Nte watched Isadora with a knowing glint in her eye, taking in her friend''s soft smile and the gentle curve of her brows.
She clicked her tongue. "Alright, spill it. Who''s got your heart this time?"
Isadora paused, halfway through unwrapping a gift box.
"Come on, just because I''m giving someone a present doesn''t mean I''m in love with them. Isn''t that a bit much?"
The luxury watch had caught her eye in a magazine; it seemed to suit Victor''s style perfectly. When she heard it would be up for auction at Northmarch, and that Nte was filming nearby, she''d asked her friend to bid on it for her.
Nte scoffed. "Maybe that''s true for others, but you? Please. Back when you were dating that jerk, I was basically your wingwoman."
A faint blush crept across Isadora''s cheeks.
"I just wanted to thank someone, that''s all."
Nte reached for her coffee on the table and took a sip.
"Look, I''m your best friend, not your rival. Why are you being so secretive with me?"
That wasn''t Isadora''s intention. It''s just that things with Victor were...plicated. Their rtionship felt fragile, and she didn''t want to say something now only to have it fall apart a few weekster. But Nte was her confidante-she owed her the truth.
"It''s... Victor."
Nte nearly spit out her coffee. Her eyes widened in shock. "Wait. Victor? As in the Victor Fitzgerald? You two are actually together?"
Isadora nodded, a bit embarrassed.
Nte felt a mix of happiness and worry. On the one hand, she was d Isadora was opening herself up to love again. But on the other, she knew her friend- Isadora threw herself into rtionships heart and soul.
She set her cup down, voice gentle but firm. "Isadora, guys like Victor Fitzgerald— he''s practically royalty in Capitolion. Do you know how many women in this city would kill for a chance with him? If you''re just in it for the fun, then by all means, enjoy yourself. Honestly, if you get to sleep with someone like him, I''d call that a win. But just remember, protect your heart. Otherwise, when it ends, you''ll be the one left picking up the pieces."
"It won''te to that," Isadora said quietly, clutching the gift box a little tighter, though she didn''t sound convinced. At least... she hoped not.
Nte shot her a look. "You better hope so. You''re nothing like me I know how to keep it casual."
Isadora couldn''t help butugh. "So what''s your secret?"
Nte grinned. "I know how beautiful the whole forest is. Why would I tie myself down to just one tree?"
*
Originally, Isadora had nned to give Victor his gift right away. But after Nte''s words of warning, she hesitated.
Driving home, Isadora absentmindedly switched on the car radio, hoping some music might break the heavy silence.
Suddenly, a familiar male voice crackled through the speakers.
She froze, hands still on the controls.
It was Victor-he must have been on a live interview.
His voice was calm and self-assured as he discussed the future of the Fitzgerald Group. That easy confidence, thezy warmth in his tone-it made her ears tingle, even over the static.
As the interview wrapped up, the host asked, "Mr. Fitzgerald, before we finish— mind if I ask a personal question?"
The interviewer continued, "There''s a photo in your office-a little girl and a dog. Is she an old childhood friend?"
There was a sudden pause on the other end, a heavy, drawn-out silence.
Isadora''s grip on the steering wheel tightened. That photo-she''d noticed it in Victor''s office not long ago.
After a moment, Victor''s deep, maic voice returned.
"She''s not just a childhood friend. She''s the woman I love."
The words hit Isadora like a bolt of lightning.
So lost in the moment, she didn''t notice the truck barreling toward her until it was almost toote.
A jolt of panic shot through her-she mmed on the brakes, heart pounding. But it was already toote.
The screech of tires and the deafening crash echoed as the two vehicles collided.