Emily freshened up her makeup. Charlotte saw her off at the door, and before she could catch a breath, Victoria returned home in tears.
Victoria was a tough-minded person with a gentle appearance, rarely shedding tears unless for acting. Charlotte was surprised to see the moisture in her eyes.
“Victoria, what happened?” she asked, concerned.
After wiping her tears, Victoria asked Charlotte to find the white jade bracelet Mrs. Miller had given to Isabella so she could return it.
“Is the engagement with the Miller family really off?” Charlotte asked persistently.
Victoria shook her head with a bitter expression.
None of the recent projects proposed by the Mitchell family got approved. The Miller family offered no face, indicating a lack of interest in the engagement.
Caleb’s construction company had to halt several projects, and the impact on the company was significant. He was in a bad mood, blaming Victoria for mismanagement.
He didn’t explode at Victoria, but his cold demeanor was enough for her to endure.
“Mrs. Miller didn’t really like Isabella? And during the blind date, Luke’s eyes were fixed on her. He seemed captivated. Why would they suddenly change their minds?” Charlotte was puzzled.
Victoria sneered, “Apparently, Miller family got wind of Isabella’s past affairs. With Luke being the only son, they won’t allow him to marry damaged goods. Isabella has no shame; to ruin my good fortune, she doesn’t mind lowering her own worth.”
“Did Isabella herself reveal this? How could she have the nerve?” Charlotte was incredulous.
“Her past was kept under wraps because Dad was embarrassed. How could an outsider like Miller family know? If it wasn’t her, who else could have disclosed it? She’s not dumb either. She can’t hide the truth forever. When it comes out after marrying Luke, it’ll be even more embarrassing.”
Victoria’s clenched fists nearly broke her skin, her round eyes cold and intense.
Initially, she held the leverage of Isabella’s past to control the Miller family. Unfortunately, she ruined this move.
Victoria couldn’t swallow this; she felt it necessary to teach Isabella a lesson.
…
Two days later, Luke and Isabella met again on set. During the variety show’s shooting, they maintained their composure as if nothing had happened that day. After finishing the show, Luke invited her to a cafe. As they sat down, he hesitated for a moment before speaking, “I understand what you said to me last time.”
She smiled and then fell silent again.
Luke frowned slightly, feeling that continuing like this wasn’t the solution. He decided to express his feelings directly.
“Isabella, I’ve seriously considered what you said the other day.”
“Huh?” The change of topic caught Isabella off guard, and her mind struggled to keep up with the pace.
Luke pursed his lips, his handsome face looking serious. “If I were to say that I don’t mind your past and I am willing to accept your child, would you reconsider our relationship?”
“…” Isabella was completely bewildered this time.
Before she could speak, Luke continued, “Although I can’t promise to treat your child as my own, I can provide a stable home for both of you, ensuring his well-being.”
Even if he were to promise to treat Asher as his own flesh and blood, Isabella wouldn’t truly believe it, knowing it wasn’t his own child. Luke’s sincere and genuine words were enough to move her.
However, while she could be moved, she couldn’t afford to be impulsive. Her impulsiveness would only lead her into Victoria’s trap and bring disaster upon the entire Miller family.
Therefore, she firmly couldn’t give Luke any hope and, moreover, had to completely extinguish the tiny flame of hope within the cradle.
Isabella sighed deeply, then lifted her head, her clear eyes silently staring at Luke.
“Luke, if I were a bit selfish, I would hold onto you tightly right now. After all, considering my situation, marrying you would be the best choice.”
“But…” Luke was eager to speak, yet once again, she interrupted him.
“Love is between two people, but marriage involves two families. You might accept my child, but your parents won’t. Or do you think we can keep it a secret from them until after the wedding?”
Luke remained silent, his lips tightly sealed. Indeed, he had considered that.
But she shook her head with a sigh. “Luke, you’re smart, yet you have foolish thoughts. A marriage built on deceit cannot last. Children are not objects; they can’t be hidden. Once the truth comes out, I’ll be embarrassed, and you’ll be stuck between me and your parents. I don’t want that.”
Luke’s expression turned somewhat grim. He was indeed a smart person, and Isabella’s words indicated there was no possibility between them anymore.
No matter how much effort he put in, his family was like an invisible chasm standing between him and her. As Isabella said, he might not care about her past, but his parents definitely would.
They fell into a brief stalemate, then the airport announcement called for passengers to board their flights.
“Let’s go, it’s time to board,” she said warmly, lifting her luggage and heading towards the security checkpoint.
She walked a bit faster, almost running.
Isabella felt a tinge of sadness. It was rare to encounter someone so sincere, yet she had hurt him this way.
Through security, Olivia had been waiting for her in the departure lounge.
Olivia noticed Isabella’s reddened eyes and was somewhat surprised. Just now, when she returned after getting her boarding pass, she found Luke confessing his feelings to Isabella.
Olivia thought it wouldn’t be wise to interfere at this moment, so she passed through security by herself.
However, Isabella returned with red eyes. Could it be that Luke stumbled over his words during his confession, causing an argument between them? Olivia was completely puzzled.