Chapter 14

He quickly hung up the phone, turned to Ivana, and said, “I have something important to take care of. Go back yourself.”

Before Ivana could respond, he had already walked off in long strides. Ivana stared at his retreating figure, stomping her foot in frustration. This was the second time that day he had left her.

Meanwhile, George was driving Isabella back. Though focused on the road, he kept glancing at Isabella in the passenger seat, worried she might be upset.

His hesitant demeanor didn't go unnoticed, and Isabella finally sighed and looked at him. "What do you want to say?"

Caught in the act, George wasn't embarrassed. Instead, he chuckled. "Hey, I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling now?"

Before Isabella could answer, he continued, "You don't need to be upset over that jerk. There are plenty of other men out there. I'll introduce you to an awesome guy, way better than Jayden!"

Isabella twitched the corner of her mouth, unsure how to react. "Thanks! But if you really know such great guys, keep them for yourself!" she joked.

If George actually introduced a man to her, Samuel would definitely lose his mind. Besides, Isabella didn't believe any man could be better than Samuel.

Seeing her mood lighten, George burst into hearty laughter. "So, what's your plan next?"

Isabella tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and gazed out the window, replying nonchalantly, "If there's nothing else, I'll just head home."

She had only come that day to make an appearance; the real, important treatments would require long-term acupuncture.

George nodded. "Makes sense. So, where are you staying now? I'll drive you there."

Isabella hesitated. She was staying at Samuel's marital home, and letting George know seemed awkward, especially since her relationship with Samuel was still uncertain.

"Just drop me off at Golden Glory Plaza," she said.

George snapped his fingers, pointing enthusiastically ahead. "Got it! Off we go!"

The next day, Samuel went to the CEO's office at the Howerton Group's branch. The office, though simply decorated, exuded an air of luxury and elegance.

The black leather sofas had strong, clean lines, and a few financial magazines were neatly placed on a square crystal coffee table. Sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dazzling reflections on the crystal surface.

Samuel, dressed in a black suit, sat upright at his desk, his long fingers holding a document as he reviewed it. His slightly narrowed eyes looked distant and cold.

A knock on the door interrupted him, and he said softly, "Come in."

The door opened, and his assistant, Perry, walked in. He nodded to Samuel. "Mr. Howerton, Mr. Cox has been discharged from the hospital."

Samuel paused, and a hint of surprise appeared on his usually indifferent face. "Discharged?"

Xavier's illness was so strange—how could Darryl have let him leave the hospital? Had he been cured? Samuel furrowed his brows, doubt flickering in his eyes.

Perry placed his report on Samuel's desk and continued, "Yes, they managed to get Dr. Lovett."

Shock flashed in Samuel's eyes. "She's back?"

Queenie had disappeared for years, and Samuel had sent Perry to search for her countless times.

Now, her sudden help for the Cox family made Samuel wonder if Queenie had some kind of connection with them.

Chapter H (It seems this should be Chapter 15 or a new section)

Anyone who could shake the world was worth paying attention to.

Perry nodded but had a strange look on his face, as if he had more to say but was hesitant. Perry had never been so indecisive before.

Samuel's expression darkened, his voice turning cold. "Just say it."

As Samuel's assistant, decisiveness was essential, and Perry's hesitation was already irritating him. Perry stared down at his shoes, his voice low and hesitant. "Dr. Lovett is"

Samuel's sharp gaze instantly fell on Perry, and in a split second, the atmosphere seemed to grow even colder.

"Perry!" The cold, oppressive aura radiating from Samuel made it clear he was angry.

Perry flinched, no longer daring to hide anything. Straightening his back, he blurted out, "Dr. Lovett is Mrs. Howerton!"

Samuel froze. Isabella is Queenie!

Before Samuel could ask more, Perry quickly recounted everything that had happened at the hospital, including how Jayden had gone after Isabella.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and glanced cautiously at Samuel, unsure if he'd get angry. After all, Isabella had a past with Jayden.

But when Perry looked up, he saw the corners of Samuel's mouth curl into a slight smile. He seemed to be in a good mood. Perry was stunned. He wasn't angry?

Before he could process it further, Samuel's soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "You can go now."

Though puzzled, Perry didn't dare ask any questions. He nodded and left the room.

In the now-quiet office, Samuel leaned back in his chair, resting his elbows on the desk, his fingers lazily interlocked. For the first time, a warm light appeared in Samuel's usually cold eyes.

Isabella is indeed extraordinary, he thought. She's no longer the woman she once was.

Night fell as Isabella returned to the magnificent Riverside Villa.

The spacious villa was filled with luxurious furniture, and the minimalist color scheme perfectly suited Samuel's style—subdued yet elegant, though it gave the place a somewhat cold and empty feel.

The villa was usually quiet, but tonight, the sounds of pots and spatulas clashing in the kitchen added a rare sense of liveliness.

Isabella had just finished applying a face mask and was gently massaging cream into her skin as she slowly made her way downstairs.

As soon as she entered the dining room, she was greeted by a table overflowing with food. Puzzled, she asked, "Megan, why did you make so many dishes? Is it because Mr. Howerton is coming back?"

Megan came out of the kitchen carrying utensils and gave Isabella a teasing smile. "Mrs. Howerton, are you missing Mr. Howerton?"

Isabella felt embarrassed by Megan's playful tone. She lowered her voice, awkwardly responding, "No"

Her relationship with Samuel wasn't like that of a normal couple, so discussing such things made her feel shy.

Megan set the utensils down and laughed heartily. "Oh, are you blushing?"

Sensing Isabella's discomfort, Megan quickly stopped teasing and, with a respectful tone, said, "Mrs. Howerton, take your time eating. If you need anything, just call me."

With that, Megan nodded and left the room. Isabella patted her slightly flushed cheeks, took a deep breath to calm herself, and then picked up her fork.

Chapter 14 (Continued)

After a couple of bites, she started feeling bored and reached for her phone to watch a show. But just as her fingers touched the phone, a call came in.

Seeing the caller ID, she answered within a second. She couldn't help but frown. Her reflexes were a little too fast, and as fate would have it, the caller was Samuel.

The text has been cleaned up for grammar, punctuation, and style. I've also made some minor edits to improve flow and clarity. Note that "Chapter H" seems out of place and might need renumbering. The formatting might need adjustments depending on where this text is intended to be published.