FAZER LOGINISABELLA’S POV
I put my forehead against the door for a few seconds, listening to his footsteps retreat down the path, before walking back to the children’s room.
Getting into the room I see Lila is sitting up, clutching her bear to her chest, her eyes heavy with sleep. “I can hear Ethan's voice.”
“It’s nothing...just a dream,” I tell her. “Lie down. I’m right here.”
She settles once I sit on the edge of the bed. I rest my hand on her back rubbing her back until her breathing evens out again. I look over to Liam to make sure he is not awake too. I adjust the blanket over both of them and remain with them for a little while.
Soon the house returns to its usual white sounds come from the low hum of the refrigerator, only interrupted by the occasional car passing outside. I move through the rooms and turn off the lights one by one before going to the kitchen to drink a glass of water.
I did the right thing. The children need stability and I need the distance. Whatever Ethan wants from me is tangled up with control and convenience, and I am no longer willing to live inside that tangle. Writing that letter was a good decision. I never actually wanted him to know, if not because of his need for control, he wouldn't have found now. I don't want him messing up with my life and emotions and his actions tonight only confirmed my fear.
I set the glass down and go back to the children’s room. There is enough space at the edge of the bed. I lie down without fully getting under the covers, facing them, and close my eyes.
I need their body heat for assurance.
ETHAN’S POV
I turn away from her front door and walk walk towards my car. I get into the back seat and tell the driver to take me home. My head is clearer than it was an hour ago, but the clarity does not help.
She looked at me as if I were a problem to be avoided. As though I am not the same man she had shared a bed with. I am the father of her children and not a complication.
I lean my head back against the seat and stare at the ceiling of the car. Saturday. She will keep that promise because it is about the children, not about me. I will show up when she says and I will take whatever limited time she allows.
But I am not prepared to accept that this is the permanent shape of things.
ISABELLA’S POVSaturday has eventually morning arrive. It has not been easy getting to this place with my with my sanity intact. I am hunted by every night of wet dream leaving some residual heat burning under my skin. My body feels restless, and too aware of itself. I get the twins dressed and ready, keeping my movements efficient. So when I heard the knock I rush and open the door immedaitely, relieve to find Ethan standing there, thankfully sober, with his emotion controlled, and most importantly exactly on time.“I’ll take them for the day,” he says.“Keep them for the night too,” I answer. “I have plans. I’ll be late.”He studies me for a second. “If you won't mind me ask, what kind of plans?”“Yes I mind, and it is the kind that don’t involve you.” I hand him the small overnight bag I packed for the children. “Bedtime is eight-thirty. Lila needs her teddy bear always. Liam will try to negotiate more time to fix his precious truck. Don’t let him.”He takes the bag. Liam is alread
ISABELLA’S POVI put my forehead against the door for a few seconds, listening to his footsteps retreat down the path, before walking back to the children’s room.Getting into the room I see Lila is sitting up, clutching her bear to her chest, her eyes heavy with sleep. “I can hear Ethan's voice.”“It’s nothing...just a dream,” I tell her. “Lie down. I’m right here.”She settles once I sit on the edge of the bed. I rest my hand on her back rubbing her back until her breathing evens out again. I look over to Liam to make sure he is not awake too. I adjust the blanket over both of them and remain with them for a little while.Soon the house returns to its usual white sounds come from the low hum of the refrigerator, only interrupted by the occasional car passing outside. I move through the rooms and turn off the lights one by one before going to the kitchen to drink a glass of water.I did the right thing. The children need stability and I need the distance. Whatever Ethan wants from me
ISABELLA’S POVThe house feels smaller and safer the moment we walk through the door. Liam runs ahead to check that his other trucks are still where he left them. Lila heads straight for the conners where she plays clearly sulking about something. I lock the door behind us and lean against it for a second.I unpack their things with steady hands. Putting their clothes back in drawers and other things where they are supposed to be. When the children are settled with a short cartoon, I sit at the small table to catch my breath. I need to start living and avoid slipping back into my mistake, whatever Ethan is doing with his time shouldn't and won't no longer be my concern.The rest of the afternoon passes in the familiar rhythm of our old life. I make a simple dinner. Liam talks through every bite about the “big house with the tall windows asking why Ethan couldn't join us.” Lila albeit quiet couldn't keep calm till she understands why we left and why she hasn't seen Ethan. I try my best
ISABELLA’S POVThe moment the guest room door close, the fear that has been sitting in my chest turns pours out.“You took them to a construction site,” I say, keeping my voice low so I do not wake them. “You left this apartment with my children, to an active development site, without even trying to inform me first, then you went ahead and not answer a single call.”Ethan stands near the windows, still in the clothes he wore to the site. “There was an accident. Two of my workers were hurt. I had no one to leave them with and no time to wait.”“You had a phone.” My voice remains controlled, or not, I don't care at this point. “You had time to send a message about going to the playground but did not have time to tell me you were taking them to a work emergency?”“I should have called.”“You should have stayed here.” I step closer. “Do you understand what it felt like to come back to an empty apartment? To call and get nothing? To sit here not knowing whether something had happened to th
ISABELLA’S POVReceiving a message from the property agent around 10 am, regarding the commercial space I have been considering for my startup’s first small office is suddenly available for a final site visit today just made my day but also put me in a dilemma. Because if I want to secure it, I need to see it before the end of the day. I match into the living room where Ethan is with the twins. I need to go out for a few hours, there’s a site visit for an office space I am looking to get. I shouldn’t be gone for more than three hours.” He looks up. “All right.” I crouch down to the children’s level. “Mommy has to go look at a place for work. You’re going to stay with Ethan. Be good all right.” Liam nods seriously. “We can show him all of our toys.” Lila reaches for a quick hug, then returns to her play toy. I give Ethan a short list of reminders from their snack times, to the show they are allowed to watch, and the fact that Lila still needs her bear within sight. Unsuprisingly
ISABELLA’S POVBy the second day in the penthouse, our day begins not so quietly especially waking up to the sound of Lila’s soft babbling and Liam already up in bed, messing with his truck as if it might have changed overnight. For a moment I forget where I am. Then the tall windows and the unfamiliar furniture reminds me, that we are still here. We trying to keep to the temporary arrangement we agreed on. This is begining to look like a terrible decisionI get the children dressed and take them to the kitchen. Ethan is already there, with coffee in his hand. He has must have learned from yesterday not to disturb me. He simply says good morning without trying to take over. I appreciate the restraint more than I show.Breakfast is simple and tasty except when Liam said that the toast needs “more butter to make it stronger.” When Lila drops a piece of fruit, she looks at me with wide eyes, waiting to see if I will be upset. I clean it up without comment and hand her another piece. Etha
ETHAN'S POVI wake up feeling wrong.My head is thick, foggy, and weighted down by something heavier than a normal night’s sleep. I’ve been drinking whiskey since I was twenty-two, and I know the exact texture of a whiskey morning ... the cotton mouth, the dull throb behind my eyes, the slow churn i
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







