New Beginning

The rain had stopped by the time they made their way back to Alex's penthouse. The sky, once filled with dark clouds, was now clearing, revealing the faintest glow of dawn on the horizon. They walked in silence, side by side, the tension that had once existed between them finally melting away.

Inside, the house felt different—warmer, almost, as if Isabella's presence had brought life back into the cold, empty space. Alex led her to the living room, where he lit a fire in the fireplace, and they both sat on the couch, still quiet, but the silence now felt comfortable.

For a long while, neither of them spoke. Isabella, still processing everything that had happened, glanced at Alex, who sat staring into the flames. His usual composed, cold exterior was gone, replaced by something softer. He looked tired, but for once, not angry.

"Why did you wait so long to tell me?" Isabella asked finally, her voice gentle but curious.

Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't know how. I've always believed that emotions, especially love, make you weak. My parents... they didn't exactly set the best example."

Isabella nodded. "Your mother... she's hard."

"Hard is an understatement," Alex muttered. "She raised me to believe that power is the only thing that matters. That caring for someone makes you vulnerable, and in our world, vulnerability is a death sentence."

Isabella reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "You're not your mother, Alex. And you're not your father either. You're... different."

He turned to look at her, his eyes searching hers. "I don't know what I am anymore. For so long, I've lived by these rules, thinking that loyalty and power were the only things I could trust. But then you came into my life, and suddenly everything I thought I knew fell apart."

Isabella smiled softly. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of revolution."

"You are," he said, his voice firm. "You turned my world upside down, Isabella. I don't know if I'm capable of love, but what I do know is that I can't live without you."

Her heart fluttered at his words, but doubt still lingered in her mind. "What about Sophie?" she asked quietly. "What happens if your family keeps pushing for you to be with her?"

"Sophie was never my choice," Alex said, his tone hardening slightly. "She's part of their plan, not mine. My parents made that arrangement, but it was never something I wanted. I sent her away, and if they try to push her on me again, I'll do it again. You're my wife, Isabella. Not her. I'm not going to let them take that away from me."

Hearing those words from him—his fierce loyalty, his determination to stand by her—made something in Isabella's heart soften. For so long, she had convinced herself that their marriage was just a façade, a business arrangement that had nothing to do with real feelings. But now, sitting here with Alex, she realized that things had changed. Maybe they had changed a long time ago, and she had just been too afraid to admit it.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, the warmth of the fire and his presence making her feel safe for the first time in what seemed like forever.

"I want to try," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know what this is either, but I want to try."

Alex's arm slid around her, pulling her closer as he kissed the top of her head. "We'll figure it out together," he murmured. "Whatever this is, we'll figure it out."

For the first time, Isabella allowed herself to relax in his arms, feeling the weight of all her fears, doubts, and insecurities begin to lift. She didn't know what the future held for them—there were still so many obstacles in their way, so many things they hadn't yet addressed. But for now, in this moment, she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.

---

The next few days were different. There was a new rhythm to their lives, one that felt less forced and more natural. Isabella moved back into the house, and although things weren't perfect, there was a sense of understanding between them now. They worked together in the office as usual, but now there was an unspoken connection—glances shared across the room, small moments of affection that hadn't existed before.

Alex still struggled with his emotions, often retreating into himself when things got overwhelming, but Isabella was patient with him. She knew it would take time for him to fully open up, but every small step forward felt like progress.

One evening, as they sat together after dinner, Isabella brought up the subject that had been lingering in her mind.

"Do you think we'll ever be free from your family's expectations?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

Alex was silent for a moment, his expression darkening slightly. "I don't know. My mother... she won't give up easily. She's always had plans for me, and she doesn't like it when things don't go her way."

Isabella frowned. "And your father?"

"He's more pragmatic," Alex said. "He cares about power, but he also knows when to back off. My mother, though... she's different."

Isabella sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I don't want to be the reason you're at odds with them."

"You're not," Alex said firmly. "They've been at odds with me for a long time. You just gave me the strength to finally push back."

His words filled her with a sense of reassurance, but she knew that their battle with his family was far from over. There would be more challenges ahead—more schemes, more attempts to manipulate their relationship. But now, they were united, and that made all the difference.

---

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Isabella couldn't help but think about how far they had come. From a cold, distant marriage of convenience to something that felt real, tangible. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't without its complications, but it was theirs.

She glanced over at Alex, who was already asleep beside her, his face softened in the quiet of the night. For the first time in a long time, Isabella felt at peace.

And as she drifted off to sleep, she knew that whatever the future held, they would face it together.