Isabelle sat frozen in front of the screen, her eyes narrowing as the interview played out once again. Each carefully chosen word, each hesitant smile from him, felt like a knife twisting deeper inside her chest. How could he stand there, so calm, so collected, and say things that shattered everything she thought they'd built?
Her hands clenched into fists on the armrests of the chair, trembling slightly—not from fear, but from rage. That interview wasn't just an innocent conversation. It was a challenge. A betrayal.
She swallowed hard, the bitterness rising like poison in her throat. What did he think this would accomplish? That she'd quietly accept it? That the cracks between them would simply vanish?
No. If anything, this was just the beginning.
The room seemed colder now, the silence around her deafening. Somewhere deep inside, a fire ignited—sharp, fierce, and demanding retribution.
Isabelle knew one thing for certain: nothing would ever be the same again.
She rose abruptly, pacing the length of the room as thoughts tumbled through her mind like a storm. Should she confront him now? Wait for him to come to her? Or should she retreat, protect herself until the dust settled?
Her phone buzzed on the table, jolting her out of the spiral. The caller ID flashed his name. Her breath hitched.
She stared at the screen, finger hovering over the decline button. Was she ready to hear his voice after that? To face the man who had just undone all their fragile progress?
The phone stopped buzzing. The silence stretched.
Finally, she pressed answer.
"Isabelle," his voice was tentative, unsure.
"Why?" The single word escaped her lips like a whip. "Why did you do it? Why go on that interview and say those things?"
There was a pause. Then he sighed, heavy with regret. "Because I thought it was time to be honest. With them. With us."
"Honest?" Her laugh was bitter. "That wasn't honesty. It was a declaration of war."
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean for it to hurt you."
Her heart clenched painfully, but her voice hardened. "Sorry isn't enough. Not this time."
She hung up before he could say another word.
Isabelle leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. The fracture had deepened — and now, there was no going back.