“Henry, you must be mistaken,” Isabella blurted out randomly. Her mind was in chaos, even more so her heart. At the moment, she didn’t want to think about anything; she just wanted to go home.
She had to find her unemployed drifter and ask him directly. If he dared to lie to her, she promised she would beat him so badly even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him. Oh, she almost forgot, she couldn’t beat him.
In her anxious attempt to leave, Isabella was suddenly grabbed by the arm by Henry.
“Henry, what do you want? Let go of me!” Isabella growled, feeling a bit out of control.
“Well, today, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll take you to meet your boyfriend again,” Henry said, dragging her firmly towards the exit of the Western restaurant.
“Huh?” Scarlett asked. “Henry, what about me?”
“You can go to the banquet first; I’ll find you later,” Henry threw back at her.
Scarlett: “…”
Henry’s red Ferrari sports car parked directly in front of the Turner family conglomerate’s office building.
As soon as Isabella undid her seatbelt, Henry yanked her out of the car and led her straight into the office building.
“Henry, let go quickly, or else you’ll regret being rude to me,” she said angrily.
Henry just pushed her into the elevator, and as the doors closed, he reached out and pressed the button for the top floor.
“Isabella, you’re acting tough, but you’re just a scaredy-cat,” Henry leaned lightly against the corner of the elevator, looking at her playfully.
“So afraid to know the truth? Too scared to face the fact that he’s deceiving you?”
“Henry, your provocation won’t work on me,” Isabella replied coldly.
Soon after, the elevator doors opened, and Henry blocked the doors with one hand, gesturing for her to step out.
Isabella stiffly stepped out of the elevator.
This was her first time entering the Turner family conglomerate, a place that held an almost mythical status in Ithaca town. The CEO’s office on the top floor was lavishly decorated, and employees in professional attire were bustling through the corridors, their faces displaying seriousness and dedication.
It was rumored that this company didn’t tolerate idleness; even an ordinary secretary was required to have a graduate degree.
“Where is your CEO?” Henry stopped a secretary passing by.
Though Henry didn’t often come to the company, most people in the CEO’s office recognized the Turner family’s eldest grandson.
“Mr. Andrew is in the boardroom for a meeting, Mr. Henry. Let me take you to the guest room first,” the secretary respectfully replied.
“No need, carry on with your duties,” Henry waved his hand, leading Isabella towards the boardroom.
Just as they reached the boardroom’s entrance, they were intercepted by Ryan, who had hurried there upon receiving a message.
Seeing Henry’s mocking expression and Isabella’s pale face, Ryan wondered: Was the boss’s woman going to be taken away?
“Henry, the board meeting is ongoing. You can’t barge in now,” Ryan warned.
“Ryan, this is Turner family’s company; nobody can stop me. I suggest you don’t interfere either.” Henry was set on entering, and Ryan naturally wouldn’t let him.
However, Ryan was too focused on stopping Henry and didn’t pay attention to Isabella.
Isabella bypassed them directly, reaching out to push open the heavy wooden doors of the boardroom.
The sudden opening of the door drew everyone’s attention inside the boardroom.
Seeing the situation getting out of control, Ryan stopped trying to restrain Henry.
Henry pulled Isabella in and walked straight in.
The spacious boardroom, filled with antique decorations and department executives, easily accommodated over a hundred people. Isabella immediately spotted Andrew sitting in the main seat.
He was dressed in a formal all-black suit, exuding a mature and cold aura, displaying an assertiveness unique to those in power.
Isabella realized she had been blind before; how could she have mistaken such a high-status man for an unemployed drifter?
“Let me introduce, this is my younger uncle Andrew,” Henry said teasingly as he pushed Isabella forward.
Isabella walked with stiff legs, feeling as if her legs were as heavy as lead. She almost used all her strength just to reach Andrew.
She stared fixedly at the mature and handsome man sitting in the boss’s chair, feeling her vision blur more and more.
“Andrew, don’t you have anything to say to me?”
After a brief moment of astonishment, Andrew’s deep eyes quickly regained their composure.
He stood up from the boss’s chair, glanced at Henry nearby, his gaze cold and sinister.
He had just warned Henry to behave, and now Henry was starting to act recklessly again. It seemed he had been too lenient with the two of them.
Then, Andrew withdrew his gaze. When he looked at Isabella, his eyes softened considerably, showing a hint of tender concern.
“Isabella, whatever it is, can we talk about it when we get home?” he said gently.
Isabella nodded and said, “Okay,” then hurriedly ran out of the meeting room.
“Today’s meeting ends here; we’ll discuss the remaining agenda another day,” Andrew said hastily and quickly left.
The board members and executives left in the room were simply shocked.
The boss had always seemed mature, deep, and indifferent. Yet, here he was, lowering his posture in front of a young girl.
Everyone was now most interested in figuring out who this girl really was.
…
When Andrew rushed out, Isabella was already gone.
He immediately had the driver prepare the car and hurried back to the apartment.
However, Isabella hadn’t returned home. Only Amelia and Asher were there, looking confused.
“Sir, is something wrong?” Amelia, seeing Andrew’s not-so-good expression, asked with concern.
“Nothing, you and Asher go and play,” he said wearily, sitting on the sofa and picking up his phone, calling Ryan to send someone to find Isabella. All he could do was wait at home.
The waiting process was long and agonizing.
Andrew stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, smoking one cigarette after another until the last one burned out. He crushed the cigarette box in frustration, throwing it along with the lighter into the recycling bin.
The sky outside the window gradually darkened, night fell, shrouding the entire city.
The streets at night were sparsely populated. Isabella drove back to the apartment along the road.
Her hands gripping the steering wheel were trembling slightly, her vision occasionally blurred. Cold tears streaked down her pale face.
Before entering the door, Isabella hastily wiped away the tears from her face. However, her face remained pale, devoid of color.
As she opened the door, a strong smell of tobacco greeted her.
The crystal ashtray on the living room coffee table was filled with burnt cigarette butts.
Upon seeing Isabella’s figure appear at the entrance, Andrew quickly walked up to her and, without a word, pulled her into his arms.
“Why are you back so late? Don’t you know I’d worry?” Perhaps due to smoking too much, his voice was hoarse.
Isabella coldly pushed him away. She didn’t speak, just looked at him quietly. Uncontrollable tears welled up in her eyes, and he became increasingly blurry to her.
This man who had been entangled with her on countless nights suddenly felt so strange to her.
“Andrew, I’ll give you one last chance to explain,” she tried to maintain calmness but her voice choked.
Andrew’s handsome face couldn’t conceal his exhaustion, and a hint of self-mockery flashed in his deep blue eyes. In the end, the worst scenario had unfolded. Henry must have said a lot to her, prejudicing her opinion, and now, no matter what he said, it would seem feeble and pale.
“As you know, I am Jacob Turner’s youngest son,” Andrew said.
Isabella nodded and sneered, “So, you’ve been lying to me.”
She felt ridiculous, thinking she could support him, believing he was an unemployed drifter.