LOGINISABELLE The drive to the hospital was a blur.I don’t remember getting in my car. Don’t remember the route I took or how fast I was going.All I could think about was my mother.She found out.How? How had she found out?Had Dave’s parents told her? Had she run into them somewhere and they’d mentioned it?Or had Aurora—My hands tightened on the steering wheel.If Aurora had done this. If she’d gone to my mother after everything—I couldn’t finish the thought.Because none of that mattered right now.The only thing that mattered was getting to the hospital. Getting to my mom.Please let her be okay. Please.…………………..Sage was already in the waiting room when I arrived, pacing back and forth, her face pale, her eyes red.“Sage!” I rushed over to her. “What happened? How is she?”“I don’t know.” Sage’s voice broke. “They won’t tell me anything yet. They’re running tests, checking her heart—” She pressed her hands to her face. “God, Bella. I thought we had more time. I thought we could
ISABELLE“Did Aurora say anything to you?” I held his gaze, watching for the thing people reveal before they can stop themselves. I didn’t trust his words. I wasn’t sure I trusted his intentions either.Dave frowned slightly. “About your mom? I already told you everything—”“Not about her.” I kept my voice level. “I didn’t do anything to make Aurora take down those photos, and I don’t trust her silence. And now you showing up here…” I let the sentence sit unfinished. “I’m not sure I see much difference between the two of you right now.”The hurt that moved through his face was real. I could see that much.“I had nothing to do with any of that,” he said. “She made those choices on her own. The whole situation, everything that has happened, has made her uncomfortable. She’s angry, yes. But she promised me she’s done with social media. She won’t say anything.”“Is that all?”He hesitated just a fraction too long.“You and Aurora know something I don’t,” he said, his eyes narrowing slight
AURORA“Nobody,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Just spam.”Dave’s eyes narrowed. “You’re shaking.”“I’m tired, Dave. I’ve had a traumatic day—remember?” I let my hand drift to my stomach. The universal signal. The one that never failed.His expression softened immediately. “Right. Sorry. Get some rest.”“I will.” I waited until he stood, until he bent to press a kiss to my forehead—gentle, obligatory. “Thank you for being there today. For choosing us.”Something moved across his face. Guilt, maybe. Or the beginning of doubt.He nodded and left without another word.The moment the door clicked shut, I grabbed my phone.The message was still there on the screen, each word sitting like a stone.“I warned you once. You didn’t listen. If Isabelle’s name comes out of your mouth again—to anyone, in any context—what happened to your Instagram will look like a kindness. You have enemies you can’t afford, Aurora. Remember that.”My hands were trembling so badly I nearly dropped the ph
ISABELLE“Wh—why did you—”“How dare you?” Aurora’s voice cracked, her lips trembling. “How dare you lay your hands on me?” She was still pressing her palm to her cheek, eyes bright with tears she was fighting to hold back.“Because a bitch deserves to be treated like one.”“You hit a pregnant woman,” she breathed, “because I confronted you with your own dirty secret? You’re insane—you actually—”“I should have done this a long time ago,” I said. My voice was steadier than I felt.She opened her mouth—then stopped. Her eyes flicked past me, and something shifted in her expression. The tears didn’t disappear. They just changed.Fear turned calculating in the space of a breath. “Dave!” she screamed.I spun around.Dave was crossing the car park from the direction of his car, brow furrowed, pace quickening. “Aurora? What—”What happened next took less than three seconds. Aurora’s hand shot out as if reaching for the car door to steady herself—then she let go. Deliberately, carefully, sh
ISABELLEI woke to sunlight pressing through Sage’s guest room curtains and the smell of coffee already brewing in the kitchen.My phone showed 6:02 AM. No new messages.I stared at the screen longer than I should have, my chest tight, before I made myself put it face down and get out of bed.Sage was at the stove when I shuffled in, still in her pyjamas, prodding at scrambled eggs with a spatula.“Morning, sleepyhead,” she said without turning around. “Want some—” She stopped the moment she looked at me. Her expression shifted. “Whoa. You look terrible.”“Thanks,” I muttered, making a beeline for the coffee pot.“I’m serious, Bella. You barely slept, didn’t you?” She set down the spatula and came closer, studying my face. “What’s going on?”“I’m fine. Just a rough night.”“Bad dreams?”“Something like that.”She didn’t look convinced. But she let it go and went back to the stove. “Sit down. Coffee and food fix everything.”I sat at her small kitchen table, both hands wrapped around t
ISABELLE “Isabelle.” Matteo’s voice was patient but firm. “How did you know?”I took a breath, feeling his steady gaze on me. “A coworker mentioned it. She was going on about how beautiful the engagement party and civil ceremony were, how everyone’s been counting down to the white wedding in Iceland.”His jaw tightened slightly.“She also mentioned you weren’t there,” I continued quietly. “For the first two events.”Silence filled the car.Matt’s hand dropped from my jaw, moving to rub the back of his neck—a gesture I was beginning to recognize as his tell when something made him uncomfortable.“And my sister,” I added. “She’s been obsessing over your sister’s wedding dress. The whole internet was talking about it, apparently.”“Of course they were,” he muttered, more to himself than to me.I shifted on his lap, suddenly feeling like I’d overstepped. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up—”“No.” His hands settled back on my waist, keeping me in place. “You have every right to as
ISABELLE.I gasped against Matteo’s mouth, and he took immediate advantage, his tongue sliding against mine with a skill that made my knees weak. This wasn’t like before—not careful, not controlled. This was raw, desperate, and absolutely consuming.My hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer
ISABELLE. Reality came crashing back in waves.We’d just done it again. Unprotected. Fully aware of the risk this time. No excuses about being caught up in the moment or not thinking clearly.I looked down at myself—shirt bunched around my waist, legs still spread, sitting on his dining table with
ISABELLE.My eyes widened as my brain struggled to process everything that was happening. We were literally in the parking lot where anyone could see us – including that crazy Enrico. I also didn’t understand why my body kept losing control at his words, as though I wasn’t in charge anymore.A smal
ISABELLE.What the hell was he doing here?I was pulled from my racing thoughts when he drew me closer to him. Then I finally found the courage to look him in the eyes.DonMatteoOr whatever the hell his name was.His tie was gone, and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a gl







