Chapter 106

Sarah

pov.

The day started off perfectly. Richard and I were on our way to a little restaurant down the street that we'd read great things about.

He kept his hand in mine, swinging it slightly, and the warm, tropical breeze ruffled my hair.

I felt happy, lighter than I had in months. This trip was everything I had hoped it would be-a chance for us to reconnect, to be in our own world, away from the daily grind.

As we entered the restaurant, the smell of fresh seafood and sizzling spices greeted us, and my stomach rumbled in anticipation.

We found a cozy table by the window, with a view of the beach just down the street, and settled in, glancing at the menu and chatting about what to order.

But then I saw her. Isabelle.

There she was, just a few tables away, scanning the menu like she'd just walked in. I felt my shoulders tense.

What were the odds? It was such a small island, I guessed, but still, it felt strange. It was the third time now that we'd bumped into her, and each time it felt... I don't know... a little too coincidental. Richard noticed her, too. "Oh, hey!" he said, lifting a hand in a friendly wave. "Isabelle!"

I forced a polite smile, trying to keep my face relaxed. Isabelle looked up, her face lighting up as she walked over to our table.

"Hi, you two!" she said, her voice bright and cheerful. "Fancy seeing you here. This island keeps getting smaller and smaller."

"Yeah, crazy," I said, keeping my tone light, even though I felt a strange knot in my stomach.

Isabelle didn't seem to notice, though. She looked straight at Richard, her gaze lingering just a bit longer than it needed to. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, glancing from me to Richard, her smile as wide as ever. "Oh... sure," Richard said, pulling out the chair next to him. "We don't mind, right, Sarah?"

did I? I just shrugged and managed a small nod, hoping my face didn't betray the

wanted this to be a nice dinner, just us, but now we had company-uninvited

said, settling

vacation going so

"We've been snorkeling, hiking, and trying all the

her eyes fixed on him, her voice soft and warm.

notice that

forced myself to take a sip of water, trying to shake the feeling building inside me.

conversation. But it was something in the way she looked at him, a little too focused, a

favorite travel spots and funny mishaps while exploring

clearly enjoying himself, and Isabelle kept nudging his arm as if they

any longer. "So, Isabelle," I

there was a flicker of something unreadable in her

know? No

nodded, forcing a small smile. "I get that. Though I'm glad to have company on this

turned her attention back to Richard. "I envy you two. You seem like the perfect pair," she said, resting her chin in her hand, her eyes lingering on him. "It must be nice, being with someone who just... gets you." "Yeah," Richard said, glancing at me with a grin. "It is." He

I noticed that Isabelle didn't look away, as if she didn't quite care that I

it slide, but there was something about her that kept scratching at the back of my mind, like a warning I

more. "Well, I'll let you two get back to your evening. It was lovely running into you again," she said, looking at Richard as if he were the only one who mattered. "Likewise," he replied, giving a casual wave as

of earshot, I turned to him. "You didn't notice anything... strange about her?" I asked, trying to

raised. "Come on, Sarah,

forming. "Richard, she was all over you. She barely looked at me

you jealous?" His eyes sparkled with amusement,

down, feeling a mix of embarrassment

But something about Isabelle's presence felt off. I

don't like the way she looks at you," I said quietly, hoping he'd take

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