Chapter 65

• ISABELLA'S POV ~
• When I woke up the next morning, I could feel the weight of the previous day’s events heavy in my chest. It felt as if a thousand bricks had been laid upon it. I tried to distract myself, to put on a brave face and pretend everything was fine, but the heaviness in my chest would not be ignored. I turned to the familiar comfort of coffee, but even the hot, steaming liquid couldn’t thaw the ice in my heart. I rubbed my chest, trying to massage away the pain that seemed to be coming from deep within my soul.
• "Hey ma'am, are you okay?" I heard a voice that made me jerk my head in its direction. It was one of my subordinates, Luke, his face contorted with concern. I forced a smile, hoping to disguise the turmoil in my heart, but my eyes must have betrayed me, for Luke’s face only became more worried. I cleared my throat, trying to dismiss his concerns, but the ache in my chest only seemed to grow stronger.