Countdown to "I Do" novel Chapter 7

**Midnight Roads Unseen by George Orwell**

**Chapter 7**

The evening before her departure enveloped the world in a shroud of darkness, a stillness that seemed to hold its breath.

Isabella was immersed in the task of packing, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Just as she meticulously tucked away the last piece of clothing into her suitcase, the sound of a lock clicking open broke the silence.

Adrian stepped into the room, his suit jacket draped casually over one arm, giving him an air of nonchalance. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and a faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, a testament to a night spent unwinding.

He paused at the doorway, his gaze falling on her open suitcase, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “What are you packing for?” he asked, his tone casual, almost too casual.

Isabella felt a lump form in her throat, the words “I’m leaving” hovering on her lips, but before she could voice them, Adrian interrupted her with a gentleness that caught her off guard. “Isabella, teach me how to make mashed potatoes.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him stride toward the kitchen, a sense of disbelief washing over her.

For years, she had been the caretaker, the one who nurtured and provided. Adrian had never once ventured into the culinary realm, relying on her for every meal.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she followed him, curiosity piquing her interest.

In the kitchen, Adrian stood at the counter, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the sinewy muscles of his forearms. He was awkwardly attempting to slice ginger, his knife skills betraying his inexperience. It was painfully obvious that he had never taken on such a task before.

Isabella positioned herself beside him, her voice soft as she offered guidance. “You need to hold the knife like this,” she instructed, demonstrating the proper grip.

Once the mashed potatoes were finally ready, Adrian took a tentative bite, a look of surprise crossing his face as his brow unfurled. “Not bad,” he remarked, but he didn’t offer her a taste.

He seemed oblivious to her disappointment, glancing at his watch with a hint of urgency. “Isabella, I’ll be busy for the next few days. We can catch up later.”

With that, he grabbed the food and exited the kitchen, leaving her standing there, frozen in place. The sound of the door clicking shut echoed in her mind, a finality that sent a shiver down her spine.

In a daze, she reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she opened Ella’s social media feed.

There it was, a new post lighting up her screen.

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[Suddenly craving mashed potatoes. Anyone willing to learn how to make them for me?]

A soft laugh escaped her lips, a mix of amusement and bitterness.

Years ago, she had learned to make that very dish, all for him, pouring her heart into every recipe.

And now, the man who had once shunned the kitchen was taking his first steps into cooking, and it was all for Ella.

Love and not love—truly, a relentless cycle.

As dawn broke on the day of her departure, Isabella completed her packing, each item a testament to her journey.

Her flight was just hours away. With a hat pulled low over her eyes, she stepped out into the world alone, determined to visit a few significant places one last time.

Six hours before her flight, she found herself at the high school where she and Adrian had shared so many memories.

The playground lay empty, a haunting echo of laughter long gone. She approached the tree that had once held her heart, tracing her fingers over the crookedly carved words etched into the bark—

“Isabella loves Adrian.”

With a heavy heart, she retrieved her key and began scraping away the words, each scrape a painful severing of her past. The wood shavings fell like fragments of her youth, scattered and lost.

Five hours before leaving, she made her way to the iconic Love Lock fence.

The engraved padlock still dangled from the railing, their names forever etched on its surface, a symbol of promises made.

Years ago, she had coaxed Adrian into coming here, her cheeks flushed as she said, “I heard if you hang one of these, you’ll be together forever.”

Adrian had merely offered a noncommittal “hmm,” allowing her to indulge in her whimsy.

Reflecting on it now, she realized he had never taken it seriously.

Well, that’s fine. It saves me the trouble of throwing them away myself.

In the final hour before her flight, she hurried to the airport, her luggage trailing behind her like a shadow.

Once she boarded the plane, a flight attendant gently reminded her to turn off her phone, her voice soothing and professional.

The airport’s voice echoed through the terminal, announcing the final boarding call.

Isabella opened her photo album, her heart racing as she located the video she had recorded that day.

The intimate scene of Adrian and Ella played before her eyes, a painful reminder of betrayal.

With a steady hand, she selected the video and pressed send.

Then, she typed, each word deliberate and heavy—

“Adrian, you took my kidney for Ella. I know.”

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“When Ella threw a fit, you secretly aborted our child. I know.”

“You want to have your own child with Ella. I know that too.”

“Adrian, you got what you wanted. I don’t want you anymore. I’m giving you back to Ella for good.”

With a final tap, she hit send, blocked him, deleted his number, and powered off her phone.

As the plane ascended into the sky, Isabella gazed out at the vast expanse of clouds rolling beneath her, a sea of white and blue. She gently closed her eyes, the weight of her decision settling over her like a comforting blanket.

This time, she would not look back.