Chapter 30

Isabella shivered instinctively. Confused, she glanced at Samuel, his gaze colder than before. "What have I said wrong?" she wondered.

The car surged forward, and Samuel's frosty voice broke the silence. "Queenie really deserves her fame." Queenie was known for her cold demeanor and aloof personality.

Isabella blinked. "What's wrong?"

Samuel's face was an icy mask. Just then, Isabella's phone rang, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. She pulled out her phone, her heart sinking at the caller ID. "Molly? Why is she calling?" she thought.

After hesitating, Isabella answered coldly. "What do you want?"

Molly's voice was friendly. "Bella, when are you coming home?"

Isabella furrowed her brow, realizing the Stout family hadn't given up on marrying her off to Dominic's son. Her expression turned frosty. "I'm not coming back."

Samuel's eyes darkened, but he remained silent, focusing on driving. Molly's face fell, but she managed a smile. "Isabella, I—"

Isabella interrupted coldly. "And don't call me again." She hung up. No matter what trap Molly had laid, she wouldn't give her an opportunity.

Molly plopped onto the sofa, her phone clutched in her hand. Her fake smile vanished, replaced by anger. She smashed the phone on the ground. Gritting her teeth, she glared at the ruined device. "That bitch!" she cursed.

Ivana, casually doing her nails, glanced up and smirked. "Got rejected, huh? I knew it. Isabella is too stubborn to be easily swayed," she thought.

Molly, forcing a smile, said, "She may not want to come back, but she will."

Ivana blew on her nails, a sly grin forming. "Mom, I have a plan."

Molly looked at Ivana skeptically. "What's your plan? Will it work?" She knew Isabella was very stubborn.

With a mischievous smile, Ivana leaned in and whispered, "We can do this"

Minutes later, Molly grinned. She poked Ivana playfully. "Not bad! I never expected such a good idea." Usually, Molly made the plans. Clearly, Ivana had been well-trained.

Ivana puffed out her chest. "Have some faith in your daughter, okay?" They shared crafty smiles, plotting their next move.

Isabella ended the call with a heavy sigh and stared out the car window, the icy tension thick. She knew why Molly had called: to get her to return and marry. Hudson had never treated her as his daughter; Ivana was his precious gem. How could he even consider marrying her off to Dominic's son, a nearly forty-year-old playboy? No father but Hudson could be so outrageous.

She tightened her grip on her phone, trying to control her emotions. Samuel turned to her. Despite the chaos at the Howerton residence, Isabella had maintained her composure, but now she radiated despair.

"What's going on?" Samuel asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Isabella hesitated. The last time Hudson had hit her, Samuel had asked, and she'd said nothing. But she figured there was nothing to hide now. "My dad wants me to marry Dominic's son," she said wearily.

Samuel's expression darkened. "What a great idea your dad has," he sneered. Cameron, Dominic's son, was a womanizer, frequently seen in Draxenport's nightclubs. It was infamous that he'd spend 1.5 million on a woman one night, only to send her to the hospital the next morning.

Isabella smiled bitterly—he knew who she meant. "Yeah, it's him," she said. She recounted the incident where her father hit her, feeling the cold atmosphere intensify.

Samuel's expression turned frosty. He slammed on the brakes, jolting Isabella. He pulled over. "I'm your husband; you should talk to me about things like this," he said.

Isabella was taken aback. Few people had stood up for her, and she avoided showing her wounds. She lowered her gaze, hiding her mixed emotions. At that moment, she felt a flicker of warmth.

When she met his gaze again, she hid her feelings, but her eyes were filled with gratitude. "I know you care about me," she paused, her expression serious. "I don't want to rely on you too much." She knew Samuel's intervention would quickly resolve the matter. Hudson would leech off the powerful Howerton family, and she wouldn't give him the opportunity.

Samuel's face fell, a heavy silence enveloping them. Isabella realized Samuel's earlier words. He wanted a real partner, not someone who simply hung around. She had doubted this; she thought Samuel could have anyone better than her.

The tension grew. Isabella tried to break the silence. "Your family already has a negative opinion of me. If I rely on you, they'll always have a problem with me."

Samuel looked stunned.

Isabella smiled, her voice steady. "During this last trip to the Howerton residence, it was clear how your sister and father feel. They see me as someone supported by you. I don't want them to think less of you. Besides, if I can't resolve even this small issue, won't that make me exactly what Sarah called me—a useless burden?" she thought.

She held Samuel's gaze calmly. Surprise crossed Samuel's features; he had misunderstood her.