The next day, precisely at 5 p.m., Hunter, Isabella, and Collin arrived in Seattle, specifically in Kirkland. They left the airport by taxi but didn’t head to Isabella’s house; instead, they went straight to Joe’s workplace.
"Are you sure you don’t want to co with you to et him?" Hunter asked, turning to Isabella, who remained seated, gazing at the building where Joe worked.
"That would only hurt him more," Isabella whispered, her gaze blank.
"Then let’s go to your house first if you’re not ready now. You need to rest."
"I won’t ever feel rested until I finish all of this."
Hunter sighed, silent in confusion, occasionally glancing around at the bright surroundings, with many pedestrians passing by.
"Okay, I can do it. I have to do it!" Isabella quickly opened the car door.
"Are you sure?" Hunter asked, frowning, but Isabella didn’t answer. She shut the door and walked away.
He exhaled sharply, grabbed the cane near his feet, and opened the door.
"Sir!" Collin turned around. "You can’t follow her; it would make her angry."
"Oh, what the fuck is this!" Hunter grumbled in frustration and cancelled his intention to get out.
"You have to let her, give her ti to resolve her issues on her terms. If she struggles later, then you’ll be the one there for her," Collin added.
Hunter remained silent, staring at the building, imagining Isabella eting Joe, thinking things would get complicated if she kept feeling sorry for him.
’What if Joe begs, not wanting their relationship to end, and she feels sorry for him? That would be bad!’
...
Isabella entered the building, walking past large rooms where people were practicing various sports like badminton, boxing, table tennis, and more until she reached the end, a special gym room.
Through the glass door, she saw Joe supervising a man using one of the gym machines. Her legs felt heavy, her body weak, her heart pounding until she was startled when her ex-boyfriend looked at her and realized her presence.
"I’m sorry... But I have to," she whispered as she saw Joe walking toward the door.
Joe even jogged over, quickly opening the door, then imdiately approached Isabella and hugged her.
"Oh my God!" he exclaid, laughing joyfully. "You’re here? Oh..." He released her and gazed at Isabella with happiness sparkling in his eyes.
"You... You didn’t reply to my ssages since yesterday, but now you’re here. You wanted to surprise !" he exclaid, hugging Isabella again.
Isabella remained silent, offering only a nervous smile until Joe released her again.
"But how did you get here?" Joe asked. "How did you get permission from your husband to co, even all the way here?"
"Um..." Isabella swallowed hard, looking at Joe nervously.
Joe furrowed his brows, continuing to stare at her.
"I’ll explain, but... I need to sit," Isabella said, turning toward a chair in the lobby. She quickly pulled Joe to sit there with her.
"Wait, I’m so hot." Joe took off his black shirt, then sat beside Isabella, using the shirt to wipe his sweaty body. "You surprised ... But I hope your visit is to make happy," he said, turning to her again with a smile.
Isabella just looked down, staring at her trembling fingers, her breath no longer steady.
"Now, tell how you got here and how long you’ll stay," Joe asked after finishing wiping off his sweat. "Maybe I can ask my boss for so ti off so I can spend ti with you," he added, imdiately reaching for Isabella’s hand and holding it.
"Joe..." Isabella gathered the courage to look at Joe again, but his smile always broke her heart.
"Yes, baby?"
"Joe, we... I don’t think we can be like before," Isabella said nervously.
Joe imdiately frowned, his smile fading.
"I’ve made a decision... It might be unexpected for you, but this is the reality. I can’t be with you anymore," Isabella explained weakly, looking at Joe, who was now stunned. "I’ve decided to cancel the contract agreent with my husband, and that ans we’ll be married forever," she continued softly.
Joe shook his head and slowly gave a faint smile. He quickly let go of Isabella’s hand and stood up.
"I know you’re joking; you’re trying to surprise again like before!" he said, hands on his hips. "Co on, baby, this isn’t funny!"
"Joe..." Isabella sighed, looking down again. "I’m not joking."
He remained silent, his smile fading again, his heart beginning to race, suddenly rembering Kate’s explanation from a few days ago.
"Hunter and I will be husband and wife forever, which ans I’ll never be divorced after three months of marriage... I will never be able to co back to you," Isabella explained sorrowfully.
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
"Did he force you to beco his wife forever? You can tell the truth, and I’ll help you break free from him!" Joe sat back down, looking at Isabella seriously until she looked back at him, allowing him to see the sadness on her beautiful face. "You can’t end our relationship just because you have to be soone else’s slave!" he insisted.
Isabella shook her head. "It’s not like that."
"Then what?"
"He didn’t force at all or make his slave." Isabella looked down again, her trembling fingers in view.
"Then what? Is it because he’s rich? Has that made you fall in love with him, so you want to leave ?" Joe asked impatiently.
Isabella remained silent, her head bowed, unable to hold back her tears, haunted by beautiful mories with Joe, making it even harder to end everything.
"Tell !" Joe shouted.
"Yes, I love him!" Isabella quickly responded, turning to Joe. "I’ve fallen in love with him, but not because he’s rich or handso... No... It’s not just that!" she explained, tears flowing.
Joe was stunned, slowly pulling his head away from Isabella.
"He’s so kind to , and he needs so much, and I feel so comfortable when I’m with him... And I constantly feel guilty whenever I’m with you because he’s always on my mind. I think I’ve fallen in love with him because he’s my husband, and I keep feeling like I’m a shaful wife for loving soone else," Isabella explained further.
"But this isn’t what you promised," Joe whispered, his eyes red. "You promised to keep loving ... How could you break your promise when it hasn’t even been a month since you were with him? How could your love for fade so quickly after everything we’ve been through?" he asked, turning his face away from her.
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