Chapter 12
Isabella wanted to see Vitale. She planned to find him after the wedding was over—she didn't want him to suffer alone.
Sonia suddenly reached out and linked arms with the distracted Isabella, her sweet perfume overwhelming, "Dear Isabella, come with me to the restroom."
Isabella snapped out of her daze, "God, do you really need someone to go to the bathroom with you?"
She was a bit reluctant, but Sonia dragged her along anyway.
"Just think of it as a little secret between sisters." Sonia pulled her into the luxurious restroom without waiting for an answer and locked the door behind them.
The marble walls reflected their figures, and the air was thick with tension.
"Now tell me the truth," Sonia's voice suddenly turned ice cold, "Damn it, have you already lost your virginity?"
Isabella paced anxiously around the restroom, her high heels echoing sharply against the floor.
She knew Sonia wouldn't let this go easily.
If she said no, Sonia would definitely find ways to keep Colt chasing after her.
"Yes," Isabella stopped and looked Sonia straight in the eye, "I lost the dart game, and according to our bet, my first time belonged to Vitale."
"Damn it!" Undisguised jealousy flashed in Sonia's eyes as her fingers gripped the edge of the sink tightly.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Colt's voice came through, "Babe, need any help?"
Isabella yelled toward the door, "Colt, stop knocking, we're fine. I mean, stop hanging around outside the women's restroom—it's not polite."
The knocking stopped immediately.
Sonia looked at Isabella in shock, "So you spent the whole night with him? What exactly did he do to you?"
Looking at her sister's jealous expression, Isabella suddenly had an idea, "He kissed me and held me while we slept."
She deliberately softened her voice, "He's such a good kisser, I could barely breathe."
"But you said nothing happened between you two!" Sonia waved her arms dramatically, "Oh God, you lied to me, Isabella, you bad woman, you bitch lied to me."
Isabella gestured for her to lower her voice. "We didn't go all the way, but he really loves kissing and holding me, you know? That feeling is intoxicating."
Sonia suddenly unlocked the door, as if she couldn't stand this topic anymore.
"Enough, I'm leaving."
"Sonia." Isabella said softly behind her, "Vitale really is a gentleman, so you don't need to badmouth him and me."
Sonia turned back with a twisted smile, "Even if he is a gentleman, I can't have him. Don't worry, as long as you haven't wronged me or upset me, I won't do that."
"After all, I'm a lady too. Yes, I'm the most beautiful lady today."
The wedding took place as scheduled in the hotel's luxurious garden.
Father walked Sonia down the aisle covered in rose petals and placed her hand in Colt's.
Under the priest's witness, Colt vowed eternal loyalty to Sonia, but Isabella noticed his eyes kept drifting toward the bridesmaids.
Someone in that group of bridesmaids must have slept with him. In the past, Isabella would have warned Sonia, but now she felt her sister deserved to learn a lesson.
As the music played, the newlyweds kissed passionately in the dance floor, turning the wedding into a party filled with sexual tension.
Isabella stood alone in a corner, unable to stop thinking about Vitale.
She wished so badly to see that familiar figure in the crowd, but in the end, only Torian came.
"Miss," Torian respectfully handed her a gift box, "This is from the boss for you."
Inside the box was a sapphire bracelet and a champagne-colored evening gown.
Perfect to replace the one Sonia had torn.
"Didn't he come?" Isabella looked around, hoping to see that tall figure.
Torian shook his head, "The boss has things to handle. He hopes you'll have a good time, and I'll be watching over you from the shadows."
Isabella was disappointed but obediently went to the backstage room.
After changing into the gown, Isabella chose to stay on the garden terrace, away from the noisy party.
She didn't want any man other than Vitale to admire how beautiful she looked in this dress.
"Isabella?"
A familiar voice made her whole body stiffen.
Turning around, Isabella saw Chris Davis, her ex-boyfriend of three years.
Standing beside him was the Black woman who had broken her heart, her belly clearly showing she was several months pregnant.
Chris only nodded from a distance before taking his new love to congratulate the newlyweds.
Isabella watched them, remembering that nightmare afternoon a month ago.
She had come home early from a business trip, only to find Chris tangled up with this woman in the wedding bed she had carefully chosen.
"Hi, I'm Leila Garcia." The pregnant woman somehow appeared in front of her, with two bridesmaids by her side. "Chris talks about you often."
Isabella looked down at her phone, pretending to check it, her nails digging deep into her palms.
"He said you two were once very close," Leila stroked her rounded belly, her face glowing with happiness. "I mean, that's all in the past, right? You understand, don't you? You can't force feelings."
One bridesmaid chimed in, "Chris is so thoughtful with Leila. I heard he even got a vasectomy for her."
"Yeah," another bridesmaid added, "he said having Leila and the baby is enough for him."
Isabella bit her lip hard, tasting blood.
She remembered how impatient Chris had been when she begged him to go to the opera with her.
She remembered how he always used work as an excuse to cancel their dates.
Turns out it wasn't that he didn't know how to be gentle—that gentleness just never belonged to her.
As Leila was led away by the bridesmaids, she turned back to Isabella, "He feels bad about hurting you, but when true love comes, no one can resist it, right?"
Under the moonlight, Isabella stood alone, her champagne-colored gown gently swaying in the night breeze.
She touched the sapphire bracelet on her wrist and suddenly understood the deeper meaning behind Vitale's gift.
He had known all along that she would need this dignity and protection.
In the distance, Chris was gently helping Leila sit down, arranging cushions for her.
This man who had been stingy with every smile toward her was now pouring all his love onto another woman.
Isabella turned to face the ocean and took a deep breath.
The salty sea breeze reminded her of Vitale's embrace—that man she'd only spent one night with had given her more respect and care than three years of a relationship ever had.
"Miss," Torian appeared again out of nowhere, "The boss asked me to tell you that whatever you need, he's always here."
Isabella gazed at the shimmering sea in the darkness and suddenly realized she wanted to have Vitale's child.