Chapter Seven: A Master at calculations
Sebastian sneered, “You agreed to the pregnancy and the divorce. Don’t put all the blame on me, I didn’t force you into anything.
Isabella had grown more cautious in the past three years. No longer swayed by affection, she was determined not to repeat past errors, never again will she commit the same mistake. “You’ve got quite a talent for protecting your reputation. Your rumors about me to Rose caused all this mess, you threw horrible accusations against me.” Her family had abandoned her; Bill considered her a disgrace, he abandoned her, never checking on her. Misled by Sebastian’s lies, everyone thought she’d left for another man, yet she didn’t even know the father of her children.
“I never accused you of being unfaithful, I never did anything like that” Sebastian countered.
“You might as well have. You never defended me, letting everyone think it was all my fault.” Isabella seethed, longing to expose his deceit and betrayal.
“This argument is useless. You should leave now. Alexander isn’t as friendly as he seems. What will he do when he discovers you’re my ex–wife?” Convinced by the previous night’s events, Sebastian. was convinced that Isabella had won over Alexander. He was sure they were involved. Alexander gifting her expensive jewelry publicly raised suspicions about their relationship. The photos of them together at the hotel added to the doubt. Sebastian, and others, would naturally question the innocence of their connection. “Are they just co–workers?”
“If Lorraine discovered what a jerk you are, do you think she’d forgive you?, do you think she’ll stay with you? I certainly doubt she will.” Isabella was tired of Sebastian’s predictable tactics.
“You don’t have the nerve, you are nothing but a barking dog.” he taunted her.
Isabella glanced at her nails casually. “Why wouldn’t I? If you can do this to me, why can’t I do the same? You’re still too confident. You still believe I’m the old Isabella”
“Let’s strike a deal. Tell me what you want, and if it’s possible, I’ll consider it.”
Seeing his concern, Isabella decided not to let him off the hook so easily. “I want the villa we owned when we were married.” Selling it would fetch a good price, and she wouldn’t need to stay at Sofia’s
with her children.
“That’s not happening, that’s not possible,” Sebastian immediately dismissed the idea. He valued the villa for its location and design. He hadn’t even allowed Lorraine to live there after their marriage, let
alone Isabella.
“Then we’re at an impasse. I’m not scared anymore. The old scandal is already public knowledge.” Isabella stood her ground. “I’ve found the IVF documents and have a good lawyer. I’m not afraid to fight. And I’m pretty sure of winning this”
“What good will that do? People will just think you made them up I doubt it.” Sebastian remained confident. He believed that even if the matter came up again, people would still blame her for the alleged affair and not link it to him.
Chapter Seven A Master at calculations
Isabella knew the societal blases against women often put them at a disadvantage, especially in emotional matters. “I wonder how Lorraine would react if she saw the evidence I hold.” She had left her marriage to Sebastian with nothing, knowing she couldn’t face their influence alone. Her savings were her lifeline. The betrayal after eight years of commitment left her feeling more than disappointed. “If you’re not open to a compromise, then there’s nothing more to discuss. I’m nearly done for the day. If you’re satisfied with the work, then it’s nottled.”
Isabella was just about to leave when Sebastian, visibly anxious, tried to stop her. At that moment, Alexander’s assistant walked in. “Ms. Hall, the boss has Invited you to lunch.” Sebastian hastily released Isabella’s hand, eager to avoid any implication of a connection between them. “Alright, I’ll be right there.”
The assistant didn’t concern himself with their exchange, focusing Instead on carrying out the boss’s instructions and doing his job efficiently. Sebastian’s face twisted into a mocking smirk. “You’ve really learned how to play the game, haven’t you? But remember, I was a player long before you became one, I own this game, 1 didn’t expect you to change into such a person since we parted ways.” “What kind of person?”
Isabella was aware that his words wouldn’t be kind, Sebastian can never be kind to her but curious about his thoughts nonetheless.” Alexander’s attitude toward you since last night has been notably different, he treats you differently. I’ve never seen him behave like that with anyone in all these
years.”
Isabella responded with a calm smile. “I must say that’s quite a compliment. If there’s nothing else, I need to get back to work.” Watching Isabella walk away, Sebastian was left feeling bitter and resentful. Sebastian on the other hand, was thankful for Alexander’s intervention. She realized that Sebastian’s reactions stemmed from his own guilt and insecurity. If he wasn’t so agitated, there would be no reason for her to challenge him. Their recent conversations, brought up past agonies she preferred to forget, only confirmed her perception. ‘How deep must his guilt run for him to be this fearful?” she wondered.
As Isabella approached the door, Sebastian’s voice echoed ominously from behind. “Remember, Isabella, some secrets are best left buried.”
Her hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitating. Frank’s cryptic warning sent shivers down her spine, stirring a whirlwind of unanswered questions and buried memories. Despite the surge of
emotions, she maintained her composure and calm, determined not to entertain further arguments
with Sebastian.
Life had settled into a quiet rhythm for Isabella. She had grown accustomed to her new environment, even though some coworkers occasionally whispered about her and Alexander. Nevertheless, she managed to foster good relationships with most of them.
Alexander’s handling of the party incident had been graceful, briefly propelling Isabella into a form of celebrity status among designers without tarnishing her reputation. If not for the familial connection to Sebastian, she might have found herself naturally drawn to him, but who knows if she would eventually. After two weeks of diligent work, Isabella completed her ring design. She held it
Chapter Seven: A Master at calculations
with, her eyes shimmering, marveling at its exquisite beauty.
Alexander, standing nearby, observed her with interest. Encouraged, Isabella shared her thoughts with him. “Seems like I’ve still got the touch. I was a bit worried the design wouldn’t come out as envisioned, but it turned out stunning.” Leaning casually against a bookshelf, Alexander rummaged through some old projects, aiming to offer additional insights. “This only affirms your exceptional talent, Isabella. I always knew you were the perfect fit for this project.
This was a sensation Isabella hadn’t experienced in quite a while. There was an unparalleled sense of fulfillment when a designer witnessed their concept brought to life. Earlier, she had caught Alexander’s soft gaze, but she dismissed it as her imagination running, she was just imagining it. Now, her focus was solely on the completed ring, not Alexander’s mannerisms. “I suppose my part in this is done. I won’t be meeting the client this time. He doesn’t seem overly keen on my presence.
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