All Chapters of Ruin me, Gently : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

MATTEOI’d been awake for over thirty hours straight by the time we finally landed. The wedding. The reception. My father. Sheila. All of it was finally behind me.And all I could think about was getting home. To her.I pulled out my phone the moment we touched down, staring at the blank screen.Five days. I’d gone five days without reaching out to Isabelle.Five days of telling myself I was respecting her boundaries. That I was doing the right thing by staying away.But the truth was simpler than that. I missed her.I opened a new message and started typing. I’m home. I know it’s been days, and I should have reached out sooner. Can I pick you up tonight? There’s something I need to tell you. And I got you something in Iceland—hoping you’ll let me give it to you in person.I stared at it for a moment, then hit send before I could overthink it.The car was already waiting on the tarmac. I climbed in, Charles sliding into the seat across from me.“Straight home, sir?”I nodded, leanin

ISABELLEI arrived at the office before seven.The building was still quiet. Just a few security guards. The cleaning crew finishing up on the lower floors.No Heather. No Rachel. No one who would want to talk about Matteo Moretti and his supermodel ex-girlfriend reuniting at his sister’s wedding.I’d timed it perfectly.I made my way to my office, set down my bag, and pulled out my laptop.If I could just bury myself in work. Stay focused. Get through the day without having to smile and nod while everyone gushed about how perfect they looked together—“Isabelle.”I froze.That voice.I looked up.Enrico was standing in my doorway.I must not have closed the door properly when I came in.“Enrico.” I stood up. “I didn’t realize you’d be in this early.”“We need to talk.” His tone was clipped. Sharp. “My office. Now.”He didn’t wait for a response. Just turned and walked away, clearly expecting me to follow.I straightened my dress and trailed after him, my heart pounding.This couldn’t

ISABELLEMatt pulled into a driveway I recognized immediately.The hills house.My chest tightened. Of course, he would bring me here.The engine cut off.Silence settled over the car—heavy, suffocating.I didn’t move. I didn’t look at him. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging we’d arrived.If I just sat here long enough, maybe he’d get tired of my silence. Maybe he would realize how ridiculous this was and take me back.“Isabelle.”I stared straight ahead.“We’re here.”I didn’t respond.I could feel him watching me. Waiting for me to look at him. To say something. To get out of the car.I did none of those things.Seconds ticked by. Ten. Twenty. Thirty.The silence stretched between us, taut and uncomfortable.I wasn’t going to move. Wasn’t going to make this easy for him.He’d dragged me here against my will. He could figure out what to do next.I heard him exhale—slow, controlled.Then his door opened.Closed.Footsteps crunched on the gravel, coming around to my side

ISABELLEI woke slowly, wrapped in warmth.Matt’s chest rose and fell beneath my cheek, steady and rhythmic. His arm was draped across my waist, holding me close even in sleep.It was the best sleep I’d had in a week.Maybe longer.I could tell he’d slept deeply too—we’d both been exhausted after… God, how many rounds had it been? Three? Four?I smiled against his skin, my body pleasantly sore in places that reminded me of every single moment.This.This was what I’d been jealous of.Not the money or the status or any of the superficial things people saw when they looked at Matteo Moretti.This intimacy. This connection. The way our bodies fit together like they’d been designed for each other.I’d never known myself to be possessive. Never been the type to get territorial or jealous.But the thought of anyone else experiencing this with him—touching him the way I did, hearing the sounds he made when he—No.I wasn’t willing to share this. Wasn’t willing to give this up.At least not y

ISABELLEI walked into the dining room, my phone still in my hand.Matt was seated at the head of the table, shirtless, wearing only grey joggers that hung low on his hips. Breakfast was already laid out—eggs, toast, fresh fruit, coffee—but he hadn’t touched any of it. Instead, he was typing something on his phone, his brow slightly furrowed.He looked up when I entered, his eyes tracking over me—taking in his white dress shirt that barely reached mid-thigh on me, my bare legs, my probably still-messy hair.Then his expression shifted. Concern flickered across his face.Matt set his phone down and pushed his chair back slightly, gesturing for me to come closer.I crossed to him, and he pulled me down onto his lap, his arms wrapping around my waist.“What’s wrong?” he asked, his thumb stroking my hip.I sighed. “I just completely lose my senses when I’m around you.”He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest into my back. “How so?”“I just got off the phone with Sage. She’s sli