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CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

Author: Kayiora
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-21 17:38:50

Isabella was flying high. Not only had she woken up in the same bed as the man she could confidently call the sexiest alive, but she'd also gotten a follow from Catherine Fox. Yes, *the* Catherine Fox. The actress. The style icon. The queen of "effortless glam."

She had met Catherine twice before, and Catherine had even asked her for a favor, but this was different. This was a social media validation that everyone could see. A follow from her wasn't just a notification—it was a whole event. Isabella felt like she'd hit a double jackpot.

The morning couldn't get any better. She savored every bit of it, knowing mornings like this don’t come often. Some days, life just decides to be ridiculously good to you.

She smiled to herself as she grabbed her things and headed to work. Today was already shaping up to be one for the books.

At the office, she was relieved to find no whispers or gossip about Paige. It was a sign Seth hadn’t shared what he’d uncovered—something that could have demolis
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  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

    "Guess who brought lunch?" Isabella burst into Seth's office, dramatically posing with her lunch box like she was presenting a game show prize.Seth looked up, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Let me guess. McDonald's?"She rolled her eyes. "Do I look like I'm bringing fast food to the CEO?""Well, you look like you're about to win 'Lunch Presenter of the Year'," he teased, pushing aside his paperwork."Careful," she warned, setting down the lunch box. "Compliment me too much and I might start believing I'm actually good at something."“Something?” Seth laughed. “Is there anything Isabella isn’t good at? I haven’t seen it.”Their conversation was always easy. Comfortable. Like they'd been doing this dance for years, not months.Isabella started unpacking containers. Homemade food, each dish carefully prepared. No takeout. No quick fixes. This was deliberate. Thought out."Wow," Seth said, looking at the spread. "You actually cooked all these for me?"She rolled her eyes. “Is t

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER ONE

    Richard and Isabella pulled up to his parents' grand house. It was their fifth wedding anniversary, but Richard hadn't said a word about it all day. As they got out of the car, Isabella tried one last time to remind him. "Richard," she said softly, "do you know what day it is?" He checked his watch. "It's Friday. Come on, we're already late for the celebration dinner." Isabella's heart sank. He had forgotten completely. She had planned a special dinner at home, but Richard insisted they come to his parents' house instead. Now she was stuck at the last place she wanted to be on her anniversary. "Hurry up," Richard snapped as he strode to the front door. Isabella followed behind, holding back tears. This was not how she imagined celebrating five years of marriage. But she put on a brave face as Richard rang the doorbell, preparing herself for another difficult evening with her in-laws. Isabella's pulse raced as she heard footsteps coming from inside. The door slid wide, showing Mrs

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER TWO

    It wasn't until late at night that Richard entered the room, reeking of alcohol. He threw his clothes across the room before collapsing on the bed. Isabella sat in the dimly lighted room and silently picked up the scattered clothes. As she folded them, she saw a lipstick stain on Richard's shirt collar. Her hands trembled as she turned towards him. "Richard, what's this stain on your shirt?" Richard grumbled and barely lifted his head. "I don’t know, Isabella. I was busy networking all night." Isabella's heart sank. Richard shot her a sharp look. "You know, I was left to socialize alone while you vanished. Where did you go? Did you return without me for some reason you don’t want me to know about?" Isabella's eyes filled with tears. "I stayed at the party for as long as I could but you were nowhere to be seen.” Richard sat up, glaring at her. "You could have at least tried to find me. Instead, you made it seem like you were up to something." Isabella took a shaky breath,

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER THREE

    "Did you just say 'Eliza?'" Her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with shock and dawning horror. Richard’s face turned pale. “Isabella, wait. I can explain.” “Explain what, Richard? That you’ve been fantasising about sleeping with my cou—” Isabella paused, then stared at Richard as if she was trying to read his mind. “Are you sleeping with Eliza?” Richard stared at her without saying a word.“Oh my God! You are sleeping with my cousin.” “I didn’t say that,” Richard replied defensively. “But you didn’t deny it either. Oh God. Richard, that is my cousin.” Isabella’s voice cracked as tears streamed down her cheeks. Richard’s expression hardened into a sneer. “Well, if you could have given me a child, this wouldn’t have happened.” Isabella felt a surge of anger. “You can’t blame me for your infidelity. Our inability to have a child has nothing to do with your philandering dick.” “Isa, watch your tone, don't you dare speak to me in such a tone!” Richard snapped, his voice

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FOUR

    Isabella was heartbroken. She curled up in a corner and cried her eyes out. She couldn't sleep throughout the night. "She was probably a bad person in her former life to deserve this kind of fate," she figured She had been trying to reach Richard for hours, but no one answered. “Richard! Richard!” She called out repeatedly, but no one responded.How much time had passed? It should be evening by now. Wasn't the butler and the housekeeper around? Isabella felt enveloped by an endless darkness. The entire house was eerily silent, like a tomb, like her marriage.Isabella recalled how, over the years, she had obeyed Richard's every wish. Since Richard didn't like her to be in the spotlight, she appeared rarely in public. Richard often said the media were opportunistic and advised her to avoid journalists, so she kept quiet. Richard didn't like her interacting with others, claiming it made him jealous, so she devoted all her time to him.Now, the illusion shattered around her. Richard's co

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIVE

    Isabella stared at Richard, shocked by his harsh tone. "What are you talking about?" she asked, panic in her voice. "I give you my trust, my love, my youth, and even my career, and now you say this to me?"Richard's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Well, I'm not done talking, your family has been taking money from me for years. In your name and if you must leave you have to pay up. You don't believe me? Let's call them."After a revealing phone call with Isabella's brother James, who coldly dismissed her concerns, Isabella's hand shook. She turned to Richard, her eyes blazing with a mix of fury and anguish. "You've turned my own family against me," she whispered. Richard shrugged, seemingly bored with the drama "I merely gave them what they wanted. Money talks, Isabella.""So what now?" she asked, her voice hollow."Do as you're told or repay every cent I've invested in you and your parasitic family."Isabella laughed bitterly. "And where am I supposed to get that kind of money? You

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER SIX

    The steady tapping of fingers on the keyboard filled the quiet office. Seth Donovan the youthful thirty-two-year-old chief executive officer, was acknowledged as one of the most eloquent legal minds in the industry. A soft knock interrupted his focus. “Come in,” he barked without even lifting his head. He was so engrossed in his monitor. The door opened and Edward entered the room dressed in casual clothes; he was Seth’s right hand and a reliable friend. Edward ran a hand through his hair, a habit Seth recognized as a sign of stress. "We've got a situation, Seth. It's about Stone Enterprises." Seth leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening. "Richard Stone. What's he up to now?" Edward dropped a thick file on Seth's desk. "It's worse than we thought.” Seth glanced through the file, his frown becoming more profound with each page. The headlines screamed accusations: "Toxic Work Environment at Donovan Corp," "Top Talent Fleeing Seth Donovan's Sinking Ship." "It gets worse,

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER SEVEN

    Seth was deeply engrossed in reviewing a contract when Edward burst through the door, his usually impeccable appearance dishevelled, tie-crooked. "Seth," he gasped, clutching the doorframe. "You have to see this. Now." Seth looked up from his computer, irritation flickering across his face. “Edward, I'm in the middle of—" "Trust me," Edward cut him off, snatching the remote from Seth's desk. "This is more important." The huge screen on the wall came to life, flooding the room with mayhem. Seth's eyes grew wider as he saw the situation. "Is that..." he asked, springing from his chair. Edward nodded grimly. "Isabella Stone. Richard's wife." Isabella appeared on screen surrounded by reporters, microphones rammed into her face. Her hair was dishevelled and twisted. She wrapped her coat around herself like an armour. The camera draws near and you can see the fear and helplessness when she tries to deal with the interrogative inquiries being thrown at her. One of the

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  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

    "Guess who brought lunch?" Isabella burst into Seth's office, dramatically posing with her lunch box like she was presenting a game show prize.Seth looked up, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Let me guess. McDonald's?"She rolled her eyes. "Do I look like I'm bringing fast food to the CEO?""Well, you look like you're about to win 'Lunch Presenter of the Year'," he teased, pushing aside his paperwork."Careful," she warned, setting down the lunch box. "Compliment me too much and I might start believing I'm actually good at something."“Something?” Seth laughed. “Is there anything Isabella isn’t good at? I haven’t seen it.”Their conversation was always easy. Comfortable. Like they'd been doing this dance for years, not months.Isabella started unpacking containers. Homemade food, each dish carefully prepared. No takeout. No quick fixes. This was deliberate. Thought out."Wow," Seth said, looking at the spread. "You actually cooked all these for me?"She rolled her eyes. “Is t

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

    Isabella was flying high. Not only had she woken up in the same bed as the man she could confidently call the sexiest alive, but she'd also gotten a follow from Catherine Fox. Yes, *the* Catherine Fox. The actress. The style icon. The queen of "effortless glam." She had met Catherine twice before, and Catherine had even asked her for a favor, but this was different. This was a social media validation that everyone could see. A follow from her wasn't just a notification—it was a whole event. Isabella felt like she'd hit a double jackpot.The morning couldn't get any better. She savored every bit of it, knowing mornings like this don’t come often. Some days, life just decides to be ridiculously good to you.She smiled to herself as she grabbed her things and headed to work. Today was already shaping up to be one for the books.At the office, she was relieved to find no whispers or gossip about Paige. It was a sign Seth hadn’t shared what he’d uncovered—something that could have demolis

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

    Richard tripped as he entered the front door and knocked the umbrella stand over. He had his jacket creased and clenched in his hand, his tie was half undone around his neck."Where the hell have you been?" Eliza's voice pierced through the entryway from where she stood at the base of the stairs, her arms crossed so tightly they seemed to be holding her together. "You didn't come home last night. Not a word. Nothing."Richard's bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on her. "Weren't you—" he swayed slightly, "—weren't you supposed to be at some doctor's thing?""Seven hours ago," she spat. "You missed it. Again. Couldn't even be bothered to send a text, could you?"He made a dismissive gesture that nearly threw him off balance. "But you're back now, aren't you? That's what matters." A hollow smile spread across his face. "I'll make it up to you. How about that necklace you were eyeing at Cartier's?""This isn't about jewelry, Richard."Her voice turned cold. "Where the hell have you been?"

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back    CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

    Seth sat for a long time in his car, his hands on the driving wheel. His head heavy from processing everything that had happened so far, he finally turned on the engine and drove home. He pulled into the driveway and found Isabella sitting on his front steps. She saw the fatigue in his movements as soon as he stepped out of the car and stood up. Without a word, she opened her arms.Seth hesitated for just a moment before stepping into her embrace. All the tension he'd been holding finally broke, and he let his head drop to her shoulder."I got you," she whispered, holding him tighter. "It's okay. Everything's going to be okay."They stayed that way for several minutes, Isabella's hand making small circles on his back. When they finally pulled apart, Isabella kept one hand on his arm.Come on," she said softly. "Let's get inside."Inside, the house felt unusually quiet. Seth headed straight for the stairs, exhaustion was evident in every step."I'm going to change," he said, loosening

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

    Paige stumbled out of the restaurant, her whole body trembling. She could feel the scorching sensation of the wire under her blouse. Her legs failed her and she slumped into a concrete barrier, struggling to breathe, immediately she reached the parking lot. David was already listening to the recording through his earpiece so he and Monica hurried to her side."Breathe, Paige," Monica said softly, kneeling beside her. "It's over now.""Did you—" Paige's voice caught. "Did you get what you needed? Please tell me this wasn't for nothing.""We got everything," David confirmed, carefully removing his earpiece. "Multiple admissions of blackmail, detailed accounts of the corporate espionage, even his plans for future theft. He handed us everything we needed."Seth stepped forward from where he'd been leaning against his car. "The security team will be with you to make sure Richard doesn't try anything stupid. Go home, Paige. We'll handle things from here.""Seth, wait." Paige stood on shaky

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

    "Everyone else can go," Seth said quietly. They filed out, shooting mixed looks of anger and pity at Paige as they left. But Isabella remained behind, standing near the door.Paige sat hunched in her chair, tears still streaming down her face. Seth waited until the door closed before speaking again."I meant what I said about helping you," he said. "But I need something from you first."Paige looked up, wiping her eyes. "Anything. I'll do anything to make this right."Seth pulled out his phone. "I'm calling our legal team. We're going to need their help to handle this properly." He paused. "Are you willing to tell them everything? About Richard, the blackmail, all of it?""Yes," Paige whispered.Twenty minutes later, two members of the legal team, David and Monica, arrived. Seth gestured for them to sit."Go ahead, Paige," he said. "Tell them what you told me."Paige took a shaky breath. "It started three months ago. Richard... he got hold of a video from a party. I was drunk, I did s

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FIFTY

    The presentation hall felt different this time. Seth's team sat in the waiting area, each lost in their own thoughts. No one was sharing stories about Dr. Vivian now - they'd been through too much for small talk."Is everyone ready?" Seth asked, though he already knew the answer. They'd spent days perfecting each section."All set," Karen said, gripping her portfolio. The others nodded."Good." Seth stood up. "But I'll be handling the presentation today.""What?" Leo straightened in his chair. "You don’t have—"“Trust me,” Seth said softly. “I know how hard you all have worked, and I’m so grateful for each of you. No matter what happens today, I want you to know you gave it your all. So let me carry the weight this time.”In the presentation room, Richard was waiting with his team. Before they began, he raised his hands to speak.“Go ahead, Mr. Stone.” One of the judges said “I want to apologize in advance,” Richard began. “It looks like we’ve ended up with the same design again. I r

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FORTY NINE

    The light from Kelly's Bar sign shone on Seth's face as he waited outside, checking his watch for the third time. Edward’s Tesla pulled up right on time, bringing a small smile to his tired face. After thirty-two years of friendship, he knew Edward would always come through."You look like death warmed over," Edward said, pulling him into a quick hug."Yeah, well, death would be a vacation right about now."Inside, they claimed their usual corner booth – the same one where they'd planned Seth's first startup pitch nearly a decade ago. Edward ordered his standard club soda with lime while Seth went straight for the whiskey.So," Edward said after their drinks arrived, "what is so urgent it couldn't wait until morning?"Seth took a long sip before answering. "Remember that project I told you about? The one we have been killing ourselves over?""The Tuberose project? Yeah, you mentioned it was a make-or-break for the company.""Well, it broke." Seth's fingers tightened around his glass.

  • Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back   CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

    The presentation hall buzzed with nervous energy as teams filed in, clutching portfolios and tablets like lifelines. Seth's team arrived early, their polished appearances masking the sleepless nights and endless revisions that had brought them here."I'll get us some water," Paige offered, noticing Isabella's hands shaking slightly."Make it vodka," Leo whispered, earning an elbow from Karen. “What? Like we're not all thinking it."Has anyone else noticed how packed it is?" Paige asked, trying to lighten the mood. "I counted at least twelve teams outside.""Thirteen," Karen corrected, smoothing her blazer. "I recognized Jason’s team.”"The ones with the disaster app?" Leo perked up. "Man, that demo crash was epic. Almost made me feel better about my own presentation jitters.""Almost?" Isabella managed a small smile."Yeah, well, when I was a rookie," Leo shook his head at the memory. "It was my first presentation, fresh out of college, thought I knew everything. And guess who was ove

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