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1019 Words
The streets of Manhattan were as overwhelming as Isabelle remembered.
Tall glass buildings rose into the sky, their mirrored surfaces reflecting the chaos below—cabs honking, pedestrians weaving through the crowd, and the ceaseless rhythm of the city that never slept. Isabelle’s hand tightened on the stroller handle as she navigated the busy sidewalk, glancing down at Elliott and Amelia.
“Just a little further,” she murmured, more to herself than to them.
The move back to the city had been sudden, spurred by an opportunity she couldn’t refuse—a small investor had taken interest in her handmade toy business and offered to help expand her brand. The chance to provide a better future for her children was too good to pass up, even if it meant returning to the very place she had sworn to leave behind.
She had spent hours agonizing over the decision, but in the end, the twins were her priority. And she had convinced herself that Sebastian Hale, with his world of luxury and high society, would have no reason to cross paths with her.
A Familiar Invitation
Two weeks after settling into a modest brownstone in the quieter part of the city, Isabelle found herself holding another gilded invitation.
The twins were playing in the living room, their laughter filling the small space as they built towers with wooden blocks. Isabelle sat at the dining table, staring at the card as her tea grew cold.
Hale Industries Charity Gala.
She had tried to forget about the invitation she received in Oakridge, but this one was different. It wasn’t an anonymous delivery—it had come with a handwritten note, signed by Sebastian himself.
“It’s been too long. I would love for you to attend. —S.H.”
Her heart raced as she read the words. Why now? Why her? The questions churned in her mind, but one thing was clear: Sebastian wanted her to be there.
She wrestled with the decision for days. She didn’t want to go, didn’t want to reopen wounds she had worked so hard to heal. But part of her—the part that still felt the sting of his betrayal—wanted answers.
And so, against her better judgment, she decided to attend.
The Night of the Gala
The venue was a masterpiece of opulence. Chandeliers sparkled above, their crystal teardrops catching the light and casting shimmering patterns across the marble floor. Guests in elegant gowns and tailored suits mingled, their laughter and conversation blending with the soft strains of a live orchestra.
Isabelle stood at the entrance, her fingers clutching a silver clutch. She had spared no effort in preparing for the night, choosing a floor-length navy gown that hugged her figure in all the right places. Her dark hair was swept into an elegant updo, and a pair of diamond earrings—the only piece of her past she had kept—glittered against her skin.
Her heart pounded as she stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She felt the weight of eyes on her, curious and admiring, but she ignored them. She wasn’t here to impress anyone.
The air buzzed with energy as Isabelle made her way to the edge of the room, hoping to blend into the background. But the moment she entered, she felt it—a shift in the atmosphere, subtle but unmistakable.
And then she saw him.
Sebastian Hale stood near the center of the room, surrounded by a small group of people. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, perfectly tailored to his tall, commanding frame. His dark hair was slightly longer than she remembered, and his sharp features seemed even more striking under the warm glow of the chandeliers.
For a moment, she couldn’t move. Memories flooded her mind, unbidden and unwelcome, and she felt the sting of tears threatening to rise. She blinked them away, forcing herself to focus.
This wasn’t about the past. It was about answers.
Sebastian’s Reaction
Sebastian felt the air shift before he saw her.
He had been in the middle of a conversation, nodding politely as a potential investor droned on about market trends. But something drew his attention to the entrance, and when he turned, the sight before him stole his breath.
Isabelle.
She was radiant, more beautiful than he remembered. The gown she wore clung to her curves with an elegance that made every other woman in the room fade into the background. Her eyes, bright and fierce, scanned the room with a confidence he didn’t recall from the woman he had once known.
Sebastian’s heart clenched as emotions he hadn’t felt in years surged to the surface. He excused himself abruptly, his feet moving before his mind could catch up.
“Isabelle,” he said, his voice low and steady as he approached.
She turned, her expression carefully neutral. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them.
“Sebastian,” she replied, her tone cool.
“You came,” he said, his eyes searching hers for a hint of emotion.
“You invited me,” she said simply, raising her chin. “I thought it would be rude not to.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “You’ve changed.”
“So have you,” she said, her gaze flickering over him.
Sebastian opened his mouth to respond, but the sound of applause interrupted him. The orchestra began to play, signaling the start of the evening’s main event.
“Shall we talk somewhere more private?” he asked, gesturing toward a quieter corner of the room.
Isabelle hesitated, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected to face him so soon, but the opportunity to get answers was too tempting to resist.
“Lead the way,” she said, her voice steady.
As they walked, Isabelle felt the weight of his presence beside her. He was still the same Sebastian—confident, magnetic, and utterly infuriating. But she was no longer the same Isabelle.
Whatever game he was playing, she would make sure she didn’t lose.
- Writer
