his lover returns
735 Words
The next morning, Isabella stood in front of the mirror wearing a simple cream blouse, dark jeans, and a long coat.
No designer dress.
No expensive jewelry.
No sign that she was now married to one of the most powerful men in the city.
Just Isabella.
A university student.
She picked up her bag and walked downstairs.
Ethan was already sitting at the dining table, drinking coffee while reading business reports.
He looked up.
"You're going somewhere."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting observation."
"Where?"
"University."
His expression changed slightly.
"You are still going?"
She looked at him like he had asked the strangest question.
"Of course."
"You are married now."
"And?"
"Most women in your position would take a break."
She grabbed an apple from the table.
"Most women are not me."
Ethan leaned back.
"You have a strange habit of refusing the easy path."
"And you have a strange habit of thinking everyone should live according to your rules."
A small silence passed.
Then Ethan looked at his driver.
"Take her."
Isabella immediately shook her head.
"No."
Ethan looked at her.
"No?"
"I can drive myself."
"You were attacked yesterday."
"And I'm not hiding in a mansion because someone tried to scare me."
His eyes narrowed.
"Stubborn."
"Controlling."
They stared at each other.
Then Ethan looked away.
"Fine."
She smiled slightly.
"Was that you compromising again?"
"Don't make it a habit."
...
Blackwood University was already full of whispers before Isabella even reached her first lecture.
"Isn't that her?"
"The girl who married Ethan Blackwood?"
"I heard she trapped him."
"Of course she did. Girls like that always want money."
Isabella heard everything.
She simply kept walking.
She had spent years learning one thing:
People who knew nothing about you always had the loudest opinions.
Inside the lecture hall, she sat down and opened her notebook.
A girl dropped into the seat beside her.
"Wow."
Isabella looked up.
The girl smiled.
"So you really are Isabella Sinclair."
"And you are?"
"Chloe."
The smile remained.
"My cousin talks about you a lot."
Isabella closed her pen.
"Should I know your cousin?"
Before Chloe could answer, another voice interrupted.
"She means me."
A beautiful woman walked into the room.
Expensive clothes.
Perfect makeup.
A confident smile.
Everyone immediately recognized her.
Victoria.
Ethan Blackwood's former girlfriend.
Isabella looked at her calmly.
"Interesting."
Victoria smiled.
"I heard you were intelligent."
"And I heard you were Ethan's ex."
The room went silent.
Victoria's smile tightened.
"You don't seem very bothered."
"Should I be?"
"You married someone I was with for three years."
Isabella shrugged.
"That sounds like a conversation between you and Ethan."
A few students gasped.
Victoria's eyes darkened.
She wasn't used to being dismissed.
Especially not by Isabella.
"You think being his wife makes you special?"
"No."
Isabella picked up her bag.
"Being myself does."
She walked away.
Victoria watched her leave.
And for the first time...
She understood why Ethan was interested in this girl.
Not love.
Not yet.
But curiosity.
And curiosity was dangerous.
...
Later that day, Isabella entered the cafeteria.
She immediately noticed something was wrong.
Her picture was on someone's phone.
Whispers followed her.
Then a student approached.
"Is it true?"
Isabella stopped.
"Is what true?"
"That you forced Ethan Blackwood to marry you because you wanted his money?"
The cafeteria went quiet.
Isabella slowly placed her drink down.
Before she could answer, Chloe appeared.
"Oh, don't be too harsh. Everyone knows girls from wealthy families like Isabella always get what they want."
Isabella looked at her.
"So this is what we are doing?"
Chloe smiled innocently.
"What?"
"Using rumors because you don't have anything real to say."
The smile disappeared.
"You think you're better than everyone?"
"No."
Isabella picked up her bag.
"I just don't waste my time proving myself to people who already decided to hate me."
She walked away.
But outside the cafeteria...
A black car was waiting.
Ethan stood beside it.
He had seen everything.
He wasn't angry because people disliked Isabella.
He was angry because someone had deliberately targeted her.
His phone rang.
Victoria's name appeared.
He answered.
"What do you want?"
Her voice was sweet.
"I just wanted to congratulate you on your marriage."
Ethan's eyes stayed on Isabella.
"Stay away from my wife."
A pause.
Then Victoria laughed softly.
"Since when do you care?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Because that was the problem.
He didn't know.
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