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884 Words
The weeks following the gala were a whirlwind of activity for Isabelle. She threw herself into work, finalizing designs for her toy collection and negotiating with suppliers for her upcoming product launch. The investor she’d partnered with had high expectations, and Isabelle was determined not to let them—or herself—down.
But no matter how busy she kept herself, she couldn’t stop thinking about the encounter with Sebastian. His apology, his piercing gaze, the way his voice softened when he spoke her name—it all lingered, weaving itself into her thoughts no matter how much she tried to push it away.
And then there was the note.
The morning after the gala, she had found a letter slipped under her door. There was no signature, but she didn’t need one to know who it was from.
“It was good to see you, Isabelle. I hope we can talk again soon. There’s so much I want to say. —S.”
She had crumpled it up and thrown it in the trash, but the words burned in her mind. What more could he possibly want to say? And why now?
The questions gnawed at her as the days passed. She had thought she’d buried the past when she left New York, but now it seemed the past had come back to bury her.
A Chance Encounter
It was a crisp autumn afternoon when Isabelle found herself walking through Central Park with Elliott and Amelia. The twins darted ahead, their laughter ringing out as they chased each other through the fallen leaves. Isabelle smiled, her heart swelling with a mix of love and pride.
She had done her best to give them a good life, and seeing their happiness made all the sacrifices worthwhile.
“Mommy, look!” Amelia called, holding up a leaf as big as her face.
“That’s beautiful, sweetheart,” Isabelle said, crouching down to admire it.
Elliott joined them, his cheeks flushed from running. “Can we take it home?”
“Of course,” Isabelle said, brushing a stray curl from his forehead.
The moment was perfect, a snapshot of the life she had built. But the peace shattered when a familiar voice reached her ears.
“Isabelle?”
Her heart dropped. She turned slowly, her breath catching when she saw him. Sebastian stood a few feet away, dressed in a tailored coat and scarf. His expression was one of shock and something else she couldn’t quite place.
“Sebastian,” she said, her voice tight.
He looked past her to the twins, his brow furrowing. “Are these…?”
“No,” she said quickly, cutting him off before he could finish the question. “They’re not.”
The lie slipped out before she could think, but she couldn’t risk him finding out the truth. Not yet.
Sebastian’s gaze lingered on the children for a moment before returning to her. “You have a beautiful family.”
“Thank you,” she said, forcing a polite smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I was meeting someone nearby,” he said, though his tone made it clear that wasn’t the whole truth. “And you?”
“Just spending the afternoon with the kids,” Isabelle said, glancing at Elliott and Amelia, who were now busy collecting more leaves.
Sebastian hesitated, his eyes softening. “You look happy.”
“I am,” she said, lifting her chin.
An awkward silence stretched between them, the weight of unspoken words pressing down like a storm cloud. Finally, Sebastian spoke.
“I’d like to see you again,” he said.
Isabelle blinked. “Why?”
“There’s still so much we need to talk about,” he said, his voice earnest.
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Please, Isabelle,” he said, taking a step closer. “Just one conversation. That’s all I’m asking.”
She hesitated, torn between the part of her that wanted to protect herself and the part that craved answers.
“I’ll think about it,” she said finally, her voice quiet.
Sebastian nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Thank you.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Isabelle watched him go, her heart pounding. She knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over.
Secrets and Lies
That night, Isabelle sat at her kitchen table, staring at the unopened envelope Sebastian had handed her before leaving the park. She had slipped it into her pocket, unsure if she’d ever open it.
But now, with the twins asleep and the apartment silent, curiosity got the better of her. She tore it open, unfolding the letter with trembling hands.
“Isabelle,
I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I hope you’ll give me the chance to explain. There are things I never told you—things I should have said years ago. Please, meet me for dinner tomorrow night at Le Jardin. I’ll be waiting for you.
—Sebastian”
Her stomach twisted. What could he possibly want to tell her now? And why did it feel like her entire world was about to change?
- Writer
