CRAVING ISABELLA のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 101 - チャプター 110

ISABELLA"What was that?" Chloe is by my side in seconds. "That," I say, staring at the locked door. My voice is a little shaky but I try to keep it steady. "Was Meredith. Noah's wife to be." I mutter, pushing myself off the booth bench, my legs feeling like jelly. "Let’s just close up, Chloe. Please."We work in silence, flipping chairs and locking the registers. But when we push through the front doors and I click the deadbolt into place, I realize the day isn’t done with me. Standing by the curb, leaning against a car, is Noah."Damn," Chloe whispers, her voice dropping an octave. "It’s been ages."Noah pushes off the car, his eyes locked on mine before flickering to her. "Hello to you too, Chloe."Chloe crosses her arms over her chest. "Bella, I’ll just go. Give you two some space.""Wait," Noah says. "I heard you’re getting married. I already got the invite."Chloe stops walking. Her head snaps toward him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What did you just say?""I got an invite,

ISABELLAThe next morning, after a day of relaxation and bonding, reality comes knocking. It's not the way I'd ever expected. I'm walking out of my class, adjusting the strap of my bag, when a woman in a charcoal grey blazer steps into my path. She isn't a student, and she carries the weary, authoritative air of someone who spends their days looking at transcripts and disciplinary files."Isabella Jordans?" she asks."Yes?""I’m Dean Halloway. Please, come to my office. We have some discrepancies to discuss regarding your historical housing records."I frown, following her through the labyrinthine halls of the administration building. "My housing? I live off-campus, Dean. I have since my freshman year. My scholarship didn't cover the dorms."She doesn't reply until we are behind her heavy oak door. She sits, gestures for me to do the same, and slides a manila folder across the desk."That’s where you’re mistaken, Isabella," she says, her eyes pinning me to the chair. "Your scholarship

ISABELLA"I'm not going anywhere, Minnie. Not until I earn your forgiveness. I don't know what Hardin told you, but just..." His voice is rough and a little breathless."He said you were leaving, because there was nothing left here for you. And he said that you put Meredith on the plane back to London?" Even I can hear the desperation in my voice. But I don't care. Not until I'm sure Meredith is gone, completely out of the picture. I hate her guts.When there's a pause, I know that that information too, is a lie. The fuck? What is wrong with Hardin? So he came here looking all that serious just to tell me lies? Fucking lies? To what end?"Minnie listen...""He came here just to lie to me," I murmur, sighing deeply. "Hardin lied to me," I say again."He was just trying to look out for me. He knows that my life means nothing without you."I squint my eyes. "Can you forget everything I said?" I ask softly. I'm referring to the cringeworthy speech I gave him over the phone when I thought

ISABELLA"None." Noah's brows arch. "But she said..."I keep a scowl on my face. "You know how Chloe is. She doesn't mean that. Besides... I have to apologise to her." My shoulders slump slightly. "You'll be fine, right? I'll just talk to her real quick and I'll be back."Noah nods. "And then we'll go to your parents."The expectant smile on my face falters. "Wait... you want to do that today?" I don't get why he'll want to ruin this perfect moment of ours with my parents whatever it is. I bit down on my lips, my head turning for words. "We have to make sure we'll be free to be together."No. Not if he puts it like that. As far as I'm concerned, my father and mother have no right whatsoever to tell me who to be with or not. Their control over me doesn't extend to who I'm seeing, who I love. Noah should know that. Telling them about what he did is just to clear the air and make them understand that they'd been leaving off my money and not Noah's generosity. It's about truth, not perm

ISABELLA"If Noah gets in here, you'll tell him you understand okay? You'll be nice. No crazy stuff, please." I plead, my eyes darting between her and the front door. The last thing I need is for her to go off the rails when Noah walks in. Sure, he knows how she can be, but... It'll be embarrassing for me again.She glances at the window and a smile that I don't understand appears on her face. "I'll tell him whatever I want to tell him. Now..." The front door opens before I can say anything else. I didn't exactly lock it when I entered. It has to be Noah. It has to be him. So... he's here. What now? Mom doesn't seem to get that she has to be quiet and not say anything that will make him uncomfortable. I hear the footsteps and my heart does a little flip when I spot Noah walking toward us. He's still in his clothes from earlier with a black leather jacket this time, which means he didn't spend much time at his place. Who even knows what Kol or Diva will do when he tells them about hi