Twenty Eight

Twenty Eight
ISABELLA —-

" Congratulations again, Enzo is throwing a party for you." My former colleagues said while I prepared coffee for Enzo.

"Thanks." I said to them silently as I brewed coffee.

" You don't have to thank us, you should thank enzot…after all isn't that the main reason why you have been doing all this." They said within themselves as they all began to laugh out loudly.

" What do you mean?" I asked gently, holding Enzo's coffee in my hands as I turned around to face them.

" You know what we mean, making your daughter claim that Enzo was her father and now he falls in love with your daughter's charm and won't let go." They said to me with a smirk, making me feel disgusted at how rumors could be so false.

I was about to walk past them when one of my colleagues pulled me by my hair making me almost spill Enzo's coffee.

"Ouch" I exclaimed as I battled with whomever hand was on my hair.

I turned around after they hand let go of my hair and it was Emma, Enzo's former secretary.

"What was the meaning of what you just did?" I exclaimed, making them all chuckle.

"You bitch, you took away my position from me and you still have the guts to talk, I worked for fucking hard to get there and you just came, showed your boobs at Enzo and took away everything." She said in a somewhat teary voice as one of the superior walks in making everyone rush out leaving only me and Emma to face each other.

"What's wrong with you and you Emma, how can you cause someone a problem you found yourself at . That's total rubbish." Our superior said to us but Emma's eyes were still all over me.

"I have to go, If Enzo's coffee gets cold he won't like it." I said to them rushing out before dropping anything.

Although Enzo seemed determined to take our relationship to the next level, I couldn't shake off the growing unease within me. I knew I had to protect myself and my daughter from potential heartbreak and in the midst of my colleagues' gossip and mh own doubts, I made a decision.

As I walked into Enzo's office, I placed the cup of coffee on his desk, trying my best to avoid eye contact. Enzo, however, had other plans. He stood up from his chair and walked towards me, his eyes full of desire.

But I gently placed a hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. "Enzo, please," I pleaded, My voice filled with sadness and hesitation. "I can't do this. I can't let this go any further."

Enzo looked at me, his confusion evident on his face. "Isabella, what are you saying? I thought we had something special."

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "We do, Enzo. But we also have Sofia. I can't risk hurting her, or us, by taking this any further. We need boundaries, for her sake."

Enzo's expression softened, and he reached out to hold My hands. "Isabella, I understand your concerns, but I genuinely care about you and Sofia. I want to be there for both of you."

I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes. "Enzo, I appreciate that, but we can't keep blurring the lines. Sofia needs stability, and I don't want her to get attached to you if we aren't sure of where we stand."

Enzo's grip on my hands tightened, his voice filled with desperation. "Isabella, I love you. I want to be a part of Sofia's life and yours. Please, don't shut me out."

Tears spilled down My cheeks as she looked into Enzo's eyes, my heart breaking with each word. "Enzo, I can't promise you anything right now. All I can promise is that I will always put Sofia first. If that means keeping a distance between us, then so be it."

Enzo nodded, his own tears welling up. "I understand, Isabella. I respect your decision, even though it hurts."

I gave him a sad smile, my voice filled with regret. "Thank you, Enzo. I hope you understand that this is for the best, for all of us."

As I turned to leave his office, Enzo reached out and pulled me into a tight embrace. We held each other for a brief moment, both knowing that this would be their last embrace for a while.

"Take care of yourself and Sofia," Enzo whispered against my hair. "I'll always be here for both of you, whenever you need."

I nodded, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Enzo. I'll keep that in mind."

With a heavy heart, I walked out of his office, leaving behind a connection that was both painful and intense. As I made her way back to her desk, tears continued to stream down my face. I knew that letting go of Enzo was the right thing to do, but that didn't make it any easier.

As I sat at my desk, trying to concentrate on my work, the whispers and gossip continued to swirl around the office. I could feel the judgmental stares and hear the snide comments, but I refused to let it get to me. I had made my decision, and I was determined to stick to it.

I took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. I had to prepare for the party that Enzo was throwing for me, despite the fact that I had just ended things between us. It seemed ironic, but I couldn't let my personal life interfere with my professional responsibilities.

I gathered the necessary documents and made a list of things I needed to take care of. Despite the turmoil within me, I couldn't deny that Enzo had been nothing but supportive and generous towards me and Sofia. He had given us a chance at a better life, and for that, I was grateful. The least I could do was attend his party and show my appreciation.

As I worked, my mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Enzo. The look of sadness in his eyes, the desperation in his voice - it haunted me. I knew I had to stay strong and stick to my decision, but it was incredibly difficult to let go of someone who had come to mean so much to me.

I pushed aside my emotions and focused on the preparations for the party. I reached out to the caterers, finalized the guest list, and made sure everything was in order. Enzo deserved a celebration for his hard work and dedication, even if it meant putting on a brave face.

The day of the party arrived, and I found myself standing in front of the mirror, trying to put on a smile. Sofia was excited about attending the party, and I didn't want to dampen her spirits. I had to be strong for her.

I took one final look at myself in the mirror, adjusting my dress and fixing my hair. I looked presentable, but inside, I felt anything but.

As we arrived at the venue, I could feel the eyes of my former colleagues on me. I held Sofia's hand tightly, trying to ignore the whispers and judgment. I had made my choice, and I had to own it, no matter what others thought.

Enzo greeted us at the entrance with a warm smile, but I could see the sadness in his eyes. He was hurting, and I couldn't help but feel responsible for it. I had to remind myself that this was the right thing to do, for Sofia's sake.

The party was in full swing, with music, laughter, and a festive atmosphere. Enzo had gone all out to make it special, and I couldn't help but admire his dedication. He deserved happiness, even if it couldn't be with me.

I mingled with the guests, trying my best to be sociable. But in the back of my mind, thoughts of Enzo and what could have been lingered. I wondered if I had made a mistake, if I should have given our relationship a chance despite the risks.

But then I looked over at Sofia, dancing and laughing with other children, and I knew I had done the right thing. She deserved stability and honesty, not a relationship built on uncertainty.

As the night wore on, I found myself stealing glances at Enzo every now and then. Our eyes would meet briefly, and in those moments, I could see a mixture of sadness, longing, and understanding.

The party eventually came to an end, and as the guests started to leave, I felt a pang of emptiness. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that this was the end of our chapter together.

Enzo walked over to me, his expression a mix of gratitude and resignation. "Thank you for coming, Isabella. I appreciate your presence."

I nodded, my voice slightly shaky. "It was the least I could do. You've done so much for us."

Enzo reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "I hope you know that I'll always be here for you and Sofia. No matter what happens."

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought to hold them back. "Thank you, Enzo. I'll never forget your kindness."

We stood there for a moment, both of us lost in our own thoughts and emotions. And then, with a heavy heart, I turned and walked away, leaving Enzo and our complicated chapter behind.

I knew that letting go was the right thing to do, for Sofia's sake and mine. But as I stepped out into the night, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us, and if I had made the right decision after all.

I stood at the bus stop with Sofia in my hands as I waited for a bus or taxi to come around but none were appearing and Sofia was already feeling dizzy from all the day's activity.

"Daddy did not look happy today." Sofus said to me trying to begin a topic about Enzo.

"Sofia, not now please." I said clearly not ready to start talking about someone I am trying my best to avoid.

"Now is the right time mommy, I miss him but always force me not to miss him." Sofia said letting go of my hand.

"Why do you hate daddy so much despite the fact that he loves you!!" She exclaimed as I held her hand in panic.

The sound of Sofia's words echoed in my ears, a constant reminder of the pain and confusion we were going through. I felt a wave of anger and frustration building up inside me as I tried to suppress it. I couldn't let Sofia see how torn I was about Enzo, I needed to protect her from any further heartache.

"Sofia, I've already told you, we can't talk about Enzo anymore," I snapped, my voice sharp and unforgiving. "He's not a part of our lives anymore, and we need to move on."

Sofia's face fell, hurt evident in her eyes. She let go of my hand and turned away from me, her small figure hunched over in disappointment. It broke my heart to see her like this, but I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me.

I followed after her, my steps quickening as I called out her name. "Sofia, wait! I didn't mean to snap at you. Please, let's talk about something else."

But Sofia didn't respond. Instead, she continued to walk away from me, her pace determined and angry. I felt my heart sink as I realized the consequences of my outburst. I had hurt her, and now she was pushing me away.

I ran after her, desperation in my voice as I pleaded, "Sofia, please stop! I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."

But Sofia refused to acknowledge me. She kept walking, her small figure disappearing into the crowded streets. Panic overtook me as I realized that Sofia was in danger.