All Chapters of Ruin me, Gently : Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

ISABELLE I must have dozed off again because when I opened my eyes, the sun had shifted higher in the sky.Matt was still beside me, propped up on one elbow, scrolling through his phone.“Hey,” I said softly.He looked down at me immediately, setting his phone aside. “Hey. How are you feeling?”I did a mental check. The nausea was completely gone. My stomach felt settled. I actually felt.. good.“Much better,” I said. “Whatever that was, it’s gone.”Relief washed over his face. “You’re sure?”“I’m sure.” I stretched, feeling the tension leave my body. “I actually feel hungry again.”He smiled. “That’s a good sign.”I sat up, suddenly embarrassed by how much of the morning I’d wasted. “I’m sorry. I know you planned this whole amazing day, and I’ve spent half of it in bed-”“Isabelle.” He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “Stop. You didn’t waste anything. You weren’t feeling well. That’s not your fault.”“But—”“But nothing.” His eyes were serious. “I’d rather have you here,

ISABELLE Later, we went into the ocean, the water warm and crystal clear. Matt pulled me against him, my legs wrapping around his waist as we floated together.“I could stay here forever,” I said, my arms around his neck.“Me too”We kissed slowly, the waves rocking us gently, the world reduced to just the two of us.“Take a picture,” I said suddenly. “I want to remember this.”He smiled and waded back to shore, grabbing his phone from where we’d left it on the blanket.We took dozens of photos. Selfies of us smiling, kissing, holding each other. Photos of me in the water, laughing. Photos of him looking at me like I was his whole world.When we finally put the phone down, I felt marginally better.At least I’d have these. Proof that this weekend was real.………..As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Matt pulled me back against his chest, my back to his front, his arms wrapped around my waist. We watched in silence as the sun sank slowly toward the ho

ISABELLETuesday MorningThe conference room was emptying when Enrico spoke.We’d just wrapped a two-hour review meeting—contracts, timelines, quarterly projections—and Rachel, Heather and I were gathering our things to leave when his voice stopped us.“You know,” he said, leaning back in his chair with the particular brand of casual that always meant he was about to say something pointed, “I find it strange.”Nobody asked what.With Enrico, you never had to.“You.” He looked directly at me. “You look radiant today, Isabelle. Disturbingly so.”Rachel, who was halfway to the door, paused.“I thought I was the only one who noticed,” she said under her breath. Not quite quiet enough.Heather looked between all of us with wide, innocent eyes. “What am I missing? What is this about?”I closed my folder and smiled pleasantly. “They expected me to be miserable,” I said simply. “Because I didn’t give in to Moretti’s demands. The ones that were supposed to benefit Enrico’s company.” I tilted m

ISABELLEI pulled into the winding driveway of his hills house just as the last of the evening light was fading.I’d barely shifted the car into park when I saw him.Matt was already outside, leaning against the stone pillar by the entrance, arms crossed, wearing a simple dark t-shirt and sweats.Casual Matt.My favorite version.He straightened the moment he saw my headlights, and something in my chest did that thing it always did when I saw him after time apart.Like a rubber band snapping back into place.I barely had the door open before he was there.“Hi—”He pulled me out of the car and into his arms in one smooth motion, his mouth finding mine before I could finish the word.The kiss was immediate and desperate and achingly familiar.I melted into him, my arms going around his neck, my fingers curling into his shirt.We’d seen each other Monday.It felt like weeks.When we finally broke apart, both breathless, his forehead dropped to mine.“I missed you,” he said quietly.“I mi

ISABELLEI was still floating.Twenty-four hours later and I was still floating.I lay on my bed, buried under my duvet up to my chin, staring at the ceiling with a smile so ridiculous I was grateful no one could see me.Be mine.Two words.That’s all it had taken.No grand gesture. No elaborate setup. Just his arms around me, his lips in my hair, and then—quietly, like it had been sitting inside him for a while and had finally found its way out—Be mine. Properly. No contracts. No arrangements. Just… mine.And then later.See you soon, love.I pulled the duvet completely over my head.Love.He’d said it so casually. So effortlessly. Like it hadn’t even registered what he was saying. Like it was already natural. Already his.And then he’d shown up at my door half an hour later looking like everything I’d ever wanted, and I’d completely forgotten how to form sentences.I resurfaced from under the duvet, pressing both hands to my burning cheeks.Matteo Moretti had asked me to be his gir