Isabella’s soft arms slowly wrapped around his neck again, her head leaning back against the same spot on his chest, her voice playfully tinged with a hint of pride, “The feeling of the heartbeat, I want to hear it again.”
Her little head nestled against his chest, a tingling sensation spreading right into her heart.
Andrew’s hands rested on her shoulders, gently pushing her out of his embrace. His self-control occasionally faltered in front of her, and it wasn’t wise to tempt himself here.
“That’s enough, don’t take advantage,” Andrew’s long fingers lightly grazed her nose. Both his actions and tone were filled with indulgence.
She looked up at him, a coquettish smile on her face.
“Are you hurt?” he asked again.
She shook her head. Despite falling into his arms, she hadn’t even grazed her skin.
Only then did he relax, taking the reins in hand. “Do you still want to ride?”
Before she could answer, a playful male voice came from behind them, “Andrew, embracing so openly in broad daylight, mind your surroundings.”
Andrew and Isabella turned at the sound, seeing several people approaching them from a distance.
Two men and two women; the two men were familiar faces, Ryan and Charles, but the two women accompanying them were strangers.
Neither Isabella nor Andrew recognized them. Ryan and Charles often had different companions each time.
Andrew seemed unperturbed by their sudden appearance, his handsome face remaining calm and composed. He simply said, “Take care of yourselves first, then talk to me.”
“Ryan, Charles, you may have met Isabella,” Andrew introduced.
She nodded, greeting the two of them calmly. “Hello.”
After dinner, the estate’s staff brought several golden room keys. Charles left one behind and tossed the remaining two to Andrew and Ryan.
“The afternoon sun is perfect for soaking in the outdoor hot springs in the courtyard, have fun,” Charles smirked suggestively.
What’s more fun than an outdoor hot spring? It’s the game between men and women.
With one hand holding the room key, Charles wrapped his other arm around his companion. She nestled against him, shyly smiling, lightly tapping his chest with her small fist, “You’re the worst.”
“Men aren’t bad, women don’t love them,” Charles joked, shamelessly kissing his companion’s blushing lips in front of everyone.
Then, the two of them left the restaurant embracing, eager to return to their room and soak in the hot springs.
Isabella wiped the corners of her lips with a tissue and, seeing the room key drop in front of her, instinctively furrowed her eyebrows. “Andrew, I’m tired, let’s go home.”
“Okay,” Andrew nodded, getting up to retrieve Isabella’s coat from the nearby rack and considerately draping it over her shoulders.
“We’re leaving now, we’ll gather again another day,” Andrew told Austin and Ryan before taking Isabella’s hand and leaving.
…
Just as they returned to the apartment, Andrew was changing shoes in the hallway when his phone vibrated.
It was Mrs. Hannah on the line, her tone somewhat gentle, “Asher is insisting on coming home, could you come to pick him up?”
“Okay, I’ll come over now,” Andrew hung up, putting his shoes back on that he had just removed.
He knew well that if Asher wanted to return home, the driver could bring Amelia and the child back. Mrs. Hannah specifically asked him to come over, likely to talk about Zoe’s matter.
He was drugged by Zoe in the Green family, and it was inevitable that he would have to answer for it.
“You rest first, I’ll go to my parents’ house to pick up Asher,” Andrew said.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Isabella asked. She was feeling a little nostalgic for Asher.
He looked at her with a half-smile, his eyes carrying a mix of seriousness and gravity. “Are you sure you want to meet my parents?”
She almost instantly shook her head in refusal. She wasn’t prepared to meet his parents and family recently, because usually meeting parents led to talks of marriage.
Andrew left alone.
It took about half an hour to drive from the apartment to the Turner family estate.
As the car came to a stop, a small figure dashed out of the villa.
“Daddy!” Asher, with his short legs, ran over, directly launching himself into Andrew’s arms, stretching out his tiny hands, requesting a hug.
Andrew bent down, lifted his son from the ground, and walked towards the villa holding him.
At the villa’s entrance, Amelia smiled brightly and said to Andrew, “Asher has been pestering to find his dad these days.”
He nodded at her, carrying the child inside the villa.
In the hall on the villa’s ground floor, Mrs. Hannah and Layla were sitting on the sofa conversing.
“Andrew’s back, please sit,” Mrs. Hannah said gently, gesturing to the seats beside her as they saw the father and son enter. Then she said to Amelia, “Take Asher upstairs to play for a while.”
Amelia was perceptive; she knew they had something to discuss, which wasn’t suitable with the child present, so she immediately carried the child upstairs.
Once Amelia and Asher left, Mrs. Hannah spoke calmly and slowly, “Zoe has moved out of the Green family. Andrew, you’re a sensible person, don’t distance yourself from their family because of an outsider.”
The Green family expelled Zoe from their house, giving Andrew an explanation.
“I understand,” Andrew replied calmly, showing no fluctuation in his emotions. This outcome was almost expected.
“Zoe has spent so many years studying for nothing. Although she was raised in the Green family, she doesn’t come from a noble background. She’s just like those unrefined people. Such a person dreams of marrying you.”
Layla was rarely so harsh in her judgment. It shows how much she disapproved of Zoe scheming against Andrew.
Resorting to drugging is such a low tactic, no different from those hostesses in nightclubs, all scrambling to climb into men’s beds for money.
Mrs. Hannah frowned disapprovingly at Layla. “Zoe has gone too far this time. She’s faced consequences. You are someone of status and grace; there’s no need to speak so harshly. Moreover, despite whatever faults Zoe might have, her father had a debt of gratitude to the Green family.”
Zoe’s father was once Mr. Green’s driver and died in a traffic accident. At that time, had he not shielded Mr. Green with his body, it might have been Mr. Green who perished.
The Green family repays kindness. After Zoe’s father’s death, they adopted her. She was provided with the same treatment in terms of food, clothing, and all amenities as the family’s daughter.
Zoe was a diligent girl; she excelled in her studies and was sensible, which endeared her to Mr. Green.
Unfortunately, Andrew’s attitude toward her had always been lukewarm, which made her impatient and led to this kind of outcome.
Layla wore a cold expression. Although she didn’t refute her mother’s words, her displeasure was evident on her face.
After finishing discussing Zoe’s matter, Mrs. Hannah inquired, “Andrew, I heard you’re dating a human girl?”
“Yes,” he truthfully replied, showing no intention of concealing the relationship.
His relationship with Isabella was aimed at marriage, so there was nothing to hide.
Just as Mrs. Hannah was about to ask about the woman, Layla, in a sarcastic tone, interjected, “Mom, I suggest you not bother. ”
Upon hearing Layla, Mrs. Hannah looked deeply at Andrew and sighed, “I’m getting old, meddling too much becomes annoying. Alright, you can go back now.”