52

Ryan impatiently took out his wallet, pulled out a check, and tossed it to his girlfriend. “Go shopping with your friends. Buy whatever you like, no need to save money for me.”
His girlfriend took the card, happily went on her way.
Ryan stood on the street corner across from the coffee shop, dialing his phone.
“Find out why James and Isabella met, and also, anonymously notify James’s current fiancee to come here,” Ryan instructed his subordinate.
…
Emily angrily stormed into the coffee shop, but Isabella had already left.
James was surprised to see her. “Emily, why are you here?”
“If I don’t come, do you plan to take me for a fool forever? Where is she?” Emily sharply asked.
“Who are you talking about?” James frowned at her.
Emily glanced at the table, picked up the two coffee cups. “Two cups, James, you better not tell me there’s only you!”
James, with an exhausted expression, sighed, “I did meet Isabella today, but not in the way you think. We were discussing business.”
“Discussing business? James, do you really think I’m a fool? What business can you have with Isabella?” Emily shouted.
Her shrill voice attracted the attention of others. A waiter approached, politely saying, “Sir, Ma’am, please keep it down and don’t disturb other customers.”
“Sorry.” James felt extremely embarrassed, grabbed Emily’s hand, and pulled her out of the coffee shop.
At the coffee shop’s entrance, Emily angrily shook him off and continued to demand, “James, explain it to me, or we’re done.”
James’s face looked terrible, his patience almost depleted. There were a bunch of problems waiting for him to solve at the company, and he really didn’t have the time and energy to deal with her.
“Emily, Isabella is your sister, and I am your fiance. What could happen between her and me? We are about to get married. Don’t you trust me even a little?” he said.
“Isabella has always disliked me, wanting to snatch you away. I want to believe you, but you also need to watch yourself. Back then, you were Isabella’s fiance, yet you slept with me!” Emily yelled harshly.
She often spoke without thinking when she was angry and felt she was in the right.
James’s face turned extremely cold, and it was an ugly sight. He silently looked at her, suddenly feeling that the woman in front of him seemed somewhat unfamiliar. This hysterical and aggressive woman, was she really his gentle, understanding, and affectionate fiancee?
In his eyes, her appearance became increasingly ugly.
“I’m an idiot for betraying Isabella with you,” James self-mockingly chuckled.
“Do you regret it?” Emily glared at him angrily.
“Yeah, I regret it. Is there a regret medicine to take?” James shifted his gaze, looking blankly at the bustling street ahead.
He ended up like this all for her. She always complained that the house wasn’t big enough, the car wasn’t luxurious enough, and the wedding wasn’t extravagant and beautiful enough. Her sisters would mock her.
As a man, of course, he wanted to give his beloved woman the best of everything. He was just momentarily impulsive, using a large amount of funds for venture capital, and in the end, it all went down the drain.
Instead of getting her understanding and support, he was suspected and complained.
“I’ll say it again; I met Isabella only for business. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.” After saying this, James drove away.
Emily was left standing there, fuming with anger.
She returned home and stormed into Isabella’s room.
Since Isabella wasn’t there, Emily took out her anger on Isabella’s belongings, smashing her room to pieces.
Emily looked at the mess on the floor, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Isabella’s favorite doll lay near her feet, and Emily raised her foot, stomping on it forcefully, as if releasing her anger on Isabella’s face.
After making a mess and planning to leave, Emily turned around and saw Isabella standing at the doorway, staring at her coldly.
“Shameless wild seed, you dare to come back!” Emily angrily walked towards her. However, before she could take any action, Isabella had already raised her arm and slapped her across the face.
Emily felt a fiery pain on one side of her cheek, widened her eyes, and shouted, “You dare to hit me!”
Isabella used quite a bit of force, and her arm felt a bit numb. She shook her hand, looked disdainfully at Emily, and said, “I can dare to do anything. I tolerated you because I couldn’t be bothered with you, not because I was afraid of you.”
Emily, furious, lunged at Isabella. However, behind Isabella were Ava and Lily, who immediately stepped forward and held Emily’s arms, one on each side.
“Miss Emily, calm down first. Let’s talk it out,” Lily pretended to advise.
“Let go of me!” Emily hysterically yelled. “Isabella, you shameless wild seed, I won’t let you off.”
Isabella sneered, watching Emily’s madness and disarray. “I’m a wild seed, then what about Dad? A wild man?”
Emily was momentarily speechless. Soon after, a low, angry voice came from the doorway.
“Emily, what are you causing a commotion about now!” David glared at her with cold anger.
This family had no peaceful moments. Did they find him not annoying enough?
With such a disturbance, not only David but Charlotte also hurried over. Charlotte walked quickly to Emily’s side, pushed aside Ava and Lily, and grabbed Emily’s arm.
“Isabella, Emily is impulsive. If she did something wrong, Auntie apologizes to you, alright?” Charlotte took a very humble posture.
As an elder, speaking so humbly in front of the younger generation, Charlotte seemed to be greatly wronged. David found her very sensible and considerate. The more she acted like this, the more guilty David felt, the more considerate she seemed.
Isabella had to admit that Charlotte was good at acting.
As a result, David’s displeased expression softened considerably because of Emily’s trouble.
“Auntie, are your eyes okay? Didn’t you see how Emily wrecked my room?” Isabella said with a hint of grievance.
Seeing the damage and mess in the room, David became furious and glared at Emily.
However, Charlotte reacted quickly. Before he could get angry, she preemptively slapped Emily, of course, it was just a show, not a painful one.
“What’s wrong with you, causing such a mess in your sister’s room? Even if you have a big grievance, there’s no need for this. Your dad is here to support you,” Charlotte scolded, pulling at the hem of Emily’s clothes.
Emily was initially stunned but soon realized. She rushed into David’s arms, crying with a runny nose and tears. “Dad, I’m sorry. I lost control. But Isabella is my sister. How could she secretly seduce James behind my back when James and I are about to get married?”
Hearing these words from Emily, Isabella felt ironic. Back then, she and James were supposed to get married. As a sister, Emily still schemed and used such despicable means.
David, after hearing Emily’s words, became stern, and his gaze towards Isabella turned cold and sharp. “Isabella, is what your sister said true? Are you still entangled with James?”
Isabella looked directly into David’s eyes without showing any weakness, feeling a sense of irony.
Back then, when Emily and James were having an affair, David only said to her, “Since things have come to this, wish your sister and James well.”
Huh, same daughters but treated differently. Truly can distinguish closeness and estrangement.
Isabella coldly curled her lips, with a hint of mockery. “How did I seduce James?”
“Didn’t you have a date today? James has already admitted it!” Emily shouted.
Isabella, with her back straight, answered defiantly, “I don’t know what James admitted. I finished filming today and came straight home. I planned to have dinner with Dad and Auntie, and tonight I have to take a flight for a movie promotion.”
Isabella might be lying with her eyes open, but she didn’t show any fear. She didn’t believe Emily could provide any evidence.
“You’re lying!” Emily retorted loudly.
“My agent can vouch for what I said. As for your accusation, you need evidence. Just relying on James’s words doesn’t prove any improper relationship between us. Who knows if he spoke casually or if you misunderstood.”
“I didn’t speak casually. Dad, you have to believe me!” Emily, both anxious and angry, became more and more unreasonable.
Charlotte, standing on the side, was also a little anxious but couldn’t interrupt. Catching an affair and confrontation without evidence was indeed challenging.
“Isabella, dare you swear you didn’t seduce James? Dare you say you are done with him?” Emily continued aggressively.
Isabella found it laughable. Emily seemed to treat James as a rare delicacy, even asking her to swear. How childish.
“I have a clear conscience. Only those who cheat will see everyone as a thief.”
Isabella’s words left Emily red-faced.
At this moment, David seemed to recall that James was originally Isabella’s boyfriend. He understood Isabella; her personality was much like Eleanor’s. Once betrayed, she would never look back.
“Enough of this crying and making a scene,” David said disapprovingly, pushing Emily away from his embrace.
Emily stumbled, almost falling if it weren’t for Charlotte holding her.
“David…” Charlotte wanted to explain but was scolded by him.
“That’s enough. If you have the time, discipline your two daughters properly. One is embarrassing, and the other only knows how to cause trouble. If you’re not happy in this house, then get out.”
After saying this with a cold face, David looked at Isabella, and his attitude and tone softened. “Isabella, let Ava tidy up a guest room for you tonight. Tomorrow, Dad will have someone redecorate your room. Whatever is missing or lacking, Dad will make up for you, ensuring your room is better than before.”
“Thank you, Dad.” Isabella replied with a wry smile.
“Is your uncle free lately? Let’s have a meal together soon. We’re family; we shouldn’t grow distant,” David casually said.
However, in reality, he wasn’t just saying it casually. William’s position had been determined, two ranks higher than him. Although he hadn’t caused any trouble for him temporarily, just having William sit there made him feel uneasy. They said one level higher can press down on people, not to mention two levels.
“Uncle has been busy lately. After Mom’s funeral, I haven’t seen him. I’ll make an appointment when we meet next time,” Isabella replied half-heartedly.
David nodded, seemingly satisfied, and then went