The Unspoken Attraction

Chapter 7: Cracks Beneath the Surface

The days after Isabella's conversation with Niel were filled with a quiet but suffocating tension. She tried to push thoughts of Sofea aside, telling herself that her doubts were irrational—that Ian's love for her was unwavering. Yet, the image of him with Sofea lingered, haunting her in stolen moments and quiet silences.

Isabella's heart felt like a tightly coiled spring, wound up and ready to snap. She didn't want to believe that Ian had kept something from her. After all, he'd never given her a reason to doubt him before. But now, every time she looked into his eyes, she couldn't help but wonder: Was there a part of him she didn't know?

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It had been weeks since Isabella had seen Ian with Sofea at the café. And though she had tried to move past it, the scene replayed in her mind every day—their easy laughter, Sofea's hand casually brushing Ian's arm, and the familiarity between them that seemed too close for comfort. Despite her attempts to convince herself it was nothing, a seed of doubt had planted itself deep within her heart, growing more with each passing day.

From the outside, everything seemed normal. Isabella and Ian were still the perfect couple, their engagement the envy of their friends. They continued their usual routine: morning coffees together, late-night talks, and weekends spent exploring new restaurants or curled up on the couch watching movies. But Isabella could feel the shift within herself. Her once carefree happiness with Ian was now clouded by uncertainty.

The hardest part was that she hadn't spoken to Ian about what she had seen. Every time she wanted to bring it up, something stopped her. Maybe it was fear—fear that confronting him would confirm her worst suspicions, fear that what she saw was more than just a coincidence. So she remained silent, hoping the unease would fade.

But it didn't.

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The soft glow of morning filtered through the sheer curtains in Ian's penthouse, casting a golden hue over the room. She lay awake, her back turned to Ian, listening to the rhythmic sound of his breathing. He had made Isabella stay over after their dinner last night, but the weight of their unspoken thoughts kept her awake long after he'd fallen asleep.

Isabella stared blankly at the wall, her mind replaying the image of Ian and Sofea at the café, the comfortable way they had shared laughter and conversation. That moment had planted a seed of doubt that now bloomed into an ache that gnawed at her heart.

Ian stirred behind her, pulling her gently closer as he slowly woke up. "Good morning," he murmured into her hair, his voice still thick with sleep.

Isabella forced a small smile. "Morning," she replied, her tone light but her heart heavy. She felt his warmth against her but couldn't shake the coldness that had settled in her chest.

Ian brushes a kiss on her covered shoulder, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside her. "What's on your mind? You've been distant lately."

His question made her tense. He was asking again, trying to draw her out of the shell she had retreated into over the past few days. But Isabella wasn't ready to talk about it, not yet. She was still sorting through her emotions, wrestling with the questions she didn't want to face.

"I'm just tired," Isabella said, slipping out of bed before he could press her further. "Work's been hectic."

Ian watched her as she moved around the room, his brow furrowing in concern. "You sure that's all it is? I feel like something's been off."

Her chest tightened at his words. Ian had always been attentive, and she couldn't deny that he cared. But the uncertainty that lingered between them was growing harder to ignore.