his one sided love
769 Words
The university was the only place where Isabella felt normal.
No cameras.
No business deals.
No fake smiles.
No people looking at her like she was just a name connected to wealth.
Here, she was simply Isabella.
"You're late."
A voice came from behind her.
She turned and saw Adrian standing there with two coffees in his hands.
She smiled.
"Good morning to you too."
He handed her one.
"You skipped breakfast again."
She looked at the coffee.
"How do you know?"
"Because you always get quiet when you're hungry."
She rolled her eyes.
"You know me too well."
Adrian smiled.
"Someone has to."
That was Adrian.
He had been there before the mansion.
Before Ethan.
Before the marriage.
When Isabella was just a girl trying to survive a lonely home.
He remembered the nights she stayed in the library until closing time.
He remembered how she pretended everything was fine.
He remembered things nobody else noticed.
"You look tired," he said.
"I found something yesterday."
His expression changed.
"What happened?"
She hesitated.
For some reason, telling Adrian felt easier than telling anyone else.
"My parents' death..."
She lowered her voice.
"I think there was more to it."
Adrian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
She looked around before showing him the letter.
His eyes widened.
"Isabella..."
"I don't know who I can trust."
Adrian looked at her seriously.
"You can trust me."
Those words were simple.
But they meant everything.
She smiled softly.
"I know."
And that smile was exactly why Adrian kept falling deeper.
Because Isabella didn't realize how special she was.
She didn't see the way people looked at her.
She didn't see the kindness behind her strength.
She only saw herself as someone who had to survive.
But Adrian saw everything.
...
Across the city, Ethan sat in a meeting.
But he wasn't listening.
His phone showed a message.
A picture of Isabella.
At the university.
With Adrian.
His jaw tightened.
Again.
That man was always there.
Always beside her.
Always making her smile.
"Sir?"
Ethan looked up.
The executives were waiting.
"Continue."
But his attention was somewhere else.
He hated that.
Because he had never been the type of man who got distracted by another person's life.
Especially not his wife's.
A wife he married for business.
A wife he claimed he didn't care about.
So why did seeing another man close to her bother him?
...
That evening, Ethan returned home.
Isabella was sitting on the sofa reading.
"Your friend."
She looked up.
"My friend?"
"Adrian."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What about him?"
"You spend a lot of time with him."
She closed the book.
"Yes. He's my best friend."
"Best friend."
The way he repeated the words made her suspicious.
"Is there a problem?"
"No."
"Then why are you asking?"
Ethan looked away.
"I just think you should be careful."
She almost laughed.
"Careful of what?"
"People's intentions."
Isabella studied him.
"That's interesting coming from you."
"What does that mean?"
"You spent years believing Victoria was your true love."
His expression changed.
"Don't bring her into this."
"Why? Because she is your past?"
Silence.
Isabella stood.
"Adrian was there for me before I had anyone."
She looked directly at him.
"He doesn't want my money. He doesn't want my shares. He doesn't want my family's name."
Her words hit harder than she intended.
Because Ethan knew exactly what she meant.
"And what do you think I want?"
She paused.
The question surprised her.
Ethan stepped closer.
"Tell me, Isabella."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she answered honestly.
"I don't know yet."
And somehow...
That bothered him more than an accusation.
...
Meanwhile, at Victoria's apartment...
She watched the university photos on her tablet.
Isabella laughing with Adrian.
Ethan looking at those pictures.
Everything was changing.
Victoria had always believed Isabella was just a temporary arrangement.
A contract wife.
Someone Ethan would eventually leave.
But now?
Now there was something she couldn't control.
She called Chloe.
"How is everything going at the university?"
Chloe smiled.
"People are already against her."
"Good."
Victoria looked at Isabella's picture.
"But don't let her become the victim."
"What do you mean?"
"Make sure everyone sees her as the problem."
Victoria ended the call.
She had spent years building her place beside Ethan.
She wouldn't let a girl who arrived yesterday destroy everything.
...
That night, Isabella placed the mysterious letter beside her bed.
Her parents' death.
Her family's secrets.
The missing answers.
She knew one thing.
Someone was afraid of her finding the truth.
And she was going to find it.
No matter who tried to stop her.
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