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Home / Romance / Ruin me, Gently / Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

All Chapters of Ruin me, Gently : Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

114 Chapters

Chapter 101

ISABELLEThursday AfternoonI was so focused on comparing zoning regulations across two documents that I barely registered the knock on my office door at first.Someone stepped in with a manila folder. “From Mr. Castellano,” they said, setting it on my desk before leaving.I opened it.A new project brief. Property acquisition for a commercial development downtown.My eyes scanned down to the team assignments.Project Lead: Rachel SummersAssociate: Isabelle ThompsonI stared at the names, my jaw tightening. Rachel?Enrico had paired me with Rachel.Again.Before Matt entered my life—before the photos, before Enrico thought he could use me to get close to Matteo Moretti—I’d been stuck working under Rachel constantly.She was my senior in title only. In practice, she did minimal work while I carried the entire load. And when things went wrong, Enrico blamed me.Every. Single. Time.Then Matt happened.And suddenly, Enrico was giving me “special treatment.” Better projects. More autonom

Chapter 102

ISABELLEThursday EveningI scraped the last of the dinner plates into the trash while Sage rinsed dishes at the sink.Mom was in the living room, resting on the couch after dinner. She’d been looking better lately—more color in her cheeks, more energy—but we still didn’t let her do much.“So Enrico’s being an ass again?” Sage asked, handing me a plate to dry.I nodded, my jaw tightening at the memory. “He paired me with Rachel on a new project.”“Rachel?” Sage made a face. “The one who takes credit for your work?”“That’s the one.” I dried the plate with more force than necessary. “I asked him to change the assignment. He told me if I didn’t like it, I should resign.”Sage’s hands stilled under the running water. “He said what?”“After everything I’ve done for that company,” I continued, my voice rising slightly, “all the late nights, all the projects I’ve saved—he threw resigning in my face like I’m disposable.”“Bella—”“I’ve dedicated years to that firm, Sage. Years. And this is h

Chapter 103

ISABELLEFriday Morning - One Week LaterI was curled up on my couch, laptop balanced on my knees, reviewing the latest draft of the property acquisition contract when my phone rang beside me.MattA smile spread across my face before I even answered.“Hey,” I said, unable to keep the warmth out of my voice.“Hey yourself.” His voice was low, intimate. “Miss me?”“Maybe.” I bit my lip. “Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting right now?”“I snuck out.”“Matt—”“I needed to hear your voice,” he said simply. “Sue me.”My chest tightened in the best way. “You’re terrible.”“I’m learning from the best.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “How’s work from home treating you?”I glanced at my laptop, at the dense legal language I’d been staring at for the past hour. “It’s fine. Quiet.”“Bored?”“A little,” I admitted. “But I’ll survive. I might go for a walk later. Get some air.”“Or,” he said slowly, “you could open your door.”I frowned. “What?”A knock echoed through my apartment.My hea

Chapter 104

ISABELLE “More than okay.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “That was—”“Overdue,” he finished.“Very”We cleaned up carefully-him using tissues from the console beside him, me adjusting my dress and underwear.Afterward, I tried to move back to my seat, but Matt pulled me against him. “Stay,” he said softly.So I did.I curled into his side, my head on his chest, his arm wrapped securely around me. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my ear was the most soothing sound in the world.“Comfortable?” he asked, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.“Very.”We stayed like that for a while, just existing together in the quiet hum of the jet.At some point, I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Matt was gently shaking my shoulder.“Isabelle,” he murmured. “We’re about to land.”I blinked awake, disoriented for a moment.“Already?”“You slept for a while.”I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and looked out the window. My breath caught.Below us, turquoise water sparkled i

Chapter 105

ISABELLE Birthday?My birthday?But I hadn’t-I never mentioned—And… baby?My mind spun, confusion and hope warring inside me.We’d never used pet names. Never called each other anything but our actual names.Was this for me?Or were we in the wrong place?I turned to Matt, my mouth opening to ask if we were in the wrong villa, when something else caught my eye.Pictures.Framed photos scattered across the mantel, the side tables, propped up on stands.Pictures of me.I stepped closer, my hand trembling as I picked one up.It was from last week. Me in Matt’s shirt, curled up on his couch, laughing at something off-camera.I had no idea he’d taken it.Another photo. Me at his kitchen counter, stealing a strawberry from his plate, completely unaware.Another. Me asleep in his bed, the sheets tangled around me, morning light streaming through the window.He’d captured me in dozens of unguarded moments. Moments I hadn’t even known existed.And seeing them now-seeing myself through his ey

Chapter 106

ISABELLE Matt carried me to the bathroom—a stunning space with a massive glass-enclosed shower and a marble countertop that looked out over the ocean.He set me on the counter, and I immediately wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer.“Insatiable,” he teased, but his hands were already on me again.He kissed me deeply, his hands cupping my breasts, thumbs brushing over my nipples until I was gasping into his mouth. “Matt一”“Just a little more,” he murmured, his mouth trailing down my neck. “Can’t help myself.”His lips closed around one nipple, sucking gently, and I arched into him with a moan.We stayed like that for several minutes-him worshipping my body, me clinging to him, both of us completely lost in each other.Finally, he pulled back, his eyes dark.“Shower,” he said firmly. “Before I take you on this counter.”“Would that be so bad?”His grin was wicked. “We have all weekend, babe. Patience.”He turned on the shower, and steam began to fill the glass enclosure

Chapter 107

ISABELLE Matteo guided me to the living room, to the corner overflowing with beautifully wrapped gifts.My heart was already so full, I didn’t know how I could possibly take more.But he selected a long, flat box wrapped in silver paper and held it out to me. “Open it,” he said, his voice soft.I took the box, my hands trembling.I unwrapped it carefully, not wanting to tear the beautiful paper, and opened the lid.I gasped.Inside, nestled in black velvet, was the most exquisite jewelry set I’d ever seen.A delicate necklace with a teardrop pendant that caught the light. Matching earrings that sparkled like stars.Simple. Elegant. Breathtaking.“Matt,” I breathed. “These are—”“For you,” he said. “To go with the dress.”I touched the necklace with trembling fingers, barely able to process that this was real.That he’d thought of everything.The trip. The dress. The jewelry.Every detail planned with care.“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered.“You don’t have to say anything.” He

Chapter 108

ISABELLE Matt walked me to the table, pulling out my chair with exaggerated formality that made me laugh.“Such a gentleman,” I teased.“Only for you,” he said, pressing a kiss to my shoulder before taking his own seat across from me.The table was set beautifully-white linens, flickering candles, and plates covered with silver domes.He lifted the first dome, revealing what looked like a beautifully plated appetizer.“I have no idea what half of this is, " I admitted, picking up my fork.“Neither do I,” he said with a grin. “But it looks good.”We ate in comfortable silence for a moment, and then he asked, “What was your favorite birthday? Before this one.”I thought about it. “Honestly? I don’t really remember having favorite birthdays. They were always just… days. My mom would make a cake. Sage would get me something. But nothing special.”His expression softened. “Then I’m glad I could give you this.”“What about you?” I asked. “What was your favorite birthday?”He was quiet for

Chapter 109

ISABELLE I did, my arms around his neck, and then he was pushing inside me in one hard thrust.We both groaned.“Fuck,” he breathed. “You feel so good.”Matt didn’t give me time to adjust, didn’t ease into it. He just took.Hard. Fast. Desperate.The wall pressed against my back with each thrust, his grip on my thighs bruising, and I loved every second of it. “Matt—”“You’re mine,” he growled. “Say it.”“Yours,” I gasped. “I’m yours.”“That’s right.” His mouth found my neck, teeth grazing my skin. “Mine. All fucking mine.”The combination of his words, his pace, the feel of him so deep inside me—it was too much.“I’m close—”“Come for me,” he demanded. “Let me feel you.”I shattered, crying out into the night, not caring if anyone heard, knowing no one could.Matt followed seconds later, his grip tightening, his face buried in my neck as he came with my name on his lips.We stayed like that for a moment, both breathing hard, the sound of waves crashing below mixing with our ragged br

Chapter 110

ISABELLESaturday MorningI woke to sunlight streaming through the open doors and the sound of waves crashing below.For a moment, I was disoriented-where was I?Then I felt the warmth beside me, the weight of an arm draped across my waist, and everything came rushing back.The birthday surprise. The villa. Matt.I smiled, my eyes still closed, savoring the feeling.“You’re awake,” a low voice murmured beside me.I turned my head to find Matt watching me, his hair messy from sleep, his eyes soft.“How long have you been awake?” I asked.“A while.” His hand traced lazy patterns on my hip. “I like watching you sleep.”“That’s not creepy at all,” I teased.He grinned. “You’re beautiful when you sleep. Peaceful.”I rolled toward him, nestling into his chest. “What time is it?”“A little after nine.”“We slept in. "“We had a late night.” His hand slid down my back. “A very late night.”Heat flooded through me at the memory. “We did.”We lay there for a while, just holding each other, neit

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