforehand. I didn't tell her about my decision to become Jayden's wife over the phone because I wanted us to meet in person before telling her. She convinced me to give it a try and I wanted to see the proud smile on her face after revealing my decision to give it a try to her. To give being a billionaire's wife a try. For just a year.
Jayden's POVThe car stops in the driveway and I open the door myself to come out of the car before Fred could get the door.Today's work was hectic and I wouldn't be here if my mother hadn't invited me to dinner. She is persistent and would do anything to get what she wants.I know she wants us to talk about the wedding preparations. Coupled with the fact that I have been meaning to come to see her, I decided to come over today instead of tomorrow.I could remember the look of shock on her face when I announced to her that I was getting married to no one but my Assistant. I don't think she knows Isabella but the thought of being married to my employee was a huge killjoy for her.Today, I will know what she thinks of the match and I will convince her to let me do what I want.If I don't do this, if I don't marry Isabella, I won't be able to prove to her that marriage isn't meant for everyone. Getting married to her choice of woman will make everything hard and I am not in for any lif
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