Chapter 51 The Morning After the Storm
Isabella’s POV
The first week back felt… strange.
Classes had started again, the campus buzzing with that chaotic early-semester energy—students rushing between buildings, professors already assigning more reading than any sane human could finish, and the constant hum of conversations drifting through the halls.
Life had resumed its normal rhythm.
But mine didn’t feel normal anymore.
Because Alexander Kingsley existed in it now.
And somehow… he had become the center of it.
Sarah and I walked across the campus lawn toward the business building, the morning air crisp and bright. Students filled the paths, backpacks slung over shoulders, coffee cups clutched like survival gear.
Sarah nudged my arm.
“So.”
I groaned.
“No.”
“Oh yes,” she said, grinning. “You don’t get to drop the ‘Alexander Kingsley confessed his eternal obsession with me’ bomb and then expect me to act normal.”
“I did not say eternal obsession.”
“You said,” she held up her fingers dramatically, counting them off, “that he told you he’s never letting you go, that you belong to him, and that he wants you to give him the chance to do things right.”
I winced.
“When you say it like that it sounds insane.”
Sarah snorted.
“It sounds like the billionaire mafia kingpin you’ve been secretly obsessed with since day one.”
“I was not obsessed.”
“Bella,” she said flatly, “you asked if the man had secret tattoos under his shirt.”
I rubbed my face.
“Okay. That might have been a moment of temporary insanity.”
She laughed.
But then her expression softened slightly.
“So… you really told you everything? About how he felt?”
I nodded.
“And?”
“And he told me he’s been wanting me from the beginning,” I admitted quietly.
Sarah stopped walking.
“Wait.”
Her eyes widened.
“From the beginning beginning?”
“Yes.”
“You mean all those months of him acting like a cold robotic psychopath?”
“Apparently that was his version being nice.”
Sarah blinked.
“Men are exhausting.”
“Tell me about it.”
We started walking again.
“But he asked me to give him a chance,” I said. “A real chance. To do things right this time.”
Sarah studied my face.
“And?”
“And I did.”
She sighed dramatically.
“Well,” she said, throwing her hands up, “I guess that answers one question.”
“What?”
“He’s never letting you go.”
I smiled despite myself.
“No,” I said softly. “He won’t.”
Sarah groaned.
“You sound disgustingly happy.”
“I am.”
“God, I hate when people are happy.”
I bumped her shoulder.
“You’re awful.”
She shrugged.
“I’m realistic.”
Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“So… how has he been?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“In what way?”
Her grin turned wicked.
“You know exactly what way.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“Sarah—”
“Bella.”
I sighed.
I shook my head, trying to hide the smile tugging at my mouth.
“He doesn’t let me rest,” I admitted.
Sarah nearly choked.
“Oh my God.”
“It’s ridiculous,” I continued, laughing. “I swear the man has unlimited energy.”
“You’re glowing.”
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.”
I rolled my eyes.
“But… I like it,” I said quietly.
Sarah watched me for a moment.
Then she smiled.
A real one this time.
“You deserve this, you know.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Happiness,” she said simply. “And honestly? It’s about time that idiot admitted he liked you.”
I laughed.
“I’m happy for you,” she said.
“But if he breaks your heart,” she added casually, “I will absolutely ruin his life.”
I snorted.
“Good luck with that.”
“Hey,” she said defensively, “I have access to social media and a lot of free time.”
We climbed the stairs together, joining the flow of students heading toward class.