Page 8 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“It’s okay, he’s gone,” she said to the woman at the end of the phone.

“Are you safe? I’ve notified the police. They’re on their way.”

“Thank you,” Isabella said, dropping onto the sofa before remembering.

That was where Edward and Victoria had just been exchanging bodily fluids. The sofa would need to be burned... Damn, she loved that sofa, and it had taken her months to choose it.

“I’m alone now. I think it’s safe,” she sighed.

“Does he have a key?” the woman asked.

“Yes.”

She hadn’t considered that.

“I’ll arrange for the officers to come by. You’ll need to arrange for a locksmith.”

“I will.” Isabella walked to the front door and slid the chain across. That would keep him out, at least temporarily. “I’ve put the chain on.”

“Okay, I will leave you for now. Take care. The officers will be with you shortly. Please call back if anything changes.”

Isabella disconnected the call and walked back into the living room and the open-plan kitchen. She looked at the sideboard. Everything would need to be sanitised. She doubted the sofa was the only surface they’d had sex on. Edward liked the variety.

Isabella had not been innocent when they got together. Her experience limited to a few unsatisfying encounters during her time at Sixth Form College and her early years at University. Edward’s sexual skills were something Isabella had chosen not to dwell on until now. She’d simply appreciated it, would even admit it was one reason she’d fallen for him.

But he was right. She agreed to add Edward’s name to the deeds, even though she’d paid for the apartment with her mother’s inheritance. Looking back, she’d been a fool—Edward had decided where they would live—it needed to be near the social scene he was part of and his office. Isabella wanted to please him, even if it meant she had further to travel to University. Her argument being, once she graduated, they’d be working in the same place, so it didn’t matter. After what she’d seen, Isabella wanted to leave the family’s home and get away from her stepmother.

The police had come and gone. There was nothing she could do. He hadn’t committed a crime. Having sex with someone else might be ethically wrong, but it didn’t carry any weight in the eyes of the law. All she could do was change the locks, bag up all Edward’s belongings, and hope he accepted her wishes.

For three weeks, she heard nothing. Choosing to stay in and lick her wounds, throwing herself into her revising for her finals. She heard through friends Edward had gone away with Victoria. So much for her not being good enough for him. Good luck to them both.

During the third week, their friends staged an intervention. “Show Edward what he’s missing, let your hair down... go out, have fun... life isn’t all work and no play.”

Isabella used her spare time to revise for her finals, but her exams were still a couple of weeks away. When two of her friends turned up on her doorstep, wine, makeup and outfits in hand, she’d thrown open the door. Maybe it was time to go out and have fun. They spent the evening getting ready before hitting the local bars and heading to the VIP room of one of the local nightclubs.

Isabella awoke the next morning with a raging hangover. How did she get home?

A thundering knock at the door had her scampering out of bed. She staggered, a wave of dizziness hitting her. Wow, it must’ve been a good night. Isabella grabbed her dressing gown, pulling it over her wrinkled clothes. She hadn’t even bothered to get changed. How much had she drunk? Peering through the peephole, she saw her stepmother, Danielle, her eyes bloodshot.

Throwing open the door, Isabella found Danielle, her father’s business partner and Edward’s father, Pierce, along with two other men.

“I’m sorry, Isabella, but this is for the best.”

Danielle was openly crying.

The two men stepped forward and took her arms. Isabella froze before struggling in their grip.

“What the hell?” she asked, staring at Danielle.

Danielle’s cries turned to sobs, Pierce taking her into his arms, soothing her. The sight making Isabella’s already tender stomach turn violently.

“Just go with them... They can help you, Isabella.” Pierce stared at her but could not meet her eyes. “We failed you. Failed to see the pain you’re in.” His body sagged. “Edward explained everything. He’s been out of his mind with worry... your drug problem... The pictures...”

Isabella froze. “What... What pictures? Drugs?” she asked before resuming her struggles. “Let me go... get off me... Danielle, Pierce, please... we need to talk about this...”

Pierce and Danielle turned away. Danielle, burying her face into his chest. It was then she spotted Edward with a sly smirk on his face. She froze, the men using that opportunity to pull her towards the lift.

Edward’s face hardened as he stepped past her and into the home they’d shared. “I tried to warn you...”

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