Chapter 12 Taking Sides
913 Words
After Victoria’s unexpected visit, the atmosphere inside the penthouse changed in a way Isabella couldn’t fully explain.
Nothing dramatic had happened.
No argument.
No raised voices.
Yet the air between her and Lorenzo felt… heavier.
That evening, Isabella sat quietly on the balcony with a book in her lap.
She had been staring at the same page for ten minutes without reading a single word.
Her mind kept returning to the moment Victoria had said something strange.
"Lorenzo and I used to be very close."
The way she had said it.
Confident.
Almost… possessive.
Isabella didn’t like that feeling.
Still, she tried to push it away.
Everyone had a past.
Even Lorenzo.
That didn’t mean it mattered anymore.
Right?
Inside the penthouse, Lorenzo sat at his desk reviewing documents.
But he couldn’t focus.
Victoria’s visit had irritated him.
He had told her clearly that he didn’t want unnecessary interference in his life.
Yet she had shown up anyway.
And worse…
She had spoken in a way that made Isabella uncomfortable.
That annoyed him the most.
His phone buzzed suddenly.
A new message appeared.
Victoria:
I hope I didn’t cause trouble today.
Lorenzo frowned.
He typed a short reply.
Lorenzo:
You shouldn’t have come.
The typing indicator appeared immediately.
Victoria:
Relax. Your wife seemed lovely.
He didn’t respond.
Another message appeared.
Victoria:
She’s very different from me.
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened slightly.
Lorenzo:
That’s not a bad thing.
Victoria:
I didn’t say it was.
Then another message.
Victoria:
Lunch tomorrow?
Lorenzo stared at the screen.
He should say no.
He knew that.
But before he could reply, Isabella walked into the room.
“Are you working again?” she asked softly.
Lorenzo immediately locked his phone.
“Yes.”
“You’ve been working a lot lately.”
“There’s a lot happening at the company.”
She nodded quietly.
Then she sat beside him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Isabella asked the question that had been sitting in her mind all evening.
“Were you and Victoria together for a long time?”
Lorenzo paused.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Almost two years.”
Isabella looked down at her hands.
“That’s serious.”
“It was a long time ago.”
She nodded slowly.
“Why did you break up?”
Lorenzo hesitated.
“She left.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“Did she say why?”
“No.”
Isabella looked surprised.
“So she just disappeared?”
“Pretty much.”
“That must have been hard.”
Lorenzo shrugged.
“I moved on.”
She looked at him carefully.
“Did you really?”
“Yes.”
Isabella smiled softly.
“Good.”
Then she stood up.
“I’m going to make tea. Do you want some?”
“No.”
She walked back toward the kitchen.
But Lorenzo noticed something subtle.
She looked thoughtful.
Maybe even slightly uneasy.
And for the first time, a small feeling of guilt appeared in his chest.
The next afternoon, Lorenzo sat in his office going through reports when Victoria appeared again.
This time, his assistant looked nervous.
“Sir… she insisted.”
Victoria entered with her usual confident smile.
“You really need better security,” she said lightly.
Lorenzo looked irritated.
“You can’t keep showing up like this.”
“Why not?”
“Because I told you not to.”
She sat down across from him.
“You’re overreacting.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“I just wanted to talk.”
“About what?”
“About us.”
“There is no ‘us.’”
Victoria sighed dramatically.
“You’ve become very cold.”
“You left.”
“Yes.”
“And now you’re back.”
“Yes.”
“So what exactly do you want?”
Victoria studied him carefully before answering.
“I want another chance to explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain.”
“There is to me.”
Lorenzo didn’t respond.
Victoria noticed the tension in his expression and softened her voice.
“I know you’re married now.”
“Yes.”
“And I’m not here to destroy that.”
“Good.”
“But you can’t pretend we meant nothing to each other.”
Lorenzo’s eyes hardened slightly.
“I’m not pretending anything.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“Then have lunch with me.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you so persistent?”
“Because you’re the only person who won’t listen to me.”
He sighed in frustration.
“You’re impossible.”
She smiled.
“You used to like that about me.”
After a long pause, Lorenzo stood up.
“Fine.”
Victoria’s smile widened.
That evening, Isabella waited again.
Dinner sat untouched on the table.
The clock read 9:30 PM.
Her phone buzzed.
Lorenzo:
Working late.
Isabella stared at the message.
She slowly typed back.
Isabella:
Okay.
She placed the phone down quietly.
For the first time since their marriage…
She didn’t wait at the table.
Instead, she cleared the plates and placed the food in the refrigerator.
A small sadness settled in her chest.
Because she had started noticing something.
Lorenzo wasn’t just busy.
He was becoming distant.
And Isabella didn’t yet know the real reason why.
But that reason had a name.
Victoria Hayes.
And she was slowly, carefully positioning herself between them.
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