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CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR
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2024-11-20 15:37:06
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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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-21Regrets 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-21Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
Richard sat in his study. He leaned back in his chair, one hand massaging his temple while the other clutched a glass of water. His head throbbed, the fresh stitches pulling every time he moved. He glared at the water, clear and tasteless – a poor substitute for what he really wanted. His eyes drifted to the cabinet in the corner where he kept his scotch, eighteen years old and smooth as silk. The bottle stood there, taunting him"Try to stay away from alcohol while this heals," the doctor had said just yesterday, looking between him and Eliza. "Both of you need rest." Richard had nodded along, but now, with his head pounding like someone was using it as a drum, that promise seemed impossible to keep. He took another sip of water and made a face. Might as well have been drinking nothing.The painkillers sat on his desk, still in the pharmacy bag from last night. They helped with the pain, yeah, but they made his brain feel like it was stuffed with cotton. The scotch... now that would
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-22Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
The private room at Circa was exactly what Victoria Stone needed - intimate enough for secrets, but public enough to keep things civil. She watched Catherine walk in, noting how her confident stride faltered slightly upon seeing her."Mrs. Stone," Catherine said, smoothing her designer dress as she sat down. "When your assistant called, I must admit I was... intrigued."Victoria smiled, the kind of smile that never quite reached her eyes. "Please, call me Victoria. We're all friends here." She gestured to the waiter. "The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1945.”Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Expensive taste.""Only the best for important conversations." Victoria waited until the waiter poured their wine and left before continuing. “You know, I saw you with Seth last month at Le Chaumiere. You two made quite the striking pair."Catherine's face remained neutral, but her fingers tensed around the stem of her glass. "That was nothing. Just business.""Business?" Victoria took a sip. "Is that w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-22Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY NINE
This morning was one of those times for Isabella, when everything felt unbearable, like the world was pressing down on her. She dragged herself down the stairs, her body heavy, as if she were carrying rocks in her pocket.Isabella was having one of the worst mornings of her life, it was one of those times for Isabella, when everything felt unbearable, like the world was crashing down on her. She dragged herself down the stairs, her body heavy, as if she were carrying the problems of the whole world. If she were her own boss, she would have stayed in bed and avoided the day altogether. But that was not her reality. She had no choice, regardless of how she felt—whether her world was crumbling or her spirit was breaking. As long as she was breathing and not confined to a hospital bed or on her annual leave, the expectation was clear: be there, and not just be there—exceed as if nothing was wrong.Seth was in the kitchen, already dressed and waiting. His coffee steamed beside him as he w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-23Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SIXTY
Isabella pushed open the front door, her head pounding from last night's drinks. She froze when she saw Seth in the living room, still in yesterday's clothes, looking like he hadn't slept at all.“Finally decided to come home?" His voice was cold as ice.Isabella winced, both from her hangover and his tone. “I didn’t know you were keeping tabs on me now.”“Tabs? I live here, remember? Hard not to notice when you didn’t come home all night.”“Last I checked, I don’t owe you a play-by-play of my life,” Isabella crossed her arms, ignoring how the room swayed slightly."No?" Seth stood up, holding out his phone. "Then explain why when I called—concerned, by the way — a man answered your phone at two in the morning?""That's none of your—"“My business?” he cut in. ”Isabella, you spent yesterday accusing me of something—still don't know what—then disappeared to spend the night with another man.""Another man?" Isabella let out a sharp laugh. "It was Leo. Or are you going to pretend you don
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-24Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SIXTY ONE
Seth pulled up to his mother's house, checking his phone one more time before heading in. Ten missed calls from Isabella. He sighed, pocketing the phone as he walked to the door."There you are!" His mother's voice came from the kitchen. "I was starting to worry.""I’m sorry," Seth called back, following her voice. "Traffic was—"He stopped short in the doorway. His mother wasn't alone. A young woman about his age stood at the counter, wiping down the surface with a dishcloth."Traffic was terrible," he finished, shooting his mother a questioning look."Well, you're here now." His mother wiped her hands on her apron. "Would you help set the table? We can talk after dinner."Seth's phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen – Isabella."Something important?" his mother asked."Just work," he lied, sliding the phone back into his pocket. "Where are the plates?""Same place they've been for twenty years, honey." His mother gestured to the cabinetAs he reached for the stack of plates,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-24Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SIXTY TWO
"Somewhere more comfortable than the stairs?" Isabella echoed, letting Seth guide her up the remaining steps. Her hand felt small in his, but their fingers interlocked perfectly. At the top of the stairs, she turned to face him. "I should probably clean up first. I must look terrible."Seth's thumb brushed across her cheek. "You never look terrible.""Liar." She smiled despite herself. "I've been crying for God knows how long.”“You’re always attractive to me," Seth said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Even with mascara tracks down your cheeks."Isabella stepped closer, her hands sliding up his chest. "Prove it."His eyebrows rose. "Prove it?""Mm-hmm." She began undoing his tie with deliberate slowness. "Unless you'd rather do something else..."Seth caught her hands in his. "You are trouble.""You like trouble." She freed one hand to trace his jawline. "And I really do need that shower.""Isabella—"She was already walking backward toward the bathroom, pulling hi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-25
Bab terbaru
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN
The hotel staff greeted them with practiced elegance, whisking their luggage away as a manager personally escorted them to their suite."Mr. Donovan, everything has been arranged as requested," the manager said discreetly, handing over their key cards.Isabella raised an eyebrow at Seth, “Everything is arranged?...What did you do?”Seth just shrugged and kept smiling mysteriously.Once in their suite, Isabella gasped at the panoramic city views. "Seth, this view is incredible.""I know that's why I picked this room. I also have dinner reservations at La Casa Elegante for eight," he said, watching her explore the luxurious space. "It's one of the best restaurants in Mexico City.""I'm pretty tired," Isabella hesitated, then smiled. "But a Michelin-star restaurant? That might be worth staying up for."Seth checked his phone quickly - another message from his mother confirming the final details with Rosa. Everything was falling into place. He planned to introduce Isabella to Rosa after d
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX
"Seth Donovan, what are you up to?" Isabella asked, watching him pack their suitcases with an air of mystery. They were leaving for Mexico City in the morning, and he didn't want Isabella to get a whiff of where they were going, but she was suspicious about how he had been acting. She knew they were travelling but didn't know where."Just trust me," he replied with a grin, carefully tucking something into a hidden compartment of his suitcase when he thought she wasn't looking.Isabella narrowed her eyes playfully. "I saw that.""No, you didn't," he said smoothly, closing the suitcase. "And even if you did, it's still a surprise."She hopped on top of their bed, watching him walk around the room. "I am tired of surprises, I don't think I can take anymore. Out with it please,”"Relax, you will like this one," he promised, pausing to kiss her forehead before pulling out a black silk blindfold "Put this on," Seth said with a mischievous smile.Isabella stared at it suspiciously. "You're
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE
The drive home from the Riverside Hotel was quiet, Isabella staring out the passenger window, the envelope clutched in her lap. Seth kept glancing at her, wanting to say something but knowing she needed this silence to process everything.When they pulled into their driveway, they spotted Edward sitting on their front steps. He stood as they approached, his usual easy smile fading as he caught sight of Isabella's tear-stained face behind her sunglasses."Hey, boss," he said to Seth, then more gently to Isabella, "Everything okay?"Isabella attempted a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Not really.""Come inside," Seth said, unlocking the door. "We'll explain everything."They settled in the living room, Isabella curling up in her favorite corner of the couch, still holding the envelope like a lifeline. Seth brought her a glass of water before sitting beside her."I've been trying to reach you at the office," Edward said to Seth, his tone concerned. "When you weren't there for th
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR
James pulled out his phone. "I can call them. Set something up for tomorrow, if you want." Isabella nodded slowly. "Tomorrow then." She looked at Seth. “Is that okay with you?" "Of course," he assured her. James stood, wiping his face one final time. "I'll let them know. And Izzy?" He hesitated at the doorway. "Thank you. For listening. For giving me a chance to explain." After he left, Isabella collapsed against Seth, finally allowing her tears to fall. "All these years," she whispered. "I thought I must have done something terrible to make them hate me so much. And it turns out...it turns out I just wasn't theirs." Seth held her tighter, his voice fierce. "You are worth so much more than their prejudices, Isabella. So much more than their narrow definition of family." She nodded against his chest, then straightened, wiping her eyes. The Rivera’s dining room felt too small, too intimate for the weight of the moment. Isabella strode in, her heels clicking against the fl
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE
Seth's overly large living room felt smaller with James in it. Isabella sat rigidly on the couch, watching her brother pace back and forth. The silence between them was heavy with years of hurt."Izzy," James finally began, using her childhood nickname. "I've been trying to reach you for weeks.""I know." Her voice was flat, controlled."I saw everything on the news. The Stone case, Victoria's death..." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "It made me think about a lot of things. About what I did. About who I became."Isabella remained silent, her hands clasped tightly in her lap."I was wrong," James continued, his voice cracking. "So wrong. When Richard offered me money..." He shook his head. "I convinced myself that you were the one who was wrong. That you weren't living up to his expectations.""Expectations," Isabella repeated softly. "What kind of expectation requires a man to beat his wife to a pulp, lock her up for days, sleep with her cousin, and talk down on her consta
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO
The common room of the women's correctional facility was quiet except for the droning of the television. Victoria Stone sat alone; her greying hair pulled back severely, her prison uniform neat despite its wear. Her eyes were fixed on the screen where her son's face filled the frame."Breaking news," the anchor announced. "Richard Stone, once considered untouchable, has been sentenced today. The business mogul faces forty years before the possibility of parole..."Victoria's hands began to shake. The paper cup of coffee she held slipped from her fingers, spreading a dark stain across the linoleum floor. No one moved to help her clean it up."My boy," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Oh, my Richard."The news showed footage of him being led away in handcuffs, and Victoria pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs. She saw what others might miss - how he held his head, just like his father used to. The same proud tilt of the chin, even in defeat."I taught him that,"
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE
Frederick stood at the podium, his earlier confidence now radiating through the courtroom. "Your Honor, I'd like to call Special Agent Tara Winters to the stand."A sharp-featured woman in a crisp jacket strode to the witness box. After being sworn in, she met Richard's gaze unflinchingly."Agent Tara, please tell the court about the Operation.""For three years, we tracked Mr. Stone's network of influence. I was in charge of cracking codes, following the trail and everything techy. We got encrypted USB drives detailing payoffs to judges, politicians, and law enforcement officials across five states; we got videos of Richard's trafficking of human, arms and drugs, which were labelled as medical supplies." Frederick collected all the said evidence and handed them to the bailiff.Richard's face was drained of color. He had always been too careful, but Louis and his team had somehow gotten to the root of his operations.Next came Marcus Reynolds, one of Richard's former enforcers; he jus
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
Isabella, Seth, Louis, and Frederick gathered in a little corner out of sight during the break. There was enough tension in the room for a knife to pierce it. Isabella paced while her heels clicked on the ground. "I do not like this," she said, running her hands through her hair. "Barrett is too confident. What if Richard actually walks free?"Frederick leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "That's exactly what I want them to think."Seth raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?""I'm playing dumb," Frederick explained, his eyes gleaming. "Let them attack our evidence. Let them think they're winning. They have no proof of Richard's innocence - not a single piece. But me?" He tapped his briefcase. "I'm just getting started."He turned to Louis sharply. "Tell me you collected everything by the book. We can't have any of it thrown out on technicalities."Louis shifted uncomfortably. "About that evidence...There's something else you should know," he said, his voice
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN
“Take this and deliver it to my son,” Victoria said, more as a command than a request.“Ma…” his objection was cut short by Victoria's steely gaze and commanding presence that left no room for argument.Barrett carefully folded Victoria's letter and tucked it into his briefcase. Her intensity was unchanged, even behind bars - she was a woman who always found a way to exert control.Two days later, Richard sat in his cell, looking like a shell of his former self. “Your lawyer is here to see you,” the guard announced as he banged on the gate rails of Richard's cell“Richard, it's nice to see you, how are you holding up?” Barret asked although he already knew the answer to that one just by looking at him. He tried talking to Richard about their court hearing happening the next day, but he seemed lost and resigned, so Barrett resorted to his last option. He discreetly handed him the letter his mother had written.“What's this?” Richard asked uninterested“Something from your mother, She
