Chapter 115

ISABELLA
Caroline looked up from her phone, her gaze sharp and intense. “So, you just get paid... and then you’re discarded?” A flicker of indignation mixed with newfound respect crossed her eyes, as if she suddenly grasped the whole game—and its stakes—much more clearly.
For the first time since this conversation began, I saw life spark back in her eyes: a mixture of curiosity and something deeper.
“That’s how it works.” I nodded. “After the job’s done, there’s no reason for either of us to talk again.”
Caroline’s eyebrows knitted together. “So you’ll be an ex-wife. Wait... are you two actually going to do what couples do? You know—have sex?”
I nearly choked. “Caroline—don’t be ridiculous.”
“Oh, please,” Matt cut in dryly. “Of course they’ll do everything couples do while it lasts.”
Caroline’s eyes widened even more. “What if she gets pregnant? Would she have to keep the baby after the marriage ends?”
Matt shot her a look. “Ever heard of protection?”
She nodded, and he gave a nod back, as if that settled it.
“I get it now,” Caroline murmured, half to herself. “So it’s all just for show. For the cameras. Still... why would anyone set up a marriage that lasts just a week?”
Neither Matt nor I answered. We shared one of those sibling silences—no words needed.
“Rich people are proud,” Matt finally said. “They carry themselves with this... aplomb, like they’re untouchable. You shouldn’t get mad when he acts like that around you—”
“Wow,” I cut in sharply. “You sound just like Ford right now. And frankly? You sound like an obsequious sycophant.”
Matt flinched. “What the hell? I was just being honest. That’s the truth!”
“No.” I stood my ground. “Telling me not to get offended by his behavior is the same as telling me to put up with his nonsense because he’s rich. That’s bullshit, Matt. Wake up. We’re not beneath anyone.”
He sighed, shoulders sagging. “That’s not what I meant. I just... think if you want anything from a guy like him, you have to tolerate a few things. Act like it’s cool.”
“And that’s exactly why I said you’re being a toady,” I snapped. “It’s pathetic. I’m not interested in anything he has except what he’s paying me for. I don’t want more.”
I rose to my feet, trying to calm the heat rising in my chest. “You’ve been up longer than we planned, and you’ve said more than enough for one night.” My tone softened as I moved to help him. “Come on, you need to rest.”
Matt jerked away slightly. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to help you get some sleep. It’s 1:30 a.m., Matt. You’ve had enough. You need rest.”
He shook his head, jaw tight. “Let me be. I’ll sleep when I want. I can talk to Caroline as long as I want. You don’t need to worry about me. Don’t you have work tomorrow?”
Caroline, who’d been quietly listening the whole time, gently handed him another piece of fruit. He took it and chewed more eagerly now, the fight leaving his body bit by bit. Caroline’s gaze stayed on him, calm and patient, like she had all the time in the world.
“Yes,” she said softly, “I’ll stay up with him as long as he wants.”
I rolled my eyes and raised my hands in surrender.
Let them talk. Let them stay up.
“I’m not going to see him tomorrow,” I said, almost breathless.
Matt and Caroline giggled—an instant reaction that told me they didn’t believe me.
I found myself watching Matt a beat longer, eyes tracing his profile. I’d always worried about the kind of people he brought into his life—too carefree, too wild, too much potential for heartbreak. I knew he was grown, but my protective instincts didn’t care. After everything we’d been through, how could I not worry?
I remembered when Matt introduced Anna to us—a chubby girl with freckles and a husky laugh. I hadn’t judged her, not once. I accepted her as Matt’s choice. When they broke up, and Matt refused to talk about it, it hurt more than I expected. Not because I missed Anna—but because Matt seemed quietly wrecked by it.
Then came Lilian. Bold, bright, and entirely unbothered. I liked her instantly. Unlike Anna, Lilian wasn’t shy. She had that sporty, tomboy charm—baggy sweats, head warmers, and not a shred of self-consciousness about her appearance. Beautiful in a way that didn’t try too hard.
When I asked her if she and Matt were serious, Lilian just shrugged. She wasn’t sure how Matt felt, but she liked him enough to ask him out.
Ask him out.
The bravery stunned me, reminding me of when I’d texted Mr. L: Hi Mr. L, I need a new master or—what? A crazy girl I used to be. Can’t wait to be that again.
“I’ve never had the courage to ask out a man I really like,” I’d confessed one evening. “I always let it slide. Every time. And every time, it hurt that I let them go.”
Matt’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “I thought you were leaving. Like, to do something other than just... stand there?”
I sighed and crossed the room, sinking onto the bed beside him.
Caroline grinned. “Are you not going to leave us alone?”
I narrowed my eyes dramatically. “Is there something you two want to discuss behind my back? Tough luck. I’m not moving from here anytime soon. Got that?”
We all laughed—soft, genuine laughter. The tension from earlier lifted like fog in the morning.
“Nothing serious. Caroline likes a guy,” Matt said suddenly.
Caroline gasped and smacked his arm, cheeks flaming. Matt pretended to wince, clutching his side like he’d been wounded. Their antics earned an eye-roll from me.
I gave Caroline the same scrutinizing look she usually reserved for others. “Well? Who is he?”
Her eyes went wide, like she wanted to disappear into the floor. But with us, there was no hiding.
“Hmm. I don’t have anything with anyone. I just... really like him. That’s all. Nothing serious.”
Matt grinned. “You don’t have to explain yourself. No one’s gonna scold you, sis.”
“Lover girl,” I teased, bumping her shoulder. “Maybe you could tell us something sweet about him? Come on, it won’t kill you.”
Caroline groaned but gave in. “Well... I was at Lucy’s, and I met this guy I really liked. We talked, we vibed... and that’s it. End of story.”
“No boyfriends until you turn eighteen,” I said firmly.
Matt glanced at me, surprise flickering in his eyes. Caroline just smiled—no defiance, no annoyance—just calm. Unbothered.
For some reason, that made me feel better.
“Thinking about Mr. Ferrari?” Caroline asked, voice playful.
I groaned, rubbing my forehead. “Shut up, Caroline.”
She grinned. “Hey, I was just kidding! But you know, I heard when people get annoyed by little things, it’s because they secretly like them.”
I shot her a glare but couldn’t stop the smile creeping in.
Maybe she was right.
And maybe... that was exactly the problem.
I don’t think I ever stopped loving him. Maybe I couldn’t. Maybe I shouldn’t have. Part of me wonders if I should give him a second chance—if I should tell him the truth, lay everything bare, and see what he has to say. Maybe hearing his side, really hearing it, could help us both. Maybe it could be the fresh start we need.
But then the what-if…