The sound of an alarm from her phone woke Isabella. She struggled to open her eyes, feeling as if something heavy was weighing them down, almost like glue holding them shut. Slowly, she blinked and tried to gather her thoughts all at once. The memories of yesterday made her head ache. About Irene. About Felix. About everything.A long sigh escaped Isabella's lips. She got up and looked around. Her room was still the same. Nothing had changed."Has Felix come back yet?" Isabella touched her neck. "Oh, great, my voice is hoarse from crying all night. How did all this chaos happen at once?"Isabella stood up, hurried to check Felix’s room, but he still hadn’t returned. Her blue eyes scanned the entire house, confirming that her husband hadn’t been back since yesterday. She returned to her room and picked up her phone, but there were no new messages. Felix hadn’t replied or called back. Isabella's heart grew even more uneasy. Did this mean Felix had returned to Sarah and left her?Not wan
Isabella spent the rest of the afternoon with an unsettling feeling that continued to haunt her, growing stronger as time passed. Felix still hadn’t come home, and she couldn’t shake the image of Felix with Sarah from her mind. When night fell, she knew she couldn’t just sit around any longer. Felix’s parents, especially his mother, Sophia Baker, might have the answers—if Felix was avoiding her, perhaps he had gone to them.After a silent and anxious drive through the city streets, Isabella arrived at the grand Baker family estate. There was always a coldness she felt every time she came there, like the grand mansion was designed to intimidate rather than welcome. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and walked toward the front door, hoping for answers.Sophia Baker herself answered the door, her sharp gaze immediately fixed on Isabella with a mixture of surprise and disdain. “Irene,” she said in a stiff voice, “what are you doing here?”Isabella’s heart sank immediately.
Isabella had been sitting in her car for about thirty minutes, trying to calm herself down. She suddenly felt numb, unable to empathize with anything in front of her anymore. About Irene. About Felix. Was the world always this disappointing?Isabella's phone rang for what felt like the hundredth time. This time, she managed to gather her thoughts. Her hand moved to pick up the phone."Where are you, Isabella?""Hi, Nick. I think… I can’t meet you," Isabella said, her voice still hoarse. She wasn’t even sure if talking would make her feel better at this point. She watched as other cars passed by. "Maybe… I just need more time.""Let me come to you.""No, no. Really. I just… can’t handle this right now."A heavy sigh came from the other end. Nicholas, too, seemed to realize how fragile Isabella’s state was. Finally, he said, "Alright, call me if you need anything.""Sure."Click.Isabella lifted her head and stared at herself in the mirror, putting on her sunglasses to cover her puffy e
All her life, Isabella had lived in a pleasant fictional world. She was a writer. She could ensure that the characters she created would have a happy ending, or the opposite. Living in such a comfortable world left Isabella shocked by the reality she now had to face. Losing her twin sister, disguising herself as a personal secretary, entering a contract marriage, and now being cheated on—this situation had completely drained Isabella of ideas.She stopped the car after arriving at her parents' house. Taking several deep breaths to compose herself, Isabella finally summoned the courage to get out of the car and walk toward the front door."Okay, I know this is a bad decision, but... it's the only choice I have."Isabella stood, walked toward the front door, and knocked on her parents’ house late at night. It wasn’t even the right time for a “parental visit,” but Isabella felt she couldn’t handle this on her own.Ben stood in the doorway, his eyes softening the moment he saw Isabella's
Isabella sat on the neatly made bed, trying to calm herself in her childhood room. The room still felt the same as it always had—warm and cozy, as if time had never moved here. But her mind was spinning, unable to find peace.Feelings of loss, confusion, and betrayal swirled together, forming a heavy weight on her chest.She took a deep breath, trying to soothe her heart. I can face this, she thought. She had always managed to get through difficult times, and this would be no different.But the comforting silence was suddenly broken by the sound of the doorbell echoing throughout the house. Isabella lifted her head, sensing something wrong. Who could be here at this hour?In the living room, Ben and Rose exchanged worried glances. They knew who was standing outside before they even opened the door. Felix.Ben approached the door, his face tense. Behind the door, Felix stood with an expression full of regret and exhaustion. “I want to speak with Isabella,” he said, his voice hoarse, as
Sophia closed the kitchen door with a slight slam, leaning her back against the wooden table and crossing her arms. Michael sat at the dining table, holding a cup of coffee that had already cooled. He looked at Sophia with a disapproving gaze."It seems like Felix and Irene are getting divorced," said Sophia with a thin smile, as if the statement brought her some satisfaction. "I always knew their marriage wouldn’t last long. I never liked that secretary, Michael."Michael frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Sophia’s cheerful tone. "Sophia, that’s not something to celebrate," he said quietly but firmly. "Felix is in serious trouble, and Irene... she’s our friend too. You can’t be so pleased about their downfall."Sophia scoffed softly, shrugging as if it didn’t matter. "Maybe so. But honestly, Michael, wasn’t it obvious from the start that their relationship wouldn’t work? They were just caught up in some workplace romance or a one-night stand or whatever it was. There’s no real love
CHAPTER 58Felix opened his front door, overwhelmed by deep exhaustion. The long day and his meeting with Isabella still swirled in his mind. But as he stepped inside, something immediately struck him as odd—the house felt eerily empty. Every corner of the living room seemed lifeless, as though everything that usually filled the space had been removed.He walked toward the dining table, deciding to eat dinner alone. The loneliness that haunted him felt even stronger, making the meal feel even more quiet. The sound of the spoon and plate clinking was the only noise in the room.Suddenly, a loud knock on the door broke the silence. Felix set down his spoon and hurried to the door, his hopes rising instantly. Could it be Isabella? After their meeting earlier, he had a small hope that she might come to talk further.However, when Felix opened the door, it wasn’t Isabella he saw. Standing in the doorway was Louis, a man with a furious expression. Before Felix could say anything, Louis punc
Isabella sat on Ben's porch, enjoying the quiet night. Beside her, Felix sat with folded arms, his expression filled with regret. They had been through a lot together, and although their relationship was based on a contract marriage, deeper feelings had started to grow between them. Yet, all of that felt like a fading shadow amidst the conflicts that had arisen.Felix took a deep breath before finally starting a difficult conversation. "Isabella, I... I want to apologize," he said, his voice heavy. "About Sarah... I know it's complicated and confusing, but I never wanted to hurt you."Isabella looked at him coldly, waiting for further explanation. She had heard Sarah's name many times, and although she tried to close her heart, jealousy and disappointment always seeped in whenever that name came up.Felix continued, "My relationship with Sarah is very complicated. We have a long history before all of this, and I know how messy this situation is. But what you need to know is that I nev