Affair With The Arrogant CEO

It’s the night of Ethan’s rehearsal dinner.

Isabella hangs her mouth open as Madelyn drops a bombshell on everyone. “Yes, I said! Ethan and Isabella are having an affair.” With much infuriation, he lowered his voice and spoke to her. “Madelyn! What are you doing?”

“Ethan, this is not a Grayson behaviour.” His mother spoke sternly. Then Madelyn’s mother spoke up. “Its not surprising. Some women have a knack for getting involved where they don’t belong.”

Isabella looked around helplessly, feeling like the walls were spinning around her as she tried to keep up. “But Madelyn... is also having an affair, with Liam?” She couldn’t be the only one guilty of something that night.

Madelyn scrambled to cover her throat as Ethan whips his head around, glaring at Liam. “Is that true? After everything we’ve been through?” Liam sighed as he tried to clear things but failed. “Well.... I-”

“Wait, Ethan drove me into the arms of another man! None of this is my fault!” Madelyn defended herself making the guests to actually believe her. “Madelyn, stop lying. You’re as much to blame here as anyone else. And no one drove you to cheat. You did that all by yourself.” Isabella retorted, fed up of Madelyn’s ridiculous lies. “As did you,” Madelyn fired back. The guests murmured, calling Isabella the home wrecker. “Leave Isabella alone! She wasn’t the one who betrayed Madelyn. I am.”

A white flash from the other side of the room blinds them briefly. They look around frantically for the source. “What was that?” Isabella asked, dazed. She spots the wedding photographer nearby lowering his camera with a shrug. “Sorry, but I can make more off these pictures than what I’m getting paid for the wedding.” He spat, nonchalantly as if he wouldn’t get arrested for that. “I don’t think so. Hand over the camera before I call security.” Ethan mother threatened. “Why? Don’t you want your son exposed for the cheater he is?” Madelyn’s mother grunted.

Isabella jostled in the crowd, pushing her towards the back of the room. “Ethan?” She called out. “Isabella?”

Somehow through the chaos, the two of them stand on the opposite sides of the table from each other, worlds apart. Just as the din reaches a fever [itch, Isabella feels someone tug on her arm from behind. She briskly spin and stumble against Ethan’s personal driver. “I got you, Ms. Jonathan.” She heaved a sighed and nodded as she smiled. “Come, let’s get you out of here. This bedlam is no place for a lady.”

“What about....” She looks over her shoulder but she couldn’t even see Ethan through the crowd anymore. The sadness washed over her. “Never mind. Let’s go.”

She locks her door as soon as she gets back to the villa. She immediately collapsed on the bed and put in earplugs. She was pretty sure she didn’t want to hear if anyone knocks on her door... or worse, if no one does.

Early the next morning, she wakes up before the sun and book the earliest flight back to Georgia. It didn’t take long for her to pack the remainder of her items. “Only one thing left to do.” She mumbled to herself as she picked a pen and plain paper.

‘Dear Ethan, I’m sorry to leave so suddenly but I think we both knew this was coming. I’m not sure where I’ll go yet, but don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay.. and so will you. Best of luck and Madelyn. I truly mean it.’ She looked down at the words she has written, fighting back the tears. ‘P.S Stay strong. You can change the world Ethan Grayson don’t let this bump in the road slow you down. Yours, Isabella.’

She slips the letter under Ethan door on the way out, hesitating for only a moment. She drags her suitcase out the front door, not letting herself look back.

On her way to the airport, her taxi gets caught in some congestion near a familiar cathedral. That’s Ethan and Madelyn’s venue. She couldn’t believe there was traffic that early morning before the ceremony... or that the wedding’s still on after everything.

“The papers say over there is supposed to be the wedding of the century! That’s why people are so eager to arrive early. Too bad people like us weren’t invited, huh?” The taxi driver looked over to Isabella through the rear mirror. She heaved a desolate and nodded. “Yeah... too bad.”

At least it seemed like what happened at the rehearsal dinner hasn’t gotten out to the press.

Soon, the taxi passes the venue, and she tears her eyes away with a sigh.