Isabella POV I was lying on the bed with Crystal when she began to cry beside me. I sat up and positioned her to stand in my lap, holding her close to my chest while gently rubbing her back. She started to tug on my hair and I nuzzled my nose against hers as she cooed and tried to grasp my cheeks. When she finally grabbed my nose, I chuckled as she pulled it. She cooed happily, releasing her hold. Suddenly, I felt someone's presence in the bedroom. Glancing to the side, I saw Justin leaning against the doorframe, staring at us. I was almost sure I caught him smiling before he cleared his throat and stepped into the room. "You've got a baby for the day without telling me, wife?" He teased, making me blush for a moment as he removed his tie with a pull of his thumb. "I'm just babysitting her until Lisa comes back." I replied, turning my attention back to Crystal as she started to practice her jumping skills on my lap. "I'll be leaving for a business trip tonight." He announc
Isabella POV "Bella, my wonderful cousin-in-law." A voice called from behind as I descended the staircase. I chuckled softly, glancing back to see Daniel beaming as he caught up with me on the stairs. It had been four days since Justin left for his business trip to London, but he hadn't called anyone here to confirm his safe arrival. Maybe he normally does this, but was he so busy that he couldn't spare a moment to at least let his mother know he was okay? Stephanie and Daniel, on the other hand, had been bonding with me lately, but David was a different story. He seemed to dislike me for reasons I couldn't understand and now I could clearly tell the difference between the twins. Daniel was flirtatious and sweet, always ready to charm whenever he put his phone down. David, on the other hand, was antisocial and hostile, phone or no phone. "Hello, Daniel." I greeted him as we both made our way to the living room. "What's popping?" He grinned, running a hand through his messy h
Isabella POV It had been about two weeks since Justin left for his business project and he still hadn't called anyone. His mother was growing increasingly anxious, having tried to reach him multiple times without success. Although, Stephanie had mentioned it wasn't unusual for Justin not to check in; he and their mother had been at odds. Mr. Tom had also left for a business trip yesterday. My mom recently informed me that Jean returned home last week, but moved out the next day without any explanation. Mom is deeply worried since Jean told her she wasn’t coming back. Meanwhile, Jean has been ignoring my messages and calls. It’s disheartening to see how she’s changed. My father, on the other hand, seems to be doing well, though I haven’t spoken to him lately; I’m unsure what to say to him at this point. Pearl, my best friend, always calls once a week to check in. Our conversations usually cover a range of topics, including updates about Justin. As I walked through the liv
Isabella POV I woke up with a slight yawn, opening my eyes as I rolled onto my back to stretch. Realizing Justin wasn't in bed, I slowly sat up and ran a hand through my hair, glancing at the pillows beside mine. I stood from the bed, recalling last night's annoyance: while sorting my clothes, I noticed that my suitcases were filled with skimpy dresses, enticing lingerie I didn't even know I owned and a few decent items. Clearly, the works of Stephanie. I assumed Justin had returned last night, though I wasn’t sure if he had slept in the bed or not. 'Not that I wanted him to or anything.' I thought, rolling my eyes at myself. Making my way into the living room, I ran a hand through my hair and spotted Justin. He was sitting on the sofa with a laptop on the coffee table, surrounded by paperwork. He wore black-rimmed eyeglasses and a pair of boxers, his shirt nowhere in sight. I smiled slightly; noticing how debonair he looked in those glasses though his hair was tousled.
Isabella POV "I told you to calculate the percentage of loss for those years." Justin's voice carried a note of sternness as he removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's exactly what I did!" I snapped, shoving the papers in his face. He took them, his eyes scanning the figures while I anxiously bit down on my lower lip. After a moment, he shook his head, pointing to the papers. "You missed a figure, which is why the calculations are off." He exhaled, tossing the papers onto the coffee table. I frowned. I knew I hadn't overlooked anything because I had double-checked everything. "No, you're wrong." I insisted, quickly kneeling down before the coffee table to review the papers. It was a little past 2 o'clock in the afternoon and I could hear the rain lightly tapping against the windows. "Wife." Justin's voice reached out, but I refused to look at him as I examined the paperwork, muttering the figures under my breath and jotting them down on a blank shee
Isabella POV I groaned at the persistent knocking at the door, reluctantly rolling over and stretching my arms. My hand brushed against something hard and as I explored further, I realized I was touching abs. My eyes fluttered open to find Justin beside me, peacefully sleeping on his back, lips slightly parted. Just as I was about to poke his sleeping face, the knocking continued. With a sigh, I climbed out of bed and made my way to the living room, approaching the double doors of the penthouse. Opening the door, I found Noah standing there with five unknown men in suits behind him. My two personal bodyguards were also present in the hallway. "Good morning, Mrs. Martínez." Noah greeted me, holding a phone in his hand. I nodded, acknowledging him. "He'll be out in a sec, but you all can wait in the living room." I stepped aside to let them in and Noah nodded in thanks as they entered, glancing around. Closing the door, I returned to the bedroom, where Justin was still sleepin
Isabella POV I felt a gentle shake, prompting a groan as I opened my eyes to see Justin staring down at me. I glanced around, realizing we were still inside the jet and I had fallen asleep on the sofa behind my seat. Slowly sitting up, I ran a hand through my hair, noticing Noah and Justin's colleagues were occupied with their laptops. My two bodyguards appeared to be resting, asleep in their seats across the cabin. Returning my gaze to Justin, I saw him offering me an apple as he took my seat. I accepted it, feeling a bit puzzled. "You must be hungry." He mentioned, sounding almost concerned, though his curiosity was evident. I nodded slowly, taking a bite of the apple. He then turned his attention across the cabin. "Ben, wake up and get my wife some lunch." Justin commanded, rising from the seat. I saw Ben spring to his feet, blinking before he nodded and replied, "Sure, boss." Justin adjusted his collar, his tie already loosened. I shook my head at him. "You didn't have t
Isabella POV I was stirred awake by the soft caress of a hand on my cheek and a sleepy smile tugged at my lips as I stretched beneath the sheets.Opening my eyes, I found Justin’s gaze fixed on me. He was sitting beside me on the bed, impeccably dressed in a formal suit, his hair slicked back with precision.We had slept in separate rooms last night, so what was he doing in mine so early?"Good morning." I murmured, breaking the quiet tension between us. He gave a brief nod, still watching me in that unreadable way of his."What’s going on?" I asked, glancing around the room as if the answer might be hidden somewhere. He stood, straightening his tie with smooth movements, his eyes never leaving me."I wanted to watch you sleep." He stated matter-of-factly as he moved toward the window. I sat up slowly, blinking at his words, trying to process whether he was serious."What?" I chuckled softly, half-co
Isabella POVLeading my parents out of the dining room, I kept my head high, even as my thoughts and emotions swirled. Once we reached the front door, I turned to face them.My mom adjusted her coat and she let out a quiet sigh. "Well, that was...an interesting evening.""I'm sorry about everything. They can be...intense." I glanced at her and rolled my eyes slightly, trying to lighten the mood."As long as you're all right, Bella." My mom exhaled, her hand reaching up to caress my cheek. I managed a small smile, holding her hand briefly as I glanced between her and my father. "I'm fine. Are you?" My father's expression hardened slightly, but he nodded. "We've endured worse, but remember, this is just part of the contract. It will be all over soon and you will be unburdened by this, just stay focused, Bella."My jaw tightened and I nodded, though the reminder hit like a cold splash of water. "I know."My mom pulled me into a quick hug. "Take care of yourself." "And call if you nee
Isabella POV"My wife is absolutely right."Justin’s hand on my leg began a soothing massage and before I could say another word, he spoke up. "Our marriage has nothing to do with my employees. Whether or not Mr. Knight works at my company, it’s none of anyone’s business who I choose to marry." I glanced at Justin, pressing my lips together to keep my emotions in check. His subtle support reminded me to stay composed. I knew I had to maintain control before I let it get the better of me and risk saying something I shouldn't—especially about the marriage contract. Before Mr. Tom could respond, Harden chimed in. "I agree with Justin on this one."He glanced at my parents with a nod. "They seem like respectable people so far." My parents smiled faintly in response, their tension easing slightly.Mr. Tom raised his hands in defense, shaking his head. "No, no. I think you’ve all misunderstood me." His eyes moved around the table. "I didn’t mean any offense. I’m just curious, that’s al
Isabella POVI quietly continued to eat and Miss Sonia’s smile tightened. "But isn’t marriage about commitment? About fighting for what you’ve built?""Yes, but it’s also about knowing when to let go for the sake of happiness." My mother replied, her tone calm as she narrowed her gaze at Miss Sonia. I poured myself a glass of wine, taking a slow sip as I leaned back, hoping to blend into the background.Harden probably sensed the unease and chuckled lightly. "I agree with both of you, but let’s be honest—it wasn’t working.""We were both miserable. It’s better this way." He shrugged, attempting to ease the atmosphere.Miss Sonia sighed deeply, nodding reluctantly. "I just wish you’d tried harder, son."Before the mood could darken further, Aunt Lisa interjected. "Marriage is like a buffet—you try a bit of everything, but sometimes you realize the dish you picked isn't for you.""And that's okay, as long as you enjoy the dessert." Her comment earned a round of light chuckles, easing t
Isabella POVJustin broke the silence, walking over to my parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Knight, it's good to see you both again."My father offered a firm handshake. "Thank you for having us, Justin."My mother smiled warmly as she spoke. "We're glad to be here."Justin gave a small nod in return before stepping over to me. He took a seat beside me at the table, placing a hand on the back of my neck. His thumb brushed past my curls as he whispered, "You look stunning, as always, wife." Heat flushed through me and I met his gaze. "Shut it, bastard." I muttered under my breath, unable to hide my blush and earning a quiet chuckle from him. As I looked away, I caught my mother watching us, a curious smile tugging at her lips. Feeling awkwardly embarrassed for some reason, I lightly kicked Justin under the table. He grunted softly, raising a brow at me, but I just gave him an innocent smile.The moment was interrupted by Miss Sonia’s return. A man accompanied her, carrying a luggage bag. "G
Isabella POV I descended the stairs in a casual evening dress, the hem brushing just above my knees, paired with simple flats. Justin stepped through the front door just as I reached the landing, his presence drawing my attention. A faint smile tugged at my lips; he’d come home earlier than I expected.He stood in the foyer, briefcase in one hand, a bottle of wine in the other, his sharp eyes fixed on me as I approached."You made it after all." I said, stepping close enough to unbutton his jacket.He nodded quietly, his gaze softening slightly."Justin!" Miss Sonia’s warm voice carried across the room before Justin could speak.We both turned to see her walking toward us, a pleased smile on her face. "Son, I’m glad you could make it for dinner." She said, her hands clasped in front of her.Justin nodded, handing her the wine without hesitation. "I’ll check on Stephanie and the medical team before joining you." Miss Sonia nodded, patting his arm before he walked past us and up th
Justin POV"How’s the pastry shop coming along?" I asked, remembering her mentioning something about her mother passing over the keys.Isabella's lips curved into a small smile as she leaned back. "Still working on organizing the cake sale to raise enough for supplies and the minor repairs the shop needs. If I pull it off, I should have enough to cover those costs and get the place running again."I nodded, taking a sip of water. "I could—" "Justin." She pointed her pen at me, shaking her head firmly. "No, thanks. Surprisingly considerate, but I’d rather you keep your hands out of it."I chuckled at her quick dismissal. "I didn’t even say anything." Her eyes narrowed as she gave me a pointed look, her pen tapping against her notebook. "You were going to, though." She wasn’t wrong, but I just shrugged, leaning back in my chair. I wanted to see how she’d manage a shop on her own, mostly out of curiosity—especially since I hadn’t mentioned the keys to the restaurant yet."I wanted t
Justin POV Isabella held my gaze for a moment before breaking into a soft laugh. "Actually, your mother sent me; she said you’ve been distant since that argument with Mr. Tom and wondered if I could talk you into attending dinner tonight." She explained, glancing around at my desk.I sighed, leaning back in my seat. "Dinner, huh? And what do you think?"She tilted her head at me, a playful smile tugging at her lips."I think you'll end up going." She said lightly, her confidence poking at me.I shook my head, already thinking of an excuse. "I’ve got work to do. Deadlines to meet."She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Justin. I already promised you’d join us. Don’t make me a liar."I smirked, shaking my head again, enjoying her mild frustration. But then I caught her staring at me with those damn eyes—wide and soft.I groaned, narrowing my eyes at her. "Stop looking at me like that."She frowned, tilting her head in mock innocence. "What eyes, Justin?"Standing, I watched as her
Justin POV I leaned back in my chair, as I scanned the latest batch of reports spread across the desk.Reaching for my coffee cup, I sighed when I realized it was empty. Again.Taking off my glasses, I set them aside just as a knock sounded at the door."Enter," I called, leaning back and rubbing my temples.The door opened and one of my employees stepped inside, clutching a design portfolio—the kind used for layouts and concepts."Good morning, sir," She greeted hesitantly.I nodded, waiting for her to get to the point."I'm here with the designs for the campaign," She said, stepping closer and placing the portfolio on my desk. "My team was hoping you could personally select the ones you prefer."I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the portfolio. "Isn’t that the creative director’s responsibility?"She fidgeted slightly, shifting on her feet. "It is, sir, but we thought your input would be valuable. Your vision is what drives the brand, after all."I exhaled and opened the portfolio, f
Isabella POVI blinked against the dimness of the room, stretching slightly under the warmth of the covers. Turning my head, my gaze settled on Justin, slumped over on the sofa in the corner.His laptop sat open on the coffee table, the screen dark but still on. He’d fallen asleep there again, his tie loosened and his shirt wrinkled, one hand loosely resting near the keyboard.I slipped out of bed as softly as I could so I wouldn’t wake him. Pulling a blanket off the chair near the bed, I walked over to him. For a moment, I stood there, watching him breathe steadily.I didn't know how he managed to push himself like this night after night.Carefully, I unfolded the blanket over him, adjusting it slightly so it covered his shoulders. Then, I closed his laptop and stepped back.Turning, I made my way out of the bedroom. The house was quiet and bathed in darkness. I walked down the hallway toward the kitchen as I combed a hand through my tangled hair. My stomach rumbled softly, looki