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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY
Isabella stood at her room window, the city lights blurring through her tears. The news played quietly behind her: "Business mogul Richard Stone speaks on reconciliation..."She turned, watching herself on screen - photos from their wedding, their public appearances, all while a panel of experts dissected their marriage."After years together, you can't just erase that connection," a relationship expert said. "Mr. Stone's recent statements show remarkable grace."Social media clips flashed across the screen. Influencers praising Richard's "maturity." Podcasters analyzing his "peaceful approach." Comments flooding in: #RichardAndBella #SecondChancesHer phone buzzed with another notification. A viral video: "Richard Stone opens up about marriage: 'Violence isn't the answer.'"A news alert popped up: "Stone Industries announces major charity initiative for domestic violence survivors.""You absolute bastard," she whispered, watching Richard's practiced concerned expression as he address
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The parking garage was eerily quiet as Isabella waited, her heels clicking against the concrete as she paced. When Seth's car pulled up, she slipped inside without a word, her shoulders tense."Isabella—""Please, I need to get to work." Her voice was tight, controlled.Seth didn't start the car. "I'm pretty sure your boss will understand if you're a few minutes late." He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “From what I hear, he is pretty reasonable.” But his attempt fell flat"Seth...""No, let me finish." He turned to face her. "I was out of line earlier. Calling you... what I implied. That wasn't fair."Isabella stared straight ahead. "You weren't entirely wrong. I am letting him win.""Hey." Seth's voice softened. "Look at me."She turned, meeting his gaze."No, I wasn't right. I was scared." The rawness in his voice made her breath catch. "Scared that he'd hurt you again. Scared that—" He ran a hand through his hair. "God, Isabella, do you have any idea what it does to me seeing
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
The media circus was exactly what you'd expect - all flashing cameras and fake smiles. Isabella walked in wearing that red dress, the one that had been hanging in her closet forever because Richard always said it was "too much." His face when he saw her? Priceless. That little muscle in his jaw twitched while he tried to keep his perfect smile in place."Such an... interesting choice," he'd said through gritted teeth.She just smiled, letting the silence do the work.The divorce papers felt surreal under her fingers. Just a few signatures and it was done. Years of control, manipulation, and pain - all ended with a couple of pen strokes while reporters snapped photos of their "amicable separation."Hey." Seth's voice was gentle as they left the building through a side exit. "You okay?"Isabella nodded, letting out a long breath. "I just... I did it.""You did." Seth smiled. "And you look incredible doing it."A small laugh escaped her. "The dress was worth it just to see his face.""Co
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Isabella's Uber pulled away from Rumors, leaving her alone with her spinning thoughts. Her phone buzzed – Seth. She switched it off.Dawn hadn't even broken when she slipped out of the house, heels in hand to avoid making noise. Seth's door remained closed. Good.Her phone stayed in silent mode all morning. Though she kept stealing glances at the screen. She'd spent the day drowning herself in work, volunteering for every project Karen threw her way. The messages kept coming throughout the day:Seth: Can we talk?Seth: Please.Seth: I'm sorry if I crossed a line.She archived each one without responding, but her finger hesitated longer each time.By evening, her office trash can overflowed with coffee cups, and her inbox was cleaner than it had been in months."Either you're gunning for employee of the month, or you're avoiding something." Karen leaned against her cubicle. "Want to talk about it?""Nothing to talk about." Isabella kept typing, shoulders hunched."Right." Karen's tone
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Isabella's head was pounding when she dragged herself to the kitchen. Between yesterday's coffee marathon at work and the wine she had with Seth's pasta last night, her body was staging a full-scale rebellion. She was looking like she'd gone ten rounds with a tornado. Her hair was sticking up in ways that defied gravity, and her usually crisp blouse looked like it had lost a fight with the dryer. "Coffee," she mumbled, making a zombie-like beeline for the coffee maker. "Need coffee." "Whoa there." Seth appeared out of nowhere, blocking her path. Unlike her, he looked annoyingly perfect in his suit, like he'd stepped straight out of a magazine cover. She swayed slightly, and his hand instinctively reached out to steady her. "Morning," she managed, aiming for normal and missing by a mile. “You look..." "Like death warmed over?" Isabella squinted at him. "Trust me, I know." "I was going to say 'in need of fresh air,' but..." His lips twitched. "Don't." She pressed her f
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
After work that evening, Isabella and Seth were lounging at home. Isabella was sprawled out on the couch, looking over some design concept for their latest projectLooking up from his book. Seth broke the silence after a moment of watching her, "So," he remarked nonchalantly, although his voice had a trace of anxiety. "What are your plans for the weekend?"Isabella looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Plans? For the weekend?" She tapped her pen against her lip, thinking. "Nothing really. Why?" She could tell he was up to something by the way he was trying to act casually.Seth's lips curved into a hopeful smile. "Well, I was thinking maybe we could go somewhere together. What do you say?""Hmm, go somewhere?" Isabella's eyes sparkled mischievously. "You know," she drawled, "I am a very busy person. My weekends are precious to me." She was enjoying watching him squirm a little. "But...I might be persuaded. If you ask properly, that is."Seth's whole face lit up. He moved closer, his knee br
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Isabella sat cross-legged on her bed, her phone propped against her knees as she scrolled through Catherine Fox's Instagram. Each photo was more flawless than the last - Catherine at premieres, Catherine at charity galas, Catherine on vacation in the Maldives. Her figure was perfect in every shot, all elegant lines and graceful poses.“God, even her casual photos look like magazine covers," Isabella muttered, clicking through more pictures. "Look at that waistline...and those legs..." She flopped back against her pillows with a groan. "Who even looks like that at breakfast? She is so perfect.”Isabella glanced down at herself, then back at the phone. "What am I even doing?" she muttered, tossing her phone aside. She got up and stood in front of her closet mirror, really looking at herself. Her reflection stared back - the same face she had seen every morning, but somehow different now. Her wardrobe suddenly seemed...lacking"This is ridiculous," she told her reflection. "I am not doin
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER 27Seth stood in his office, studying the certificate on his desk. He'd waited for this moment - planned it, even. His fingers traced the embossed seal as his assistant hovered in the doorway."The papers arrived at 3:47 PM, sir," he said. "Would you like me to have them messengered to Miss Rivera?""No." Seth slipped the documents into a leather portfolio. "Clear my evening meetings."Walking into his house later, Seth found Isabella exactly where he expected - curled up on his couch with her laptop, immersed in her latest design project. She didn't look up immediately, focused on adjusting the structural elements on her screen. Nobody takes their job more seriously than someone who has a lot to prove. You're home early," she said, fingers still across the keyboard."I am." He set his briefcase down carefully, keeping the portfolio behind his back. "Could you take a break?"Something in his tone made her look up. "Seth? Is everything okay?""More than okay." He approached sl
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Regrets 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,
Regrets 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
Regrets 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
Regrets 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
Regrets 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
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
