Chapter 4: I'm Giving You Two Choices

Isabella's POV

Looking at Alexander's smooth operation, I almost burst out laughing. Why hadn't I noticed before that this man had such a funny side?

I took a deep breath and pulled myself together. Time to spill everything that happened yesterday. The weird thing was, thinking about that scene now, I didn't feel pain. Just relief.

"Yesterday was Valentine's Day. I left work early, bought all the ingredients to surprise Damian. But then..."

"But then?" Alexander leaned forward, those green eyes locked on me.

"I found him and Selena in our bedroom. In our bed. Saw it with my own fucking eyes."

Alexander's coffee mug almost slipped from his hands. He stared at me like he was checking if I was joking.

"Selena... your stepsister? The Instagram girl?"

"That's her. Blonde, blue-eyed, fake everything with a million followers."

Alexander set his mug down carefully. His whole expression shifted to something darker.

"Jesus Christ... no wonder you always seemed so shut off in college. Your family situation was this messed up."

"Messed up? That's just the tip of the iceberg. Damian also told me I'm just like my mother. Never able to keep a man's heart."

Something cold flickered in Alexander's green eyes. Real anger.

"He actually said that to you? That piece of shit."

His reaction surprised me a little, but I kept going.

"So what do you think I should do next?"

"Divorce his ass. No question about it. I don't mess around with cheaters."

I shrugged. My tone was so casual it surprised even me.

"Besides, I'm not some lovesick idiot. I've still got my career, my patients to take care of."

Alexander frowned, looking worried about something.

"Isabella, have you thought about this? Your practice... Damian put serious money into it, right?"

I paused. Yeah, Damian's company was one of my main investors.

"If you divorce him, he could pull all his funding. Your career could take a major hit."

"So what?"

"What do you mean 'so what'? Isabella, you're one of the best therapists in Silicon Valley."

"Alex, when I decide to do something, I do it. Money problems can always be figured out."

Alexander looked at me with this complicated expression. Like he was wrestling with something he wanted to say.

"What's wrong? You've got that look like you want to say something but you're holding back. Don't tell me you're trying to poach me for your hospital right now."

"Of course I am. I've wanted you at Harvey Medical Group for years."

His tone suddenly got serious. All the casual teasing just vanished. I wasn't sure how to handle that.

"We'll talk about it later."

I stood up. This conversation was making me uncomfortable.

The house looked exactly the same when I got back. Damian obviously hadn't come home. His suitcase was gone, but half his clothes were still hanging in the closet.

'Guess he hasn't decided if he's moving out completely or waiting for me to apologize. He'll be waiting forever.'

I sat on the couch and pulled out my phone to call a lawyer. But before I could dial, a notification popped up. Selena had posted a new Instagram story.

I clicked on the video. There she was in a bikini on some beach, sunlight hitting her perfect fake body.

"The Maldives sunshine is absolutely incredible! Having the most amazing day with my daddy on the Amalfi Coast!"

The camera swung around and caught a guy's silhouette. Just his back, but I recognized that blue polo shirt immediately. I'd bought it for Damian last year.

I stared at my phone screen, feeling this weird emotion. Not anger, not sadness. Disgust.

'So because I made a scene yesterday, he whisked her off on some romantic vacation? How thoughtful.'

Since Damian and Selena had run off to paradise, I'd have to track down the people who could contact them. I couldn't wait to divorce Damian. Every second I stayed married to him made me sick.

Ever since I left with my mother's ashes at ten years old, Edwin had treated me like I was dead. Never called, never reached out. But after I became successful and got married, they suddenly wanted to play happy family again.

Damian used to ask me why I was so cold toward my family. When I told him the truth, he'd gotten all righteous about it. "Your father was completely wrong, abandoning you and your mother to chase some young woman."

The irony was almost funny now. He'd criticized Edwin while doing the exact same thing. Maybe all men were like this. Say one thing, do another.

I parked in the massive circular driveway of Edwin's house. This twenty million dollar mansion was still as obnoxious as ever.

I knocked on the stained glass door. Camila opened it.

"Isabella? How did you..."

She clearly hadn't expected me to show up here. The shock was written all over her face.

I didn't wait for an invitation. Just pushed past her into the house.

"I need to talk to you."

I walked straight to the living room and dropped onto that expensive leather couch. Made myself at home like I still belonged here.

The living room hadn't changed. Huge floor to ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers, and Camila's old modeling photos covering the walls. Everything screaming money and her glory days.

Edwin came out of his study looking just as shocked to see me. He and Camila sat across from me, both looking nervous as hell.

"Isabella, you came here to..."

I cut him off.

"My husband cheated with your daughter."

Camila's eyes went wide. Edwin's face scrunched up in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop playing dumb. Yesterday I caught Damian and Selena in my bed. Now they've run off to the Maldives together."

"Isabella, you must have misunderstood something..." Camila tried to defend.

"Misunderstood? I have video evidence. Want me to show you?"

I looked at both of them.

"Now, I'm giving you two choices. First, I tear this place apart first, then you call them back and we have a proper discussion. Second, you call them back first, and then I'll consider whether or not to tear this place apart."