Chapter 200

Isabella had bitten him unconsciously, but Samuel's bite was definitely on purpose. Samuel stared at Isabella’s shoulder, where a faint mark from his teeth was visible. A smirk tugged at his lips, and he was clearly satisfied with his “work.” “Yeah,” he responded, almost nonchalantly.

Isabella blinked, taken aback. She thought, “Is this still the cold, aloof man I used to know? Is he still someone who has just admitted so readily to acting like a pet?”

Samuel straightened up and gently scooped Isabella into his arms, setting her upright. He carefully adjusted the disheveled collar of her top, covering the spot he had marked. In a low voice, he said, “Rest for a bit. I’ll handle the rest.”

Samuel turned his attention to arranging the flowers on the coffee table. He meticulously placed each stem, tidying up the stray leaves and petals with calm precision. His actions were unhurried yet orderly, as if he had done this a thousand times.

Isabella watched him, surprised. She had always seen Samuel as the kind of man far removed from anything domestic. She never expected him to do something like this.

Once Samuel finished, he turned back to Isabella, his expression unreadable as he asked, “Where would you like me to place these vases?”

Isabella quickly got up from the couch and told Samuel what to do. She pointed and directed, “Put one on that side cabinet and another on the standalone cabinet. We need one for the bedside table in our bedroom as well.”

Samuel followed Isabella’s instructions meticulously, placing each vase exactly where she indicated. Isabella looked around, her eyes lighting up at how vibrant the space had become. Satisfied, she turned to Samuel and said with a smile, “Thank you for the flowers, Samuel. I really like them.”

A hint of warmth flickered in Samuel’s gaze, and it was clear that her happiness brought him joy as well. “I’m glad you like them.”

Their eyes met, and the tenderness of the moment felt intoxicating, wrapping them in a cozy atmosphere.

The next day, Isabella hurried into the design department at a brisk pace. She had been delayed due to a car accident that had caused a long traffic jam. As she set down her belongings, Isabella sensed that something was off in the office. Frowning, she scanned the room and saw everyone engaged in their tasks, yet she could feel numerous eyes on her, studying her intently.

Laura’s expression was somewhat grim. After hesitating for a moment, she was about to approach Isabella to strike up a conversation. Just then, Ivana stepped out of the manager’s office, her white suit dress contrasting sharply with the office’s atmosphere, headed straight for Isabella. Laura quickly sat back down at her desk, staring intently at the computer. Seeing this, Isabella felt even more confused. Ivana stood in front of Isabella, looking a bit troubled. “You were late today, Bella. That means a fine, you know.”

Isabella didn’t argue. After all, she had indeed been late. She responded nonchalantly, “How much is the fine? I can transfer to the company account right now.”

Isabella’s straightforward answer caught Ivana off guard, and she was already pulling out her phone, completely uninterested in engaging in a debate.

Chapter 900

The badly planted des préreke tea leaves foretold, from seeing her theretofore demeanor, the day’s cars. The soul, however, she noticed the fines that hindered. They were to well with the marks. They were to be irresistible though, as Tad Tabella slept with that than...

A wave of jealousy and anger raged within Emma, but the forced gentle site, feeding weekly on dollars…

Tabells quickly unlocked her phone and completed the transfer. After settling back down, ready to dive into her work for the day, she noticed that Ivana had no intention of leaving.

Isabella raised her head to look at Ivana, frowning in displeasure. “What’s wrong? Is it not enough?” She thought, “Is this woman trying to stir up trouble again?”

Ivana’s eyes were filled with concern as she gazed at Isabella. “Your dad asked you to move out, and that must be hard for you, but…” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “But you can’t just do something like this!”

Isabella’s expression darkened, not knowing what Ivana meant. In that moment, she felt a growing intensity in the gazes of her coworkers, amplifying the unease she had sensed earlier.

Isabella stared at Ivana coldly, her voice low and firm. “Ivana, you’d better clarify what you mean, or I’m not sure what I’ll do to you!”

All Isabella wanted was to quietly do her job, yet Ivana insisted on dragging her into unnecessary drama. She was fed up with her.

Ivana wore a frantic expression, looking as if she might burst into tears at any moment. “No matter what, you can’t be someone’s mistress!”

Isabella couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of those words. Ivana appeared to be genuinely concerned, yet her comments were laced with the most venomous implications. Isabella sneered and thought, ‘Did she really think I needed a man to support me?’

Melanie and the others looked at Isabella with disdain, whispering among themselves. “I really thought she was being pursued by some amazing man. It turns out she’s just a kept woman,” someone scoffed.

“I know, right? I used to think she was dating someone exceptional. Now it looks like she’s just a sugar baby,” another chimed in.

“I have no idea what she was bragging about yesterday. If I were her, I would feel embarrassed,” a third added.

At that moment, Laura shot up from her seat, her face filled with urgency as she turned to them and shouted, “Stop spreading rumors. That’s not the case at all!”

Laura thought, ‘How could they say such things? Isabella is outstanding in her own right, and there is no way she could be a kept woman.’ Laura was furious, trembling with anger at the jealousy and cruelty of those comments.

Melanie, who had never liked Isabella, stood up suddenly, crossing her arms defiantly. “Stop kissing her ass. The facts are solid, yet you still won’t admit it. What a disgrace!”

Ivana watched the scene unfold with an inward smirk, pleased at how well her plan was working. She had asked Jenny to drop hints earlier, encouraging gossip and speculation among the women. Where there were many women, there would always be gossip. It didn’t matter to Ivana if Isabella was in a legitimate relationship with that man. What mattered was making sure everyone believed that she was someone’s mistress.

Realization dawned on Isabella as she finally understood why everyone was looking at her strangely. It was because of the rumors. With a sneer, she locked her gaze on Ivana and asked, “Did you tell them I’m being kept?”

10, NOV

Chapter 200

Isabella was nearly certain it was Ivana behind this. Unexpectedly, Ivana shook her head, denying it. “It was not me. I just got here this morning and heard these rumors.”

To solidify the rumors further, Ivana added in a false tone of concern, “You should break up with him, Bella. A relationship like that can’t end well. I’m saying this for your good.”

Melanie stepped out from her workstation, positioning herself protectively in front of Ivana. With a mocking tone, she said, “You shouldn’t bother with her, Ms. Stout. Some might just prefer these secretive and nasty relationships.”

Born of the same father, Isabella was gentle and understanding while Ivana was arrogant and vicious. It seemed that whenever God granted someone a talent, he also took something away.

Melanie thought, ‘No matter how extraordinary Isabella’s design skills are, a person with low morals will still be despised by many.’ Melanie seized the opportunity, eager to kick Isabella while she was down.

Isabella felt her anger rise. These people were so focused on gossiping instead of doing their jobs properly. She thought that since Ivana didn’t want her to have a good time, then no one else would either.

Turning to Ivana, Isabella coldly replied, “Whether I’m being kept or not is none of your business. Arguing about these issues during work hours only delays our progress. Shouldn’t everyone of you be fined for that?”