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Chapter Four: Lost in Silence
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2024-03-09 15:07:48The hours stretched further into the night, Isabella found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the damning evidence spread out before her on the coffee table. Each photograph, each letter, served as a painful reminder of her husband's betrayal, fueling the turmoil of emotions swirling within her. With every passing minute, Isabella's anxiety grew, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for Alexander's return.
She paced the length of the dimly lit foyer, her footsteps echoing hollowly against the marble floors, her mind consumed by thoughts of what she would say to him when he walked through the door, the hands of the clock crept closer to midnight and there was still no sign of Alexander. The mansion lay shrouded in silence, the only sound was the soft ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the corner.
Several hours passed in agonizing silence, each minute feeling like an eternity as she wrestled with her conflicting emotions. Part of her longed to confront Alexander, to demand answers, hoping everything turns out to be a lie, or she hold him accountable for his betrayal if it were all true. Yet another part of her dreaded the inevitable confrontation, fearing the fallout that would surely follow.
The first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Isabella's exhaustion finally caught up with her, her eyelids heavy with weariness. With a heavy heart and a soul weighed down by sorrow, she made her way to the master bedroom, where she collapsed onto the plush canopy bed and succumbed to the embrace of sleep. When she awoke several hours later, the sun was already high in the sky, casting its golden rays through the sheer curtains. With a groan, she pushed herself upright, her body aching from the fitful sleep that had eluded her.
She made her way downstairs, her footsteps heavy with fatigue, she was met with the sight of Alexander entering the mansion through the grand entrance. His expression was inscrutable, his features carefully composed as he greeted her with a curt nod and a fake smile plastered on his lips before disappearing into his study without a word. Her heart sank as she watched him go, a knot of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. There was little doubt in her mind that Alexander's late-night absence had been no innocent coincidence, and his refusal to offer any explanation only served to deepen her sense of betrayal. She stood alone in the empty foyer, the weight of her husband's deception pressing down upon her like a leaden shroud.
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After long hours if contemplating, she made her way downstairs, her footsteps faltered as she approached the closed door of Alexander's study, her hand hesitated on the polished brass handle. Summoning her courage, Isabella pushed open the door to the study, her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped inside. Alexander sat behind his desk, his back turned to her as he spoke quietly into the phone, he turned to face her with a unreadable expression. For a moment, Isabella hesitated, her eyes searching his face for any sign of guilt or remorse. But all she saw was the familiar facade of the man she had once loved, his features schooled into a mask of indifference as he hung up the phone and turned to face her, a fake smile plastered across his lips. Isabella stood before her husband, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, in that moment, as their eyes met across the expanse of the study, her eyes burned with a mixture of anger and betrayal. The air crackled with tension, thick
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For a long moment, there was only silence, broken only by the pounding of Isabella's heart in her chest. And then, finally, Alexander spoke, "She's... she's no one," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the photograph before him, but Isabella knew better than to believe his lies, knew that the truth was far more damning than he dared to admit. With a cry of anguish, she swept the photograph from the desk and hurled it across the room, the glass shattering with a deafening crash as it struck the far wall, Startled by her sudden outburst, he rose angrily from his seat and slammed his palm against the desk in anger, "I will not have you talk to me that way." he yelled, his masculine voice reverberated through the whole room. "I've acted with you for too long and now you don't know the difference between dream and reality. You are so confused and probably the reason why you think you have a say in the decisions I make with my life. I didn't marry you for love so get that into your thick skul
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The slam of the door reverberated through the mansion like a gunshot, snapping Isabella out of her dazed state. With trembling hands and tears in her eyes, she stumbled through the long hallway, her footsteps echoing on the polished marble floors as she sought solace in the solitude of their bedroom - a place which now serve as a reminder of the lie she has lived for seven year. In the oppressive silence of the mansion, Isabella was tormented by storms of emotions, regret gnawed at her as she sank onto the edge of the bed slowly, a bitter reminder of the choices that had led her to this moment of despair flashed across her mind. Her thoughts inevitably returned to the family she had left behind, the warmth of her grandfather's love, the power and privilege she lost while going after impossibilities. By rejecting her birthright and breaking off the arranged marriage that is meant to strengthen the bond between families, she had neglected her duty for a delusional fairytale world buil
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Alexander walked over to Sophia's side and settled onto the edge of the bed, his fingertips gently tracing the delicate strands of her golden blonde hair, a tender smile spread across his lips while he tucked a stray lock of hair from her face. She stirred slightly at his touch, her lashes lazily fluttered open to reveal the dazzling sapphire eyes that mirrored his own. "Daddy?" Olivia murmured sleepily, her voice a soft melodic whisper that tugged at his heartstrings. "Yes, sweetheart, it's me," Alexander replied, his voice filled with warmth and affection as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. Slowly, she drifted back to sleep, leaving Alexander to marvel at the delicate curve of her cheek and the way her lips curved into a contented smile while she doze off. A surge of love and protectiveness washed over him as he reassures himself he's doing what's best for his family by letting Isabella go. It's a decision he should have taken right after the only one, his fathe
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