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CHAPTER NINETY THREE
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2024-12-28 22:56:30
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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER NINETY FOUR
The pancakes were half-eaten on their plates when Seth's hand found hers across the table. His thumb traced slow circles on her palm, sending tingles up her arm. He still had this effect on her. One touch and she was a goner."So..." His voice was low and Isabella found herself leaning forward unconsciously, drawn to him like she always had been. "I think I owe you something."“What's that?" Isabella's voice came out breathier than she meant it to. God, why couldn’t she control herself when he was around her? This man has her completely under his spell "I'm sorry." She became aware that she was out of breath when his eyes met hers. "I apologise for fleeing. I apologise for not being there for you when you most needed me." She saw his throat twitch as he swallowed forcefully. "Every single day I regret it.""Hey," she called out softly, squeezing his hand. Her heart was beating so loud she was sure he could hear it. "Your action was expected. I didn't communicate when I needed to and
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-29Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER NINETY FIVE
Tara's head was pounding. Her mouth felt like sandpaper, and something way too bright was hitting her face. Groaning, she rolled over to escape the light, only to bump into something solid and warm.Her eyes snapped open."Shit," she whispered, heart racing as she stared at Louis's sleeping face just inches from hers. Her brain frantically pieced together fragments from last night - the laptop, the whiskey he'd pulled out when coffee wasn't cutting it anymore, laughing about something stupid, and then..."Oh shit," she muttered again, lifting the covers slightly. Yep. Definitely naked. Both of them.She let her head fall back against the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut. Maybe if she just lay very still, this wouldn't be real. Maybe she could just—Louis shifted beside her, his arm brushing against hers. Her eyes flew open again as she felt him freeze."Um," he said eloquently, voice rough with sleep."Don't look at me," Tara blurted out, yanking the sheet up to her chin. "Just...don't
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER NINETY SIX
Richard Stone wasn't a man who panicked easily, but watching the Bloomberg ticker scroll across his office screen made his stomach churn. Stone Enterprises stock was haemorrhaging value with each passing hour. His phone hadn't stopped ringing since the market opened."Another one," his assistant called from the doorway. "Peterson Group is demanding an immediate conference call." "Tell them to wait,” Richard barked, standing abruptly. “I need Langston in my office right now.” Five minutes later, Harold Langston shuffled in, looking exactly as he had for the past thirty years - slightly rumpled suit, wire-rimmed glasses, carrying that same battered leather portfolio he'd had since Richard was a boy. The man was pushing seventy, but his mind was still razor-sharp. He had to be, to have survived this long in the Stone family's orbit."Quite the morning," Langston remarked mildly, settling into his usual chair. He pulled out a handkerchief and cleaned his glasses, a habit Richard had wat
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-02Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN
The next seventy-two hours played out like some twisted corporate thriller. Richard watched it all unfold from the corner of his office, powerless to stop the dominoes from falling. The SEC agents didn't just raid one floor - they swept through the building like a virus, downloading hard drives, boxing up files, interviewing anyone who'd talk. Poor Barrett looked like he'd aged ten years in three days, running between conference rooms with his tie perpetually crooked.Victoria, though - she was something else entirely. While everyone else scrambled, she moved through the chaos like a shark through bloody waters. Richard watched her orchestrate their defense with the precision of a conductor. Every leaked document seemed to have a counter-narrative ready. Every accusation met with a carefully crafted response. She even managed to turn the protests into a PR opportunity, sending down coffee and doughnuts to the "concerned citizens exercising their constitutional rights."Old Langston pr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-03Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT
Louis stared at the ground, his throat tight. The words he'd been fighting all night finally escaped: "I hate to admit this," Louis said, his voice barely above a whisper, "but I'm actually scared. This isn't like her at all. Tara's methodical, cautious. She wouldn't just..." He trailed off, running both hands through his already disheveled hair."There must be someone we can call," Seth suggested. "A family member? Friend? Someone who knows more about her personal life?"Louis let out a bitter laugh. "That's the thing - I've known her for months, worked closely with her, and now..." He shook his head. "I realize I don't know a damn thing about her personal life. She's always been private, but I never pushed. I should have—""Her personnel file," he said suddenly, straightening up. "It would have emergency contacts, next of kin..." His face fell as quickly as it had lit up. "But I've been suspended. Getting access might be... complicated."Isabella stepped forward, breaking free from
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-04Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER NINETY NINE
When they pulled up to Seth’s house, he stepped out and opened the front door, motioning for Louis to follow. “Come on, everything’s in the out-of-bounds room. Stuff from old jobs.”“Barcelona? Las Vegas?” Louis asked, stepping inside.Seth turned and shot him a sly smile. “Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?”“Probably because you won’t.” Seth grinned over his shoulder as he led Louis down the hallway. Isabella trailed behind, still scrolling on her phone. “Sarah loves over-preparing. She once sent me into a gala dressed like James Bond when all I needed to do was drop off an envelope.”Louis stopped short, raising an eyebrow. “Are you serious?“Dead serious. But guess what? The envelope wasn’t even opened because my ‘look’ convinced them I was too important to mess with. That’s Sarah for you.”Seth pushed open the door to the room, revealing a collection of garment bags, shoeboxes, and neatly folded clothes laid out on the bed. Louis raised an eyebrow. “This looks more li
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-05Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER HUNDRED
Louis adjusted his glasses for the hundredth time as he stood beside Sarah at the gallery entrance, watching the well-heeled crowd filter in. The suit felt uncomfortably perfect, like a second skin he hadn't quite grown into yet."Stop overthinking it," Sarah murmured, effortlessly balancing a champagne flute while nodding to passing guests. "You look fine.""Easy for you to say," Louis whispered back. Sarah was the picture of elegance in a deep burgundy dress that somehow managed to look both expensive and understated. "You actually belong here."She shot him a sideways glance. "Nobody belongs here. That's the secret. Half these people are trying just as hard as you are to look like they fit in." She smiled warmly at an elderly couple passing by. "Mrs. Benedict! How lovely to see you."Louis watched as Sarah seamlessly shifted into conversation with the couple, her laugh genuine, her gestures natural. He had to admit, she was good. Really good."And this," Sarah turned slightly, incl
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-06Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE
*Earlier...*"I can not believe we are actually doing this," Isabella said, staring at the sleek helicopter perched on the private landing pad. She turned to Seth, eyebrows raised. "I know I keep asking, but what other secrets are you keeping? A submarine? A time machine?"Seth laughed as he moved through his pre-flight checklist. "Come on, a gentleman never reveals all his secrets at once. Where's the fun in that?""Oh, now you are a gentleman?" Isabella bumped his shoulder playfully, then leaned in to peer at all the instruments. "But seriously, you actually know how to fly this thing? Like, for real?""Would I offer if I did not?" He reached up and flipped a switch, the rotors slowly whirring to life. "Some kids got cars for their sweet sixteen. I got flying lessons.""Of course you did." Isabella rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. "Just casually learned to fly helicopters as a teenager. Total rich boy move.""Hey," Seth protested, "you are not complaining now that we need it,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-07
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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
