CHAPTER 8

"Isabella! What the hell is going on here?" James's eyes widened in shock as he pushed open the door to Isabella's room. 

Alex, still leaning over Isabella, turned to face James. A sly smile spread across his face. "Just catching up with old friends, James."

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?" he asked furiously.

Isabella scrambled to cover herself, grabbing her robe. "James, it's not what it looks like."

James looking shocked, asked, "It's not what it looks like? So tell me, what does it look like then? I don't know who you are, Mister, please leave my house."

Alex slowly stood up, his eyes never leaving James. "You're the one who's intruding, you don't even know who I am, or you think you can protect her from me?" he sneered.

James's eyes narrowed. "I don't care to know who you are, you're not welcome here, so leave!"

Alex's smile grew wider. "You're just a wealthy playboy. You don't know what Isabella needs."

Isabella stood up, her voice shaking. "Alex, stop. This isn't about James. We are over a long time ago, so leave me alone."

Alex's eyes flashed with anger. "We are never over, you're still mine and forever will you be," he snarled.

James's fists clenched. "You're not going to manipulate her right in front of me."

Alex took a step closer to James. "You don't know what we had; you think you can take care of her like I did? You don't know what she's been through."

Isabella's eyes filled with tears. "Alex, please."

James's voice turned icy. "Leave. Before I call the security."

Alex's smile returned, "You'll regret taking her from me."

The tension escalated, and Alex's smile vanished.

"You'll regret this," Alex spat before storming out.

James turned to Isabella, his expression icy. "Who is he?"

Isabella took a deep breath. "Alex, my ex—"

James cut her off. "Don't lie to me. What's going on?"

Isabella's eyes filled with tears. "Please just hear me out."

 "And you're still seeing him, aren't you?"

Isabella shook her head. "No, James—"

James's face contorted in anger. "You're just using me."

Isabella's voice trembled. "That's not true."

James sneered. "You're just a gold-digger."

Isabella's eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you, why will you call me that? You're just going to listen to his side of the story? how about mine? You have no right to judge me," she spat.

James's eyes narrowed. "No right? You're living in my house, wearing my gifts, and still seeing your ex."

Isabella's face twisted in pain. "You don't understand."

James sneered. "Enlighten me."

Isabella took a deep breath. "Alex was my past. We had a thing then, but he hurt me, so I had to let go."

James's expression softened slightly.

"But why was he here?" he pressed.

Isabella's eyes dropped. "He won't let me go."

James's anger surged again. "You should have told me."

Isabella's voice rose. "I was scared."

James's eyes flashed with accusation. "You're still scared of him."

Isabella nodded, tears streaming down her face.

James turned, his mind reeling. He couldn't trust her.

"I'll take care of him," James said, his voice firm. "You go continue with your bath. I'll prepare something for us to eat."

Isabella nodded, still shaken. "Thank you, James."

James's expression softened. "Don't worry, I've got this."

Isabella disappeared into the bathroom, leaving James to his thoughts.

An hour later, they sat down to a delicious meal of roasted chicken and vegetables.

Isabella took a bite, her eyes widening. "This is amazing. How did you manage to be a great cook and a workaholic?"

James smiled. "Thanks. I learned from my Mom."

Isabella's curiosity was piqued. "Really? She was a great cook?"

James's expression turned nostalgic. "The best. She taught me everything I know."

Isabella sensed a deeper story. "What happened to her?"

James's eyes dropped. "She passed away when I was 16."

Isabella's heart went out to him. "I'm so sorry."

James's voice cracked. "It was tough. But my dad helped me through it."

After the meal, the silence that followed was heavy with emotion.

Isabella broke it. "James, about Alex..."

James's expression turned serious. "Tell me everything."

Isabella took a deep breath, her eyes locked on James'. "Alex and I met in college. We were inseparable, or so I thought."

James's expression was attentive, encouraging her to continue.

Isabella's voice trembled. "At first, he was charming, caring. But slowly, he changed. He became possessive and controlling. He would show up at my classes and question my friends...I felt trapped."

James's jaw clenched. "Why didn't you leave him or report him to anybody?"

Isabella's eyes dropped. "I thought I loved him and I had no one to talk to. I thought he would change. But it only got worse. He would get angry and lash out...I realized I was walking on eggshells around him."

James's face darkened. "Did he hurt you?"

Isabella nodded, tears welling up. "Physically, emotionally...he broke me."

James's fists clenched. "I'll never let him near you again."

Isabella continued her voice barely above a whisper. "We had a huge fight, and I finally found the courage to leave. But he wouldn't let me go. He'd show up at my work, call me nonstop...I changed my number, moved apartments...but he always found me."

James's eyes blazed with anger. "I'll take care of him."

Isabella's voice cracked. "After some time of living in fear and didn't hear from him anymore, I thought he was out of my life not until when I was at the party, Mia called and told me he came over to the house to look for me."

James's expression softened, his eyes filled with compassion. "It's okay, You are safe now."

Isabella's tears flowed freely. "Thank you, James. Thank you for believing me."

James pulled her into a gentle hug. "I'll always believe you."

As they held each other, Isabella felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

But little did they know, Alex's threats were only just beginning... James's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, his expression turning cold, it was from a strange number.

"I need to take this," he said, standing up.

Isabella nodded, her heart racing.

As James walked out of the room, Isabella couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

And then she heard it.

A voice, low and menacing, spoke on the other end of the line.

"James, you think you can protect her? I'll show you what happens when you mess with me."

Isabella's blood ran cold.

James's response was icy. "You'll never touch her again."

The line went dead, James returned, his face set in determination.

Isabella's heart pounded. "What's going on and is everything okay?"