Early in the morning, Isabella packed up all her belongings and tossed them downstairs.
The ring he had given her on the proposal day? She smashed it with a hammer, her face betraying no emotion, though her heart cracked with every blow.
The preserved roses from Venus ET Fleur he gave her for their wedding anniversary? She snipped
them to pieces with a pair of scissors, each cut a small act of defiance, leaving petals scattered across the floor like fragments of her heart.
And the couple pajamas he gave her for her birthday? She set them aflame, watching as the fire
consumed the last vestige of her past.
Everything else went straight into the trash downstairs.
After finishing, she went to three companies she had scheduled interviews with, trying to find a
job.
By the time she got home, it was already evening.
She pushed open the door and saw Alexander painting with Ivy.
Their heads were close together, so intimate.
She froze mid–step.
She thought about pretending not to see them and slipping away, but Ivy spotted her first. “Ms.
Miller!”
Alexander put down his brush and glanced at her indifferently. He introduced them succinctly, his
tone flat, “Ivy, this is my wife, Isabella. Isabella, this is…”
“Miss Thompson, right?” Isabella said softly, smiling and giving Ivy a small nod.
Ivy leaned forward, too close for comfort, her smile bright but a little forced. Isabella’s eyes
flicked to her hands and then to the subtle curve of her shoulders. Her posture felt oddly pressing.
Ivy smiled warmly. “I’ve heard so much about you from Alexander, Seeing you in person is even
better, Ms. Miller. You’re even more beautiful than in the photos!”
Isabella raised an eyebrow, noticing how close Ivy was standing. Ivy gave an awkward laugh and took a small step back.
Isabella’s brow furrowed as she recalled Ivy’s words. “He… showed you my photos?”
Chapter 2
13.33%
Ivy glanced at Alexander with smile and spoke naturally, “Of course. Even though I’ve been abroad all these years, Alexander and I have stayed in touch. We talk about everything!”
Everything?
Including their relationship? Her private photos?
Isabella forced a bitter smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth but not really smiling. She
suddenly felt exhausted, not wanting to speak to either of them any longer. “I’m going upstairs. You two can chat.”
She pushed open the spare bedroom door.
What she saw nearly stabbed her heart.
The room was filled with women’s clothes, cosmetics, even underwear. The luggage she had brought in that morning was nowhere to be seen.
She turned and saw the two of them behind her.
Ivy smiled with meaning. “Ms. Miller, my mom knows Alexander’s grandmother. She asked Alexander to take care of me while I’m back, so I’m staying at the Hawke residence. I guess I’ll be bothering you a bit over the next few days.”
“No bother,” Isabella said softly. “So… where’s my stuff?”
“Sorry, Ms. Miller. I didn’t know you and Alexander slept in separate rooms. When I saw those ladies‘ clothes while taking my luggage to the room, I wasn’t sure whose they were… so I threw
them out.”
Ivy tried to hide it, but Isabella caught a flash of satisfaction in her eyes.
Her hands curled into fists, knuckles whitening, a flush of anger shooting through her. “Who gave you the right to throw my things away without my permission?”
“I told her to. What’s the problem?” Alexander said flatly, looking at Isabella without a flicker of
emotion.
She always acted so capable–threatening divorce, sleeping in separate rooms… and yet she could still lose her composure?
Isabella stared at Alexander. “That silk pajama set was hand–sewn by my grandmother. It’s the last keepsake she left me! And you… threw it away too?”
Alexander pressed his lips together, tone emotionless. “It’s gone.”
Chapter 2
13.33%
Isabella covered her mouth, fighting back sobs, and turned to run out.
Alexander shouted after her, “It’s been gone a while. If you go downstairs to look now, you probably won’t find it.”
Isabella paused, wiped her tears harshly, and ran even faster.
That single tear made Alexander’s heart tighten.
He instinctively wanted to follow her out.
Behind him, Ivy gasped and fell to the floor. “Alexander, Isabella ran too fast and just twisted my ankle…”
Her eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill. She looked at Alexander with grievance.
Alexander paused mid–step, then turned back and gently picked her up. “Let’s get that treated
first.”
Ivy wrapped her arms around Alexander’s neck, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.
The sky had deepened to navy blue. Isabella had combed through the Greendale Dump and found
nothing.
By the time the clouds swallowed the last streak of sunset, exhausted, she dragged herself into a
cab and returned to the Hawke residence.
She went home with nothing, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, red from crying.
Passing the guest bedroom, she heard laughter and chatter inside.
She forced a bitter smile but couldn’t actually smile.
Less than ten minutes after she reached the master bedroom, Alexander came in.
She didn’t look at him. Not now.
Alexander strode in, opened the wardrobe, and handed her a box. It was the pajamas her grandmother had given her!
Seeing Isabella’s stunned expression, he explained concisely, “When Ivy threw things out, I set this pajama set aside.”
Isabella had held back her tears before, but clutching the soft silk in her arms, she couldn’t
anymore. The tears poured down.
Alexander’s eyes darkened and he continued. “What happened today is just a lesson, Isabella.
Chapter 2
13.33%
Don’t ever think about leaving me again. Next time, it won’t just be pajamas I throw away.”
Isabella’s shoulders trembled slightly. She buried her face in the clothes and said nothing.
Alexander asked, “I heard you went to interviews today. What, short on money lately?”
To her surprise, he had someone watching her every move. Isabella denied it immediately. “No… it’s just been a while since I worked. I wanted to see what the industry’s like now.”
Alexander smiled, wrapping his arms around her, and drew her in. “No need to check. I’ll take care of you for life.”
Isabella leaned into his chest, crying silently.
Alexander… the lifetime you promised feels so short.
