Chapter 18
News of Jasmine’s punishment spread fast. After her failed attempt to murder Isabella, there was no hiding what she had become-not even for Gregory. The media tried to soften the headlines, calling it a mental breakdown. But the truth was darker, louder, and couldn’t be buried
this time.
Gregory publicly denounced her.
He had Jasmine sent away-far from the city, from the scandal, from everything. Somewhere remote, where she could no longer bring shame to the family. Somewhere she could raise the child she insisted was Kevin’s, though no one really believed it anymore. She screamed and cried, cursed Isabella’s name until her voice cracked.
But Isabella didn’t care.
She no longer had room in her soul for Jasmine’s hatred. All she wanted now was peace. Jus days of silence, of paint-stained fingers, of Troy’s quiet laughter as they worked side by side in he gallery.
But peace, it seemed, would not come.
Kevin began showing up.
At first, it was just at the cafe down the block. Then, inside the gallery, pretending to admire th art. He lingered near the door. Smiled at the staff. Brought flowers. Always the same kind. avender and white roses, the ones she used to love before they meant him.
You’re my wife,” he whispered once, catching her alone in the corner of the exhibit. “That hasn’ changed.”
sabella clenched her jaw and walked past him.
But the next day, he came again.
And again.
No restraining order had gone through yet. He wasn’t threatening her-just hovering. Enough to hrow her off balance. Enough to make her heart race, not from longing, but from the familial aste of fear.
Troy noticed. Lucas noticed. But she said nothing-because she knew: Kevin wouldn’t stop unless she stopped him.
So she made a choice.
One quiet afternoon, as she walked through the gallery’s sunlit halls, she spotted Troy standing near one of her newest paintings. The way he stared at it-gentle, thoughtful, full of silent admiration-made her heart twist.
Kevin was behind her. She felt it. His footsteps. His eyes.
Isabella didn’t hesitate.
She walked straight up to Troy, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him-deeply. Boldly.
Troy froze, surprised-but he didn’t pull away. His hands settled on her waist as he kissed her back, slower, more tender.
When they parted, he blinked at her, dazed. “What… was that?”
She breathed out hard, hands still clinging to him. “Let’s get married, Troy.”
His brows shot up. “Isabella…”
“I know,” she said quickly. “I know this is sudden. I know it’s messy. And yes-this is partly because of him. Because I need him to see that he has no more hold over me. But more than that-” she paused, her voice trembling, “I want you. I want peace. I want something real.”
Troy stared at her, a storm flickering behind his steady eyes. “Are you sure? Because if I say yes I’m all in. I’m not just some distraction. I don’t want to be your escape if your heart is still-‘
“It’s not,” she cut in. “He crushed it. He broke every part of me. But you-you’ve been here. You helped me put myself back together. Maybe I’m unfair. Maybe this is impulsive. But I’ve neve been more certain in my life.”
Troy was quiet for a beat. Then, slowly, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I don’t care if I’m your rebound,” he whispered. “If it means I get to be the one holding your hand when you’re inally free… then I’ll take it.”
She kissed him again, this time slower, deeper, her fingers threading into his hair. He lifted he gently, their bodies pressing together, lips moving with urgency and tenderness all at once. She Jasped softly as he backed her into the studio wall, hands tracing her jaw.
t wasn’t chaos. It was claiming. It was hers.
But outside the gallery-Kevin watched.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, he saw it all. The kiss. The touch. The fire that used to be
his.
His hand trembled at his side. The bouquet he brought slipped from his fingers and landed on
he pavement.
A flicker of rage lit behind his eyes.
He took a step forward, ready to storm inside and tear everything down.
But before his hand could reach the door-
A black SUV skidded to a stop in front of him.
Kevin froze.
The back door flew open. Two men in plain black suits stepped out, grabbed him by the arms, and dragged him inside the vehicle.
“What the hell-let go of me!” Kevin yelled, struggling violently. “Who the hell are you?! I said-let go!”
The door slammed shut.
The car peeled off down the street, disappearing into the city.
Inside the gallery, Isabella and Troy remained tangled in each other’s arms-unaware, undisturbed. She rested her forehead against his, eyes closed, breathing steady for the first time
in weeks.
She didn’t know what had just happened outside.
And she didn’t care.
