Chapter 37

Isabella’s hand rested on her cheek as she gazed at Samuel with a dazed expression. The next moment, she shook her head, took the fork from him, and said softly, clearing her throat, “It’s fine.” She hurriedly picked up some food and ate, her awkwardness nearly palpable. She thought she must have looked ridiculous.

Samuel raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Isabella’s ears were a little red; she had blushed when he hugged her earlier.

Megan, unaware of their interaction, approached with bowls of soup. “Mr. Howerton, Mrs. Howerton, you must try this soup. I cooked it for six hours. Mrs. Howerton looks a bit tired; this will help replenish her strength.”

Samuel nodded in satisfaction. “Well done, Megan. Your salary will be doubled this month.”

Isabella was speechless. Megan’s face lit up with gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Howerton!”

They fell into a comfortable silence. Isabella kept her head down, eating and sipping her soup. Her earlier gloom faded. Their meal was short, and after Megan cleared the dishes, Samuel took Isabella’s hand, and they strolled in the backyard for over an hour before returning to the bedroom.

The bedroom was dimly lit. Isabella, showered and in bed, lay with her eyes closed, trying to sleep. Knowing Samuel was still in the bathroom made it hard to relax, especially after her day. Sleep eluded her.

Minutes felt like hours until the bed dipped beside her. Isabella opened her eyes to see Samuel climbing in, pulling back the covers, and settling next to her.

She blinked in surprise as Samuel turned to her, his voice gentle. “Goodnight, Bella.”

Isabella froze, then noticed he had turned off the light. With a complicated expression, she tentatively wrapped her arms around his waist.

He paused, feeling her back arch away. He pulled her closer, the distance between them closing instantly. Isabella stiffened.

After a moment, she shifted uncomfortably. The sound of Samuel’s restrained voice, from above her, sent a ripple of warmth through her. She halted her movements.

To Samuel, it felt like he was submerged in scorching water; the heat was unbearable. But the woman in his arms kept moving, igniting something deep within him.

He leaned down, close to her ear, and whispered huskily, “I’m a normal man.”

His warm breath sent tremors down Isabella’s spine, but before she could react, he tightened his grip. She felt the heat radiating from his body.

Realization hit her like a bolt of lightning, and her face flushed. She stiffened, murmuring, “I—I didn’t mean to…” Her usual calm demeanor melted away, leaving her rattled.

Yet Samuel held her close without pushing further, softly saying, “It’s okay. I’ll give you time.” With that, he closed his eyes.

Isabella dared not move. The room grew silent, but her mind raced, far too alert to sleep. Thoughts of her father’s cold indifference and Samuel’s kindness swirled, creating a tangle of emotions. “What am I going to do about all this?” she thought. With a heavy sigh, she tried to shut her eyes, finally slipping into a restless sleep.

The next morning, Isabella got up early. After breakfast with Samuel, she drove to the Cooper family villa. She had just stepped out of her car when a gust of wind rushed past.

Chapter 37

The harsh sound of brakes made Isabella frown. A sleek silver Porsche stopped in front of her.

The door swung open, and George popped out, grinning playfully. He tousled his bangs dramatically, winked, and said, “Haven’t seen you in a few days. I’ve gotten even more handsome, haven’t I?”

Isabella rolled her eyes and turned to enter the villa.

George shrugged off her indifference. “Some people just don’t appreciate beauty,” he sighed, but quickly followed her indoors.

The living room was adorned with priceless porcelain, paintings, and intricately carved wood furniture. The family was clearly wealthy.

Shawn approached with a beaming smile. “Dr. Lovett, you finally came. Hello, Mr. Sampson.” Isabella subtly nodded. “Hello, Mr. Cooper.”

George, still smiling charmingly, strolled around the living room, then leaned close to Shawn, whispering, “Mr. Cooper, you’ve got quite a lot of impressive things here.” He’d previously thought Shawn merely well-off, but the extravagance of the room revealed a far more impressive business. Even the smallest vase seemed worth over 300,000.

Shawn smiled politely. “Oh, they’re nothing special.”

Isabella sighed. ‘George is really all about the money, huh?’ she thought. She quietly reminded him, “Time to get started.”

Mentioning business shifted the mood. George’s playful grin vanished, replaced by a serious expression as he looked at Shawn. “Have you prepared everything I asked for?” He knew Isabella had extremely high standards, so he’d ensured everything was prepared. Shawn nodded. “Absolutely. Everything’s ready.”

Still uneasy, George raised an eyebrow. “I’ll go check it myself.” He needed to double-check.

Shawn had no objections and led George upstairs.

Ten minutes later, they returned, and George nodded to Isabella, signaling she could go up.

At Jack’s room, Isabella paused, addressing the group. “You all wait outside for now.”

Shawn glanced at George, who’d already stepped back. Looking troubled, Shawn turned to Isabella, muttering, “Well…”

Isabella raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

Shawn knew he had to warn her. “My son has some personality issues. I’m just worried he might hurt you.”

Isabella, surprised, glanced at George. They exchanged a look, questioning who could pose a threat to her—not even Xavier could harm her.

With a faint smile, Isabella reassured him. “It’s fine.”

However, Shawn’s concerns made George uneasy. He stepped forward, looking earnestly at Isabella. “Maybe I should go with you.”

Isabella didn’t refuse, and they both went inside.