Chapter 41

Everyone in the living room, except George, burst into laughter. Isabella shook her head helplessly; it was rare to see him so flustered. Shawn, however, didn't participate in the young people's joking, simply watching with a smile.

Luna took a bite of food, glanced around, and then, turning to Shawn, asked curiously, "Where's Ruth? The purse I got her from abroad has arrived, and I'm waiting to give it to her." She explained that she would be heading to the film set in a few days and wouldn't have time to visit again. She hadn't expected to run into Isabella and hear such sensational gossip.

Shawn and Cheryl's expressions turned somber. Shawn replied calmly, "She's returned to her parents' house."

Luna, a little surprised, nodded, not pressing further. "I'll leave the purse here," she said. "Cheryl, please give it to her when she comes back." Luna had a good relationship with Shawn and Cheryl, often dropping by when her schedule allowed. She was naturally aware of their family's difficulties. Because of Jack's illness, he and Ruth had frequently argued since their marriage, making Ruth's visits to her parents commonplace. Consequently, the Cooper family treated Ruth exceptionally well—they felt they owed her.

Cheryl laughed. "You're so thoughtful, Luna."

"I love your cooking," Luna replied, waving her hand. "I'll have to come by more often for a meal."

"If you like it, have some more," Cheryl offered. "Next time, I'll cook especially for you."

Luna's eyes lit up. "That sounds great!"

Everyone resumed eating and chatting. Ten minutes later, Luna's phone rang. She answered, then frowned and said, "Hold on, I'll be there right away." Hurriedly shoving food into her mouth, she grabbed her phone and told Isabella, "Bella, I'll buy you a drink another day. Something urgent came up; I have to leave now." She hugged Isabella.

Knowing Luna was busy, Isabella didn't try to stop her, saying cautiously, "Drive safely. No speeding." Luna was impatient; when something urgent arose, she acted immediately. Isabella often worried about her driving.

Luna gave Isabella an OK gesture and hurried out, saying, "Shawn, Cheryl, I'm leaving now. Say hello to Jack for me." Even after she left, her voice lingered in the living room.

Shawn smiled, shook her head, and sighed, "Luna's…"

Isabella, feeling closer to Shawn because of Luna, smiled and said, "Luna's always in a hurry." She wondered what kind of man would be a good match for her.

After chatting with Shawn for a while, Isabella glanced at her watch; it was time for Samuel to return. She planned to head home.

1:02 PM

Chapter 41 (Continued)

After half an hour of chatting and eating, Isabella and George left the Cooper family. Isabella had just fastened her seatbelt when George knocked on her driver's side window.

"Knock…"

Isabella rolled down the window, looking puzzled. "What's up?" she asked. George pointed to the door lock, signaling her to open the door. Isabella unlocked it, and George got in.

"What's this? Are you thinking of driving my car?" Isabella asked suspiciously. George shook his head. "When you were treating Jack, I got a call."

Isabella raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue. "There's a reality show," George said seriously. "Do you want to participate?" He explained that it was inappropriate to discuss this at the Coopers', but now that everything was settled and Isabella was with him, he didn't want to wait.

Isabella frowned, refusing outright; she wanted nothing to do with the entertainment industry. George wasn't surprised by her blunt refusal. "They agreed to make a special show for you," he continued, "an opportunity to fulfill your wish." He wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise.

Isabella looked at him with surprise. "Are they willing to do that this time?" she asked curiously. This wasn't their first invitation. In the past, producers had wanted to use her for publicity, focusing on celebrity relationships and frivolous activities—things Isabella hated. She'd insisted on genuine promotion of medical knowledge and health management, but the producers hadn't been interested. A special show, however, might be different.

Isabella rubbed the steering wheel thoughtfully. Noticing her hesitation, George nodded. "Yes, but there's one requirement." Isabella raised an eyebrow, knowing it couldn't be that simple.

Before she could react, George continued, "They'll expect you to interact with celebrities, but of course, the interactions must fit the theme you want." He explained that this topic was usually boring, resulting in low ratings, and therefore avoided by many shows. Isabella's refusal to create gimmicks had always left the issue unresolved.

George raised his eyebrows. "This time the production team compromised. It might be a good opportunity. Having some stars involved could improve the publicity."

Isabella considered this carefully. "Alright, I agree," she said.

George's face lit up. "Finally! You agreed!" He clasped his hands above his head and bowed. He'd been nearly driven to distraction by the production team's persistent nagging, but he'd always believed Isabella harbored this wish.