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Home / Romance / After The Divorce: He Wanted Me Back / Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

All Chapters of After The Divorce: He Wanted Me Back: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

207 Chapters

Chapter 172

IsabellaThe ringing of my phone on the marble counter sounded like a siren, sharp and intrusive, slicing through the heavy, whispered promise Gabriel had just left hanging in the air.The spell didn’t just break; it shattered.I flinched, the sound pulling me back to my senses so fast it made my head spin. Gabriel’s hand, which had been cupping my neck with such certainty, hesitated for a fraction of a second before slowly pulling away. The vulnerability in his eyes flickered, replaced by his usual calm, though a faint trace of that raw desperation still lingered in the tight line of his jaw.He took a step back, the cool air of the bathroom suddenly feeling much colder without his proximity. He watched me for a moment—long enough for me to realize I was standing there, breathless and shivering, unable to even look at the glowing screen of my phone.“Isabella,” he said softly, his voice returning to that sweet, grounded tone I knew so well.I finally looked at him, my heart still thu

Chapter 173

Isabella The lunch was surprisingly peaceful. The sea breeze kept the heat at bay, and the food—simple and light—was exactly what I needed to ground myself. As I set my fork down, looking out at the horizon where the blue of the water met the blue of the sky, the silence between us felt different. It wasn’t the heavy, suffocating silence from before, but something... softer.“That was amazing,” I said, leaning back. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”Gabriel watched me, a satisfied look in his eyes as he sipped his water. “I’m glad you liked it.”“So...” I started, looking at the remains of our meal. “What’s the plan for the rest of the day? Do we have a schedule, Mr. Tour Guide?”Gabriel let out a low, amused huff. “Well, the sun is at its peak right now. It’s too hot to do anything adventurous. We can take a nap or just rest for a while. Is there anything you particularly want to do?”He leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with a hint of a secret. “I have a place in mind to take y

Chapter 174

Isabella I must have been more exhausted than I realized. The cool air and the soft hum of the room had lulled me into a deep, dreamless sleep.For a few moments, as I began to drift back toward consciousness, everything felt perfect. I was warm, surrounded by a scent that felt like home—sandalwood, sea salt, and something uniquely him. I felt a heavy, steady weight draped over my waist, and my head was resting on something firm yet comfortable.What a nice dream, I thought, nuzzling closer into the warmth.But then, the "dream" breathed.I felt a soft, rhythmic huff of air ruffle the hair at the top of my head. My eyes snapped open, though I kept my face pressed against the warm skin beneath me. My heart stopped.I wasn't dreaming.I was draped across Gabriel’s chest like a blanket. My arm was thrown over his torso, and my head was tucked perfectly into the crook of his shoulder, using his bicep as a pillow. We were tangled together so completely that I couldn't tell where I ended a

Chapter 175

Isabella The motorcycle ride had been a blur of wind and adrenaline, but as Gabriel cut the engine at the edge of a narrow trail, the silence of the island’s heights took over.“This way,” he said softly, reaching back to take my hand. His grip was firm, guiding me through a path lined with wild ferns and weathered stones.As we broke through the treeline, the world suddenly opened up.We were standing on the summit of a towering cliff, the highest point on his mother’s private island. The view was staggering. Below us, the turquoise waters of the cove deepened into a dark, royal blue as the ocean stretched toward the horizon. From this height, the neighboring islands looked like emeralds scattered across a sheet of glass, their white-sand shores glowing in the fading light.But the centerpiece was the lighthouse.It sat at the very edge of the precipice, a sturdy, white-washed tower that had clearly stood against a century of storms. Its glass lantern house caught the first golden-o

Chapter 176

IsabellaI stood there, paralyzed by a whirlwind of emotions that refused to settle. My fingers were white from gripping the voided petition, and for the first time in my life, I couldn't recognize my own heart.I wanted to scream at him for the deception, for making me live a lie and treating my life like a game of chess he was determined to win. I felt played, as if every "sweet" moment we’d shared since the divorce was just a calculated move to lead me back to this cliffside revelation.But beneath the anger, there was a treacherous, quiet hum of relief that terrified me.Deep down, in the places I was too proud to admit, I hadn't wanted to be free. Hearing that we were still husband and wife felt like a safety net had suddenly appeared beneath me, catching me just as I was about to fall into the unknown. The fact that he had been so desperate—so utterly unwilling to let me go that he would risk his integrity and my fury—sent a confusing jolt of happiness through my veins."I don't

Chapter 177

IsabellaThe stars began to pierce through the deep indigo of the sky, but neither of us was ready to move. The adrenaline from his confession had ebbed away, leaving a strange, quiet intimacy in its wake.Gabriel sat on the edge of the plateau, his legs dangling over the side, and after a moment’s hesitation, I sat beside him. The wind was stronger now, chilling the salt spray on our skin, but Gabriel didn't let me feel the cold. He shifted closer, pulling me into the crook of his arm and wrapping his jacket around my shoulders.I leaned my head against his shoulder, watching the rhythmic pulse of the lighthouse beam as it swept across the churning white foam of the waves below."It’s peaceful up here," I murmured, the sound of the ocean rhythmic and hypnotic."It is," he agreed, his voice a low vibration against my temple. He rested his cheek atop my head, his hand tracing absentminded patterns on my arm. "Sometimes I think the world only makes sense when it’s this quiet."We stayed

Chapter 178

Isabella The dinner had been perfect—perhaps too perfect. The weight of the wine and the rhythmic crashing of the waves against the shore made the atmosphere thick with a comfortable, yet lingering, curiosity."I've decided to go," Gabriel said suddenly, leaning back on his elbows as he looked out at the dark horizon. "To the party. I think it’s the right thing to do. For the company, Lucas and... for us."I looked at him, the flickering candlelight catching the sharp lines of his jaw. There was something in his tone—a slight hesitation, a weight in the way he said "us"—that made my intuition flare up. Gabriel was a man who usually moved with absolute certainty, but right now, it felt like he was holding a piece of a puzzle I hadn't seen yet."Really?" I asked softly, searching his face. "You seem... different about this one, Gab."He offered a small, reassuring smile and reached over to give my hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't overthink it, Isabella. I just want everything to be right

Chapter 179

Isabella The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of the villa, much softer and warmer than the electric tension of the night before. Waking up in the same bed.We moved through breakfast with a quiet, comfortable domesticity.We spent the morning at the Blue Lagoon as promised, the water so clear it felt like floating on air, but even the vibrant coral and the tropical fish felt like background noise to the simple reality of being near him.By the time the sun reached its peak, the playful splashes of the morning had faded into the practical reality of our departure.The sounds of the island—the gentle lapping of the waves and the rustle of the palms—seemed to grow louder as we packed, as if the paradise itself were trying to convince us to stay.Gabriel was by the window, his silhouette sharp against the bright midday sun. He looked out at the dock where the seaplane was bobbing gently in the water, waiting to take us back to the skyline and the noise."In a few days,

Chapter 180

Isabella The transition back to professional life was like a cold splash of water after the warmth of the island. The humid city air hung heavy over the construction site, a stark contrast to the sea breeze I had grown used to. I was back in my element, clipboard in hand, but my mind was still half-clinging to the memory of the lighthouse.Elias caught up with me near the staging area, adjusting his hard hat as he squinted at the blueprints spread across the makeshift table."You're back," he noted, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "And you look... remarkably less stressed than when you left. I take it the 'emergency' trip was successful?""It was... illuminating," I replied, trying to keep my voice professional despite the heat rising in my cheeks. "But we have a lot to catch up on here. How are the foundations looking for the north wing?"Elias gave me a brief update on the site's progress, but I could tell he was waiting for the shop talk to end. Finally, he leaned against the

Chapter 181

Isabella The air in the house was thick with a mix of nerves and excitement. Tomorrow was the gala—the night Gabriel would officially reclaim his place in the Thorne empire, and the night I would have to navigate a room full of people who still thought our marriage was a tragedy of the past.A heavy, matte-black box sat on my coffee table, delivered by a private courier just an hour ago. The card on top simply read: “For the woman who deserves to be the center of the room. I’ll see you tomorrow, Isabella. — G.”Mia was practically vibrating beside me. "Open it! Open it! If that’s from the Gabriel Thorne collection, I might actually faint."I carefully lifted the lid, and even in the dim evening light of the living room, the fabric seemed to glow. It was a gown made of deep, midnight-emerald silk—elegant, structured, and timeless. It didn't scream for attention; it commanded it. Beside the dress was a small velvet case containing a pair of vintage pearl earrings, simple and stunning.

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