Mag-log inISABELLE“You should eat something,” Sage said, pressing a granola bar into my hand.I stared at it without seeing it. “I’m not hungry.”“Bella—”“I can’t, Sage. Not until I know she’s okay.”Sage didn’t push. Just sat beside me in the uncomfortable waiting room chair, her hand finding mine.We’d been here for over two hours since Dr Patel spoke to us.Two hours of sitting in this sterile room, breathing recycled air, listening to the beep of machines and the murmur of other families waiting for news about their own loved ones.“This is my fault,” I whispered.“Don’t.” Sage’s grip on my hand tightened. “Don’t do that to yourself.”“But it is. I should have told her. Should have been honest from the beginning instead of—”“Instead of trying to protect her?” Sage turned to face me. “Bella, you were doing what you thought was right. We both were.”“And look where it got us.”Before Sage could respond, a woman in a white coat approached.Not Dr. Patel. Someone new.Older. Confident. Expen
MATTEO I pulled into the hospital parking lot and sat there for a moment, engine idling.What the hell are you doing?I didn’t have an answer. Just a pull in my chest that had gotten stronger with every mile I’d driven.I grabbed a baseball cap from the backseat. Not much of a disguise, but enough to avoid immediate recognition, and I pulled it low over my eyes before stepping out of the car.The hospital entrance was busy. Visitors coming and going. Doctors in scrubs. Nurses with clipboards.I kept my head down and walked through the automatic doors.The woman at the information desk barely looked up when I approached.“I’m looking for Marie Thompson,” I said, keeping my voice low.She typed something into her computer. “Third floor. Room 312. Elevator’s down the hall to your right.”I nodded and walked away before she could look at me too closely.The elevator ride up felt like it took forever. When the doors finally opened on the third floor, I stepped out into a quiet hallway.Ro
ISABELLE 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 absentmindedly brought my hand up to the glass cup in front of me and ran my fingers along its rim. The kitchen suddenly felt smaller, more intimate – nowhere to hide from my sister’s perceptive gaze.“How do you feel about it?” Sage’s voice finally coaxed me into meeting her eyes.“I’m
ISABELLE It was difficult to tell who commanded more attention during my presentation at the meeting. Me or my blazer.There were about ten of us seated around the round table. Some looks were ones of admiration. Enrico threw me a knowing smile at intervals, which Rachel caught, causing her to sho
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







