Isabella's POVI push him away, not because I don't want this but because I don't want to get confused with all of these kisses which aren't defined.He refused to talk about the first kiss and faked the second one. Now he is giving it to me again with no genuine reason.Who the hell does he take me for?I know I shouldn't have said sorry to him but I had to because I know he helped me out when I needed help. I wanted to regret why I accepted the offer in the first place but I can't.I already conclude within myself that I won't regret it no matter what.I like Romeo but not the same way I like him. I might consider Romeo but not with him in the picture, lurking around and monitoring my every movement.Surprises flash across his expression. Before I can say anything, he grabs me again and kisses me, holding the back of my head firmly.I want to struggle with him but I know I can't win this over.I want this too. I just don't want this to go on. I don't want to get confused anymore abo
Jayden's POVI stir in my sleep, my lips parted and my eyes eventually fly open to see the darkness around me.Someone must have turned off the light, I think to myself as I stretch my hand towards the bedside.There is no bedside and it clicks. I am not in my mansion but the Academia hotel in Italy.Hurriedly, I sit upright and search for my phone on the bed. I remember going downstairs to get coffee for myself and breakfast for Isabella which I don't even know if she ate or not.When I came back up, I took a hot bath before jumping into bed and working on my laptop, expecting her to come out so we could talk but she stayed indoors till I fell asleep.How long have I been sleeping? I ask within myself as I find my phone and press the button to check the time.It is 6 pm which means I have been out for more than 5 hours.Wow! I can't remember how long I have slept this way before, even at night. I guess my exhaustion from the flight and my recent sleepless nights are responsible.I f
Isabella's POVJayden reeks of alcohol as his breath fans my entire face. When he wraps his hands around my waist, I stare at his handsome face while he continues to blink rapidly.I have been out with Romeo and I was damn worried Jayden would do something rash like leaving for New York without letting me know or something unexpected.My mind was divided and I had to plead with Romeo to let me go home early so I could rest well.He didn't think twice about letting me come back to the hotel. He is such a perfect gentleman and I am more than confused now on what to do with his request tonight.For the past 3 days that we have been going out and for 6 days since we bumped into each other, I was so sure that he liked me and that I liked him too and now that he has eventually confessed his feelings to me, I do not feel anything in me but numbness.This is the reason why I wanted to come back to the hotel so I could think things through and come to a decision.Romeo isn't giving me enough t
Isabella's POVI wake up with a groan, wondering why I feel sore and pain all over my body. I twist my body in the bed, my hand flying to the space next to me when it clicks in my head.I had sex. With Jayden. Not Romeo. Here in Verona.My eyes widen as the memories of last night's passionate sex come rushing to my head. I remember how I was writhing beneath him, moaning and crying out in pleasure.What have I done? Where is Jayden?I sit upright abruptly, looking around to see that I am in the room alone with my clothes away. I am completely naked, except for the comforter wrapped around me as I sit up.Just before I can scramble out of bed to look around and figure out what was going on, I hear the knock on the door and then water running in the bathroom.Just then, the door to the bathroom opens and a half-naked Jayden comes out with just a towel draped around his waist. He saunters to the door, without noticing me.I am just sitting with my mouth agape, thinking about what happ
Isabella's POVWhen he smiled at me and I didn't reciprocate, his countenance changed and he figured out that something was wrong.He must have figured out my answer just from merely looking at my unsmiling face because the next thing he does is sigh heavily.He stretches his hand for me to take and I hesitate. Jayden is lurking around somewhere watching us. I can't let him touch me anyhow he wants now that Jayden and I are together because I know how jealous Jayden can be.What is between Jayden and me doesn't feel right but I love it. I love how he makes me feel."Is everything ok?" He questions, watching me carefully."I have some things to tell you", I declare openly, standing awkwardly in front of him.He flashes me a smile, his cute face looking peaceful. "Let's sit, then?"I nod. Leading me to the street bench, he continues smiling as he peers down at me, as though he can read through me.I am thinking of how to reject him politely and also tell him about my marriage to Jayden
Isabella's POVMy jaws drop.Not at the venom in his voice. But at his utterance. Does he know Jayden? He doesn't even know who he is so why is he talking this way?I know it might take a long time before Jayden begins to love me but what matters is that he wants to give this a chance. He wants to give us a chance and that is all that matters the most to me.I am a patient person. I can wait till he is ready to open up and accept me to be his partner. We are married after all. All I need to do is show him love, make him happy and be there for him all the time."What about you? Is this just about him and what he wants? Do you think being selfless is what the world is all about? You don't even know if he loves you." Romeo adds as if hearing my thoughts.I shake my head. I don't want to let his words get to me and discourage me from moving on with what has barely started between Jayden and me.We haven't talked about us and what the future holds but I have a strong conviction that it is
Jayden's POVSeeing her in lingerie makes the resolve to speak to her about what happened in Italy disappear into thin air.Instead, my heartbeat increases and a lump gets stuck in my throat as I watch her approach, making me speechless.I had a bad day and it has been making me think about all that happened in Italy and how she confessed her love for me.I feel guilty. I feel remorseful for putting her into this situation and I want to remedy it before it is too late.Isabella accused me of using her even before we had sex and now that we already had sex, I am beginning to think that she is right.A relationship between us can't be possible. She needs to leave after a year.I didn't give much thought to all of this till we landed in New York this morning and I realize that keeping her is part of using her.I shouldn't cage her here. I shouldn't give her the thought that something more could happen between us. I don't want her to expect too much from me and then I will end up disappoi
Isabella's POVImmediately the door opens, and I rush into her arms crying my eyes out and holding onto her firmly so I can squeeze out all the hurt and emotions I am feeling right now.My tears are because of how stupid I feel. I should have given this much thought. I should have known that Jayden's sudden change in behavior is questionable. I should have known that Romeo was right and not selfish like Jayden.I have always considered women who confess their feelings for men even before men do the same as foolish and I have become a foolish woman for confessing my feelings for Jayden the very next day after we fought, reconciled, and had sex.I am stupid. I shouldn't have allowed him to touch me. I shouldn't have given out my virginity to him that way. I shouldn't have even accepted this offer.My chest tightens within my ribcage and I find it very hard to breathe.My cries turn into sobs as I try to breathe properly all to no avail. Before I can pull away, someone rushes out of the
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