He looked at her, his deep and calm eyes revealing a hint of helplessness.
He strode over, rolled up his sleeves, and efficiently dried the washed dishes, placing them in the sterilizer. His actions were like cleaning up a battlefield.
She stood there in a daze, and it felt like his scent permeated the air. It was a clean and refreshing scent of cologne, mixed with a hint of tobacco.
The two of them stood close to each other. When he turned his head slightly, it felt like their breaths were entwined. Isabella’s heart was restless, and the feeling was inexplicably strange.
After Andrew had everything in order, he turned to look at her. His blue eyes remained calm, without any ripples.
“Are you planning to stay here?” His voice was low, magnetic, with a slight upward inflection.
“Well, it’s getting late, I should head back,” she replied, her delicate face blushing like a child who had been caught doing something wrong. She hurriedly ran out.
At the entrance of the apartment, Isabella crouched down to change her shoes, and Amelia suggested, “It’s still raining outside; why don’t you stay over for the night?”
Isabella didn’t say anything and continued to tie her shoelaces.
Amelia couldn’t understand why this girl was so stubborn. They had even had a child together, so what was there to avoid? Of course, she was unaware of the dynamics between Andrew and Isabella.
Isabella finished tying her shoes and was about to say goodbye to Amelia, but then she saw Andrew coming out of the kitchen. His deep, restrained eyes met her gaze. In a deep, sonorous voice, he instructed Amelia, “Amelia, prepare the guest room upstairs.”
“I…” She was about to speak up in protest, but he interrupted her with a cold tone.
“The road conditions outside are not good, and you won’t be able to get a cab. If you insist on leaving, I’ll have to drive you in the Porsche 911. If it gets scratched, you’ll be the one to cover the damages.”
It was rare for him to say so many words to her, and after he finished speaking, he turned and went upstairs.
She stared blankly at his disappearing figure.
That evening, she stayed in the apartment, with her phone turned off. She didn’t want to be disturbed and didn’t want to think about the troublesome matters related to the Harris family. She just wanted to rest for the night.
However, she had trouble sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. She tossed and turned in bed, making it difficult to fall asleep. So, she decided to go to the nursery and spend time with Asher.
All the rooms in the apartment were on the second floor. The guest room was on the left side of the staircase, while the nursery was at the far end on the right side.
Isabella walked barefoot across the carpeted corridor. As she passed by the study, she noticed that the light was still on inside.
The door was half open, and she stood at the doorway. She saw Andrew semi-reclined on the couch by the window. He appeared to be asleep. In front of him was a laptop, and the screen’s faint light outlined his deep, chiseled facial features.
Isabella hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.
She hadn’t really wanted to bother him, but he was sleeping here like this, and it was likely that he would catch a cold by morning. However, she couldn’t allow him to get sick, as it might be passed on to her son.
There was a coat hanger by the doorway of the study, and she reached for it to cover him.
As she walked up to the sofa, her fingers had yet to place the coat over him when her wrist was firmly seized.
The grip on her wrist was strong, causing her delicate wrist to feel like it might shatter. She instinctively let out a cry and tried to pull her hand back, but her efforts were in vain. Her feet slipped, and her entire body leaned forward, colliding into his firm chest without any warning.
Isabella was startled and tried to get up, struggling in his arms. Eventually, she sat on the floor with her rear end sore.
Her beautiful brows were nearly twisted into the shape of the Chinese character “,” and she instinctively raised her eyes, meeting a pair of deep and stern blue eyes.
He had opened his eyes at some point and was now looking at her attentively. Then, he slowly released his grip on her wrist.
“Andrew, you hurt me!” Isabella rubbed her painful wrist and glared at him, clearly annoyed.
He sat up from the couch, his brow furrowing deeply, his complexion not looking very good.
She was completely unaware that when she had been struggling on top of him earlier, she had touched areas she shouldn’t have. Her rosy lips had brushed against his face and neck numerous times.
“Next time, don’t get close to me when I’m sleeping,” Andrew said in a deep voice. He reached for the cigarette box on the coffee table and lit a cigarette.
The smoke spread, barely concealing the awkwardness between them.
“Good intentions meet bad results,” Isabella muttered softly in dissatisfaction.
Outside, the pouring rain roared, and the pitch-black sky was suddenly lit up by a white flash, followed by a deafening thunder.
Startled, she instinctively shrank her neck.
Andrew quietly smoked, his lips curving into a faint smile that he himself hadn’t noticed.
“Staying up so late and coming to the study, what’s the matter?” he asked, his slender fingertips lightly tapping the ashtray on the table, creating a casual sound.
She sat curled up under the sofa, her voice muffled. “I can’t sleep.”
“Do you have something on your mind?” he asked, looking at her thoughtfully.
Isabella rested her cheek on her hand, deep in thought. After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice soft and somewhat ethereal. “Andrew, have you ever been betrayed?”
Her voice was very light, almost ethereal. After she finished speaking, he remained silent for a while.
Just when Isabella thought he might not have even heard what she said, he suddenly spoke. His voice was low and hoarse, and his tall figure shrouded in the dim light. His eyes had suddenly become cold and profound, so much so that it seemed a bit frightening.
“Yes,” he replied, and his eyes seemed to pierce right through her.
“Then, what did you do?” she asked, her chin lifted, and her golden eyes gleamed.
He pondered for a moment and replied, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! She felt he made a lot of sense.
Suddenly, it was as if she had a breakthrough. She got up from the floor, beaming, and said, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Goodnight!”
He watched her delicate figure, shaking his head with a faint smile.
One moment it’s sunny, the next it’s raining. She really was like a child.
However, just as Isabella was about to leave, it seemed like she thought of something and turned back.
She walked up to Andrew, unceremoniously tugging at his collar.
Andrew furrowed his brows slightly, reaching out to push her hand away, sternly instructing, “Stop being so handsy, young lady. Maintain some decorum.”
His tone was like that of an elder scolding a child, and Isabella couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
She felt that she recognized the clothes he was wearing, so she only pulled his collar to look at the label. As expected, it was a classic Armani.
An unemployed man actually liked luxury brands so much!
“Andrew, I’m warning you. If you dare to use my money to buy luxury items again, you’ll regret it! Also, make sure to stay home and take care of the child instead of going out wandering around for no reason!”
She scolded him with her hands on her hips, looking very angry, and then left.
“…,” he watched the opening and closing of the door, adjusted his wrinkled collar, and for the first time, had a somewhat bemused feeling.