CHAPTER 14
Morning sunlight streamed through my bedroom window, but its warmth did little to soothe the storm raging inside me. I stared at the ceiling, the events of the previous night replaying in my mind like a haunting melody.
Alexander's words echoed relentlessly: "I need a break... I'm under so much pressure... It's just too much."
What did he mean by that? Had I truly become a burden to him? Was I clinging too tightly, suffocating the man I loved? The questions swirled until they became a tangled mess, impossible to untangle.
Eventually, I dragged myself out of bed, determined not to let the weight of our argument consume me. Work would be a welcome distraction, a chance to focus on something—anything—other than the ache in my chest.
---
The café was already buzzing with activity when I arrived. The comforting aroma of coffee beans and freshly baked pastries wrapped around me, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the familiar routine.
"Morning, Isabella," Sarah called from behind the counter. She glanced at me with a curious expression. "You okay? You look... tired."
"I'm fine," I replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just didn't sleep well."
Sarah raised an eyebrow but didn't push further, and I silently thanked her for it.
---
The day passed in a blur of orders and chatter. I was just starting to feel like myself again when the door jingled, signaling a new customer. I turned to greet them, and my heart sank.
Alexander.
He walked in, looking every bit the confident, composed man I had fallen for. But his eyes betrayed him—there was a softness, a pleading look that immediately set me on edge.
"Good morning," he said, his voice gentle.
I nodded curtly. "Good morning. What can I get you?"
"Isabella," he began, leaning slightly over the counter. "Can we talk?"
I ignored the flutter in my chest and kept my tone professional. "What would you like to order?"
His brows furrowed, and he sighed. "A black coffee, please."
I nodded, preparing his drink without another word. The silence between us was thick, and I could feel his eyes on me the entire time.
When I handed him his coffee, our fingers brushed, and I pulled away quickly. "Here you go."
"Isabella, please," he tried again.
I shook my head, refusing to meet his gaze. "I have work to do."
---
Alexander hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, he nodded. "Okay. I'll see you later."
As he walked out, I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
---
Sarah appeared beside me almost instantly, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Okay, spill. What's going on with you and Mr. Perfect?"
"Nothing," I muttered, busying myself with wiping down the counter.
"Don't give me that," she said, crossing her arms. "I saw the way he looked at you, and the way you avoided him like the plague. Something's definitely up."
I tried to brush her off, but the concern in her eyes broke something in me. Before I knew it, the words were tumbling out, a messy, tearful confession.
---
"He showed up at my apartment last night, drunk out of his mind," I began, my voice trembling. "He was mumbling about some woman who pissed him off, and when I tried to get answers, he just... shut down. And then this morning, he came here, acting like everything was fine."
Sarah's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "Wait... he showed up drunk? That doesn't sound like him."
"I know," I said, wiping at my eyes. "And when I asked him what was going on, he said he needed a break. A break from us. I don't understand, Sarah. Everything was perfect, and now it feels like it's falling apart."
She reached out, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Bella. That sounds awful."
I nodded, my chest tightening. "I just don't know what to do. He's never been like this before."
---
Sarah was silent for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought. Then, she said, "Have you ever looked into his past?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"I mean, do you know much about his life before you met him? His family, his work, his... relationships?"
I hesitated. "Not really. He's always been kind of private about that stuff."
Sarah nodded. "Maybe it's time to dig a little deeper. I'm not saying jump to conclusions, but if something feels off, it might be worth figuring out why."
I frowned, unsure how to respond. The idea of prying into Alexander's past felt wrong, like a betrayal of the trust we'd built.
"I don't know," I said finally. "I don't want to invade his privacy. If he wants to tell me, he will."
Sarah gave me a look, half sympathetic and half skeptical. "Okay, but just promise me one thing."
"What's that?"
"If things don't add up, don't ignore it. Trust your gut, Bella."
---
I nodded, though her words left me feeling uneasy. As much as I wanted to believe in Alexander and the love we shared, the cracks in our relationship were becoming harder to ignore.
Later that evening, as I sat alone in my apartment, I replayed the events of the day in my mind. The hurt in Alexander's eyes, the doubt in Sarah's voice, the lingering questions that refused to be silenced.
And for the first time, I wondered if I truly knew the man I had given my heart to.