Page 112 of Until You (Forgive Me)

It was Annelise’s turn to ask.

“This is my home. It’s where I have made my life.”

“But circumstances change, situations change. Did Christian tell you he loved you, or is that the problem?... Because let me tell you, the man I saw in London was crazy in love. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”

“He told me he loved me...” Isabella’s voice caught in her throat.

She coughed before continuing. “But he never asked me to stay.”

“Did he know that was an option?” May asked.

“Me staying?”

Did he? She knew she talked about returning to Thailand all the time. She had referred to it as home, but he had not asked her if she would think about staying. They had only ever been temporary. Great sex, fun, and games. They were never destined to fall in love.

“Maybe, maybe not. Our relationship wasn’t long term.”

Both women growled, causing Isabella to look up.

“No relationship starts off with the finishing line crystal clear... well, that’s not entirely true, arranged marriages do, but I digress.” May waved her hands in the air, and Annelise stepped back. Isabella would have laughed, but her friend was on a roll, and she didn’t want to throw her off. “Relationships grow and develop. The day you first met Christian, it was two old friends meeting for dinner. You had no intention of jumping into bed with him... but you did. He left, you messaged. He came back... you got caught... drama. You moved into his world for four months. You lived together. Of course, your relationship changed. For someone who is incredibly intelligent, you are very dumb when it comes to relationships.”

“Thanks.” Isabella bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

“This is no laughing matter. I am being serious. Did you or did you not let Christian ‘hot stuff’ Dupree know that staying in England was an option?”

May was practically shouting now.

“No, because I didn’t think it was...” Isabella froze as she thought back to the night before she left. “Plus, I can’t compete with a ghost.”

Isabella filled May and Annelise in on what had happened. They both dropped in their chairs and stared at her.

“So, you see. Life is not always that straightforward. Christian will always love Lily. She is Skylar’s mother, and I can’t compete.”

Annelise took hold of her hand and squeezed. “He will always love the mother of his child, but the heart is infinite in the amount of love it can give. Just because he loves or loved Lily, it does not mean Christian cannot love you as much, if not more.”

Isabella’s eyes welled. She wished that was true, but she’d already called a halt to their relationship. Christian had probably moved on. He had his life, and she had hers.

“Thank you, ladies. I love you both. You are wonderful friends,” she said. “I’ll think about what you’ve said.”

Isabella watched her two friends offer her weak smiles. She needed to build a wall and get better at hiding her emotions.

Chapter Forty-nine

Christian

“What the hell?”

Christian raised his head off the desk at the sound of Seb’s voice.

What? Where was he? His eyes caught sight of the now empty whiskey decanter, and he grimaced. Memories of the day before flooded his memory. His visit to Star, the letter from Lily, Isabella telling him she wanted a clean break.

Christian watched Seb approach through half-closed eyes, his head pounding. Drowning himself in a bottle of whiskey had seemed like a good idea, but now?

“What are you doing here?” Christian croaked, his throat raw from the whiskey.

“You failed to show up for work yesterday. Lucy was worried, especially when you weren’t answering your phone again this morning.”

“But you don’t even work for me anymore? You work for Isabella,” Christian groaned as he moved his head.

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