All Chapters of After The Divorce: He Wanted Me Back: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Isabella Lunch stretched longer than any of us expected.Plates were cleared, then replaced with coffee, then dessert that Mia insisted on ordering “for morale.” The window beside us framed the vineyard road in warm afternoon light, dust floating lazily in the air as trucks passed by in the distance.Elias leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely. “So,” he said, eyes returning to me, “tell me more about the next phase. Beyond barrels and aging.”I didn’t hesitate. This was the part I loved—the part that felt like building something alive.“We diversify without diluting,” I said. “The flagship wines remain untouched. Same standards. Same scarcity. But we introduce a secondary label—still estate-grown, still controlled—but younger. Accessible. It brings people in without lowering the ceiling.”Mia nodded. “Gateway wine.”“Exactly,” I said. “It funds the patience required for the rest.”“And tourism?” Elias asked.I smiled faintly. “Selective. By appointment. Curated experiences.

Isabella The phone ringing at midnight never meant anything good.That was my first thought as my eyes fluttered open, disoriented, the room still wrapped in darkness. My body reacted before my mind did—hand instinctively moving to my stomach, breath shallow as I reached for the phone on the bedside table.12:00 A.M.Exactly.The name on the screen made my chest tighten.Gabriel.For a second, I considered letting it ring.I didn’t. I never did.“Hello?” My voice was rough with sleep.“Open the door.”I sat up straight. “What?”“I’m outside.”That did it.I glanced at the clock again, convinced exhaustion was finally playing tricks on me. “Gabriel, it’s midnight.”“I know.”“Why are you—”“Please, Isabella,” he said quietly. “Just open the door.”There was something in his tone—controlled, yes, but strained. Like he’d been holding his breath for hours and only just decided to let it out.I swung my legs off the bed, slipped on a cardigan over my sleep dress, and walked downstairs. Ev

Isabella Sleep didn’t come.I lay on my side, staring at the dark ceiling, listening to the rain soften into a steady hush. Every time I closed my eyes, my mind betrayed me—replaying moments I hadn’t given permission to linger.Gabriel standing in my hallway.The bracelet.Pink pajamas.That quiet, embarrassed smile.I turned onto my back with a sigh.This was ridiculous. He was asleep on my couch. Temporary. Passing through my life again like a storm that didn’t intend to stay.Still, my chest felt tight.After another failed attempt at sleep, I gave up.Milk usually helped. Warm. Familiar. Something grounding.I slipped out of bed quietly and padded down the hallway, careful not to turn on the overhead lights. The living room was dim, lit only by the small lamp near the corner and the faint glow filtering in through the rain-streaked windows.That’s when I saw him.Gabriel was asleep on the sofa, stretched out awkwardly like he didn’t quite fit. One arm rested across his chest, the

Isabella After the call ended, I didn’t move right away.I stood in the middle of my room, phone still loose in my hand, like if I moved too fast, the decision would slip away from me. I had said yes. One word—but it felt heavier now, settling somewhere deep in my chest.I set the phone down on the bed and took a slow breath.It’s just dinner, I told myself. Nothing more.I opened my closet and stared for a long moment. I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard. I didn’t want to look careless either. I didn’t want my clothes to say something I wasn’t ready to explain.I chose a simple dress in the end—soft fabric, muted color. Not tight, not loose. Something that skimmed instead of clung. It felt like a compromise, the way most of my choices had lately.When I pulled it on, I stopped in front of the mirror.I looked the same at first glance. Same face. Same eyes. But the change was there if you knew where to look. I placed a hand over my stomach without thinking.The bump was

Isabella The drive back was quiet, but not empty.The city stretched endlessly outside the window, lights blurring into soft gold and white streaks as we moved through the streets. It was late, but the world didn’t feel tired—just hushed, like it was holding its breath.I rested my head against the window, watching reflections shift and disappear. Buildings rose and fell like memories I hadn’t asked to revisit.“Gab,” I said suddenly.He glanced at me, instantly attentive. “Yeah?”“Can we stop… just for a bit?” I gestured vaguely toward the road ahead. “Somewhere with a view.”He didn’t ask why. “Of course.”A few minutes later, the car slowed and pulled into a quiet overlook—high enough that the city unfolded below us like a living map. Thousands of lights flickered in the distance, steady and alive, unaware of how fragile everything felt inside me.Gabriel parked, turned off the engine, and stepped out first. The cool night air rushed in when he opened my door, grounding me instan