เข้าสู่ระบบISABELLASo all it takes for your good mood to be ruined is a knock from your fiance, his face isn't giving the happiness you'd have expected. He looks gloomy and his both hands are tucked into his pockets."Babe?" I call, before I end my call with Chloe and drop my phone on the bed. "Who was that?" He asks."Chloe. Why do you look gloomy?"He stares above my head for a minute, before meeting my eyes. "I was just on the phone with Mason."Okay... so what? Since when does his dad pose a threat to us? As far as I'm concerned, Mason is... is just as supportive as he could be. I mean, he doesn't openly oppose out relationship."He knows." I nod. "About us? Isn't he supposed to know?""He does know. That is not what I mean. He's okay with the engagement. He just proposed a very... tactical plan. If you know what he means."At this point my head is turning. “Just say it, Noah,” I press, my voice tightening. “What did he say?”Noah exhales slowly, like whatever he’s about to say weighs a
ISABELLAI don’t even remember leaving the restaurant.Everything after that is just… noise. Laughter. Strangers smiling at me like they know me. Someone saying congratulations for the hundredth time. Noah’s hand wrapped tightly around mine like he’s afraid I might disappear.Now I’m in our room while Noah's downstairs on a call. The door is locked, and I have my back pressed against it. And I’m staring at my hand. At the ring. It glints when I move my fingers, catching the light again, just like it did in the restaurant...“Oh my God,” I whisper to myself while I grab my phone.There’s only one person I need to call. The FaceTime rings once, twice, then her face pops up on the screen."I asked him to go there, Bella. Believe me I did."I let out a breathless laugh. She thinks I'm calling her about the fake date? “Chloe...”"Did it work? Wait... What did you do?” she cuts in, squinting. “Wait... no. What happened? Why do you look like that?”“Like what?” I ask, but I’m already smiling
ISABELLAThe sound leaves me before I can stop it. A sharp, startled scream that has every single head in the restaurant turning.And every single phone lifting.Oh my God.Noah is on one knee.Actually on one knee.Right in front of me.The small velvet box in his hand is open, the ring catching the light in a way that feels almost blinding. My heart is racing so fast it actually hurts, my fingers trembling where they hover uselessly in the air.“Noah…” I whisper.There are soft awws already, people murmuring, chairs scraping as others stand just to get a better view. I can hear someone whispering behind me, “This is so cute,” and another person is already recording.Noah looks up at me. He looks… nervous.“I know,” he starts, his voice steady but softer than I’ve ever heard it, “this isn’t how I planned to do this.”A small, shaky laugh escapes me.“I mess up,” he continues, his eyes locked on mine. “A lot. Probably more than I should. And I know I hurt you… more times than I can co
ISABELLAEthan and I don't eat or exchanged words when we get to the place he suggested. I'm getting texts from Antonia who's really excited for this, and I'm getting texts from Chloe who has a major role to play in this. I mean, it's on her. Whether this works or not, it's all on her.A different text that's not from Chloe or Antonia enters my phone and I glance at it to read it. It's Noah. My eyes widen slightly as I read what he sent. He's asking where I am and if I'm going to be okay. He wants to know if I need a ride home tonight. "That your man?" Ethan asks.I nod. "I don't think this is a good idea." I mutter, raising my head. "Look, I'm sorry. I know I asked you to help me out. But... now I just feel really guilty and I know I shouldn't have let Chloe convince me. It was very nice meeting you though."The words are out of my mouth and Ethan just smiles. His smile is gorgeous but it's annoying. I need to leave. That's what I just said. "I think it's too late to back out." H
ISABELLA“I’m not...” I start, then stop, because… yeah. I definitely look like I’m being forced. Antonia kicks me again under the table. I inhale slowly, forcing myself to loosen up just a little.Ethan’s thumb shifts slightly against my hand, more natural this time. “Better,” he says.“This is stupid,” I mutter under my breath.Ethan hears me anyway. “Probably,” he agrees. “But I’m starting to think your boyfriend isn’t the only one who’s going to feel something tonight.”My stomach drops. “Meaning?”He smiles... “Meaning,” he says, “you might end up enjoying this more than you planned.”I don't know what he's saying. But I don't care. Antonia gestures me and I stand on my feet and walk to where Ethan is seated."Shall we?" I say and he smirks and nods."We shall."Now I don't have any idea how this is supposed yo work out. I excuse myself and call Chloe. She picks up the instant it rings."Hey...." She says."Don't hey me. I'm with a guy." I tell her in a hushed whisper."Wait, lik
ISABELLAI hesitate. What kind of guy he's competing with? Where do I even begin? "He's..." I start, then pause, pressing my lips together. “Tall.”Ethan’s brow lifts slightly. “That’s it?”Antonia snorts beside me. “Oh, please. Tell him the truth.”I shoot her a look before sighing. “He’s very tall. Like… annoyingly tall. And...” I wave a hand vaguely, “...he knows it.”Ethan stares. “Go on.”“He’s…” I exhale softly. “He’s really good-looking."Ethan doesn’t react much to that. If anything, the corner of his mouth twitches like he finds it mildly amusing. “And?” he prompts.“And he’s confident,” I continue. “Too confident. I think that's what gives him the right to… I don’t know. Do whatever he wants.”“Including lie to you?”I look down at the table for a second, then nod. “Yeah.”Antonia quietly taps her fingers against her glass, watching me like she’s trying to see how far I’ll go with this.Ethan exhales through his nose, then tilts his head. “So let me get this straight.”I lo







