INICIAR SESIÓNFamily dinner arrived. I sat at the head of the table next to Dad, trying to keep my breathing even. The dining room felt smaller tonight, candles throwing long shadows across the mahogany, rosemary scent from the lamb still hanging in the air. Everyone was here. Everyone who had ever mattered, and everyone who had ever hurt us, all in the same room for the first time in years.Mom—Blair stood by the sideboard pouring water like she’d never left. She wore a navy silk jersey dress, simple gold hoops, hair in a loose chignon. She looked calm and steady. Like the house had been waiting for her to come back and fill the quiet spaces she’d left behind.Then Camilla walked in.In an emerald-green silk that clung in all the right places, long sleeves, high neck, that keyhole slit at the back showing just a hint of skin. Diamonds at her ears and throat catching the candlelight. Heels clicking slow with that aura she always carried when she wanted to look imposing. She looked like she stepped
Isabella’s POV I stayed sprawled on my bed in nothing but the thin cotton tank and boy shorts I’d thrown on after my shower, hair still damp and clinging to my neck. My skin felt too warm, too aware. I remember the way Alex had been looking at me from a hidden corner while I ate with Dad and Camila.I hadn’t even had time to catch my breath and think of how to deal with Camilla when the door opened.No knock. Just Alex. He walked inside like he belonged there, barefoot, wearing those low-slung sweats and a black T-shirt that hugged every stupidly perfect line of his shoulders and chest. His hair was messy in that way that said he’d been running his hands through it all evening, probably thinking about me the same way I’d been thinking about him.He didn’t speak at first. Just locked the door behind him, then leaned back against it, arms crossed, watching me like I was the only interesting thing left on the planet.“Hi,” I said. My voice came out breathier than I wanted. “That was fas
Isabella’s POV I stayed sprawled on my bed in nothing but the thin cotton tank and boy shorts I’d thrown on after my shower, hair still damp and clinging to my neck. My skin felt too warm, too aware. I remember the way Alex had been looking at me from a hidden corner while I ate with Dad and Camila.I hadn’t even had time to catch my breath and think of how to deal with Camilla when the door opened.No knock. Just Alex. He walked inside like he belonged there, barefoot, wearing those low-slung sweats and a black T-shirt that hugged every stupidly perfect line of his shoulders and chest. His hair was messy in that way that said he’d been running his hands through it all evening, probably thinking about me the same way I’d been thinking about him.He didn’t speak at first. Just locked the door behind him, then leaned back against it, arms crossed, watching me like I was the only interesting thing left on the planet.“Hi,” I said. My voice came out breathier than I wanted. “That was fas
Isabella’s POV I stayed sprawled on my bed in nothing but the thin cotton tank and boy shorts I’d thrown on after my shower, hair still damp and clinging to my neck. My skin felt too warm, too aware. I remember the way Alex had been looking at me from a hidden corner while I ate with Dad and Camila.I hadn’t even had time to catch my breath and think of how to deal with Camilla when the door opened.No knock. Just Alex. He walked inside like he belonged there, barefoot, wearing those low-slung sweats and a black T-shirt that hugged every stupidly perfect line of his shoulders and chest. His hair was messy in that way that said he’d been running his hands through it all evening, probably thinking about me the same way I’d been thinking about him.He didn’t speak at first. Just locked the door behind him, then leaned back against it, arms crossed, watching me like I was the only interesting thing left on the planet.“Hi,” I said. My voice came out breathier than I wanted. “That was fas
Isabella’s POVI was in my room scrolling through the net when Dad’s voice floated up the stairs.“Isabella? Can you come down?”Something in his tone made my stomach twist, like he was handling something fragile and wasn’t sure it wouldn’t shatter. I pulled my hoodie sleeves over my hands, took a slow breath, and headed down.The second I hit the last step I saw her.Camilla.Standing in the middle of the living room like she had just dropped there from another life. No power suit. No red lips. Just a soft blue sweater, jeans, hair loose and a little messy. Eyes red-rimmed, hands clasped in front like she was waiting for a sentence.My whole body locked up.Dad was standing a few feet away, arms crossed loosely, watching us both. He didn’t say anything. Just gave me that small nod—the one that meant this was my call.Camilla looked at me. No smirk like usual. No calculating eyes. Just… waiting.I stayed on the last step. Didn’t move closer yet.“Camilla.”She swallowed hard. Then too
Isabella’s POVI stood in the foyer feeling like my heart was trying to climb out through my throat. Monm… Blair stood next to me, clutching the strap of her small crossbody bag so tight her knuckles had gone white. She looked like she was braced for the door to slam in her face before anyone even spoke.Dad was in the study. I knew he heard Maria knocked. I knew he knew we were here. I could almost feel the weight of his footsteps coming down the hall before I actually heard them.When he appeared in the doorway, everything slowed.He looked… tired. Not old-tired, just the kind of tired that lives behind the eyes after too many years of carrying things alone. His shirt sleeves were rolled to the elbows, no tie, hair a little messy like he’d run his hands through it too many times today. He stopped a few feet away and just looked at her.At Mom.Nine years. Nine birthdays, nine Christmases, nine random Tuesdays where I’d stared at my phone wondering if today would be the day she texte







