All Chapters of ISABELLA (The Night that ruined me): Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

ISABELLA P.O.VThe soft sound of laughter drifted from the living room, high and sweet. The kind only a five year old could make. For the first time in what felt like days, it wasn’t followed by silence or tension. Just joy.I lingered in the hallway, watching Drake as he crouched on the floor, our daughter’s tea set spread out in front of him. He wore that lopsided smile he saved just for her, the one that tugged at the corners of my heart no matter how heavy it felt.“Daddy, you’re not holding the cup right!” she giggled, fixing his pink plastic teacup with serious precision.“My apologies, Miss Eva,” Drake said solemnly. “I didn’t attend tea etiquette school like you.”She nodded, clearly proud of her expertise. “That’s okay. I’ll teach you.”I leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching them. The light caught in her curls and the way Drake’s eyes softened when he looked at her made something deep inside me ache.He still hadn’t said much to me since last night. Not cold. Not

DRAKE P.O.VThe scream ripped through the hallway, sharp and aching.I was out of bed in seconds, feet thudding down the corridor before my mind could catch up. I knew that scream. It wasn’t just pain. It was shattered.And it came from her.“Isabella!” I yelled and turned the corner, heart pounding and then I saw her.She was on the floor, crumpled into the corner of the wall, knees to her chest, arms over her head like she was shielding herself from something only she could see. Her breath came in short, letting out a shallow gasp, her body shaking violently.Like she was being attacked by a ghost.My chest tightened, I could feel lumps clawing at my throat.“Isa…” My voice broke. I crouched beside her, reaching out slowly like she might explode. “It’s me. It’s just me.”She flinched, eyes wild and unfocused. “Don’t touch me..don’t..” she whimpered.“I won’t, I swear,” I whispered, hands open. “But it’s me, baby. I’m here. You’re safe.”She let out a broken sob, nails digging into h

DRAKE P.O.VThe first thing I felt was heat.A dull, throbbing warmth pressed against my skull, spreading behind my eyes like fire trying to claw its way out. I groaned, grabbing my head and rolled to the side, and the sheets beneath me tangled like vines, unfamiliar and too soft.Then I noticed the scent. Jasmine.No, not the flower. Her.My body stiffened before my mind could catch up. My eyes snapped open.Light poured through half-drawn hotel curtains, bathing the room in an artificial gold. My body ached. Naked. Cold under the skin, though the air was warm. My breath came shallow,each inhale a ragged echo of panic rising in my throat steadily. My chest clutch at the realization.I tried to piece together the night, but the memories came back like shattered glass. Her smile, the drink, her voice purring “Cheers.” Then…nothing.And now?A hotel room.Her?.I turned sharply and there she was.Jasmine, reclining like a damn goddess created by sin, one arm propped beneath her head, l

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVENThe walk home felt longer than it should’ve.My heels echoed off the empty pavement, matching the erratic beat of my thoughts. Xavier’s words played continuously on my head, quiet but lethal ..“Meridian Hotel. Not exactly corporate.”I didn’t want to believe it.But why is he lying? I thought we should tell each other everything.The house was dark when I stepped back inside, cool and still. The silence stretched long enough to make me wonder if he’d gone to bed. But then I saw him in the kitchen, sleeves rolled, a glass of whiskey half full on the counter.He looked up.Relief softened his features. “Hey. Was starting to get worried.”“I told you I needed air,” I said, slipping my heels off by the door.“Still. It’s late.” He took a sip of his drink, watching me over the rim. “Everything okay?”I nodded slowly, walking toward the sink and pouring myself a glass of water. “Long walk.”A beat of silence. He leaned against the island, studying me, probably t

The charm was still warm in my hand, as if it remembered him too.I couldn’t stop staring at it. The sleek silver design, so clean and deliberate. My heart pounded against my ribs. I had seen this before years ago, on a chain Xavier wore religiously. He used to hold it between his fingers when he was thinking. Or lying.But that was impossible. It had to be.It couldn’t be his.Unless…The floor creaked above. My thoughts snapped. I looked up, just as the sharp tap of heels on tiles echoed down the stairs.And then she appeared.Granny Evelyn.Still regal despite her age, skin wrapped in pearls and bitterness, her expression carved into a permanent sneer of disapproval. She stood at the bottom step, arms folded, eyes glinting like polished glass, poisonous.“Well, well,” she said, with a grin as smug as it was venomous. “If it isn’t the mother of the year.”My heart dropped.Eva was still curled into my lap, hiccuping softly.I stood quickly. “Eva, sweetie, go upstairs with Nanny, oka