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CHAPTER SIXTY NINE
Last Updated:
2024-12-04 16:05:27
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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY
Isabella’s head snapped up at that, eyes wide despite the tears. "No!" The word came out more desperate than she intended, making Seth freeze. His arms were still wrapped protectively around her, but she could feel the tension running through him."Baby—""Seth, please." She clutched at his shirt harder, not caring that she probably looked like a mess. "You can not."Those gorgeous eyes of his darkened with anger – not at her, never at her – but at everyone who dared to hurt her. "Izzy, they are attacking you. I can not just—""Yes, you can," she whispered. "You have to. Please." Her voice cracked on the last word. "I have been through this before. Fighting back...it just feeds the fire. Makes everything worse."God, the way he looked at her. Like it physically hurt him to see her like this. Like he would move heaven and earth just to make it stop. “I hate that you have to go through this. I am so sorry,” he whispered, pulling her close. The way she shook against him made his chest a
Last Updated : 2024-12-05Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE
"Okay, that's it!" Seth said, picking up the dinner plates. "You guys have been here for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. I love you all, but I need some alone time with my girlfriend."Isabella felt her face get hot. Like, seriously Seth? Edward grinned from his chair. "Aw come on, there is no such thing as overstaying when it is family!" He stretched out dramatically. "Actually...maybe I should just grab my bags and move in. How about that?"Seth looked like he was about to smack him, and Edward ducked away laughing. “Alright, alright! I am leaving.”Isabella bit her lip to hold back a laugh, but her amusement faded when she caught Seth watching her mouth. The heat in his gaze made her breathe catch.Diana saved her from spontaneously combusting by pulling her into a goodbye hug. "I enjoyed our time together," she murmured. "Next time, better circumstances?"She nodded, grateful for her warmth. It was nice having someone who felt like a mother. "Yeah, I would love that."Diana gave he
Last Updated : 2024-12-06Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO
Isabella stood in front of the company apartment door, her heart practically trying to jump out of her chest. Seth had gotten a call right as they pulled into the parking lot, and the look he gave her clearly said, go ahead without me. Which was great. Because walking in there alone wasn't terrifying at all.Her palms were sweaty, and she found herself thinking about turning back, waiting for Seth. The uncertainty of what awaited her behind this door was eating her alive. But no—she was a big girl. She could handle this. You're tough, she told herself, the internal pep talk a lifeline against her rising nerves.She kept second-guessing herself, her hands moving toward the door, then retreating. Back and forth. Come on, Isabella. Just knock.Finally, she did. Not a timid little tap that screamed uncertainty, but not a aggressive slam either. Just a solid three-knuckle rap that said exactly what she was feeling: I'm here. And I'm serious.For a moment, nothing. Then shuffling. The sound
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE
Isabella's hands trembled as she gathered her presentation materials, her mind replaying Mr. Harrison's words over and over: "Excellent presentation, though I must say...the recent publicity is...concerning."The conference room felt too big now that everyone had left. Too quiet. Like the silence was just waiting to be filled with all the thoughts she'd been pushing away."Hey." Seth's voice was soft behind her. "You were incredible in there."She couldn't turn around. Couldn't look at him. For if she did, she was going to cry— and she had grown so weary of crying. "Thanks," she managed, shoving papers into her folder with shaking hands."Izzy." His hand touched her shoulder, and god, it hurt how much she wanted to lean into that touch. "Talk to me.""I can't." Her voice cracked. “Because if I start talking, I will start thinking, and if I start thinking—’ She gasped and put her hand to her chest as if to restrain herself.""Then think," he said quietly. "Whatever it is, we can figure
Last Updated : 2024-12-08Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR
“Wear something that makes you happy," Seth's text read. Isabella stared at her closet, clothes scattered across her bed like evidence from a fashion crime scene. Four outfit changes and two minor meltdowns later, she still could not decide what to wear. Everything felt wrong.Her phone buzzed again.Seth: Stop overthinking itSeth: I can literally feel you overthinking from hereSeth: You could show up in sweats and I would still think you are the most beautiful person I have ever seenIsabella smiled despite herself, typing back:Isabella: Sweats it is thenSeth: Don't you dareSeth: I mean you would look amazing but I have PLANS womanIsabella: Oh so NOW you are dress coding me? 🤨Seth: I plead the fifthSeth: But also please hurry I miss your faceShe caught herself grinning at her phone like an idiot. God, when did she become this person? This stupidly, ridiculously happy person who smiled at text messages?The emerald dress caught her eye - the one she had bought months ago an
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE
There's a special kind of poison that comes with sudden wealth – the kind that seeps into your bones and rewrites your DNA until you can't remember who you used to be. The Riveras had tasted that poison the day Richard Stone married their daughter, and they'd been addicted ever since.It wasn't just about the money, though God knows Richard had plenty of that. It was about belonging to a world they'd only glimpsed through magazine pages and reality TV shows. About trading their cramped apartment for a house in the right neighborhood, their off-the-rack clothes for designer labels, their mundane problems for sophisticated ones.Richard had given them everything they'd ever dreamed of, and all it cost was their souls.Even after everything Richard had done—things that should would have destroyed lesser families – the Riveras didn't crumble. They polished. They positioned. They smiled wider, laughed louder, clinked champagne glasses with even more enthusiasm.Their daughter's broken hear
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX
Desperation, Isabella had learned, looked different from the outside. For her parents, it was the frantic attempts to cling to Richard Stone's world. To her, it was the daily work of rebuilding a self that had been carefully dismantled, piece by painful piece.They were both fighting for survival. Just in very different ways.Her mother would scheme. Her father would negotiate. They would do anything to maintain the illusion of the life they'd grown accustomed to. But Isabella? She was done with illusions.Some days, survival felt like a middle finger to everything that tried to break her. A silent "fuck you" to the world that thought it could define her, box her in, tell her who she was supposed to be. Each small "no" was a revolution. Each boundary was a battle won.Growth wasn't about winning. It was about people choosing their own lives – their hopes, their dreams, their fears and doubts – time and time again even when the whole world appeared to wait in anticipation for their fa
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN
The thing about chaos is that it loses its power once you stop fearing it.Isabella had learned this truth somewhere between her mother's dramatic performance at the restaurant and the hundredth whispered conversation that died when she walked past. The sidelong glances and hushed voices that followed her through the office hallways barely registered anymore. Either she'd grown a thicker skin, or Seth's steady presence in her life had become an armor strong enough to deflect the worst of it."Seriously, put the phone down," Seth said for what felt like the millionth time that week, reaching across his kitchen counter to snatch her phone. "GossipWatch will still be there tomorrow. And the next day. And probably until the heat death of the universe."Isabella rolled her eyes but let him take it. "I wasn't even looking at that. I was checking emails.""Uh-huh." Seth's skeptical expression made her laugh despite herself. "And I'm secretly a circus acrobat.""That would explain the flexibi
Last Updated : 2024-12-13
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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
