05

« This is my fiancée, Sarah, and her daughter Isabella. » Carter introduces us to the man. I shook his hands lightly with a warm smile placed on my lips.

« Gino Fuentes. » He pronounced his name with a grin.

Awkward

Gino’s eyes stalked down to my outfit, fucking shit. I looked like a slut that works the streets in my free time and here they are dressed so nicely and modestly.

« Where’s your wife and daughter ? » Carter asked, he took the attention off my outfit which I was grateful for.

« My wife couldn’t make it but my daughter should be here soon with her fiancé. » Gino showed us to our seats. « My son and his wife will soon be here with their children. »

I sat next to my mom and she sat next to Carter. I was happy that I didn’t have to sit next to Carter, he would just make me act stupid and nervous.

Gino sat across from us, his son appeared a couple of minutes after, and we said our hello’s. Gino’s son lives in London and visits very rarely, his wife was gorgeous with her red hair and model body, I would look like an 11-year-old boy next to her. We continued to have conversations about random things as we waited for his daughter to show up.

« My daughter is here, please excuse me while I go help them with something. » Gino stood up and excused himself from the table.

I averted my eyes back to my plate which was filled with big portions of food.

« So Isabella, do you like living with Carter ? » Gino’s son’s wife asked me.

I froze at the mention of Carter, I didn’t know how to answer her question. Carter makes me question everything about myself should I tell her that or maybe he makes me question my love for my mother perhaps. I stopped myself from telling the truth.

« All that matters is my mom’s happiness. » I responded while my fork played with my food.

« You’re such a good girl, I hope my daughter grows up to believe that when she’s older. » She smiles at the thought of her daughter getting older.

I felt guilty for lying but I just nodded. I couldn’t look to see Carter’s reaction, I was too ashamed to look at him. These feelings for him aren’t normal and there definitely not innocent.

« I guess we have one extra guest. » Gino surprises everyone when he enters the room, I lift my eyes to meet them. A beautiful brunette girl was standing next to him with her hand locked with someone that I thought I’d never see again.

« Ryan. » I whispered, and everyone went silent once his name came out of my mouth. Ryan looks shocked to see me, I felt a prick of sadness filling my heart once I realized that he was her fiancée.

« Bella, what are you doing here ? » Another voice asked, Grace, peeked over her brother’s shoulder.

She had pity written all over her face, she knew he was getting married and she didn’t even tell me. My mom softly placed her hand on top of mine under the table. My whole world started to spin, I felt dizzy and unwanted. How could Ryan get engaged ? I thought we were forever, I guess I’m stupid for thinking about the impossible. My breath hitched heavily while my heart thumped loudly.

« Let’s talk business. » Carter once again took the attention away from me and back onto him. We exchanged looks as his grip around his fork was a little bit tighter, his knuckles revealed that by turning white.

Everyone took their seats, Gino placed another plate on the table for Grace who sat next to Ryan and his fiancée. I kept my glare on my plate before slowly looking up to meet Ryan who was already staring at me.

My eyes picked up some sort of emotion, I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone so I peeled my eyes away from him and stared at Gino’s daughter. She was perfect, too perfect and I was hating on everything she was doing even her breathing.

« Is that the Ryan ? » My mother whispered into my ear. I told my mom everything that happened between me and Ryan that night and the next morning, I just nodded. « Ryan I have to admit, I’ve been dying to see you. » She says while interrupting Carter and Gino’s business conversation. Everyone got quiet and gave my mom a confused look so did I.

« It’s not the place. » Grace smiles at me, trying to tell me to control my mom.

How dare she do this to me, how could she ?

« Mom I’m fine. » I sipped my water, Carter’s stare was now fixated on me, he looked concerned or it could be my head playing games on me.

« No, Bunny. » My mom shakes her head. « Ryan do tell, how was it destroying my daughter ? » My mom questioned angrily, my face became beat red as I stared back at Carter.

« It wasn’t like that Mrs. Evans. » Grace defends her brother, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of something being wrong, Grace always defends me. My eyes were drilling holes into Gracie’s head, my brain kept trying to think of many possibilities on why she was defending him and not me.

« Mom, leave it. » I tugged at her arm trying to get her eyes back on me but it didn’t work.

« I will not allow you to speak badly about my fiancé. » Gino’s daughter stood up to defend Ryan. Anger filled me, I stood up to defend my mom.

« Don’t you dare stand up and try to belittle my mother, know your place. » I said slowly so she would understand better, my head tilted as I told her.

« Sit down, Bella » Grace then stood up, and my best friend stood up to argue with me. I can’t believe her, she’s supposed to be my sister and here she is defending this stupid model.

« Grace, just tell your pet dog to sit down before I sit it down myself. » I gently pushed my chair back to have more room for safety reasons.

« I like to see you try. » Gino’s daughter smirked.

« Honey-« Ryan tries speaking but gets cut off once I leap forward toward his fiancée.

My body gets caught before I could even wrap my hands around her small neck, she threw herself back trying to avoid my hands. I start struggling with the hands that caught me but their hands tighten around my waist stopping me from moving, I kicked and punched but they didn’t budge.

« Take her out ! » Gino shouts.

« The business trade is off, thank your stupid daughter for that. » I heard Carter’s voice behind me. I stopped moving and slowly turned around, he was the one that caught me. My mother is still sitting down but is observing Carter’s hands around my waist. I stepped on his foot causing him to release me and moan softly in pain.

« I hate you, Ryan. » I seethed with so much anger that I didn’t even notice I had tears till one of them splashed against my arm, I quickly wiped them away while pushing past Carter towards the door, leaving everything and everyone behind me.

I ranked my hands through my hair once I made it outside, I was heading towards the car when someone grabbed my hand.

« Let me explain. » Ryan begs. I whipped my head around to face him. The great Ryan Hart was in tears and so was I, I couldn’t help but let my eyes soften a little.

Ryan gently pulled me closer to him. « Isabella you’re the only girl I’ve ever had feelings for, Bella, I love you. »

My heart skips a beat once he speaks but then I remembered everything he put me through, leaving me after I gave him something I could never get back, him coming back with a fiancée. I closed my eyes and reopened them, I pulled my hand away from his, slowly till it was back on my side.

« I never want to see you again. » My lips quivered, and Ryan’s face dropped at the sound of my sentence.

« Don’t do this, Bella. » Ryan grabs ahold of my hand again, his eyes are filled with desperation.

My heart was begging me to take back that sentence, to hug him and admit my love for him but my brain knew better. My mind showed me an image of his fiancée, of the past, and everything that made me cry about him.

I pulled my hand away. « Bye, Ryan. »

I continued to walk towards the car, I’m full-on sobbing now and my heart felt completely crushed. I feel like I just lost something I was holding on to for dear life but it slipped from my very hands.

« Awh, Bunny. » I felt my mom’s arms wrap around me. I turned around to display my red, puffy face while tears were streaming down my cheeks. She embraces me even tighter, my eyes came across Carter’s, he looked conflicted like he was mentally fighting a battle between his heart and brain. I ripped my glare away from his.

« I’m fine. » I pulled back from my mom’s arms. « Can we just go ? » I ask but it sounded more like a beg.

« Of course, sweetie. » My mom replies, she looks a little hesitant before saying something else. « Bunny, auntie Lydia texted me earlier and she asked if I could sleepover at her house to go through some divorce papers with her. »

« Oh. » I cocked my eyebrow up. « Mom, I’ll be fine. » I caught on quickly why she was hesitant, she wanted to be with me because I had a mental breakdown but couldn’t.

« Are you sure ? » My mom asked.

« Positive. » I tried to sound confident but my crying a few seconds ago didn’t help.

« I’ll go home with Isabella so she won’t be alone. » Carter finally spoke up, his voice came off as more of a demand than an offer.