Chapter 122: A Weekend Away

I wonder what you did to her to make her fall so deeply in love with you that she listens to everything you say. I wonder why she’s scared of you sometimes. You don’t have to make her scared of you. She can talk to anybody she wants to talk to. You don’t need to know everything that is going on in her life. Give her some privacy. She has a right to her privacy. Got it, Alex?”

Alex was very angry at the way Trisha spoke to him. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. No one had the audacity to look him in the eye and speak to him so rudely. But this girl standing right in front of him just did, and he promised himself that he was going to make her pay for it one day.

He didn’t bother to utter a word to her. Instead, he turned around and started walking away. As he walked toward the car, he muttered to himself, “I’m slowly turning into a villain like Lily.”

Alex walked over to the car where Isabella was waiting for him, his steps heavy with frustration. He had just received the shock of his life; it was the first time someone had ever spoken to him so rudely. He opened the driver’s door, got in, and closed the door behind him with a loud thud.

Isabella looked at him, concern etched on her face. “What’s wrong?” she asked, but he remained silent, his jaw clenched. He started the engine and drove home in tense silence.

Once they arrived, Isabella went upstairs, changed her clothes, and took a quick shower, opting for something comfortable. Afterward, she walked into Mirabel's room and found her sitting on the bed, focused on her phone. Isabella sat beside her and asked what she was doing and if she could see, but Mirabel gave her the cold shoulder.

“What do you want?” Mirabel asked tersely.

Isabella tried to start a conversation, but Mirabel cut her off, accusing her of not telling Alex the truth. “You have to tell him about you and James,” she said harshly, her tone lacking any compassion. Isabella felt the sting of her words.

“Mirabel, please listen to me—” Isabella began, desperate to explain her reasons for keeping the secret, but Mirabel refused to hear any excuses. She continued to berate Isabella, calling her a liar and a cheat, insisting that she owed Alex the truth.

Isabella felt humiliated. Mirabel had never spoken to her like this before. After a few painful moments of trying to defend herself, Isabella quietly walked out of Mirabel's room, tears welling in her eyes. She held them back, not wanting to cry.

Once in her room, she sat on the bed, contemplating why Mirabel had been so harsh with her. It was as if the friendship they once had had shattered overnight. She felt lost and confused about whether she should tell Alex the truth.

In search of clarity, Isabella went downstairs to the kitchen, where she found Alex getting water from the fridge. She approached him and asked if she could have a glass of water too, but Alex ignored her as if she hadn’t spoken. He took his water and walked straight out of the kitchen.

Isabella stood there, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her. Why didn’t he acknowledge her? She grabbed a glass of water and followed him back into the room. Attempting to engage him in conversation, she realized that Alex was completely absorbed in his laptop, typing away while ignoring her.

“Why aren’t you responding to anything I’m saying, Alex?” Isabella muttered, frustration bubbling up inside her.

Alex finally looked up from his laptop, his expression cold. “What do you want me to say?” he asked, his tone flat.

Isabella stared at him, confusion and irritation swirling in her chest. She felt a mix of frustration and hurt at his dismissive attitude. Annoyed, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Alex to return to his work, unfazed by her departure.

In the living room, Isabella felt overwhelmed and heartbroken. She was confused by the way both Alex and Mirabel were treating her. Guilt gnawed at her for not revealing her secret about James, and the weight of her emotions felt too heavy to bear.

She thought about going to Trisha’s place for the weekend; maybe some time away would help ease the tension in the house. Determined, she headed back upstairs, packed a mini suitcase with random clothes, and prepared to leave.

As she packed, Alex walked into the room. He greeted her, but she could tell he was still upset. “Where are you going?” he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.

“I’m spending the weekend at Trisha’s place,” Isabella replied coldly, her heart racing.

“Why?” he questioned, irritation creeping into his voice.

“I need to cool my head a bit. You and Mirabel have been ignoring me, and it’s too heated to stay here with both of you,” she explained, trying to maintain her composure.

Alex’s eyes narrowed, and tension hung thick in the air. He opened his mouth to respond but stopped short, choosing instead to turn away and leave her to her packing.

Isabella felt a mix of relief and sadness as she finished packing. She left the house, hoping that the weekend away would provide her with some clarity and the space she desperately needed.