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Coffee, Questions, and Complications
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2024-12-24 06:33:48Isabella -
By the time I reached my third cup of coffee, I could barely feel the caffeine anymore. Sleep had been a distant dream, thanks to Logan’s... insatiable energy. Honestly, did the man run on a secret power source? And now, I was stuck in a conference room, trying not to fall asleep as Logan confidently detailed how he’d clinched the Fintech deal.
He stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding, his voice smooth and professional. It was maddening how effortlessly he could switch from the charming rogue who... well, kept me up all night, to the sharp and astute businessman everyone admired.
I avoided looking at him too much during the meeting. Not because I didn’t want to, but because every time I did, memories of the weekend would flash through my mind, and I was sure my face would betray me.
When the meeting fi
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Never meant to be The Unexpected Charm of Patrick
IsabellaThe office party wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Sure, the music was a little too loud, and someone had inevitably chosen a playlist that screamed “middle-aged dad at a barbecue,” but the energy was good. People were mingling, the food was decent, and I didn’t have Logan hovering over me like a smug shadow.Logan, of course, was off doing his executive thing—talking to the higher-ups, shaking hands, and charming the pants off everyone. Well, figuratively. I hoped. That left me free to mingle without the constant tension of our... complex relationship. That’s how I ended up chatting with Patrick from IT.Patrick was adorable in a nerdy, bespectacled way. He had an easy smile, a button-up shirt, and a knack for telling stories that were surprisingly captivating. I was drawn to his unassuming demeanor—
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-25Never meant to be A Change in Direction
Isabella -As soon as I got into the car, I could feel Logan’s simmering tension. He didn’t say anything for the first few minutes, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly, his jaw clenched. Finally, he broke the silence.“Are you seriously going on a date with Patrick?” he asked, his tone sharp enough to cut through steel.I bit back a smile, deciding this was too good an opportunity to pass up. “Maybe,” I said, feigning nonchalance. “He might be my type.”Logan glanced at me, his brows furrowing. “Your type? And what exactly is your type?”I turned to him, leaning back in my seat as if I were listing grocery items. “Oh, you know. Nerdy, sweet, and incredibly intelligent. Basically, the complete opposite of you."Logan shook his head, muttering som
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26Never meant to be A Morning of Restraint
Isabella -I stifled a yawn for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, trying not to let my exhaustion show. The coffee on my desk had long gone cold, and my brain was threatening to shut down completely.That’s when Amy waltzed in, practically glowing with excitement. Her heels clicked against the floor as she approached, her smile as wide as her overinflated ego. “Morning, Isabella!” she chirped, her tone unusually sweet—which meant trouble.“Morning,” I mumbled, sipping my lukewarm coffee in a futile attempt to look alert.Amy perched on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs like she was about to deliver earth-shattering news. “You look exhausted,” she said, her eyes sparkling with faux concern. “Didn’t sleep well?”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27Never meant to be A Dinner, a Call, and a Cheater with Roses
Isabella -The day had already tested my patience by the time my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and groaned when I saw my mother’s name. Bracing myself, I answered with a strained “Hi, Mom.”“Isabella, darling, don’t forget about the family dinner tomorrow,” she chirped, her voice far too cheerful for what she was asking me to endure.“Mom, I don’t think I can make it,” I replied, trying to sound regretful rather than desperate. “Work has been insane, and I’m swamped with deadlines. Plus, my boss is... demanding.”“Work will survive without you for one evening,” she countered, her tone firm. “This is important, Isabella. Family is important.”I nearly laughed at the irony. “Family” h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28Never meant to be Exes
Isabella -Once inside, Logan made himself at home, sinking into my sofa as if he owned the place. I scowled at the sight of him lounging like some kind of regal cat.“What’s for dinner?” he asked, his grin infuriatingly charming.“Ramen,” I said, not even attempting to hide my annoyance. “Take it or leave it.”“Oh, I’ll take it,” he said with a wink, watching as I stomped into the kitchen.In a few minutes, I had two steaming bowls of ramen ready. I placed one in front of him and sat across the table, ready to shovel my food down in peace.But Logan had other plans.“I came to talk about Patty,” he said, stirring his ramen.I froze for a moment, my chopsticks hovering midair. “Patty?”“My ex from high school,” he clarified.The name clicked, and I sat back in my chair, a mix of confusion and annoyance swirling in my mind. “Wait a minute—Paris Prescott is Patty?!”He nodded.I groaned, throwing my head back. "Wow! I never would have guessed that. What do you want to talk about regardi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28Never meant to be Jealousy
Logan -The evening felt like one of those mandatory, soul-sucking events where I had to plaster a polite smile on my face and endure the pleasantries for the sake of business. The product launch party was in full swing, the room buzzing with executives, influencers, and a handful of journalists snapping photos.And then there she was: Paris Prescott, or rather Patty.She was poised, glowing under the bright lights, and every bit the picture-perfect model we needed for the campaign. The photographers loved her, their cameras clicking furiously as she posed with the product. I stood back, watching the show, a strange mixture of pride and unease settling in my chest.Once the press cleared out, leaving behind only the VIPs and the less enthusiastic staff, Patty spotted me. Her smile was wide, warm, and practiced. She approached with the grace of someone who knew how to own any room she walked into.“Logan,” she said, her voice smooth and familiar. “It’s been a long time.”I nodded, main
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28Never meant to be An awkward dinner
Isabella -I’m convinced there’s a special circle of hell reserved for awkward family dinners, and I was currently in the middle of it. The table was impeccably set—my mother’s way of showing off—but the atmosphere was anything but polished.It was me, my mother, my stepdad, and Logan. The Perfect Family. Except Logan and I were about as far from siblings as humanly possible.I kept my head low, staring at my plate like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Every so often, I dared a glance at Logan, only to find him perfectly composed, sipping his wine like this was a casual Tuesday night.Meanwhile, my mother was in full “Mom Mode,” harping on about how wonderful it was that Logan and I were “bonding so well as siblings.”I choked on my drink at that one, earning a sharp look from her. “Isabella, are you alright?”“Fine,” I wheezed, avoiding eye contact with everyone at the table.Sibling? Really? I wanted to gag. We were nothing like siblings. If my mother knew even half o
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28Never meant to be Starry night
Isabella -“I wasn't expecting this view,” a throaty, deep masculine voice drawled from the bed.I shrieked, spun around, and instinctively covered my naked form with my arms.“It's a bit late for that, don’t you think?” Logan remarked dryly, cocking one arrogantly slashing eyebrow."What the hell are you doing here?" I screamed."Shhh! You will wake up the entire house." He jumped off the bed and stepped closer, his gaze intense.“What do you want?” I said desperately, a slightly hysterical note in my voice."I….," I just came here to check how you were settling down, but… I can see you're doing just fine," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes."I have to get dressed!" I whimpered."Well, there's nothing I have never seen before," he said with a smirk, making me blush furiously."Just get out, Logan," I said firmly, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach."I'll be waiting outside. Just let me know when you're ready," he said, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer be
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28
Bab terbaru
Never meant to be Epilogue
IsabellaThe city lights shimmered below us, casting a golden glow over the balcony. A gentle breeze carried the distant hum of traffic and the scent of fresh roses from the garden below. It was quiet, peaceful—perfect.I leaned against the railing, watching the world move beneath us, when two strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. Logan’s warmth enveloped me, his chin resting lightly on my shoulder.“You’re staring,” I teased, tilting my head to meet his gaze.“I can’t help it,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my neck. “You’re breathtaking.”A blush crept up my cheeks, but I rolled my eyes playfully. “You say that like you haven’t seen me a thousand times before.”Logan turned me around, his hands framing my face as he studied me with that intense, unwavering focus that always made my heart stutter. “I could see you a million times and still not get enough.”I bit my lip to keep from smiling too wide, but it was useless—he always had this effect on me.“Bes
Never meant to be Everything felt right
IsabellaI never expected to see Logan at my home. But there he was, walking down the garden path like he belonged here, like he had every right to show up after everything.The evening air was warm, carrying the scent of roses and freshly cut grass, but I felt frozen in place on the patio. My fingers curled around the edge of the wicker chair, my heart hammering a little too hard against my ribs.His gaze found mine, unwavering. “Hi.”I swallowed. “Hi.”An awkward pause stretched between us before I found my voice again. “How did you find me?”Logan shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I begged your mother to tell me.”I raised a brow. “She actually told you?”“She made me swear I wouldn’t make things worse.” His lips twitched like he was trying for a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.I exhaled, glancing at the empty chair across from me. “Sit down.”He hesitated only for a second before stepping forward and lowering himself into the seat.“How are you?” he asked,
Never meant to be Fixing things
LoganParis was screaming.Not the kind of dramatic, crocodile-tear crying she used to do when we were together. No, this was full-blown, red-faced, glass-shattering rage.And honestly? I didn’t give a damn.“You ruined me, Logan!” she shrieked, pacing back and forth in my office like a caged animal.“Do you have any idea how many deals I’ve lost because of your stupid lawsuit?”I leaned back in my chair, completely unfazed. “I don’t know, Paris. Maybe as many as Isabella lost when you spread lies about her?”Her jaw clenched. “Oh, don’t give me that moral high ground bullshit. You never cared about her reputation before.”My eyes darkened. “That’s where you’re wrong.”I had let too many things slide in the past. Let Paris manipulate me, let her get away with her games, let her tear people down just because she could. But not this time. Not when it came to Isabella.Paris scoffed, arms crossing. “Do you really think I’m going to let you do this to me? I’ll fight you in court, Logan. I
Never meant to be Some life lessons
Isabella -After a long moment, we finally pulled apart. My mother wiped her eyes quickly, as if embarrassed by her own vulnerability. I let out a shaky breath, still trying to process everything, when she suddenly said, “I’m divorcing Robert.”I blinked. “Wait… what?”She sighed, rubbing her temples. “It was never a real marriage, Isabella. It was always an agreement.” She looked at me, her expression softer now. “And I don’t want to stand in the way of you and Logan.”I stared at her, completely caught off guard. “You don’t have to do that. I mean… I know things between you and Robert were never perfect, but still—”She let out a laugh, shaking her head. “Sweetheart, this isn’t a sacrifice. Trust me, it’s the opposite. I want this.”I frowned. “But why now?”She smiled. “I want to spend some time with myself, maybe even figure out who I am outside of all this. And I want to take care of your grandmother. She’s not getting any younger, and after everything, I think she deserves to ha
Never meant to be Forgivness
IsabellaI felt a lump rise in my throat, but I didn’t interrupt. I needed to hear this, no matter how painful it was.“We fought all the time,” she continued, her voice growing harder. “He would yell, and I would yell back. He accused me of trapping him, of ruining his life. And I… I hated him for it. I hated him for making me feel like I was nothing, like I was a burden. But I stayed because I didn’t know what else to do. I had you, and I thought… I thought I could make it work.”She stopped again, her hands trembling as she wiped at her eyes. “And then he died. It was a car accident—drunk driving. Everyone thought it was so tragic. They pitied me, the young widow with a baby. They called us the perfect couple, the high school sweethearts who never got their happy ending. But they didn’t know the truth. They didn’t know how much I hated him, how much I resented him for everything he put me through.”Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I took a step back, struggling to proc
Never meant to be A name unspoken
IsabellaI froze, my breath catching in my throat. My mother, too, seemed startled. She leaned forward, her perfectly manicured hands clasped tightly in her lap. “Yes, Mom,” she said, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “I’m here.”My grandmother’s eyes searched her face, as if trying to place her in a world that had long since slipped away. “Where’s Matthew?” she asked, her tone almost childlike in its innocence. “Is he coming?”My mother’s expression faltered, just for a second, before she smoothed it over with a practiced smile. “He’s away for work,” she said gently. “But he’ll be back soon.”My grandmother nodded, seemingly satisfied, and closed her eyes again, her grip on my hand loosening as she drifted back into sleep. I stared at my mother, my mind racing. Matthew? Who was Matthew?My grandmother had said it with such familiarity, as if it were a name she had spoken a thousand times.The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the sound of my grandmother’s steady bre
Never meant to be The House of Memories
Isabella -The gravel crunched beneath my feet as I walked up the familiar path to my grandparents’ house. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, a comforting scent that carried me back to summers spent running through the fields, carefree and untouched by the weight of the world. But now, the house stood as a quiet sentinel, its white paint chipped and its shutters slightly askew, as if it too had aged alongside me. I paused at the front steps, my hand resting on the weathered railing, and took a deep breath. This was my refuge now, the only place where I could escape the chaos that had become my life.The key turned with a soft click, and I pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit foyer. Dust motes danced in the slivers of sunlight that filtered through the curtains, and the air was thick with the scent of old wood and forgotten memories. I dropped my bag by the door and let my fingers trail along the wall as I walked further inside. The house was exactly as I remembered i
Never meant to be Confusion
Logan You could practically hear the tension crackling in the air.Amanda froze, her wine glass hanging in mid-air like she had just witnessed a murder. My father’s expression darkened so fast, I thought he might actually explode.My mom, however, looked downright delighted. “Oh, this just keeps getting better,” she mused, looking between them with the kind of joy only found in well-aged revenge.Dad, jaw clenched, exhaled through his nose before muttering, “Logan, this is not the time—”“Oh, I think it is,” I cut in. “You’re really going to sit there and act like you have the moral high ground? After everything?”Dad stood, his eyes locked onto mine, but before he could unleash whatever dramatic speech he had prepared, Mom clapped her hands together again. “Alright, that’s enough of that. Robert, listen to me, and listen well. I do not have the energy to deal with your nonsense. Approve this relationship. Let my son be happy.”Dad didn’t budge. Amanda, who still looked like she regr
Never meant to be Buried Secrets
Logan’s POVI skimmed through the annual report. Sinclair Industries was vast—far more than just the gaming division I managed. My father oversaw several subsidiaries, and while I generally stayed out of his affairs, I made it a point to review the financials at the end of each fiscal year.But something wasn’t adding up.I frowned as I examined the numbers for one of our European acquisitions. A massive loan—hundreds of millions—was taken from a French bank. I hadn’t been informed of this, and given the sheer size of the investment, I should have been.“What the hell is this?” I muttered, flipping through the pages.Derek, who was standing by the window, turned toward me. “Figured you’d notice that.”I shot him a sharp look. “You knew about this?”He shrugged. “Not all the details. Just that your father took a sizeable loan to buy that European company. It’s been under wraps, probably because he didn’t want questions.”I exhaled slowly, my mind running through the implications. My fa
