On the phone, there was a bit of noise.
“Isabella, what’s wrong?” Andrew’s voice was hoarse but as gentle as always.
“Andrew, have you been drinking again?” Her voice was muffled, clearly indicating he had been drinking.
“Yes, just a bit. It’s hard to avoid at business dinners.” His tone softened, trying to soothe her.
“Your health, your choice. I don’t care,” she replied angrily.
“Okay, okay, I know I was wrong. I’ll definitely not drink later. Why are you so upset today?” He paused, reflecting on himself, “Did I do something wrong again?”
She was caught off guard by his question. After hesitating for a while, she murmured, “Haven’t you seen the news online recently?”
“What news?” He stifled a laugh, deliberately pretending not to know.
“Andrew, are you blind or deaf? Even if you’re busy, didn’t Ryan and Charles, those two gossipers, tell you?”
Isabella wasn’t stupid; Andrew couldn’t fool her. As a businessman, he was always aware of what was happening around him. He definitely knew about the rumors circulating online.
Luckily, Andrew was shrewd and didn’t continue to feign ignorance.
“Oh, you’re talking about the rumors with Luke!” He laughed indifferently, “The entertainment industry is so messy; rumors like these are a dime a dozen. How can I believe them?”
“Aren’t you worried that Luke and I might really be close? Our intimate pictures are all over the internet,” she teased.
Unable to suppress his chuckle, he said, “Find someone better than me next time, and maybe I’ll feel threatened.”
“Andrew, stop flattering yourself! If I really find a younger man, let’s see if you cry.” Holding her phone with one hand and her chin with the other, she laughed like a fox.
“I’ll cry, I promise to show you, see if you feel sorry for me,” he chuckled softly, his voice dripping with tenderness.
Andrew’s gentle teasing lightened Isabella’s mood. Covering her heart, she said, “I do feel sorry, my heart aches for you. Be good, drink less, listen more, and I promise not to find another man.”
“Okay,” Andrew laughed softly, warmth spreading across his face.
“I should go to sleep now. Goodnight and kisses,” she kissed the phone and then hung up.
Andrew put away his phone, a lingering smile still on his lips.
Ryan pushed open the private room’s door and walked out. Seeing Andrew, he smirked and teased, “Finally done with your cheesy call! Andrew, when did you become so easy to please, laughing at a few sweet words from a woman?”
Andrew glanced at him lightly without saying anything, not wanting Ryan to ruin his good mood.
Ryan didn’t push further. Pointing inside the room, he said, “The big shots inside are waiting for you to toast them.”
“Help me fend off the alcohol later,” Andrew said matter-of-factly.
“Why should I?” Ryan protested unhappily. According to the drinking rules, helping somebody to drink meant having to drink three times the penalty. This was a death sentence!
“My woman doesn’t want me to drink,” Andrew said, walking towards the room.
“So what? Having a woman makes you great?” Ryan shouted.
“It’s your fault for not having one,” Andrew retorted coolly.
Ryan: “…”
After Isabella and Luke’s rumors had been circulating online for a while, they gradually faded from public memory.
Soon after, her new movie started screening.
She was busy with her shooting schedules and had been on a business trip for over two months before returning to Ithaca town.
When her plane landed, it was exactly 10 in the morning. At this time, Andrew was in a meeting at his company, and Asher was attending his early education class.
Not wanting to return home alone, she decided to visit the Harris family first.
As soon as Isabella stepped into the villa’s entrance, she felt a heavy atmosphere. The living room on the first floor was empty and eerily quiet, making it hard to breathe. She looked puzzledly at Ava who came to greet her.
“Aria’s back,” Ava whispered, handing Isabella a pair of slippers.
“Did Aria have a fight with Idris?” Isabella asked.
It would be natural for Aria to come home to visit Mrs. Ada, but the atmosphere was too heavy for just a marital disagreement.
“It’s far more serious than just a fight,” Ava shook her head.
“It can’t be that they’re getting a divorce,” Isabella said dismissively. Aria was over six months pregnant; it would be impossible to divorce unless she was willing to give up the child.
Before she could continue her thoughts, Ava sighed, “Aria had a miscarriage.”
“What?” Isabella was shocked. Aria was over six months pregnant; the baby should have been stable by now. How could she miscarry?
“Let’s go upstairs and talk,” Ava’s voice was hushed. Since Aria returned home after the miscarriage two days ago, even the servants in the house spoke cautiously and acted extra carefully, afraid of displeasing Mrs. Ada.
Once they reached Isabella’s room and closed the door, Ava explained, “Apparently, this Idris Hayes is a womanizer. Despite knowing that Aria was pregnant and the fetus was unstable during the first three months, he continued to be intimate with her, almost causing her to miscarry.”
Later, despite Mrs. Ada’s warnings and even confronting the Hayes family, they only agreed to sleep separately. Once they did, Idris started staying out all night. Aria became suspicious and followed him two nights ago, discovering he was seeing another woman.
When Aria confronted him, he brazenly retorted that if she didn’t let him sleep with her, he would find someone else. Aria, enraged, slapped the other woman, leading Idris to physically assault her, causing her to miscarry.
After the miscarriage, Mrs. Ada immediately brought Aria back home. Until now, no one from the Hayes family has come to apologize.”
After hearing Ava’s explanation, even Isabella couldn’t help but furrow her brows.
Men who cheat while their wives are pregnant are despicable. Men like Idris, who resort to violence against their pregnant wives after being caught cheating, are worse than animals.
Although she wasn’t fond of Aria, it was undeniably a tragic situation. Losing a child after being pregnant for over six months, especially by the hands of the child’s father, was both heartbreaking and chilling.
As a mother herself, Isabella knew that Aria’s present and future days would not be easy. The loss of a child would be an irreplaceable pain for the rest of her life.
“Has my cousin gone to bed? I want to see her,” Isabella said.
Ava quickly stopped her, “It’s better not to go. Aria’s emotions are running high right now. If you go to comfort her, they might misunderstand your intentions. Maybe sending some valuable supplements would be more appropriate.”
Being young, Isabella could be impulsive. Hearing Ava’s advice, she nodded in agreement.
As they were chatting, a commotion suddenly erupted downstairs. The noise was loud-shouting, cursing, and sounds of a scuffle-creating a chaotic scene.