Chapter 15

Isabella steadied her breathing and tentatively said, "Hello?"

Samuel's cool voice, distant yet magnetic, came through the phone. "What are you doing?"

Perhaps the distance enhanced it, but his voice sounded particularly pleasant to Isabella—low, deep, and rich, making her heart flutter involuntarily. She had a soft spot for good voices.

Gripping her fork tighter, she tried to respond calmly: "I'm having dinner."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how flat they sounded. She quickly added, "Have you eaten?"

Samuel's reply was short: "I have."

For a moment, Isabella was at a loss for words. He'd called, but wasn't saying much—what exactly did he want? A sense of unease crept over her.

Yet he didn't hang up, and neither did she. The awkward silence lingered, thick with tension. Eventually, Isabella forced herself to ask, "Is there… something you need from me?"

She half-expected him to say "No," but to her surprise, Samuel responded quietly, "Yes."

His tone was unreadable, even mysterious, and Isabella felt intense pressure, uncertain about what he was about to say.

The next moment, Isabella suddenly remembered what had happened at the hospital yesterday, and she froze. Given Samuel's influence and swift, decisive actions, it made sense that he'd already received the news.

Since they were now married, she felt it necessary to avoid misunderstandings. She softly said, "Jayden and I have broken up. There's no way anything could happen between us. Don't overthink it…"

Before she could finish, Samuel's voice cut through: "I didn't expect my wife to be Queenie." However, it was hard to discern any emotion in his tone.

Isabella was stunned, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn't expected that to be the topic.

After a brief pause, she gently explained, "I have no influence or background. You have to believe me; I won't cause any negative impact on you."

She simply wanted to live her life as she pleased. If Samuel intervened too forcefully, it would put her in a difficult position. After all, she'd seen the strict rules and expectations of the wealthiest families.

Hearing her methodical explanation, Samuel let out a light chuckle, a hint of indulgence in his tone. It softened as he reassured her, "I don't think you're causing any negative impact on me."

Isabella's hand paused slightly. She was surprised he didn't mind.

Unconsciously tightening her grip on the phone, she felt a surge of emotion and couldn't help but smile. "Thank you."

Samuel's words made her happy. But immediately after expressing her gratitude, she sensed a sudden chill. Samuel's icy voice reached her ears: "I don't want to hear words like that again."

Isabella paused. Is he… angry?

She cleared her throat awkwardly and quickly said, "I… I might not be used to it yet. I won't say it again, okay?"

Perhaps Isabella didn't even realize her tone had softened, with a hint of coquettishness.

Samuel raised an eyebrow, a faint smile appearing on his face. "I'll come back two days earlier."

Isabella's hand, reaching for her food, paused in surprise. "Huh? Didn't you say you'd be gone for seven days?"

Samuel organized the files on his desk and explained, "I can finish the work earlier. Besides, I need to take you to the Howerton residence."

The fork Isabella had been holding tightly slipped into her bowl with a loud clink. Feeling nervous, she quickly picked it up.

Chapter 15 (Continued)

Although she knew this day would come, she hadn't expected it so soon. She stammered, "I–I'm not ready yet."

Her nervousness was evident, even to Samuel. Imagining her expression, he couldn't help but laugh. "My mom already knows about you, and she's very nice. You don't need to worry. Just be yourself."

Despite Samuel's reassurance, Isabella's anxiety didn't ease. Meeting Samuel's parents was a big deal.

She responded casually, "Oh, okay."

Samuel sighed. Her reply sounded perfunctory, making it clear she hadn't absorbed his reassurances.

At that moment, Isabella was already preoccupied, thinking about what gift to bring.

Samuel, knowing more words would be useless, gently said, "Finish your meal first. I'll be back soon."

They exchanged a few more brief words before hanging up.

Isabella barely touched her food, rushing to the sofa with her phone. Curling up, she began scouring various Q&A platforms. She posted a question: "[First time meeting my husband's parents—what gifts should I bring?]"

However, none of the online answers were helpful. Feeling deflated, she sat there, not knowing what to do.

Ivana returned to the Stout residence. Her room was decked out in pink, with a white vanity covered in cosmetics. Everything was princess-themed in soft shades of pink.

Ivana lay on her floral pink bed, her head buried under a pillow.

A knock echoed, but before Ivana could respond, the doorknob turned. Molly entered, carrying a plate of fresh fruit, which she set on the bedside table.

She looked at Ivana, lying face down, and gently said, "Sweetheart, you didn't eat much tonight. Aren't you hungry?"

Ivana didn't respond; her state was clearly off. Concerned, Molly pulled the pillow off Ivana's head, her face filled with worry. "What's wrong with you?"

Ivana sat up and threw her arms around Molly, choking back sobs. "Mom, I'm afraid Jayden doesn't want me anymore."

Molly furrowed her brows, gripping Ivana's shoulders and gently pushing her back to look at her. She asked seriously, "What happened?"

Her mood sank. If Jayden was really thinking of leaving Ivana, then…

Ivana's sobbing grew louder. Between sniffles, she recounted everything that had happened the day before. Molly's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing.

Ivana wiped her tears, her swollen eyes gazing helplessly at Molly as she rasped, "Mom, what should I do?"

At that moment, Molly panicked. She slammed her fist into the bed, her eyes burning with malice. Gritting her teeth, she spat, "I can't believe that bitch Isabella had this up her sleeve all along!"

But what Molly found even more unbelievable was that Isabella was Queenie Lovett.

Anyone can be Queenie, but why does it have to be her? If I had known this earlier, I would've killed that little bitch. Now, she's turned into such a huge problem! Molly thought.