로그인ISABELLA'S POV"Still married and fighting about it," Esme sings. "Imagine that."I turn all the way around to look at her. I her still leaning on the back of the sofa with her glass of water, looking less concern and not sorry for eavesdropping. She's clearly enjoying herself."You were eavesdropping on us at the door.""Well I was walking to the kitchen. It's not my fault you two yell." She shrugs. "Honestly, Bella, it explains so much. You live separately, don't want to talk about him with me, though when we got you stayed in the same room, but you guys were never like loving couples. You even flame up at the sight of me close to him. Though the way he looks at you is confusing. I told my Mom the information we got was wrong, you weren't really divorced. But she did not believe me.""So you and your mother came here because you thought I was divorced. So what was your plan? To take the position of his wife or lover? Why are you guys always wanting what you don't own?""I don't know
ISABELLA'S POVWhen I get to the hospital my father is awake and alone, thankfully. For once, Aunt Lottie isn't crowding the place."Papa," I call out, and kiss his forehead. "You look better.""I feel like something is being slowly stolen from me," he says, his voice dry.I let out a laugh in spite of myself, but the humor doesn't last. He watches me for a moment before asking, "How are my grandchildren?""They are doing what they do best.""Good." He's quiet for a moment, watching me. "You look tired.""I'm fine.""You're not. Your cousin hasn't gone home, right.""No.""I thought as much."I sit down. Something about the way he's looking at me makes me worry. He's got a look I remember from when I was small and I'd done something wrong, and he was giving me a chance to say it first."Isabella," he calls out. "Ask Ethan if there's anything he hasn't told you."I go very still. "Why would you say that?""I'm only saying. Ask him.""Papa, did he say something?""Ask him, first I beliv
ISABELLA'S POVIt is the third day of our stay here and Esme has insert herself in everything.She now knows Liam wants his toast cut in triangles and Lila wants hers in squares. Even how Lila won't sleep without the hall light on. She knows the bath rule, the cartoon rule, and which cutlery they both prefer.She is always in my face, so when I walk into their room to get the kids ready for bedtime and find Esme already there, sitting on the little bed with Lila in her lap I see red. She is even reading a book to her in the voice I use."Mommy!" Lila says. "Esme is reading me a story.""I see that clearly." "I just wanted to help," Esme answers in defense immediately, acting as though I am about to attack her. She remains sitting. "You looked so tired at dinner.""I'm fine. I'll take it from here.""It's no trouble. We're having fun.""Esme."She looks up, smiling innocently, but her eyes aren't. I know that look. It's the one that says go ahead, make a scene in front of the baby.B
ISABELLA'S POVAfter searching for benefit in anyway she can get, Aunt Lottie stays for lunch and when we finished eating, she annouces loudly to the hearing of everyone that she is going to the hospital to sit with my father. After saying so she sighs and repeat the same sentence while sneakily looking at Ethan, clearly hoping to get Ethan's reaction or attention. But when he did not pay her any attention she stands grab her bag, kiss the kids Liam reluctantly allows her kiss his hair while looking at her with suspicion. When she walks to the door, Esme stands and walk into her room stating that she needs to rest, as she is still tired.Aunt Lottie looks at me with expectation clearly in her eyes, but I did not make any move to send her off. Seeing this she walks out a huff.By the evening as the nanny place the twins in the bath, the penthouse finally goes quiet. They had been playing and raising hell through out the day so the peace is welcomed. I go into Ethan's room and he's sta
ISABELLA'S POV"Answer it if you want," I say.Esme looks shocked by my response. She looks down at the phone, then at me. I think she expected me to grab it or beg her not to.So she lets it ring until it goes to voicemail and the screen goes dark."Huh," she says."What?""Nothing. I thought you'd stop me, I'm surprised you didn't.""I'm not going to stop you. You'll tell her anyway."Hearing that she picks her phone up and types something with her thumbs. I can't help but watch her face while she does it. She's angry, I can see that. Her jaw is tight and she won't look at the twins. But under her anger there's something else. Her mouth keeps turning up at one corner. She knows something her mother doesn't, and she likes it.She hits send and puts the phone face down on the counter."You should eat," she says to Liam, in a voice that's almost normal. "You need breakfast.""Mommy says toast makes you stronger," Liam tells her."Does she.""With butter."Mrs. Sue sets a plate in front
ISABELLA'S POVEthan carries my bag into his bedroom and I immediately follow him while making sure to lock the door behind us."I'll take the sofa," he says."No." I blurt out immediately without second thinking."Isabella, it makes sense. Moreover I wouldn’t want to encroach in your much needed space and...""If she sees you on that sofa in the morning, she'll have something to spin and a story to tell to my aunt." I replied him while keeping my voice down. "She'll know for sure that we're pretending. She'll say something for sure and I don’t want that to happen, I'm not going to give her that satisfaction."He looks at me in surprise. "You really care that much what she thinks?""I care about what she says. And who she says it to." I put my bag on the chair. "You sleep in the bed. I will also sleep in the bed. We act like it's normal. That's all.""Okay.""Okay."I sit on the edge of the mattress and realize my hands are shaking. So I press them between my knees."She heard Lila's v
ISABELLA 'S POVI drifted in a haze of exhaustion again, my body limp and throbbing from the relentless pleasure Ethan had already wrung from me. At this point I don't know what time it is or how many rounds we have gone at. The sheets beneath me are damp with sweat and our combined releases. Then,
ISABELLA'S POVI’m curled up on the high stool at the kitchen island, with my phone wedged between my ear and shoulder, when Sofia’s voice drops the bomb.“Bella, I saw them. At the gala two nights ago. Natalie Brooks was all over him...touching his arm, laughing too close to him and whispering in
ISABELLAThe black dress is Valentino.I bought it three months ago for an evening exactly like this one and I have never worn it. I stand in front of the mirror in the guest wing and fasten the clasp at the back of my neck and take one slow, quiet breath.My reflection stares back at me.Composed
ISABELLAThe sheets on my right side is crisp.They have been crisp every single morning for twenty-three months.I have never once wrinkled them, even during sleep.I lie still and stare at the ceiling. I know this ceiling. I know every hairline crack in this plaster. I know the way the morning l







