Page 85 of The Beast's Broken Beauty

And tonight? Tonight, I want to show you how much you mean to me. You can break me apart and put me back together in ways even my own body couldn't. You've always had that power, Antonio. Even when I hated you for it.

But I’ve put myself back together, too. I have that power, too.

Tonight, I'm yours in a way I've never been before. And you're mine.

When you read this, I want you to know: Once upon a time, you were the Beast. Now, you're my Beast.

Your wife,

Isabella

P.S. Don't you dare think this means I've forgiven everything. We still have a long way to go. But maybe we can go there together.

I inhale deeply, my fingers tracing the edge of the envelope as I scrawl Antonio's name. My heart races, a mix of anticipation and nerves coursing through me.

I'd thought about handing him the letter tonight, but no. I'll leave it for him to find later. Because right now? Right now, I'm on a mission to seduce my husband. The man who once made my heart sing before making it bleed.

The man who, despite everything, I know would burn the world to keep me safe.

Naomi and I had talked about this last night, plotting like we used to before a night out. She'd made her decision with Connor - no more holding back. At least she doesn't have my problem: a husband whose touch is etched into my skin, whose hunger for me is a tangible thing every time he looks my way.

But tonight is different. Tonight, I want Antonio to know that I want him too, that I choose this - choose us - with eyes wide open. No more secrets, no more lies between us.

I slip into the negligee, the whisper of lace against my skin sending shivers down my spine. My nipples harden against thedelicate fabric, and I can almost feel Antonio's rough hands cupping my breasts. I close my eyes, my breath catching as I imagine his lips on my neck, his body pressed against mine. The ache between my thighs intensifies, a reminder of the passion that's always simmered between us.

Tonight, I'm not just his wife. I'm a woman choosing her own destiny, consequences be damned. With each step towards his door, I feel my power growing.

Deep inhale.

The scent of my perfume - the one that drives Antonio wild - fills my senses. Every nerve ending is alive, waiting, remembering.

It's time. Time to show my Beast that his Beauty isn't just someone to protect, but an equal partner in this dance of ours. Time to remind him - and myself - of the inferno that burns between us.

I take one final glance in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. Gone is the scared girl, the cancer patient, the pawn. In her place stands someone stronger, scarred but unbroken.

My bare feet silent on the cool floor, I approach the connecting door. My fingers curl around the brass knob, cool and solid. I hesitate, my heart pounding like it did before my first solo performance.

There's no going back after this. Because this is me being vulnerable again. Putting myself in a position where he betrayed my trust in the past.

This is our third chance to get this right. Right for us.

This is me, choosing him. Not the idealized version I once dreamed of, but the real man – scars, flaws, and all.

This is me, choosing myself. The woman I've become, the one who survived and thrived.

This is me, choosing us. Whatever that means, whatever it brings.

I take a deep breath, tasting the salt in the air, feeling the weight of my decision. Then, with a steady hand, I turn the knob.

Chapter fifty

Antonio

Thenightmareclawsatme, dragging me deeper into its twisted reality. Isabella's body floats in the Mediterranean, her eyes lifeless, accusing. But it's worse than that. I'm there too, watching, unable to move, to save her.

I turn away, desperate to escape, only to find myself face to face with a mirror. What I see makes my blood freeze in my veins.

It's me, but not me.

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