Semua Bab Ruin me, Gently : Bab 171 - Bab 180

ISABELLEThe ice cream place was exactly what he hadn’t described — small, tucked between two quieter streets, the kind of place that had clearly been there for decades and intended to stay. A handwritten board. Three flavors Matt somehow already knew were exceptional.We walked with our cups through the mild morning, and it was — ordinary. Completely ordinary. In the best possible way.Just two people walking. His hand finding mine between bites. Me stealing from his cup twice and being caught both times.The park came naturally after.We found a bench near the path and sat.Our ice cream cups still in hand — the last of them melting quietly in the mild morning air.It was there that Matt saw them first — a couple, not much older than us. A stroller between them. The father crouching to adjust something on the baby’s blanket while the mother watched with an expression I recognized as tired and completely in love simultaneously.“That’ll be us soon,” Matt said quietly.Not a question.

ISABELLEI woke up to an empty bed.Not unusual. Matt was an early riser by habit — years of schedules that started before the rest of the world had decided to. I stretched slowly, one hand finding the warm indent where he had been, and lay there for a moment in the quiet.My bump was more visible now.Fifteen weeks and the roundness was undeniable. I pressed my palm flat against it the way I always did first thing in the morning.“Good morning,” I said quietly.The door opened.Matt. In his sleep shorts and a simple shirt, standing in the doorway. He stopped when he saw me — sitting up against the pillows, hand on my stomach.Something moved through his expression.“You’re up,” he said.“You left,” I said.“I was getting things ready.” He crossed to the bed and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Then to my stomach. “Good morning.”“Good morning,” I said. “Both of us.”He almost smiled.“Come,” he said. “Let’s get ready and have breakfast.”………Matt and I did our thing and were out of the

ISABELLE I saw the guilt before he even reached us.It was in the way he walked — not the confident stride I remembered but something more careful. More considered.He stopped at our table.“Sage.” He acknowledged her first.Sage looked at him. Said nothing. Just picked up her coffee.He cleared his throat and turned to me.“Hi Bella.”I took a moment.“Hi,” I said.Simple. Polite. Nothing added.“Good to see you.” He paused. “You look good.” A small, uncomfortable laugh. “This feels weird. I know.” He exhaled. “But I’ve wanted to say something for a long time. I couldn’t reach out — you know why — so I’m glad I have the chance now.”He held my gaze.“I’m sorry, Bella. For everything I put you through. The way I handled things. The way it all came out.” He paused. “I’m also sorry on Aurora’s behalf. She’s my wife now.” Another small laugh — this one different. More resigned. “I didn’t exactly plan it that way, but she was having my child, and I had to make it work.” He looked at me s

ISABELLEI was almost at Enrico’s door when I stopped.The bag.I looked down at it on my arm and almost laughed at myself. I had walked the entire length of the corridor to my boss’s office carrying a Birkin and hadn’t even thought about it until now.He had seen it already, though. In the corridor. There was nothing to be done about that.I smoothed my dress instead.Which led to the other thought — the one that had been sitting quietly at the back of my morning since I got dressed.It had taken me forty minutes this morning to find this dress. Forty minutes of standing in front of the mirror — turning left, turning right, smoothing fabric over my stomach, stepping back, stepping closer — trying to find the angle where nothing gave itself away. My wardrobe had been failing me lately. What used to drape easily now required careful negotiation. I needed new things. More things. Things that did exactly what this dress was doing without making me work for it every morning.Matt had watc

ISABELLE I felt Matt’s arms come around my waist from behind.He pulled me close — his lips finding the side of my head first, then my cheek. Then his hand gently tilted my chin toward him, and he kissed me.“I’ll be right back,” he said against my lips.“Mm.”“You’ll be okay?”“I’ll be fine.”He kissed me again. Slower this time.“Matt—”“One more.”I laughed against his mouth.When he finally pulled back, his hands were still at my waist. He looked at me the way he looked at things he was reluctant to leave.“Sammie will take care of you,” he said.“I know.”“And if you need anything—”“Matt.” I pressed my hand flat against his chest. “Go.”Something moved at the corner of his mouth.Then he released me and followed Claire down the hallway.Sammie appeared at my elbow immediately.“You two,” she said. “In front of his mother. In his mother’s house.”“He started it,” I said.She burst out laughing.“Come,” she said, taking my hand. “Tour. Now.”……….The house was exactly what Claire