Alex arrived in New York under the cover of night, checking into a hotel not far from where Isabella had been staying. The city's constant hum, so different from Tokyo, matched the restless energy coursing through him. He had come to win her back, no matter what it took.
For days, he watched her from afar, his heart tightening every time he saw her. She seemed different here—freer, more at ease. She moved around the bustling city with a grace he hadn't seen before, smiling and laughing with Ava and, on occasion, even Ethan.
Each time he saw Ethan near her, Alex's blood boiled. It took everything in him not to confront him, to put an end to his manipulations once and for all. But he knew he had to wait. He needed to speak to Isabella alone, to tell her everything before Ethan could twist the truth further.
On the fourth day, after watching from a distance as Isabella returned to her apartment, Alex made his move. He had been patient long enough. Tonight, he would confront her.
The rain had started again, a steady drizzle that dampened the city streets as Alex made his way to Isabella's building. His heart pounded in his chest as he climbed the stairs to her floor, the memories of their time together flashing through his mind.
When he reached her door, he hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the wood. What if she refused to see him? What if she was already convinced by Ethan's lies?
But Alex wasn't the type to give up. He knocked, firm but not aggressive, and waited.
A few seconds later, the door opened. Isabella stood there, her eyes widening in shock when she saw him. She was wearing a simple white blouse and jeans, her hair loose and damp from the rain. Her beauty, even in her surprise, made Alex's breath catch in his throat.
"Alex?" she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and something else—something he couldn't quite place. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped forward, unable to keep the intensity from his eyes. "We need to talk, Isabella. I couldn't stay away any longer."
For a moment, she seemed to falter, her gaze flickering between him and the hallway. Then, she stepped aside and let him in.
The apartment was small but cozy, filled with soft lighting and a faint scent of lavender. It felt like her—warm, inviting, but with an underlying sadness that Alex hadn't seen before.
"Why are you here, Alex?" she asked again, crossing her arms as she faced him in the living room. "I thought… I thought you were done with me."
"Done with you?" He shook his head, stepping closer. "Isabella, I could never be done with you."
She scoffed, her eyes hardening. "Then why did you keep so much from me? Why didn't you tell me what was happening with my family?"
Alex ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't know how to explain it without—"
"Without what?" she cut him off, her voice rising. "Without admitting that you were planning something behind my back? That you were going to destroy the only family I have left?"
"Your family betrayed mine, Isabella," Alex said quietly, his tone hard but pained. "They caused the death of my grandfather. I couldn't just ignore that."
Her eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and anger. "I know my family isn't perfect, but they're still my blood. You can't expect me to just stand by while you take them down."
"I'm not asking you to," Alex said, stepping closer until he was right in front of her. "I don't want to hurt you, Isabella. That's the last thing I want. I love you."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and raw. Isabella's eyes widened, her breath catching. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
"I know I've made mistakes," Alex continued, his voice low but urgent. "I know I've hurt you, but I can't lose you. Not now. Not ever."
Isabella looked up at him, her eyes filled with a whirlwind of emotions. She had been prepared to keep her distance, to move on and leave everything behind. But hearing those words—hearing him say that he loved her—shook her to her core.
"Alex…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Before she could finish, Alex closed the distance between them, cupping her face in his hands. He searched her eyes for any sign of resistance, but all he found was confusion, longing, and something deeper—something he had been searching for all along.
"I love you," he repeated, his voice a broken whisper. "I don't know how to be anything other than what I am, but I know I can't live without you."
Isabella closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. She felt her heart breaking and healing at the same time. All the anger, all the betrayal, seemed to fade away in that moment, leaving only the truth between them.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "I don't know if I can forgive everything," she said softly. "But I can't deny that I love you too."
A sigh of relief escaped Alex's lips, and before either of them could say anything more, he pulled her into a kiss. It was soft at first, hesitant, but then it deepened, filled with all the passion, frustration, and love they had been holding back for so long.
For the first time in weeks, everything felt right.
When they finally pulled apart, Isabella rested her forehead against his chest, her heart still racing. "What are we going to do?" she asked quietly.
"We'll figure it out," Alex replied, his voice steady. "Together."
And for the first time in a long while, Isabella believed him.