The next morning, Isabelle woke up early than usual and decided to go to the terrace and have coffee before everyone else. And if by chance she will meet Shawn, she will pretend nothing happened. She will pretend that it was nothing since he had told her that their kiss wasn’t a big deal for him, that it won’t change a single thing between them, that he will keep tormenting her. Isabelle put on a pair of black trousers instead of her reliable jeans and a white silk shirt, an outfit bought for her by Marie. Even the black flats were a gift and Isabelle thought they would be perfect for her new look. She brushed her hair until it became soft and silky and decided to leave it down. Isabelle closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of Shawn's fingers while he was caressing her hair."No!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "Isabelle, you can't! You have to stop, do you hear me?!"

         Leaning against a tree, she wrote a little, but she didn't like to sit still for too long. So, she got up and started exploring the surroundings that offered a wonderful view. Isabelle began to walk barefoot in the freshly trimmed grass, enjoying the sunlight and the scent of the roses. This was the period she preferred the most; it wasn’t too cold and not too hot outside. Isabelle looked at the blue sky, so clear and blue, and for the first time in so long, she felt free. How she would have liked to travel, go somewhere, without feeling worried about her father or Lucy. This little... work vacation, away from Andrew, was offering her a small taste of what her life would be like without too much responsibility.          She started laughing and opened her arms, dancing, and singing, with a heart full of happiness and freedom. She bega

         Marie was a bit puzzled. She didn't know that Billy was in contact with Caroline Spalding. There was no other woman more unfitted for her son than Caroline. For heaven's sake, she was intelligent, beautiful, but she had nothing in common with Billy. She nodded and smiled."Sweetheart, along with Marie and Shawn is also..." Erica began but was abruptly interrupted by her daughter.“Yes, Danielle has already told me who she is...” Caroline said with a half-smile, almost annoyed by Isabelle's presence. “I hope you will have a good time at my party... ah... Irene, right?” she added innocently.“Isabelle... Her name is Isabelle,” Marie defended her amazed by the slight malice that she noticed in Caroline's tone, someone that Marie knew since she was a little girl.

           His aunt approached him asking why he wasn't going to invite Isabelle to dance. Shawn drank the last drop of champagne from his glass as Isabelle was still dancing with Ted. He had known Ted for years, their families got along very well, but Shawn had always thought of Ted as being a bit… slimy. And right this very moment, he hated him with all his might."Aunt Marie, I don't want to dance with little Belle," he said. “Can’t you tell?”"I could, but all the guests around us are whispering about your… attention towards Isabelle," Marie replied very abruptly and looked at him sideways. “I think you should leave Isabelle and Ted alone and stop following them around like a stalker. It’s not very respectful of them.”“Since you know me when was the last

      The following morning, Isabelle dressed in her usual clothes. She needed to feel comfortable, to feel at ease in order to face Marie, who surely will ask her a lot of questions about what happened at the party. Isabelle knew she would encounter Shawn also. The worst part was the fact that on her wrist she had... a sign that Shawn's strong grip had left her. She joined the girls in their room, helped them get ready, and then they went together to the terrace. Marie was already sitting there, reading the newspaper. She smiled at her and hugged Frannie and Diana.          As the girls chatted among themselves, Marie turned her attention to Isabelle. Once again, she was wearing her usual clothes and this wasn’t very encouraging. She didn't know what had happened to her yet, but Marie was determined to find out this day. She will need to be very carefu