ANMELDENIsabella’s POVThe night settled slowly, like it didn’t want to disturb anything.Lucas stayed beside me on the terrace, quiet, steady, the warmth of his presence close but careful. Not touching. Not reaching. Just there. The space between us felt intentional now, like something fragile sat in it and neither of us wanted to break it again.I wrapped my fingers around the cup of tea, though it had already gone cold.“You should drink it,” he said after a while.I glanced down at it. “It’s cold.”“I can get you another.”“No… it’s fine.”Neither of us moved.The ocean stretched out in front of us, dark now, the sound of the waves filling in the silence we didn’t know how to handle yet. The air had cooled, but my skin still felt too warm, like everything inside me hadn’t settled.Lucas leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees. “Did he touch you?”The question came out quiet, not angry. Just… direct.My grip tightened around the cup. “Marcus?”He didn’t look at me. “Yeah
Isabella’s POVThe afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the garden. I stayed on the bench long after Marcus left, my fingers tracing the edge of the stone, still warm from his touch. My mind spun in circles, his words, his promise, the way his kiss on my hand had lingered. It felt safe. Exciting. But Lucas’s face kept flashing in my thoughts, the way he had held me when the results came in, the quiet strength in his voice when he said he wanted to do this right.I stood up slowly, brushing dirt from my dress, and walked back toward the house. The terrace was quiet now, most guests gone. Claire sat at one of the tables, flipping through a small notebook, making notes for the honeymoon. She looked up when she saw me and smiled.“You disappeared for a while,” she said. “Everything okay?”I sat across from her, my hands folding in my lap. “Marcus found me in the garden. He… he told me he’s ready. That he’s the one who truly loves me. He asked if I love Lucas. I told him
Isabella’s POVI woke up super relieved after my announcement yesterday. I felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my chest.Lucas had stayed the night, sleeping on the couch in my room because he didn’t want to leave me alone. We had talked until the early hours, soft words about the baby, about how scared we both were, about how we would figure this out together. He had kissed my forehead before I finally fell asleep, his hand resting protectively on my belly.But now, as the sun climbed higher, the quiet felt fragile. I was in the garden, trying to find a moment of peace among the flowers that had decorated Claire’s wedding. The scent of roses still lingered in the air. I sat on the stone bench, my hands folded in my lap, thinking about the tiny life growing inside me. Lucas’s baby. The thought made my heart flutter in a way that was both beautiful and terrifying.Footsteps on the gravel path made me look up. Marcus was walking toward me, his hands in his pockets, that familia
Isabella’s POVThe morning after Claire’s wedding felt strangely soft and quiet, like the whole house was holding its breath with me. Sunlight slipped through the curtains in warm stripes across my bed, and I lay there staring at the ceiling, one hand resting gently on my belly. My body still carried little echoes from last night’s stolen moment with Marcus in the garden — that rush of heat, the way his hands had felt so sure on my skin, the quiet thrill mixed with a heavy dose of guilt. I whispered to the tiny life inside me, “Today’s the day, little one. We finally find out who your dad is.”A gentle knock pulled me out of my thoughts. Claire poked her head in, already dressed in a breezy white sundress, her hair loose and glowing like she’d had the best sleep of her life. She gave me that warm, sisterly smile that always made me feel a little less alone.“Morning, sleepyhead,” she said, slipping inside and closing the door softly. “How’s my favorite almost-mom feeling today?”I sat
Isabella’s POVThe reception continued, but the air felt heavier after Marcus arrived. Guests danced and chatted under the string lights, but my focus kept drifting to the edges of the terrace where the men who had been part of my mess stood watching. Claire and Kelvin were in their own world on the dance floor, laughing and lost in each other. I tried to stay close to them, smiling when people congratulated me on being such a supportive sister, but my nerves were frayed.I slipped away for a moment, needing air. The side garden path beside the terrace was quieter, lit only by a few scattered lanterns. The ocean waves provided a steady background rhythm. I leaned against a low stone wall, trying to steady my breathing.Footsteps approached from behind. I turned, and there was Marcus. He had followed me. His suit jacket was off, sleeves rolled up, showing strong forearms. He stopped a few feet away, his eyes dark and intense under the lantern light.
Isabella’s POVThe reception was in full swing. Lights twinkled above the terrace like stars that had fallen to earth. Music floated through the warm night air while guests danced and laughed. Claire and Kelvin moved together in the center, lost in their own world, her white dress glowing under the soft glow. I stood at the edge, a glass of water in my hand, trying to look like I belonged in the celebration.Then the atmosphere shifted.A new car pulled up near the entrance. Heads turned. Whispers started. I felt my stomach drop before I even saw who stepped out.Marcus.He walked in confidently, dressed in a dark tailored suit that made him look older and more powerful than I remembered. His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on me. A slow smile spread across his face.My heart slammed against my ribs. I set the glass down on a nearby table before I dropped it.Claire noticed him too. She stopped dancing and squeezed Kelvin’s hand. “What is he doing here?”Kelvin frowned. “I di







