Chapter 1
The Woman Who Came Back
Isabella’s POV
I used to think the worst thing Adrian De Luca could do was lie to me.
I was wrong.
The worst thing was knowing that even after everything he’d done, some part of me still wanted him to come after me.
It had been three days since I’d walked out of our home. Three days since I’d taken off my wedding ring and left it on the table beside the letter that had destroyed what little trust remained between us.
And three days since Adrian had last called.
Not that I was counting.
I stood by the bedroom window, watching the rain slide down the glass. My father’s existence was no longer a mystery. Somewhere out there was a man who knew exactly who I was, who had apparently made an agreement with my husband years before I’d even understood what marriage meant.
And Adrian had known.
He had known everything.
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.”
Sofia pushed the door open, holding two cups of coffee.
“You look terrible.”
“Good morning to you too.”
She handed me a cup and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Have you spoken to him?”
“No.”
“Has he spoken to you?”
I looked down at my coffee.
“He’s called.”
“How many times?”
“Does it matter?”
“Isabella.”
“Twenty-seven.”
Sofia stared at me.
“Twenty-seven?”
“I counted accidentally.”
She shook her head. “You two are exhausting.”
I almost smiled, but the expression disappeared when my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
Unknown: You should be careful about who you trust.
I frowned.
Another message arrived.
Unknown: Especially the people from Adrian’s past.
Before I could reply, a third message appeared.
Unknown: Claudia is back.
I read it twice.
Claudia.
I hadn’t heard that name since the night Adrian admitted they’d once been involved. The woman who’d looked at me as though I was standing in a place that belonged to her.
“What is it?” Sofia asked.
I locked my phone.
“Nothing.”
She gave me a look that told me she didn’t believe me.
ADRIAN
The office was silent except for the ticking clock on the wall.
Luca stood opposite my desk, holding a folder.
“You need to see this.”
“I have enough problems.”
“This one’s different.”
I opened the folder.
A photograph slipped onto my desk.
Claudia.
She was standing outside a restaurant, wearing a black coat, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders. The photograph had been taken yesterday.
I leaned back in my chair.
“Where is she?”
“That’s what we’re trying to establish.”
I looked at Luca.
“Why is she back?”
He hesitated.
“Apparently, she wants to speak to you.”
“About what?”
Luca placed another document on my desk.
“She has information.”
I stared at the papers.
“Information about what?”
“The business. The old accounts. The people we used to work with.”
My expression hardened.
“How much does she know?”
“Enough to make this a problem.”
I closed the folder.
“Find her.”
“And Isabella?”
My eyes moved towards him.
“What about her?”
“She should know Claudia’s back.”
“No.”
“Adrian—”
“I said no.”
Luca sighed.
“You’re making the same mistake again. Keeping things from your wife.”
I stood.
“She’s not here, Luca.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s no longer your wife.”
I said nothing.
Because he was right.
And I hated that.
ISABELLA
The restaurant was almost empty when I arrived.
Sofia had insisted I leave the house, claiming I was beginning to look like a ghost. I hadn’t planned on staying long.
I was halfway through my coffee when a familiar voice came from behind me.
“Isabella.”
I turned.
And there she was.
Claudia.
She looked exactly as I remembered, perfectly dressed and wearing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Claudia.”
She pulled out the chair opposite me.
“May I?”
“I suppose.”
She sat down.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she looked at my bare ring finger.
“Trouble in paradise?”
I looked at her calmly.
“Something like that.”
Her smile widened slightly.
“I always wondered how long it would take.”
“How long what would take?”
“For you to realise who Adrian really is.”
I put my cup down.
“You seem awfully interested in my marriage.”
“I’m interested in Adrian.”
There it was.
I leaned back.
“Then perhaps you should contact him.”
“I have.”
“And?”
“He hasn’t answered.”
I couldn’t help the small smile that appeared.
“Sounds familiar.”
Claudia laughed quietly, but her expression changed almost immediately.
“Listen carefully, Isabella. There are things about Adrian that you don’t know.”
“I’m beginning to realise that.”
“No. You really don’t understand.”
She leaned forward.
“Your husband isn’t the only person with secrets. And some of the things buried in that business should have stayed buried.”
I studied her face.
“Why are you telling me this?”
Her eyes moved towards the restaurant entrance.
“Because Adrian won’t tell you the truth.”
Before I could ask another question, she stood.
“Enjoy your coffee, Isabella.”
“Claudia.”
She paused.
“Why have you come back?”
For the first time, her smile disappeared.
“To collect something that belongs to me.”
Then she walked away.
I watched her disappear through the doors.
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was Adrian.
Adrian: Where are you?
I stared at the message.
Then another appeared.
Adrian: Isabella, answer me.
I typed a reply.
Me: Why? What have you forgotten to tell me now?
His response came almost immediately.
Adrian: This isn’t about us.
I frowned.
Me: Then what is it about?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then finally:
Adrian: Claudia is back. Stay away from her.
I looked towards the window, where Claudia had disappeared into the rain.
Too late.
I’d already met her.
And something told me this was only the beginning.
