Isabella's POV

I close the door behind Michael carefully, not because I am afraid of the noise, but because I want to hear the exact moment when he realizes there is nowhere left to run, nowhere left to redirect the blame that has finally landed squarely at his feet. The silence that follows is thick, uncomfortable, and charged with everything he still refuses to admit, everything he hoped I would continue to ignore for his sake.

I move away from him without looking back, pouring myself a drink ...