Chapter 28 - Shattered Pieces

Isabella reached their room and slammed the door behind her. Her body was still shivering like a leaf, she fell back against the bed, trying to calm her racing heart.

The stabbing pain of betrayal was eating her inside out, the urge to vomit intensified as her mind replayed over and over again the horrendous scene from his office.

‘You need to calm yourself to be able to get out of here soon!’

Scanning the surroundings in the attempt to come out with a plan, she picked herself from the bed, crawled to the window, opened it and took deep breaths filling her lungs with fresh air, the chilly wind soaking the tears from her cheeks.

‘You are such a crybaby, Isabella!’

Without a second thought, she changed her outfit and started packing a small bag. The clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories did not belong to her and she did not intend to take anything that would remind her of him.

‘As if he were someone easy to forget, yet he might wipe up any trace of my existence in a flash. In fact, he already did.’

Her heart ached at the idea that she meant nothing to him, that he now had the woman he wanted all along, that he was with the love of his life.

‘Call me stupid, but I do want him to be happy. I just wished I were the one to bring him happiness.’

She sighed and contemplated the place once more, trying to take in all the details before leaving forever.

“What are you doing?” Edmund barged into the room, his handsome features flashing a dejected frown.

His eyes landed on the papers that he was holding in his hands.

‘That’s the damn contract probably.’

“What does it look like I’m doing?” She raised a brow at him sarcastically, yet her voice gave out her pain. “I’m leaving.”

His knuckles tightened into a fist at his side. “Why?”

Isabelle burst out into a nervous laughter and a tear rolled down her cheek before she could stop it. “So that’s why you did not want to make love with me when we arrived home. She was waiting for you!” She hissed angrily.

“What?” He stared at her with a shattered look on his face.

“I saw you Edmund, I saw you having sex with that woman in your office!” She snapped.

His forehead creased in confusion, their gazes collided and she could spot raw fear in his eyes. Her treacherous heart desired to run into his arms and comfort him, against her better judgment.

“Tell me, in that contract of yours, is there any mention of adultery?” She pushed.

“It’s not what you think.” He inched near her.

She felt forced to take a step back, to put some distance between them, his closeness melted away her determination, and at the same time, it disgusted her.

“I went down to pick up the contract and make a few phone calls, that’s it. She just appeared there, I didn’t ask for it.” His voice softened, almost breaking.

“So you didn’t know she was in this house, no?”

“I did know.” He confessed.

Isabella’s rage was growing even more, and she didn’t think that was possible. “Were you planning to tell me?”

“I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how you'd react.”

“So it was better to witness first hand your sexual act, no?” She lashed out.

“There was no sexual act, for fuck’s sake!” He shouted, the ridges on his neck turning dangerously pronounced.

“Really? You must really see me as a fool, no Edmund?” Her heart broke all over again at the mental picture of them together. “Why did you pick me? Did you have trouble filling your bed? Did poor Isabella seem like an easy target for the great Edmund Stark?”

Tears were dripping from her eyes again, against her pride and will.

“You know, I bet women wait in line for you to feast on them.” She added.

“No! I—" He grabbed her hand and she flinched at the contact, every single pore of her body growing nauseated at the touch.

“Don’t touch me! Ever again!” She warned and he released her. “Did you have to go to the extent of making me fall in love with you? Pretend that we are married?”

‘I fell in love with him like a silly teenager would fall in love with the idea of ‘prince charming’. He pushed all the right buttons.’

She knew from the start that he was out of her league, yet she fell for him the moment he stepped into that second-rate dinner. Every single display of concern from his part only intensified the feeling, and her intimate moments made it rise steeply.

And she hoped, she really hoped that she and him would get a happy ending eventually. She continued to have faith in that relationship, all before she faced the wicked reality.

‘I’ve made a fool of myself.’

“Did you laugh with that...?” She paused, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before saying something really insulting. “That… woman on my account?”

His breathing turned hard, he looked like a completely different person, he appeared to be ready to tear down the house.

“You look very menacing now, should I be afraid of you, should I fear for my safety?” She challenged him.

“What? No!” He declared in disbelief, utterly shocked by her accusation. “Let’s clear out this misunderstanding.”

Her cup was full to bursting. “How? How are you planning to do that?”

“Let’s call her, let’s call Regina. She will confirm that what I’m saying it’s true.”

She felt anger creeping up before cracking into another nervous laughter. “Really? No need, dear, she and I already had a small chat.”

He narrowed his eyes. “And she said what?”

She swallowed, forcing down a lump in her throat. “What do you think?”

His eyes darkened a shade, his face flushed in indignation, his body shaking with rage.

‘Did he expect Regina to deny what I have seen with my own eyes? Why would she do that?’

Regina was more than happy to rub it in Isabella’s face, while pretending that she was all innocent in the story.

‘She might have been planning this from the start, but it’s his fault that he fell in her trap. It’s because he loves HER.’

It didn’t matter, she told herself. She flew all the way to New York with a purpose, and Edmund was not part of it.

From that moment on, her only interest was her sister. She would stay by her side until she recovers and after that, she would return to her regular life.

He opened his mouth to say something, but they heard a heavy knock before the door opened.

Moira.

“What is going on here? Why are you shouting?” She inquired with obvious worry in her voice, her gaze flashing from Edmund to Isabella and back, searching for answers.

Isabella blazed murderously at him before providing her the answer. “Better ask your cousin here why he was having sex with that woman in his office!”

She watched how Moira’s eyes switched from angst to outrage. “What? Are you so fucking stupid, Edmund? I thought you should know better! Jesus!”

The tension in his jaw hinted at frustration. “No, I am not, but apparently, both of you are convinced that I am.” He whispered, defeated.

Moira turned to Isabella, her face softened at her expression. “What are you going to do?”

“Leave this house immediately, of course.”

She sighed. “I’ll come with you.”

“No need.”

“It’s not debatable, I’m not staying a minute longer in this house with my idiot cousin. We’ll go to a hotel and spend a girl’s night. We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow, okay?” She assured and Isabella admitted that it was the best course of action.

She nodded in agreement, giving him another repulsed glare before turning around and storming out.

‘Goodbye, my love, I hope you will be happy!’