Gabriel speaks softly to Isla, expressing a sincere desire to try and make their marriage work. He asks for one chance to build a real family together, promising no more drama or pretense. His intense gaze and tender words stir deep emotions in Isla, causing her heart to race and her feelings to resurface after years of restraint.
Gabriel admits to having hurt her in the past but urges her to let go of that history and start anew. His voice carries a warmth and regret that touches Isla deeply, making her question if this is the man she once loved. Despite her uncertainty and past pain, she listens quietly, her emotions conflicted as she reaches for wine to steady herself.
Isla admits her doubts, revealing how she has longed for their marriage to succeed but felt pushed away by Gabriel repeatedly. Seeing him vulnerable and pleading unsettles her, and she asks him if he is truly certain about wanting to be with her. Gabriel responds with tenderness, taking her hands and kissing them, showing his genuine commitment and need for her.
Their emotional connection intensifies as Gabriel pulls Isla close, and they share a passionate kiss filled with longing and desire. The moment feels surreal to Isla, caught between hope and hesitation. As their kiss deepens, Gabriel removes her dress, revealing his awe and renewed desire for her, as if seeing her anew.
“I realize I never truly considered this before,” Gabriel murmured, his voice dropping to a softer, more intimate tone than usual. “But trust me when I say, I want to try. For us.”
Isla’s eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting slightly as if to speak but no words came out. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart fluttering uncertainly. Was he genuinely sincere this time, or was it just another fleeting mood passing through him?
“All I’m asking is for one chance,” he continued, his vivid green eyes locked onto hers with unwavering intensity. “A chance to make this marriage work. No more drama, no more pretending. I want something real. Let’s build a family together, Isla.”
A tight knot twisted in her stomach, her heart pounding fiercely against her ribs. Something deep inside her stirred—something she had kept carefully restrained for far too long. Just hearing him say her name so tenderly made her core tighten, and before she realized it, she pressed her thighs together in response.
Gabriel caught the subtle movement, his eyes flickering for a brief moment, but he quickly forced himself to look away. Instead, he leaned forward, his words coming with a quiet urgency.
“I know I’ve hurt you in countless ways,” he confessed, voice heavy with regret. “I can’t deny that. But every choice I made had reasons—strong, complicated reasons. Still, I don’t want to carry that past between us any longer. Let’s bury it, Isla. Let’s start over.”
There was a warmth in his tone she had never heard before—soft, pleading, yet powerful enough to prick her eyes with tears.
She gazed at him, and for a fleeting moment, she almost forgot herself. She held her breath, questioning if this could truly be Gabriel Wyndham—the very man she had loved quietly for so many years. The same man who had given his heart to someone else, leaving her feeling invisible in his world.
Her hands trembled as she looked away, reaching for the wine bottle nearby. Instead of pouring a glass, she tilted it back and swallowed straight from it, the bitter-sweet liquid burning down her throat and coloring her cheeks with warmth. When she finally set the bottle down, her chest rose and fell unevenly with ragged breaths.
“So,” Gabriel pressed gently, “what do you say? Shall we try to build our family?”
Isla rose from her chair, turning her back to him. The faint buzz of the wine coursed through her veins, but rather than weakening her, it gave her the courage she desperately needed in this moment.
Wrapping her arms tightly around herself, her voice quivered but held firm as she spoke. “Gabriel… I don’t know. I’ve always wanted this marriage to work. I’ve prayed for it. I’ve tried. But every time I reached out to you, you pushed me away.”
Slowly, she pivoted to face him, their eyes locking—her gaze meeting his steady green ones. She looked down at him sitting there, so composed, so resolute, and a sharp ache settled in her chest.
Her husband had always been a man who commanded control. What he desired, he usually got. But seeing him like this—vulnerable and pleading—stirred something deep inside her, leaving her confused and unsettled.
In this tender and pivotal moment, the walls that once separated Isla and Gabriel begin to crumble, revealing the vulnerable hearts beneath their guarded facades. Gabriel’s earnest plea and Isla’s hesitant yet hopeful response mark a fragile new beginning, where the possibility of healing and genuine connection flickers to life. Their shared past, filled with pain and misunderstandings, now seems poised to give way to a future shaped by trust, desire, and the long-awaited chance to build something real together.
The chapter closes on a note of intense intimacy and awakening, capturing the delicate balance between doubt and longing that defines their relationship. As their lips meet and barriers fall away, the emotional tension that has simmered beneath the surface finally bursts forth, promising transformation but also underscoring the uncertainty that still lingers. It is a moment charged with both passion and the quiet hope that love, once elusive, might finally be within their grasp.
The next chapter promises to delve even deeper into the fragile and complex dance between Isla and Gabriel, as they tentatively step into uncharted emotional territory. The raw vulnerability Gabriel has shown might open doors for healing, but it also raises the question of whether past wounds can truly be set aside or if they will resurface to challenge their newfound closeness. Isla’s inner turmoil and guarded heart suggest that trust will not come easily, and readers can expect moments charged with tension and heartfelt introspection.
As their physical connection ignites a spark long suppressed, the emotional stakes grow higher. Will this intimate breakthrough be a turning point for their marriage, or will it merely complicate the fragile balance they have struggled to maintain? The chapter hints at a delicate exploration of desire, regret, and hope, setting the stage for conflicts that test their commitment and force them to confront the truths they’ve both avoided. The unfolding story will keep readers on edge, eager to discover if love can truly conquer the shadows of their past.
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.

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