LOGINISABELLE I looked away.“Isabelle.” His hand cupped my cheek, turning my face back to his. “What happened?”“It’s nothing.”“It’s not nothing. Tell me.”I hesitated, but the look in his eyes made me give in.“Aurora sent me a message. Mocking me. Saying I was never in your league.” I forced a smile. “And Enrico was furious with me. He’d been pressuring me to… to get close to you for business reasons. When he saw the photos, he thought I’d blown some opportunity.”Matt’s jaw tightened. “What did he say to you?”“That I cost the company a partnership. That I was valuable but not irreplaceable.” I shrugged. “But honestly, I’m not even mad at him now. At least the photos will make him stop pushing me about you.”“And Aurora?”“I just… I can’t believe she had the nerve. After everything.”His expression darkened. “I don’t like the way she comes at you.”“Matt, it’s fine—”“It’s not fine.” His voice was quiet but firm. “She hurt you. Humiliated you. And now she’s trying to do it again.”I
ISABELLEI woke slowly, wrapped in warmth.Matt’s chest rose and fell beneath my cheek, steady and rhythmic. His arm was draped across my waist, holding me close even in sleep.It was the best sleep I’d had in a week.Maybe longer.I could tell he’d slept deeply too—we’d both been exhausted after… God, how many rounds had it been? Three? Four?I smiled against his skin, my body pleasantly sore in places that reminded me of every single moment.This.This was what I’d been jealous of.Not the money or the status or any of the superficial things people saw when they looked at Matteo Moretti.This intimacy. This connection. The way our bodies fit together like they’d been designed for each other.I’d never known myself to be possessive. Never been the type to get territorial or jealous.But the thought of anyone else experiencing this with him—touching him the way I did, hearing the sounds he made when he—No.I wasn’t willing to share this. Wasn’t willing to give this up.At least not y
ISABELLE I lay there on the couch, my head on Matteo’s chest, his arms wrapped around me.Our breathing was still uneven. My body still humming.But the anger was already creeping back in.The sex had been—God, it had been exactly what I needed.A release. A way to feel something other than the hurt that had been eating me alive for the past week.But it hadn’t fixed anything.“I’m still angry with you,” I said quietly.“I know.”“You can’t just—just kiss me and expect everything to be okay.”“I know.”I lifted my head, looking at him.His expression was serious. Guarded. But there was something else there, too. Something that looked almost like fear.“Then talk to me,” I said. “Explain. Tell me what happened. All of it.”Matt took a breath.For a moment, I thought he might refuse. Might pull away and shut me out the way he always did.But then—“Okay,” he said. “I’ll tell you everything.”The silence stretched between us.I could feel his heartbeat beneath my cheek. Steady. Strong.
ISABELLEMatt pulled into a driveway I recognized immediately.The hills house.My chest tightened. Of course, he would bring me here.The engine cut off.Silence settled over the car—heavy, suffocating.I didn’t move. I didn’t look at him. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging we’d arrived.If I just sat here long enough, maybe he’d get tired of my silence. Maybe he would realize how ridiculous this was and take me back.“Isabelle.”I stared straight ahead.“We’re here.”I didn’t respond.I could feel him watching me. Waiting for me to look at him. To say something. To get out of the car.I did none of those things.Seconds ticked by. Ten. Twenty. Thirty.The silence stretched between us, taut and uncomfortable.I wasn’t going to move. Wasn’t going to make this easy for him.He’d dragged me here against my will. He could figure out what to do next.I heard him exhale—slow, controlled.Then his door opened.Closed.Footsteps crunched on the gravel, coming around to my side
MATTEO “What’s the status?”Charles looked up from his tablet. We were in my office, the door closed, the city sprawling below us through the floor-to-ceiling windows.“The rumor is still circulating,” he said carefully. “You’re still trending on multiple platforms. Several media outlets are trying to reach Miss Hartley for comment.”I leaned back in my chair, jaw tight.“And?”“She hasn’t responded to any requests yet. But they’re persistent.”Of course they were.Sheila loved attention. Loved being in the spotlight. She wouldn’t rush to debunk anything that kept her name in headlines.“Do you want me to prepare a statement?” Charles asked. “We could issue a denial. Clarify that the photos were misleading and—”“No.”He paused. “Sir?”I thought about it. Really thought about it.A statement would reach millions of people. Would set the record straight publicly.But would it reach Isabelle?Would she even believe it?She’d seen the photos with her own eyes. A corporate statement fro
ISABELLEI arrived at the office before seven.The building was still quiet. Just a few security guards. The cleaning crew finishing up on the lower floors.No Heather. No Rachel. No one who would want to talk about Matteo Moretti and his supermodel ex-girlfriend reuniting at his sister’s wedding.I’d timed it perfectly.I made my way to my office, set down my bag, and pulled out my laptop.If I could just bury myself in work. Stay focused. Get through the day without having to smile and nod while everyone gushed about how perfect they looked together—“Isabelle.”I froze.That voice.I looked up.Enrico was standing in my doorway.I must not have closed the door properly when I came in.“Enrico.” I stood up. “I didn’t realize you’d be in this early.”“We need to talk.” His tone was clipped. Sharp. “My office. Now.”He didn’t wait for a response. Just turned and walked away, clearly expecting me to follow.I straightened my dress and trailed after him, my heart pounding.This couldn’t
Strolling down the hallway, I emerged into the main area of the club, where I found a familiar face. Before he could say a word, I grabbed him by the collar. Fear flashed in his eyes, but I ignored it, hearing only his ragged breathing. “Where the fuck is the manager?”“Hu…….hu…..Harry? He’s o
Mateo.Dining room of Moretti Mansion.“Oh, the wedding dress is gorgeous. I had the final fitting earlier today. I can’t wait for you all to see me in it. Scratch that, I wish the day could come soon enough.” Lisa, my younger sister, spoke in a dreamy tone.I signaled to the maid, who quickl
Matteo.“What did you find?” I asked Charles. My eyes were on him as I brought the rim of my glass cup towards my lips.“She doesn’t work for the bar. Yesterday was her first time there. The hostesses meant for you were running late, so she covered up for them.”“Isabelle, 26. Engaged and dum
Hardly had I completed my statement when I felt a sharp thrust inside of me.Don took my words literally. He took my left nipple in his mouth, sucked, and continued to drill me down there.The room was filled with my moans and a little bit of Don’s grunt.Don got off me, lay on his side, and







