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CHAPTER NINE
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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TEN
Before Isabella could respond, her father cut in, his face reddening with anger. "Have you lost your mind, girl? After everything we told you, you dare to ignore our orders and parade around town?” Isabella felt a familiar wave of anxiety wash over her, the old instinct to shrink and apologize rising within her. As she looked at Seth standing next to her she felt a new ironclad determination that hardened her gut. “I am having dinner with my lawyer,” Isabella said firmly, even though her hands were shaking. James laughed outright and settled back in his chair, grinning. "Your lawyer? Is that what they're calling it these days? How much did you pay him to be seen with you in public?" Seth leaned closer to Isabella, speaking in a low voice, "Isabella, who are these people?" Isabella's face tightened with tension as she whispered back, "They're my family.” Seth's eyebrows raised slightly, but he maintained his composure. Addressing the group, he said, "Good evening. I'm Seth Donovan
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Instead, she took a deep breath and met Seth's gaze. "You know, I have spent so long trying to please everyone else, I'm not even sure what I want anymore."Seth's voice was warm as he replied, "That is okay. You have taken the first step by standing up for yourself. The rest will come in time."Isabella nodded, then let out a small, rueful laugh. "Time. That is something I am not sure I have much of right now."Seth tilted his head, a question in his eyes.Isabella hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I left Richard in such a hurry, I...I do not even have a place to stay tonight. No savings, nothing."Seth's expression softened with concern. "Isabella, why didn’t you say something earlier?"She shrugged, looking away. "I guess I'm not used to asking for help. Or maybe I was just trying to pretend everything was under control."Seth was quiet for a moment, then said, "I have an extra apartment in town. It's nothing fa
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER TWELVE
The doorbell's chime caught Isabella mid-shower. She quickly wrapped a towel around herself, grabbed another for her dripping hair, and hurried to the door. "Just a minute!" she called out, struggling to secure the towel properly. When she opened the door just enough to peek out, she found Seth juggling several shopping bags and boxes. His eyes widened slightly at her appearance before he quickly averted his gaze. "I'd have called first, but I realized I don't have your number," he said, studying the ceiling with sudden interest. Isabella felt her cheeks flush. "Sorry! I was just... Let me throw something on real quick!" “Take your time," Seth called after her. "Though fair warning – I brought coffee and breakfast, and they're both staging a protest against getting cold!" Two minutes later, Isabella emerged in her old clothes, toweling her hair dry. "I'm so sorry about that. I wasn't expecting..." Her voice trailed off as she took in all the bags and packages Seth had arr
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"That's enough!" Karen's sharp voice cut through the whispers like a knife. Isabella turned to see her standing in the doorway, her expression thunderous. They scattered like startled birds, but Karen's commanding "Stay right there!" froze them in place. "If you ladies have enough time to speculate about your new colleague's personal life," Karen's distinct tone rang out, "I'm sure we can find some more productive uses for your billable hours. Perhaps the Miller presentation that was due an hour ago?" Jane flushed red. "We're just finalizing the renderings now, Karen. There were some technical issues with—" "Technical issues?" Karen arched an eyebrow. "Fascinating. And these technical issues required a gathering in the printer room to discuss someone’s personal life?" "We didn't mean—" Tracy started to say. "To get caught?" Karen finished for her. The younger woman crumbled under her stern gaze. Karen's eyes swept over them, her disappointment palpable. "I expected better f
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Isabella patted her face dry, a smile forming as she shook her head at the knock on the door "Did you forget something?" she called out, walking toward the door. "You know, you have my number now. You could've just—"The words died in her throat as she opened the door. Richard stood there, his familiar smirk sending ice through her veins."Expecting someone else?" His voice dripped with mockery. "So this is what you do now? Gallivanting around with other men? No wonder you couldn't make our marriage work."Isabella's fingers tightened on the doorframe. "How did you find where I live?""Please." Richard's laugh was sharp. "This town is too small for you to hide from me.""I'm not hiding," Isabella said, proud that her voice didn't waver. "I'm starting fresh."Richard's face twisted, clearly expecting her usual retreat, her familiar pattern of shrinking before him. When she didn't, his eyes narrowed. "What's wrong? Your new boyfriend gives you a backbone?""Is your new family not enoug
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"No," Isabella said softly, pulling away from Seth's embrace. "I can't accept that." Seth frowned. "Isabella—" "You've already done too much," she cut in, wrapping her arms around herself. "The job, this apartment... I can't keep taking from you." "Taking?" Seth's eyebrows shot up. "Is that what you think this is?" "What else would you call it?" She looked away. "Your kindness is becoming scary. Is this what you do for all your clients?“ Seth's laugh was short, almost frustrated. "Right, because I regularly offer my home to random clients." He ran a hand through his hair. "Look, if you won't come to my house, then I guess I'm moving in here." Isabella's head snapped up. "What?" "You heard me." He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "If the mountain won't come to Muhammad..." "You're insane," Isabella whispered, shaking her head. "You can't just—" "Watch me." His voice was light but his eyes were serious. "I'm not leaving you alone after what just happened. So
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Richard held up the morning paper with satisfaction, pouring another glass of his finest scotch. "Corporate espionage makes such delicious headlines."Mrs Stone sat straighter in her armchair, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Finally teaching that ungrateful girl her place. She's done for.""The board at Donovan’s won't keep her after this," Eliza added from the sofa, hands resting on her slight bump. Her lips curved into a practiced pout. "But darling, what if she doesn't get the message from this? She's got that thing backing her now.""Please," Richard scoffed, scanning the headlines again:"STONE CORP CEO SUES WIFE FOR CORPORATE THEFT""SOCIETY WIFE CAUGHT STEALING COMPANY SECRETS.”"DONOVAN CORP EMBROILED IN ESPIONAGE SCANDAL""Isabella can barely order coffee without apologizing. You really think she'll testify in court? I give her three days before she's back here, begging for mercy." He smiled, remembering how she used to flinch at his raised voice, how easily she
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Seth watched the black sedan in his rearview mirror, three cars back. Amateur. He'd noticed it tailing him since he left the office.Seth slowed down and pulled into the parking lot of Elite Cuts. He made sure the dark sedan followed before parking near the entrance. Getting out of the car, he pretended to check his phone as he strolled inside, knowing full well that his “guest” was still watching.Inside, Seth waited just long enough to see the man step out of the sedan, looking nervous as he glanced around before heading toward Seth’s car. Seth leaned against the wall near the entrance, observing through the shop’s tinted windows. The man crouched down near the rear of Seth’s car, fiddling with something under the bumper.A tracker.PerfectWhile pretending to browse hair products, Seth discreetly snapped a photo of the man through the window. He fired off a quick text to his head of security: Need background check ASAP. Likely Stone's guy.Seth waited fifteen minutes, then walked
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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
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
