Chapter 75: Chapter 75 It hurt
As soon as Leonardo finished tending to her injury, he packed the aid kit back with calm hands and stood up.
His voice was calm, formal again, like the tenderness from a few seconds ago had never happened. "I have something to take care of," he said, adjusting the sleeve of his shirt and looking anywhere but into her eyes.
"You’re allowed to go outside. The guards will follow you at a distance—just for safety." Isabella sat still, her wrist resting quietly on her lap, her hair falling around her face as she looked up at him.
Her gaze lingered on his features—his sharp jawline, the way his lips pressed into a line when he was trying not to say more, the cold detachment in his eyes that used to feel mysterious... but now just felt distant.
She wanted to ask. Her lips even parted slightly, the words resting right there on the edge. If you had work... why did you bring me here? Why say it’s a honeymoon when you knew it wasn’t?
She didn’t care about luxury. She didn’t care about the private beach or the view or the villa. She only wanted the truth. To feel wanted. To be told the truth before she got her hopes up.
But the question stayed trapped in her chest. Leonardo glanced at her again. "Got it?" he asked, buttoning his cuff.
She nodded quietly, her voice locked somewhere behind her tongue. He gave a short nod, and with the sound of soft footsteps and a quiet sigh, he walked to the door.
The click of it closing behind him echoed like a final word. And the moment he was gone—her shoulders crumbled.
Her vision blurred instantly, the tightness in her throat rising until it spilled from her eyes. Big, fat tears rolled down her cheeks one by one, soaking her lashes, her face, her heart. She didn’t make a sound. She just sat there, staring at nothing, her hands limp in her lap.
It hurt.
More than she expected. More than she was prepared for. Not because he didn’t love her. But because he didn’t even care enough to notice she thought he might.
After crying her heart out like a little girl—quiet sobs soaking into her sleeves and tears refusing to stop..Isabella finally stood up, wiped her face, and walked to the bathroom.
She splashed cold water on her cheeks, staring into the mirror with puffy eyes and a blotchy face. But instead of breaking down again, she let out a shaky breath and whispered to herself,
"Enough. If he doesn’t care... I will."
She opened her suitcase and pulled out a pretty red sundress with delicate flower designs. It had thin straps and flowed just above her knees, light and soft, dancing when she moved.
She hesitated for a moment, fingers brushing over the fabric. Then she changed into it, tied her hair into a loose braid, grabbed her phone, and slipped on sandals.
She didn’t see anyone as she left the villa—not Leonardo, not Alexa, not any of his friends and that small mercy was enough to let her breathe.
The walk to the beach took just five minutes. And when she stepped onto the sand and saw the endless stretch of water, her heart fluttered.
The ocean shimmered under the sunlight, the waves rolling and crashing gently. People ran around laughing, some swimming, some sunbathing, some splashing each other like playful children.
She stood still, her sandals sinking into the soft sand, eyes wide as she took it all in. She had never seen the beach before.
And now, even with the ache still buried in her chest, a smile tugged at her lips. It was beautiful. Peaceful. Alive. Her heart still hurt.but for the first time since arriving, she wasn’t thinking about Leonardo.
As Isabella stood there quietly, her eyes were drawn to a group of young children playing near the shoreline.
Two twin boys, no older than seven, were crouched on the sand, trying to build a castle. But each time they shaped it, the tower crumbled, and they groaned dramatically before starting again.
She smiled without meaning to—her lips curving softly as she watched them fight the sand with their tiny hands and wild determination.
Just as she turned to walk away, the boys looked up and spotted her.
One of them stood, sand clinging to his knees. "Sister! Would you help us make it?" he asked cheerfully.
The other immediately echoed, "Yes, please! Ours keeps falling!"
Isabella blinked, eyes widening. For a moment, she didn’t believe they were talking to her.
She pointed to herself, surprised. "Really? You want me to help?" The boys nodded with bright, hopeful eyes and toothy grins.
Her heart skipped. She hadn’t been asked for anything... not sincerely... in so long. Without thinking, she walked over and slowly knelt beside them, smoothing her dress beneath her.
The sand was warm under her hands, and the ocean breeze played with her loose hair. It was her first time making anything from sand.
Her fingers hesitated at first, unsure how to shape it, how to pack it just right.
The boys didn’t notice her nervousness—they just handed her a little red bucket and smiled.
"We’re making a castle for the sea princess," one whispered like it was a secret. Isabella laughed softly.
Her hands were covered in sand as she helped the twin boys build their castle, awkward at first, pressing the wet sand too hard or patting it too soft. Still, with clumsy determination, she shaped the little towers, copying what the boys showed her with wide, focused eyes.
The dress rode up slightly when she bent, revealing more of her legs, the sun casting soft gold across her skin. She didn’t even notice, too caught up in trying not to ruin their creation.
The castle leaned awkwardly to one side, and the walls were a bit crooked, but it stood. It didn’t fall this time.
The twin boys cheered, hands flying up in celebration. "It’s perfect!" one said, and Isabella laughed cheerfully.
She looked down at their finished work, her hair falling in loose waves over her bare shoulders.
She didn’t notice someone watching her from a distance...