Stuck in The Marriage Pact
Chapter 52: Can’t prevent it

Chapter 52: Can’t prevent it

Isabella sighed and glanced at Joe. "I never stopped loving you," she said.

"Then why are you making this fucking crazy decision?" Joe asked sharply.

Isabella just stayed silent, her head down.

"Is it because he’s rich? He’s kind? He can give you whatever you need. Pay off your debts?" Joe asked impatiently, standing up and facing Isabella angrily. "Tell me your fucking reason!"

"Joe... I’m being realistic... I do feel better because he’s helped me financially a lot, but that’s not my reason," Isabella explained with a sad look. "I’ve already felt relieved that my debts are paid off, I don’t need a lot of money anymore, but thinking about divorce... I feel conflicted... I feel..."

"You’re not ready to live in poverty again?" Joe guessed.

"No!"

"Then what? Just say it! Say your reason clearly!" Joe shouted, his eyes glaring. "What happened between you two? How far did you go as husband and wife?" he continued, recalling Kate’s explanation.

Isabella remained silent, her head bowed.

"Did he fuck you?" Joe asked.

"Joe..." Isabella sighed. "It’s not about that... How could you think he did that to me? You saw he’s paralyzed, right? Of course, he’s not capable of fuck me!" She finally lied, whether to protect Joe’s feelings or to keep Hunter’s secret.

Joe was silent, turning his face away. ’If I didn’t have to protect Kate, I would expose everything!’ he said to himself.

"Now let me express how I’ve felt all this time," Isabella said, standing and positioning herself in front of Joe. "We’ve been together for years, but I don’t see any progress in our relationship, and then I don’t see your effort to help me... I’ve watched you work hard, but why don’t you have savings to help me get out of debt?"

Joe frowned.

"And..." Isabella looked down. "Why have you never talked about our future? About when we would get married... or if we would ever get married. I’ve been thinking about that constantly!" She looked back at Joe firmly, clenching her fists.

"I keep wondering what you’ve been seeking from me all this time, even until my father passed, and you still didn’t propose to me..or at least promise him that you would take care of me... But That never happened," she said, her eyes welling with tears, shaking her head. "And then you also asked me to use the lasting money I had for my future... Why wasn’t it about our future?" she asked.

Joe was silent, seemingly smashed by Isabella’s questions.

"I don’t know if it’s because you were never sure of me or because you truly couldn’t... felt you couldn’t..." Isabella exhaled sharply and glanced aimlessly, imagining Hunter. "That’s why I chose to make my marriage with Hunter continual when he offered that because he promised me a good future... I faced you, who never gave me certainty, and then I turned to see Hunter, who had the potential to be my husband forever... Of course, I chose him, especially since I already felt comfortable with him... It doesn’t matter that we’ve been together for such a short time; it didn’t affect my decision to choose him over you."

"Yeah..." Joe nodded. "Of course, this is all because he’s richer..."

"Are you stupid?" Isabella asked, narrowing her eyes at Joe. "Didn’t I explain from the start? It’s all because you never gave me certainty. Can you explain to me why that happened? Why did you never talk about our future?"

Joe bit his lower lip, staring at Isabella.

"Tell me!" Isabella shouted.

"There’s no point in telling you... it will never change your decision, will it? That man has poisoned your mind! You will always choose him!" Joe replied, turning his face away. "I’ve already lost... I had this feeling before... Even when you officially married him and suddenly asked to end our relationship, I already felt like I lost you..."

Isabella was taken aback.

"Whatever I do, it won’t bring you back to the way you were... I could never be the best for you... And... And I can’t force you to understand my situation," Joe muttered, his breathing heavy as if suffocated, looking back at Isabella with deep sadness before turning away again. "Just go!"

"But I’ve understood you all this time... I..."

"Just go!" Joe shouted, cutting Isabella off, and walking quickly toward the gym door.

Isabella stood still, watching Joe walk away rapidly until he disappeared from view. She took a deep, painful breath, feeling weak, and reflexively sat down with a vacant stare. In an instant, memories of her ex-boyfriend haunted her, filling her with regret, but there was no use in going back.

’No... I’m not wrong in this. I have to let go of things that can’t make me happy, including Joe,’ she thought, wiping her tears before leaving.

...

In the car, Hunter was already in a panic, his body hot, and sweating, even taking off his brown jacket, leaving just a white shirt and black pants.

"She’s back," Collin said, pointing to the building’s main door.

Hunter quickly looked out the window, spotting Isabella rushing toward the car, even breaking into a small run. His heart raced as he swallowed hard, swiftly opening the door for his wife.

"Hey... What happened?" he asked as Isabella sat down, crying.

Isabella remained silent in her tears, her head bowed, covering her face.

"Honey..."

"Take me home," Isabella whispered through her sobs.

"Okay..." Hunter turned to the front. "Sir, take us to 453 Elm Street."

"Yes, Sir." The driver started driving while Collin remained silent beside him.

Hunter sighed, glancing at Isabella, who continued crying, too afraid to speak but gently reaching out to rub her back.

"I’ve disappointed him," Isabella whispered.

"I know," Hunter replied, pulling Isabella into his embrace. "You can cry... I’m here, I’ll never leave you," he continued.

Isabella kept crying, unable to stop thinking about Joe, remembering the eagerness on his face when he saw her, only for it to end in disappointment when he refused to explain why he never talked about their future or proposed.

"Feeling guilty is normal, but remember, he’s also at fault," Hunter said softly. "If he’d been wiser, we’d never have gotten married, and you’d still be his. But what we saw was someone who loved you without really wanting to have you. So it’s not your fault that you decided to leave him... It’s not your fault... Not your fault," he reassured her, occasionally kissing her forehead.