HER QUEST FOR REVENGE

heart on race

Marcus Enterprises – Isabella’s Office

The morning after the fashion show, Isabella sat at her desk, reviewing the contracts that had piled up in front of her. Her mind was still reeling from the events of the night before—the sabotage, the tension with Nathan, the moment they shared in the car. But she pushed those thoughts aside, burying herself in the work.

The door to her office opened softly, and Mercy walked in with two cups of coffee. She set one down in front of Isabella and took a seat across from her, watching her carefully.

"How's everything going?" Mercy asked, her tone casual but knowing.

Isabella barely looked up, flipping through the papers with a distracted expression. "Same as usual. Lots of work, too many problems to solve." She paused, then glanced at Mercy. "Why do you always bring coffee, like you know I need it?"

Mercy smiled knowingly. "Because you do. You look like you haven’t slept in days."

Isabella exhaled sharply. "I’m fine. Just a lot on my plate."

Mercy’s smile faded, and she leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied her friend. "You’re not fine, Isabella. You can’t keep burying everything under work. And don’t pretend like you’re not still thinking about last night."

Isabella froze for a second before forcing herself to continue looking over the papers. "What about last night?"

Mercy wasn’t fooled. "Nathan. You and him. You can’t act like it didn’t happen. You can’t keep pretending you don’t care."

Isabella’s grip on the paper tightened, her jaw clenching as she forced a neutral expression. "I’m not pretending anything."

Mercy leaned forward, her voice soft but insistent. "You’re running away from it, Isabella. You know you feel something for him. And it’s not just because he’s been there for you in the fight for Roland Enterprises. It’s more than that."

Isabella’s gaze flickered to Mercy, but she quickly turned her eyes away, her face tightening. "You don’t understand."

"I understand more than you think," Mercy replied, her tone gentle but firm. "I’ve seen the way he looks at you, the way he’s always been there. I know what you’re scared of. But you can’t keep shutting him out just because you’re afraid."

Isabella’s eyes darkened as she shook her head. "I’ve been hurt before. I can’t afford to make the same mistake again. I don’t know if I can trust him. Or anyone."

Mercy sighed, her expression softening with sympathy. "I get it, Izzy. But Nathan isn’t Raymond. He’s not the one who abandoned you, or played with your heart. He’s not the one who caused your pain."

Isabella looked up at Mercy then, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and sorrow. "You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t remember what Raymond did to me? But Nathan is still… connected to all of this. He’s still his brother. And I can’t just forget that."

Mercy’s voice was calm and steady. "But you’re not asking him to fix everything. You’re not asking him to make up for Raymond’s mistakes. You’re just letting him in, for yourself, not for anyone else. You deserve that, Isabella."

Isabella turned her gaze to the window, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt the weight of Mercy’s words, but it only made her feel more conflicted. She hated this feeling—the pull between what she knew she needed and what she feared.

"You don’t get it, Mercy," Isabella said quietly, her voice trembling just slightly. "I can’t let him in. I can’t let myself need him."

Mercy didn’t push further, but the concern in her eyes remained. "I just want you to be happy, Izzy. I want you to let yourself have something good for once. You’ve been carrying everything for so long. You don’t have to do it alone."

Isabella stood up abruptly, walking over to the window and staring out at the city below. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, the pain of her past and the fear of her future colliding inside her.

"Maybe I don’t need anyone, Mercy," she said, her voice distant, almost as if she were trying to convince herself more than her friend. "Maybe it’s better this way."

Mercy stood and walked over to her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don’t shut him out just because you’re scared. Don’t shut yourself out, either."

Isabella turned to face her, her eyes still guarded. "I’ll figure it out. I always do."

Mercy didn’t reply, but the worry in her gaze was unmistakable. She knew Isabella’s heart was breaking, even if she wasn’t willing to admit it. With one last squeeze of her shoulder, Mercy turned and left the room, leaving Isabella alone with her thoughts.

Isabella stood there for a moment, her mind racing. She could feel the weight of Mercy’s words pressing on her, but she was too scared to do anything about it. Trusting Nathan—letting herself love him, even after everything she had gone through—felt impossible. She couldn’t let herself be weak again.

But deep down, a small part of her wondered if it was worth the risk.