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
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
He glanced at me, then away, his tone casual—but I could tell it was forced. “Yes, she was my girlfriend in high school, after all.”The words sliced through the air like a sharp blade. My stomach twisted involuntarily, and I immediately wished I hadn’t asked.“Oh,” I said, doing my best to sound indifferent. “Makes sense, I guess.”Logan rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on the stars above. “It’s not a big deal. We dated back then, and I thought... well, at the time, it felt right to share this place with her.”I nodded, taking another sip of my beer to give myself something to do. “Of course. High school sweethearts and all that.”He winced slightly, as if the term struck a nerve. “That was a long time ago, Isabella. Things change.”I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “I mean, it’s not like I care. You don’t have to explain your teenage romance to me.”Logan tilted his head, watching me with a teasing glint in his eyes. "You are jealous."I almost choked on my beer. “Wha
Isabella's POV: High SchoolThe fluorescent lights of the cafeteria buzzed faintly. I was seated at my usual table near the back, surrounded by my friends, laughing over something trivial, when I saw him. Logan Sinclair.He walked past the row of tables. His laughter carried across the room, and my heart did its usual traitorous flip. I quickly looked down, pretending to be engrossed in the sandwich I wasn’t eating.“Caught you staring again,” my friend Elena teased, nudging me with her elbow.“I wasn’t staring,” I said quickly, though the heat rising to my cheeks betrayed me.“Oh, come on,” she said with a knowing smirk. “When are you finally going to tell Logan you like him?”My friends erupted into giggles, and I shook my head vehemently. “Never,” I said, laughing nervously. “Are you crazy? He’s way out of my league. Besides, he has a girlfriend, remember?”Elena rolled her eyes. “Patty Prescott? Please. That girl is so overrated. You’re way prettier than her, Isabella.”“Yeah,” ch
Isabella -I was engrossed in my work, sorting through reports and emails that needed my attention, when an unusual stir in the office caught my ear.A low murmur spread among the employees, followed by the unmistakable click of high heels on the polished floor. I glanced up, barely registering the commotion, when the figure appeared in my line of sight.She was poised, her stride confident, her designer coat draped effortlessly over her shoulders. Her hair was as perfect as I remembered, falling in sleek waves that framed her face like she had just stepped out of a magazine.Paris Prescott.For a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. My fingers froze above the keyboard as if time itself had stalled. The girl from my high school nightmares was here, in my workplace, and looking every inch the polished professional I had once envied and feared.As if on cue, she turned toward me. Her sharp, assessing gaze scanned the room until it landed on mine.Our eyes locked.Recognition flick
Isabella -I stayed frozen just beyond the threshold of Logan’s office, my hand still resting on the doorknob.Paris turned her head toward me, her perfectly arched brow lifting slightly as if to say, What do you want now? Her lips curved into that infuriatingly smug smile, the same one she’d worn countless times in high school when she knew she had the upper hand.Logan, meanwhile, looked like someone had hit pause on him mid-breath. His tie was slightly askew, the loose knot a glaring detail in an otherwise pristine appearance. Paris’s hand lingered dangerously close to it, and though Logan had stepped back, the scene before me painted a clear picture.“I didn’t realize you were in the middle of something,” I said, my voice calm but edged with steel.Logan immediately shook off whatever trance he’d been in and straightened, his eyes locking onto mine. “Isabella,” he began, taking a step forward. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” I replied, lifting the folder in my hand. “Just bringing the
Isabella I arrived at my desk and sank into my chair, pressing my fingers against my temples to soothe the dull ache building in my forehead. I needed to focus—there were emails to answer, deadlines to meet—but my mind was stuck replaying everything.Before I could spiral further, my phone buzzed on the desk, its ringtone breaking through the haze of my thoughts. I picked it up instinctively, not bothering to check the caller ID.“Hello?”“It’s me,” Grace’s voice came through.“What do you want, Grace?” I said harshly.Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, almost hesitant. “I need to talk to you. Please.”“Why?” My tone had been sharper than I’d planned, but I didn’t care. “What could we possibly have to talk about?”She hesitated, and I could almost hear her gathering the courage to say what she needed. “I know things can’t go back to normal between us, but... I want to apologize, Isabella.”I’d let out a bitter laugh, the sound surprising even me. “I don’t need your apology, Gra
IsabellaGrace smiled across the table, her hands cradling her coffee mug as she spoke. “He proposed two weeks ago, Isabella; it was a beautiful Sunday…” she said, her voice light with excitement.Two weeks ago?My mind started spinning, the timeline clicking into place. Two weeks ago, Carl had shown up at my apartment unannounced, holding a bouquet of roses. Just a day before that proposal, he’d stood in front of me, pleading for another chance. He’d bombarded my phone with messages until I finally blocked him.I couldn’t help it—I laughed. It wasn’t a joyful laugh but a bitter, incredulous sound that made Grace falter mid-sentence. She stared at me, confused.“What’s so funny?” she asked, her tone hesitant.“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “Go on.”Grace hesitated but eventually continued. “I wanted to apologize to you, Isabella, so I could have a clean slate before marrying Carl. I know I’ve hurt you, and I don’t expect you to forgive me, but—”I tuned out her words, her vision
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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