“Who knows if he’s entertaining for business or for women.” Isabella was so angry she was stomping her feet, thinking, “Next month, I must cut the living expenses in half, definitely!”
Holding Asher, Amelia sighed with the tone of someone with experience, “I’ve been busy outside for years, spent little time at home, and my husband couldn’t stand the loneliness, ended up having an affair with a female colleague, and finally, it led to divorce.”
After finishing her words, Amelia’s gaze fell on Isabella, as if to say, “Girl, you’re rarely at home for extended periods, take care of yourself.”
Isabella: “…”
…
In the afternoon flight, Isabella, accompanied by Olivia and the two newly appointed bodyguards, boarded the plane with a haughty air.
She had been so busy for half a month. It wasn’t until half a month later that she returned to Ithaca town.
As the group arrived at the airport, Olivia hastily went to collect the luggage. Just as she loaded the luggage onto the trolley, her phone started ringing.
With one hand holding the phone, Olivia nudged Isabella with the other, gesturing for her to push the cart.
Rolling her eyes, Isabella thought, ‘Who’s the assistant here? Olivia seems busier than me.’
After Olivia hung up the call, she couldn’t help but ask, “Whose call was it? Don’t tell me it’s your new boyfriend.”
“I wish I had a new boyfriend. Hurry up and find a new assistant; I’m so busy I don’t even have time to scout for a new company,” complained Olivia.
“…” Isabella shrugged off Olivia’s complaint.
Putting her phone back in her bag, Olivia took over the cart for Isabella, speaking as they walked, “James left for his home country last night, without recovering any money. Mr. Brown is without money for treatment; he probably won’t hold on much longer.”
“Mr. Brown is critically ill? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Isabella’s expression changed slightly, abandoning Olivia and rushing outside the airport.
“Hey, now you’re going to show concern? Aren’t you afraid James will misunderstand your lingering affections…” Olivia shouted from behind, unsure if Isabella heard her.
Isabella ran out of the airport, hailed a taxi, and went straight to the hospital.
Inside the hospital, the atmosphere was particularly heavy and tense.
Mr. Brown was wheeled into the emergency room again, and the doctors issued the critical condition notice for the third time.
Outside the emergency room, Mrs. Brown’s eyes were swollen from crying, while James slumped in a nearby chair, looking desolate.
He had been pampered since childhood, surrounded by luxury. But at this moment, he understood what it meant when the tide turns. After the incident involving the Brown family, those relatives and friends who used to associate with them would avoid them like the plague, as if he carried a contagion.
The words ‘borrow money’ didn’t even leave his lips. If he couldn’t borrow money for his father’s surgery, his father would just lie in the hospital waiting for death.
“Mom, can’t we beg Isabella…” James choked out his words, but Mrs. Brown cut him off.
With a bitter laugh, Mrs. Brown said, “Do you have such a poor memory, forgetting how you betrayed her in the first place? Now, you’ve got no face to ask her for money to save your father.”
“But I can’t just watch Dad die.” James choked back tears.
And just as they were nearing despair, the echoing sound of high heels hitting the floor was heard in the empty corridor.
James wiped away the tears on his face, looked up, and saw a graceful figure approaching from a distance.
Isabella walked somewhat urgently and, when she arrived in front of Mrs. Brown and James, she was slightly out of breath.
She looked up at the brightly lit emergency room, asking with concern, “How is Mr. Brown doing?”
Mrs. Brown shook her head with red eyes, “He’s badly injured, with heart and lung failure. The doctor has issued a critical condition notice. If surgery isn’t performed soon…”
“Mrs. Brown, don’t worry, I’ll arrange the surgery immediately. Don’t worry about the surgery fees,” Isabella said hurriedly, rushing into the doctor’s office.
After arranging the hospitalization and surgery fees, the doctor immediately scheduled Mr. Brown’s surgery.
The surgery would last for four to five hours, and Isabella, just off the plane and fatigued, was not allowed to stay at the hospital by Mrs. Brown, who instructed James to take her back.
James escorted Isabella out of the hospital gate, always keeping his head low, feeling guilty and unsure of how to speak.
She was much more casual than him; she had long let go. Facing James, she treated him like a stranger.
“After Uncle’s surgery is over, remember to call and let me know, so I won’t worry. If there’s anything you need, do tell me, I’ll do my best,” she said to James.
He nodded, his voice hoarse as he said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I remember every time I came to your house uninvited, Mr. Brown would cook my favorite dishes for me himself. I remember everyone who treated me well,” Isabella smiled.
James pursed his lips tightly, struggling in his gaze as he looked at her. “If someone wrongs you, will you remember it for a lifetime?”
“No.” She shook her head lightly. “If someone wrongs me, we’re strangers.”
Isabella’s gaze was clear and open. He seemed like a stranger to her.
After hearing her words, a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
“I heard you went to Italy a few days ago. Did you see my sister?” she asked again.
James nodded lightly, his eyes lowered, his expression gloomy and unclear.
He had flown all the way to Italy to see Emily. However, seeing her was worse than not seeing her; it was a self-inflicted humiliation.
At that time, James found Emily in a private club. She was chatting with a foreign guy, laughing and joking. After the banter, they kissed in public.
James turned ashen, suddenly feeling he had never truly known Emily. The girl who had been somewhat capricious and shy in front of him turned out to be so open and bold.
He walked heavily towards Emily. She was shocked at first sight, then her expression turned impatient.
In fluent Italian, she explained to the foreign guy that James was her cousin.
Then, she pulled James aside, speaking impatiently, “Why did you come here?”
James looked at her with eyes full of disappointment and pain. The questions he wanted to ask vanished.
After a brief silence and standoff, he croaked, “My dad got injured and is in the hospital, urgently needing money for surgery. Can you return the engagement gift I gave you?”
Emily, looking incredulous, stared at him, “James, are you even a man? Gifts given cannot be taken back. Have you forgotten what you said to me initially, that what’s yours is mine?”
Clutching his lowered hand tightly, James wished to smack himself; the endearments he once said now seemed exceedingly ironic.
“Emily, my dad is still lying in the hospital, urgently needing money for treatment. Even if I borrowed that money from you, I’ll return it double in the future, please.”
James’s tone was low, even pleading.